NEW-LOOK DEFENSE
It sure sounds like Jadeveon Clowney is a good fit for DeMeco's defense
May 24, 2023, 3:23 pm
DeMeco laid out what he looks for in a defensive lineman. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.
The Houston Texans are all in on the future. That includes on offense, defense and everything else in between under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
“It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. Whatever happened here, doesn’t matter,” Ryans told reporters on Tuesday. “We are starting brand new right now, and we will create our own path. We will set our own path. That is what it will be about. It will be about the 2023 Texans.”
When it comes to the Texans’ defense, which is the calling card for Houston’s new head coach, there is a brand-new sense of enthusiasm revolving around the unit.
“A lot of familiar faces but I would just say new energy,” said second-year safety Jalen Pitre when asked about the difference in the defense this year. “There [are] a couple new faces and obviously we have a new coach and defensive staff, so I would just say new energy.”
Since taking the reins of the Texans, Ryans has reiterated his vision for the characteristics he is looking for in players on the team. Ryans repeated that message this week when he focused on a specific position group.
“[For the] defensive line we want guys who are explosive, guys who are physical, guys who can set the edge, guys who can get after the quarterback,” Ryans said. “That is what we are looking for.”
Ryans was also asked about a potential reunion with the 2014 No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. The defensive lineman was drafted by the Texans and later traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. Clowney recently appeared to open the door at a potential reunion.
Clowney played just one season with the Seahawks before spending another season in Tennessee with the Titans and has spent the previous two with the Cleveland Browns. He had nine sacks in 14 games for the Browns in 2021. The former South Carolina Gamecock played in 12 games for Cleveland last season and only had two sacks.
Ryans left the door open on Tuesday, but he was as vague as a head coach tends to be when asked directly about Clowney.
“We will always look at any players that can help us win, so we will explore all options,” Ryans said.
Clowney is definitely a defensive lineman that can set an edge, be physical and chase after the quarterback. He would also add more depth and competition among the group for Houston, but only time will tell if Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio choose to bring him back.
For now, Houston is excited about its current core of players. Ryans said Pitre and 2022 No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr. fit any defense because they are both playmakers and instinctive.
“They like to play with their hair on fire,” Ryans said.
That was the phrase of the day on Tuesday. Pitre used the same words to describe both safety Jimmie Ward and 2023 No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson Jr. when asked about them.
With voluntary organized team activities in full swing, the Texans are looking to flip the page on the past few seasons and write a new chapter in the franchise’s 21-year history.
“It feels like it is fresh air, just a great time to be in Houston,” Pitre said. “You know we are trying to bring that feeling back and trying to just continue to stack days and get better. We are not really trying to look forward to anything but we are trying to take it one day at a time and continue to improve on a day-to-day basis.”
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The Houston Texans were trailing 6-0 and facing third-and-16 from their 17 late in the first half of their wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers when quarterback C.J. Stroud fumbled the snap.
The play looked to be heading for disaster. But instead, Stroud grabbed the ball and evaded the rush to find Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.
The Texans went on to score a touchdown on that drive as the first of 23 straight points as they rallied for a 32-12 win.
They’ve advanced to the divisional round for a second straight season where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
Coach DeMeco Ryans called Stroud salvaging that play the play of the game and raved about his second-year quarterback.
“That’s what it looks like when your best players step up and make the plays,” Ryans said. “That’s what playoff football is about. That’s what being a big-time player in the league is about.”
Even after he made the play, Stroud was unhappy because he fumbled the snap. But he felt much better when he looked to his sideline after the throw.
“And everybody was turned up, and that turned me up, because I was still kind of mad at myself,” he said. “Those are the type of plays that change momentum, and a team can rally around plays like that.”
Stroud threw for 282 yards with a touchdown pass to Nico Collins and an interception. He joined Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, the New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez, Seattle’s Russell Wilson and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy as quarterbacks to win playoff starts in each of their first two seasons.
Stroud also ran for 42 yards, highlighted by a career-long 27-yard run to help set up a field goal that put the Texans up 10-6 at halftime.
Stroud, who is not known for his scrambling ability joked about his “slow speed.”
He said the long run energized him.
“I felt my joy coming back after I got up, and it’s just one the best feelings in the world,” he said. “After you make a play, you’re just turned up and your teammates are turned up with you. That’s one of the best feelings in the world. I think that gave our team juice. I think me using my legs is definitely going to be helpful this postseason.”
Ryans was thrilled to see Stroud doing whatever he had to do to lift his team to the victory.
“That’s what you call (putting) the team on your back,” he said.
What’s working
The Texans intercepted Justin Herbert a career-high four times after he had thrown just three interceptions all season. All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley had two picks and Eric Murray returned one 38 yards for a touchdown. Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the other interception to join J.J. Watt as the only rookies in franchise history to have an interception in a playoff game.
Houston’s four interceptions are a franchise record for a playoff game and Murray’s interception return for a score was the fourth in the postseason in team history.
What needs help
For the Texans to have a chance against the Chiefs, they’ll have to take better care of the ball after committing three turnovers Saturday.
John Metchie fumbled after a catch on Houston’s first offensive play. Stroud threw an interception in the second quarter and Joe Mixon lost a fumble early in the third quarter.
Stock up
CB D’Angelo Ross was a special teams star Saturday. He blocked a punt in the first quarter before returning a blocked extra point for two points in the fourth.
The blocked punt was the first in a playoff game since the 2021 season and the PAT return was the first in NFL playoff history.
Stock down
LG Tytus Howard gave up a sack and had two penalties Saturday.
Injuries
The Texans didn’t have any injuries in Saturday’s game.
Key number
168 — Houston’s 168 yards rushing Saturday were the second most in a playoff game in franchise history behind the 188 the team gained in its first-ever postseason game in 2012. Mixon led the way with 106 yards for his eighth 100-yard game this season.
Up next
The Texans play in the divisional round for the sixth time in franchise history where a win will earn them their first trip to the AFC championship game.