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Why latest revelation about Houston Texans defense is a good thing
Jun 9, 2023, 3:41 pm
DeMeco is in full control. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
DeMeco says he will be calling the defense this year
2023 is shaping up to be the start of a wonderful thing here in Houston sports. The Astros are still rolling. Their dynasty isn't over as some outside the city would hope. The Rockets have a new no-nonsense coach who's poised to take this young franchise to the next level. However, football is king here. What the Texans are building has great potential. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was brought back home to help finish facilitating the turnaround of a once promising franchise that took an unexpected nosedive due to some sketchy circumstances.
As a former linebacker as a player, his transition to defensive coach, then coordinator, and now head coach isn't surprising to those that have followed him. Former coaches, teammates, and others who know DeMeco have long said this is where he would end up. Getting his first head coaching gig with the team who drafted him is a full circle moment. He has the defensive acumen and coaching chops to turn guys once cast aside into All Pros. Fred Warner was a former third round pick that turned into an All Pro and credited DeMeco with that turnaround and got emotional talking about his departure from the 49ers as his defensive coordinator.
When DeMeco answered the question that he will be calling the defense this year, I think a collective sigh of relief was heard. Fans were the main ones wondering. Some media folks have speculated as well. While Matt Burke has a good track record of coaching in the league consistently since 2004, him calling plays seems as if it made people nervous. The announcement doesn't mean Burke isn't trustworthy, or qualified. It also doesn't mean this is how things will stay. But this is how things will start and I'm here for it.
DeMeco will start calling plays in order to establish what he wants to see from the defense. My assumption is that when/if Burke gets accustomed to how DeMeco wants things done, the reins will be turned over to him so DeMeco can concentrate his focus elsewhere. Offensive coaches are notorious for calling their own plays. Some defensive coaches do as well. Helping establish his team's identity in his first year as a head coach is brilliant. Especially on the side of the ball where he made his name.
This is something that could have ripple effects moving forward. I can imagine him being more heavily involved on both sides of the ball once things get rolling. His focus will shift from defensive heavy, to more of an all around look. DeMeco seems like the type of guy who's hired coaches he wants that'll help develop players, establish his type of culture, and will ensure their guys compete hard every week. This is also why I knew he'd hire a 49ers staffer to run the offense. He's seen what that offense can do. He knows how well his defense works with that offensive scheme. Pressure, tempo, and conditioning are factors that both sides of the ball need to share philosophy on. If the offense is more uptempo, the defense needs to be better conditioned, and vice versa. If your offense slows the game down, your defense can play more wild and free since they won't be on the field as much.
See how these things go hand in hand? With a rookie quarterback, young pieces around him, and a first time offensive coordinator, it makes sense that he wants to take the reins of the defense. It'll help offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, CJ Stroud, and the offense. Bobby and DeMeco worked together in San Francisco and have familiarity. Burke was with the Cardinals and Jets the past couple seasons. He's game planned against them one season and worked under their former defensive coordinator another season. This is why they may not be as intimately familiar with each other's styles. Matching styles on both sides of the ball matters. Over time, everyone will be familiar with one another. Whether DeMeco continues to call plays, or Burke takes over, I think the biggest thing fans should look at is how they develop players. Who calls plays means nothing if you don't have the talent to execute them. (Side eye to the GM because he needs to continue to acquire talent.)
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A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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