TEXANS GET A MUCH-NEEDED WIN
8 important takeaways from Lovie Smith's Week 5 Houston Texans presser
Oct 10, 2022, 3:27 pm
Lovie Smith recaps Week 5 | Houston Texans Press Conference
The Houston Texans recorded their first win of the season on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning 13-6. Here are some thoughts on head coach Lovie Smith's Monday press conference with the media.
1. The Texans are undefeated in the AFC South. Lovie made this point during presser, and while it is factually correct, let's pump the brakes and just enjoy the win. The Texans only managed one touchdown against the Jags and sit at 1-3-1 on the season.
2. Davis Mills is still a problem. Out of five games this season, twice now, Davis Mills has thrown for under 178 yards and recorded zero touchdowns. Mills missed several throws on Sunday, and was lucky to have running back Dameon Pierce save the day. Coach Smith said he likes the way Mills is trending. To be fair, bad QB play wasn't just a Houston thing. Trevor Lawrence looked awful on Sunday.
3. Speaking of Dameon Pierce. Lovie told the media that the team loved him from the start, and they like the way he is trending. Pierce made the play of the game, breaking 8 tackles on a twenty-yard run and was able to finish off the drive with a 1-yard TD run two plays later. Pierce rushed for 99 yards on 26 carries with 3 catches for 14 yards. Pierce's game-breaking run was called a "coach's dream" by Lovie Smith.
4. The Texans have an identity. Houston's win over the Jags is an example of how they want to play/win as a team. The Texans want to establish themselves as a running team, and running the football is how they got their first win of the season.
5. Nico Collins needs to be more involved in the offense. Collins made a big catch on 3rd and 2 with a little over 8 minutes left in the game. This drive eventually led to Pierce's legendary run down to the 1-yard line. Collins finished with 65 yards on 4 catches against Jacksonville. Lovie told the media on Monday that Collins needs to get more opportunities, and that might come at the expense of other players. Personally, I hope that means less targets to Rex Burkhead, that typically result in the Texans picking up two yards on third down, and then having to punt.
6. Derek Stingley Jr. got his first interception. Lovie mentioned Stingley's ability to play man coverage and zone, and that more interceptions occur in zone when defenders have their eyes on the QB. Coach Smith also praised the play of corners Steven Nelson and Desmond King.
7. The team was happy with the offensive tackles on Sunday. Lovie made the point that the Jaguars have some pass rushers that went very early in the draft, and he thought his tackles did a nice job blocking them. Dameon Pierce also gave the football to Laremy Tunsil to spike in the end zone after scoring in the fourth quarter. Clearly, Tunsil appreciated that. Check out this retweet about Dameon Pierce.
Bro 🤯 https://t.co/J1ABSWBenS
— Laremy Tunsil (@KingTunsil78) October 10, 2022
8. Garrett Wallow showed some flashes at linebacker. Coach Smith said Wallow played excellent on Sunday and that he's been good when he plays. Avoiding injury will be key for him. Also, look for the team to keep trying things at linebacker. Smith said they would like to see some improvement at the position. Christian Harris is also a player to watch as the Texans look for answers at linebacker. He might be ready to make his debut in the Texans next game against the Raiders on Oct 23.
Be sure to check out the video above to hear Lovie's complete thoughts on the big win.
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.