How The Houston Texans Fare In The AFC South Comparison Trap

Over at FRSFootball.com, draft specialist Jon Ledyard recently did a piece rating the various position groups in the AFC South. If the article and results therein are any indication of how Ledyard perceives the intradivision battle for this year, your Houston Texans aren’t looking too good.

The groups he discussed are quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, edge defenders, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

Of those ten categories, Houston took first place in only one group: wide receivers.

Wide Receivers

Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins/Will Fuller/Braxton Miller/Keke Coutee

Tennessee Titans: Rishard Matthews/Corey Davis/Taywan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts: T.Y. Hilton/Ryan Grant/Deon Cain/Daurice Fountain

Jacksonville Jaguars: Marqise Lee/Keelan Cole/Dede Westbrook/D.J. Chark/Donte Moncrief

Analysis: Hopkins is one of the best players in the NFL at his position, but the rest of Houston’s receiving corps needs to step up. Fuller has been a big play threat when he’s healthy, while Miller has done nothing and Coutee has a lot to learn moving forward. I think a strong second season is coming from Corey Davis, and Rishard Matthews has been a quiet stud the past couple seasons.

Hilton is a top-15 receiver in the NFL, but the rest of the Colts unit is a disaster. The Jaguars have a bunch of solid, capable receivers who fit their system, but no clear No. 1. Lee and Westbrook have struggled to stay healthy as well.

Well, how about second place, you ask? The Texans landed in the number two spot just once: edge defenders.

Edge Defenders

Jacksonville Jaguars: Calais Campbell/Yannick Ngakoue/Dante Fowler/Dawuane Smoot

Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney/Whitney Mercilus/Duke Ejiofor/Brennan Scarlett

Tennessee Titans: Derrick Morgan/Brian Orakpo/Harold Landry/Kevin Dodd

Indianapolis Colts: Jabaal Sheard/Tarell Basham/John Simon/Kemoko Turay/Tyquan Lewis

Analysis: Once again the Jaguars are unquestionably the top dog, while Houston and Tennessee both boast very strong units. Clowney and Mercilus could be a nightmare pairing given the former’s progression as a player last season, while Landry’s presence in Tennessee gives them a speed rushing threat they haven’t had in some time. The Colts are hoping Turay, Lewis and Basham can become the edge rushers they desperately need, but this currently remains a big area of weakness for Indy.

At least the Texans aren’t all bad; the offensive line was the only Texans crew to land in fourth place in Ledyard’s analysis. Not that this is a shock to anyone who spends any time hanging around here.

Offensive Lines

Tennessee Titans: Taylor Lewan/Quinton Spain/Ben Jones/Josh Kline/Jack Conklin

Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Robinson/Andrew Norwell/Brandon Linder/A.J. Cann/Jeremy Parnell

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo/Quenton Nelson/Ryan Kelly/Jack Mewhort/Austin Howard

Houston Texans: Julie’n Davenport/Zach Fulton/Nick Martin/Senio Kelemete/Seantrel Henderson

Analysis: This is the best the AFC South offensive lines have looked for some time, and Houston still has one of the worst units in the league, at least on paper. I’m thrilled with Jacksonville’s most-recent acquisitions in Robinson and Norwell to form a potentially dominant left side with Linder, but Cann is an eyesore in that starting lineup.

What do you think? Convinced Ledyard has lost his marbles? Think he’s dead on? Want to debate with random memes depicting Brock Osweiler throwing fumbles under hilarious captions questioning his ability to function as a professional athlete? Hammer the comment button and bring it on!