Houston Texans: QB Deshaun Watson shows he has lots to learn

DALLAS -- Scanning the field on the fly, Houston Texans rookie backup quarterback Deshaun Watson saw wide receiver Wendall Williams break open to his right.

It wasn't a terrible decision, but the accuracy wasn't there for the first-round draft pick from Clemson. Watson sailed the pass far too high.

The misfire became the first NFL interception for the former Heisman Trophy finalist and consensus All-America as New Orleans Saints cornerback Damian Swann picked him off.

Watson experienced a difficult learning curve during a generally rough outing against the Saints in a 13-0 shutout loss Saturday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Watson nearly had two other errant throws intercepted, but the Saints' defenders were unable to hold onto the football.

Watson finished the game 11 for 21 for 116 yards, no touchdowns, one interception for a 48.9 passer rating.

"It was alright," Watson said. "Overall, there's a lot of things to do to move the ball down the field and try to create some spark and get some points on the board, but it did not go our way. It's a good tape to learn from."

Operating with the Texans' reserves, Watson was pressured a lot by the Saints' front seven. He was sacked twice, including being blindsided once on a safety blitz by Rafael Bush where he absorbed a hard hit.

Watson rushed for 10 yards on two carries.

Watson has flashed athleticism and poise throughout the preseason. He made some nice plays against the Saints, improvising on the fly when pass protection broke down. Watson made plenty of good choices, but this wasn't a strong overall game for him.

This marked the second consecutive game, though, during which Watson had some issues. Watson completed only 3 of 10 passes against the New England Patriots a week ago.

"I thought there were some bright spots," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said. "They threw a lot of pressure at him, which is good for a rookie quarterback to see. I thought sometimes he handled it pretty well.

"He was able to throw the sight adjustment throw, the hot to a couple of guys. Other times maybe he missed it or maybe the receiver missed it. It's something where he's going to really watch the tape and really improve."

Through three preseason games, Watson has completed 29 of 56 passes (51.8 percent) for 397 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for a 67.3 passer rating. He's been sacked five times and has rushed for 44 yards and two touchdowns.

Watson is still adjusting to the increased speed of the NFL after dominating collegiate defenses, including Alabama in a BCS national championship victory, with his superior mobility and game-changing skills.

It was reinforced clearly on Saturday, though, that Watson still has some work to do as he continues to refine his skills at the professional level.

Tom Savage was named the Texans' starting quarterback even prior to Watson's arrival via the NFL draft.

What happened on the interception?

"A hook read, the ball was just a little too high and he tipped it," Watson said. "The guy made a good play."

Heading into the Texans' season opener Sept. 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson will continue to gain experience.

By all accounts, Watson has an outstanding work ethic and has quickly absorbed the Texans' playbook. He intends to learn from this game against the Saints and keep growing as a quarterback.

"Just overall being a better player, better teammate, better quarterback," Watson said. "Once I look at the film, I'll figure it out."