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Future Hall of Famer raves about Texans scoring big with DeMeco Ryans
Jul 13, 2023, 5:43 pm
Trent Williams loves the Texans' hire of DeMeco Ryans. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
Every new season brings new hope. Every team starts 0-0. There's renewed visions/delusions of grandeur. The Texans have hit the ground running this offseason. They're clearly on the road to recovery as a franchise. Gone are the depths of despair from the past few seasons. On the horizon are winning days, playoff appearances and more. The main reason for this optimism is new head coach DeMeco Ryans.
As a former player, DeMeco was always thought of to be a head coaching candidate. As he ascended the coaching ranks, he made quite the impact on his players. Take these tidbits from Fred Warner as a prime example:
Player development. That's the name of the game when you're trying to amass as much talent as possible in as short of time as possible to start a winning program. Teams won't always have cap space and draft capital to replenish their rosters. They have to get creative with coaching schemes as well. This reason is why I've always believed offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was such an important hire. Here are my exact words from the column I wrote after the coaching staff was announced:
“Slowik is the one everybody is really looking at. As the offensive coordinator, he's expected to help guide the incoming rookie quarterback. As they interviewed head coaching candidates, the Texans let them know they intend to take a quarterback with the number two overall pick. That tidbit of info led me to believe the offensive coordinator hire is almost more important than DeMeco's hire. Almost. Key word. If Slowik develops this rookie quarterback into a top 10-15 guy within two years and the offense ranks in the same range, he'll be highly sought after.”
The way the game is being coached, played, and teams are being built today, offenses are taking more precedence. Slowik's work will be under a microscope. With the pieces in place on both sides of the ball, I think he'll succeed. Need more proof? Here's what 49er All Pro left tackle Trent Williams had to say about him:
Calling him “a brilliant mind” is very high praise from a former player and future Hall of Famer. You require those kinds of coaches on your staff. Hell, you need those kinds of people around you in life period! Having coaches like that on your staff that have had success in their previous stops AND have former players talk about them like that is how you start something special. General Manager Nick Caserio has to continue to supply the groceries so these chefs can continue to cook. The good thing is, these are the kinds of chefs that can take whatever you have in the kitchen and make a damn good meal!
DeMeco is a charismatic guy who can be the face of this franchise if necessary. CJ Stroud is the rookie quarterback who could eventually be that guy. If/when he is, Slowik will be the one to lead him to the Promised Land. When I said he'll be a sought after coach if he gets this offense ranked near the top half of the league, I wasn't joking. This team has been ranked near the bottom for too long. Any improvement will get eyes pointed and heads turning.
Where I think Slowik will show his genius is covering up certain deficiencies. A rookie QB behind a decent offensive line, with a good run game and some decent receivers, isn't exactly what some would call a supercar offense. This isn't the Chiefs and I'm not expecting them to be anywhere near that this soon. All they have to do is look competent and be competitive to improve. Anything beyond that will get people noticing much sooner. This is why I say they'll win at least six games this season, maybe more. The defense will play much better and this offense already has a ton more talent and creativity. It's time for Slow to move fast and get this offense in high gear. I'm ready to watch them work!
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Oct 22, 2024, 3:10 pm
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.