New Orleans Saints: The three steps to beating the Houston Texans
By Jason Reed
![CARSON, CA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints during pre game warm up for a pre season football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on August 18, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) CARSON, CA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints during pre game warm up for a pre season football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on August 18, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3254ea81a6b009cd945ed2bf87c9109b88af4d0208f62d2d28bddf3db750d233.jpg)
1. Pressure Deshaun Watson, especially from the outside
I hate including this as the first step to beating the Houston Texans as pressuring the quarterback is one of the most obvious things that a team wants to do to every single quarterback, especially one like Deshaun Watson.
It does feel like a cop-out of sorts, kind of like using the bad bullpen argument in baseball that everyone always turns to.
While it might be one of the most played out keys to success in the media, it makes this list because it is especially important with Deshaun Watson. You can get away with beating other quarterbacks without pressuring them too much. You might not get away with not pressuring Deshaun Watson.
Watson is one of the bright future stars of the league and is dangerous on the ground game as well. His ability to not only stay in the pocket amidst pressure but evade the pocket and extend plays is among the best in the league.
In order to maintain Watson, the Saints are going to have to focus the point of attack on the outside of the pocket with the defensive ends and blitzing linebackers in order to keep Watson from evading and extending plays.
Yes, there is still the threat of him stepping up into the pocket and burning the Saints, but with pressure coming from the side Watson might not be able to do so often with the pocket collapsing.