Brock Osweiler was a replacement-level quarterback in seven starts last season for the Broncos. By definition, that's about average, which isn't a horrible assessment for a young quarterback in his first meaningful NFL action.

In the offseason, Osweiler -- partly because he didn't want to play in Peyton Manning's shadow -- bolted for the Texans, where he signed a four-year, $72 million deal. He was to be the next face of the franchise in Houston, an upgrade over the likes of predecessors Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden.

That was the hope, anyway.

Through three games, Osweiler can only aspire for replacement-level-ness. According to Football Outsiders' metrics, he's 27th among all quarterbacks in total value, behind such luminaries as Blake Bortles and Blaine Gabbert. In conventional terms, Osweiler is completing 59.6 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He's averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. By comparison, he completed 61.8 percent of his passes last season with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he averaged 7.2 yards per attempt.

The Texans are 2-1, but Osweiler is already being criticized for everything from his inability to read defenses to the choices he makes when he's under pressure. He finds all the armchair analysis quite humorous.

"I think that's hilarious, to be honest with you," he said, via the Houston Chronicle. "The critique comes from a whole lot of people that don't know my read on that play. They've probably never actually sat in an offensive meeting in their life, let alone a quarterback meeting in the National Football League."

Osweiler added: "That's why I don't look at Twitter. That's why -- no offense to anybody (media) in here -- I don't watch anything. I don't read anything."

Hey, that's Weeden's line!

Almost a year ago, when Weeden was still in Dallas (he's now Osweiler's backup in Houston), he had this to say about Twitter: "I deleted Twitter a long time ago. I don't do any of that crap. I just don't listen to it. ... I'm 32 years old. I don't need a 12-year-old telling me how to play quarterback."

Meanwhile, Osweiler isn't panicking.

"I feel like I've done a great job of progressing in this offense," he said. "I feel like I get better every week. I'm very comfortable with my reads. Certainly, I know I need to clean up my ball security issues of having four interceptions through three games, and that's something I will clean up."

In related news: Houston's offense ranks dead last in the league, behind the Jaguars and Rams.