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Houston Texans: Evaluating 2017 defense, 2018 outlook by position

By T.A. Mock

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans talks with owner Bob McNair during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Kansas City Chiefs won 30-0. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans talks with owner Bob McNair during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Kansas City Chiefs won 30-0. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 27: Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn
BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 27: Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn /

Special Teams

I know the burning question you’ve all been asking throughout my offensive and defensive reviews. WHERE ARE THE SPECIAL TEAMS?!?!? Well my friend, the wait is over. The Texans special teams unit was subpar once again in 2017, but there probably won’t be much change.

Contracted for 2018: Ka’imi Fairbairn, Jon Weeks

Free Agent: Shane Lechler

Shane Lechler is once again an impending free agent. However, I fully expect the Texans to bring him back for 2018 and for years after that until he is finally unable to defy Father Time. He was solid once again and continues to be a top punter in the league.

Ka’imi Fairbairn likely would’ve been the Texans kicker in 2016 had he not gotten injured. His 2017 started off extremely well only to tail off as the year went on. With it being his first year in the league, it looks like he will only improve from here.

The franchise will likely bring in an undrafted kicker and punter this off-season as camp fodder.

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The punter just to take the reps while Lechler does his thing to kick bombs in the regular season. Fairbairn will hopefully face a little heat from whoever they bring in so he can continue to further his game.

Jon Weeks is an anchor. He continues to be one of the most solid and reliable long snappers in the league.

The coverage units have a couple of key guys entering free agency that the team could look to bring back. New special teams coach Brad Seely, recently of the Oakland Raiders, will likely return a very similar unit in 2018. His familiarity with Lechler is nice and he has always produced good units in Oakland.

2018 Outlook Grade: B     Solid but not spectacular. This about what you want, at the very least, from a special teams unit.  I think Texans’ fans should see much of the same in 2018.

I’m hoping that you enjoyed my evaluation of the defense.  Can they return to prominence with RAC back at the helm?  We’re about to find out.

Next: Evaluating the 2017 offense by position

Do you agree with my assertions?  Feel free to share your thoughts and comment below.

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