Houston Texans: Why Dylan Cole is set to shine in prime-time

The Houston Texans will take on the Baltimore Ravens in Monday Night Football, giving this team an opportunity to get a quality win on a national stage…hopefully. Inside linebacker Dylan Cole is back in the fold and I believe he’ll shine in prime-time.

The Houston Texans are well past the mid-point of the season and things have gone just about what we’ve expected after the loss of Deshaun Watson. Lots of bad, some good and a ton of mediocrity. One can describe many units of this team has having this specific character trait but it categorizes where they’re at as a team.

But instead of gauging how this team has performed in the second half, I’d like to refer to our performance as A.D., not necessarily the death of Christ — it’s actual meaning — but “After Deshaun.” No, I’m not anointing Watson as the Holy Grail or that he could turn water into wine but the effect he has had on this team is indescribable. It’s as if we have no identity with him out.

Even though this season may not result in playoff berth — we’ve blessed over the past couple of seasons — the only thing we have hope for and what’s worth watching is the young guys out on the field. After all, they’re our future and the building will take place around them. Watson is one of those pieces, Jadeveon Clowney is one as well.

But let me tell you about another.

Yes, I’m talking about inside linebacker Dylan Cole, who has made quite an impression from being invited to training camp as an undrafted free agent to his marked, exponential-type performance leading up to his injury in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns.

Cole suffered a Grade 2 hamstring sprain while returning an interception for a touchdown off cast-off Browns’ quarterback Kevin Hogan.

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The 6’0,” 220-pound framed phenom out of Missouri State is playing with a chip on his shoulder, proving to all of the other 31 NFL teams that didn’t give him a chance that he does belong in this league. With each week, he was doing special, whether it was a sack, a key tackle, grabbing a pick…whatever. He just seems committed in ensuring that he’s not only contributing but doing everything he can to help with the success of the team.

And that’s what it’s all about. Cole has a perfect opportunity tonight and although his snaps may be limited as they work him back into the fray, I think he’ll make the most of the playing time he gets.

He may be on the verge of toppling over Houston Texans’ royalty in Brian Cushing, who is set to return from his 10-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

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Regardless of what the Texans decide to do with Cushing, Cole is here to stay and we haven’t seen the last of his heroics. But he certainly has perfect opportunity to showcase those tonight.

We’ll have to see.

Cole has amassed six tackles — nine assisted — with 1.0 sacks, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown and two passes defensed through six games (one start).

Go Texans.

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