WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

October 04, 2018 at 1:09 am.

–When the Texans drafted Deshaun Watson in the first round a year ago, the former Clemson star hoped to emulate the immediate impact that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made as a rookie.

Watson was an instant hit as a rookie before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Prescott won an NFC East division title two years ago as the replacement for veteran passer Tony Romo.

The two friends and competitors will take center stage Sunday night at NRG Stadium.

“It’s cool,” Watson said. “Dak is a friend of mine. We’re boys. We talk whenever we see each other. We want the best for each other and he’s a guy that I can watch and try to improve my game because we have similar things we do.

“We both can run, throw from the pocket and do some good things, have great leadership of the team. He’s a guy that, of course he’s one of the quarterbacks I look at as my time as I’m growing in this league.”

One aspect of Watson’s game that he’s looking to upgrade is his susceptibility to being sacked and hit too frequently.

Watson has been sacked 17 times through four games and hit 43 times. He’s on pace to be sacked 68 times and hit 172 times.

There have been plenty of pass protection breakdowns as an overhauled offensive line has struggled, but Watson says many of the sacks are his fault.

“Those guys are doing a great job,” Watson said. “A lot of the sacks I put upon me getting rid of the ball or holding the ball too long or trying to create a play where I probably could have thrown the ball away or ran for extra yardage, two or three yards.

“Those guys are doing a heck of a job and they keep battling each and every week, and they’re improving, building chemistry, enjoying the game, having fun and just getting better.”

Watson has 1,246 passing yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions with a 93.7 passer rating. He has rushed for 161 yards and one score.

“I’m comfortable with my game,” Watson said. “I’m always trying to strive to get better, really just craft my game with the details, reading coverages, making the right reads, making the right throws, my accuracy. As far as feeling confident when I step on the field and being able to produce at a high level, I’m very cool with that.”

–When the Texans square off with the Cowboys, there will be more than Texas bragging rights on the line.

The friendly sibling rivalry between two brothers, Texans center Nick Martin and Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive guard Zack Martin, will be on display during a nationally televised game.

Zack Martin is one of the top guards in the game and signed a six-year, $84 million deal that included $40 million guaranteed this year.

Nick Martin is a former second-round draft pick from Notre Dame who’s establishing himself as one of the better young centers since recovering from a pair of ankle surgeries.

“It’s fun,” Nick Martin said. “It’s going to be cool. We’ve got a lot of family coming down. Playing against your brother in the NFL, it’s kind of a special thing.”

The two brothers were teammates in high school while growing up in Indianapolis at Notre Dame.

“I’ve learned a lot from him off the field, leadership qualities, film study,” Nick Martin said. “Very excited. We’ll definitely talk this week, but we don’t usually talk about the game.”

–Blending speed, power and a relentless style, Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL. Designated as the Cowboys’ franchise player, Lawrence leads the NFL with 5.5 sacks.

The 6-3, 265-pounder from Boise State tied for second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks last season and has recorded 29 career sacks four games into his fifth NFL season.

The Texans have allowed 17 sacks and 43 quarterback hits and will have their hands full in this blocking assignment against Lawrence.

“Great length, athleticism,” Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said. “He plays very hard, plays hard on every snap. He’s chasing the ball sideline to sideline, chasing the quarterback. He can wreck a game.”

BY THE NUMBERS: 172 — Times that Deshaun Watson is on pace to be hit this season.