BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
Houston Texans target important fixes ahead of divisional showdown with winless Jaguars
Sep 24, 2024, 12:10 pm
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans has some work to do. Composite Getty Image.
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter of Sunday’s rout by the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Texans were trying desperately to put points on the board before halftime to get back into the game.
The drive was going well, starting with a 19-yard reception by Stefon Diggs and later a 13-yard catch-and-run by Dare Ogunbowale for another first down.
Then facing a manageable third-and-4, the Texans were flagged for a false start. And then another one. And then a third. Finally, a fourth straight penalty — this one for an illegal formation — was declined by the Vikings to force one of three consecutive punts.
Sure, Minnesota played well, but as coach DeMeco Ryans said, “the Texans helped the Vikings a lot” in the 34-7 win.
The Texans had 11 penalties Sunday after committing 12 in Week 2.
“We didn’t do anything to help ourselves,” Ryans said. “Way too many penalties, again. That starts with me. That’s too many penalties. Back-to-back games over 10 penalties is unacceptable. You can’t win that way. When we have something positive going, we negate (it) by the penalties. That just zaps the energy out of everyone.”
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was the worst offender Sunday, committing a whopping six penalties, including five in the first half. He was called for three false starts and three illegal formation penalties. The nine-year veteran has nine penalties in three games.
“The pre-snap penalties, it’s all self-inflicted, so we have to take ownership of it,” Ryans said. “We all have to man up and be man enough to just do what we’re supposed to do and be where we’re supposed to be and play smart, clean football."
Andre Ware, the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner and longtime Texans’ radio color commentator, was outraged after one of Tunsil’s penalties.
“It’s every week, though!” he yelled on the broadcast. “You’re a Pro Bowl player! There’s no excuse for that! None.”
The penalties weren’t Houston’s only problem. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions after playing turnover-free football in the team’s first two wins.
“We weren’t executing, weren’t playing hard enough,” Stroud said. “It starts with me. Just got to be better. It’s something that I felt like can be fixed, so it’s nothing to hang our heads down about. But definitely can and will be better.”
What's working
Houston’s pass rush continues to be a strength. The Texans had five sacks Sunday after tying for the second-most sacks in franchise history with seven against the Bears.
What needs help
There’s a lot to choose from after a game like Sunday’s, but the most pressing issue must be eliminating pre-snap penalties.
Stroud said he doesn’t know why they’re struggling so much in that area but vowed to fix the problem.
“There has to be conversation away from the game and just meetings and just seeing what we can do to be better when it’s loud and how intentional we have to be in practice and things like that, just to get those things fixed,” he said. “We’re moving the ball, it’s just you’re kicking yourself out of the red zone and kicking opportunities, and it’s hard to live on third-and-plus-10.”
Stock up
Defensive tackle Tim Settle had a career-high two sacks Sunday after the seven-year veteran had just nine career sacks entering the game.
Stock down
As noted, Tunsil’s penalties were part of a series of miscues that doomed Houston’s offense. Long lauded for his pass protection skills, Tunsil often has struggled with pre-snap penalties, though never to this extent.
Injuries
RB Joe Mixon missed the game with an ankle injury. … RB Dameon Pierce was out for a second straight game against Minnesota with a hamstring injury. … WR Tank Dell looked to have injured his hand or wrist late in the game, but Ryans said he is expected to be fine.
Key number
266 – Stroud had thrown 266 passes without an interception before he was picked off on the team’s first drive on Sunday. It was a streak that dated back to Nov. 19, 2023, a span of nine games, including two in the postseason.
Next steps
The Texans will work to clean up their play and try to get the offense back on track when they return to division play with a visit from the Jaguars on Sunday.
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Coming off the bye week the Houston Texans received good news as both LB Christian Harris and LG Kenyon Green have been designated to return from injury.
The timing couldn't be better with Harris considering the loss of LB Azeez Al-Shaair, who was suspended for three games for his hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans hasn't announced a return to game action for Harris or Green, the plan is to see how they progress over the course of the week before making any decisions.
When joining the Texans YouTube channel this week, Ryans described Green as a “player that can move people in the run game,” but also acknowledged his issues in pass protection that need to be cleaned up.
While Green was only on the field for three of the whopping 8 sacks on CJ Stroud the last time he started a game, it must be pointed out that he was atrocious that Thursday night against the Jets.
And that was following up a game against the Colts that got him benched for his struggles. If not for Jarrett Patterson suffering a concussion against Indy, Green shouldn't have been on the field versus New York.
That's why Ryans' comments about Green returning are so concerning. “If he's ready to get back out there, I think he can help us,” said the Texans head coach.
To be fair, it's not like the Texans have had much success with Juice Scruggs at guard and Patterson at center. But at least they haven't been a complete disaster in pass protection like they were with Green in the lineup. Green was getting beat quick or missing assignments that led to immediate pressures and big hits on Stroud.
Ground and pound?
There's a narrative out there that Green is the better option when it comes to run blocking. But no matter how you frame it, he was one of the worst, if not the worst, guard in the NFL according to ProFootballFocus before suffering the injury.
Somehow that's supposed to change after returning from a dislocated shoulder? I don't buy it. And considering the Texans' upcoming schedule, they're probably going to struggle with running the ball against the Ravens, Chiefs, and Titans, whether he plays or not.
Those teams are strong against the run, and the Texans would be wise to try to beat them with the passing game, considering the matchup.
Another narrative out there is that GM Nick Caserio wants to give Green every possible opportunity to succeed because he spent a 1st-round pick on Green, and passed up several Pro Bowl players in doing so.
For me, that argument falls a bit flat. Caserio used a 2nd-round pick on Scruggs, so he has a lot invested in both players. However, Scruggs isn't without criticism. He's been an obvious weakness at guard, though he did play much better against the Jaguars last week. It's the Jags, read into that what you will. But Caserio did admit recently that Scruggs is a better center than guard.
Perhaps the plan is to put Scruggs back at center with Green returning. But that could spell trouble as well. The communication issues on the o-line seem to have improved with Patterson at center.
At the end of the day, the number one job for the o-line has to be protecting Stroud, who has been the second-most sacked QB this season (41).
He's taken a sack in every game this year, and has been sacked four or more times in six of thirteen games. Four of those six games featured Green as the starting guard.
Up next
Houston will get their first test after the bye week as they host the 6–7 Dolphins, who still have something to play for. Despite the Texans' up and down season, they can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Miami, and a loss from the Colts.