Houston Texans looking to add exciting, familiar names to staff
TEXANS NEWS
13 February 2023
TEXANS NEWS
According to multiple reports, the Houston Texans are hiring 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik to be the team's offensive coordinator.
The #Texans are hiring Bobby Slowik as their offensive coordinator, per sources.
Slowik and DeMeco Ryans spent the past six seasons together in San Francisco, both starting their NFL coaching careers as defensive quality controls. Now, Ryans brings Slowik along as OC. pic.twitter.com/8r3MfmtlyT
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2023
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans is very familiar with Slowik, as they have worked together for six seasons in San Francisco. The Texans interviewed former Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury for the OC position on Friday, but ultimately decided to go with Slowik. Former Texans OC Pep Hamilton has been let go.
A player many Aggie fans will be familiar with, Jerrod Johnson, has been selected to be the team's next quarterbacks coach, per sources.
The #Texans are hiring Jerrod Johnson as QBs coach, sources say. The Houston native, an #Eagles undrafted free agent as a player, is on the rise as a coach and takes a step up after serving as the #Vikings’ assistant QBs coach this past season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 12, 2023
The 34-year-old Houston native was the Minnesota Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach last season.
The Texans are also reportedly trying to hire Klint Kubiak to be the team's run game coordinator, though it is not a done deal, per John McClain.
I feel I should reiterate the tweet I sent Sunday: The Texans have NOT hired Klint Kubiak. They're trying, but he has options. It's not a done deal. I jumped the gun saying they were "hiring him." And I apologize!
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) February 13, 2023
Kubiak was the Broncos passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season. Before that, he was the Vikings quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2020. He was then promoted to Vikings OC in 2021.
On defense, the team announced former Cardinals D-line coach Matt Burke will be the new DC, and Frank Ross will stay on the staff and continue coaching special teams.
One of the nuggets that came out of Nick Caserio's press conference this week, was his thoughts on the job Bobby Slowik has done as an offensive coordinator. When asked if the team has considered sharing the offensive play calling, Caseiro responded with an emphatic, “absolutely not.”
Caserio went on to praise the job Slowik has done this year, and to say the team's struggles in the second half this season is due to execution.
This stance is consistent with what we've heard from Texans insiders that believe Slowik will be back next season. As much as many Texans fans believe a change at OC could help CJ Stroud, who's shown regression this year, it doesn't appear Slowik is going anywhere.
To be fair, most teams aren't looking to replace their coordinators when they're leading their division and marching toward the postseason for the second straight year.
Number crunching
When comparing Stroud's stats to last season, there is a clear dropoff in 2024. But a lot of that has to do with the addition of Joe Mixon, especially when it comes to touchdowns.
Mixon is third in the NFL with 11 rushing TDs, while Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary only combined for 6 over the entire 2023 season. One could argue the passing offense has regressed, but one could also argue the offense overall is more balanced.
Stroud is still Top 5 in passing yards, heading into this week's games. And even if we account for the bye week, Stroud will still be Top 10 after this week's slate of games.
The most concerning number to keep an eye on is sacks. Only one QB has been sacked more than Stroud, who's been sacked 41 times. CJ's protection has gotten better since Juice Scruggs was moved to guard, and Jarrett Patterson was inserted at center.
If Stroud starts getting hit again at a high level, that may be the one factor that could make the front office rethink their plans at coordinator. However, if the Texans do make a change, we expect them to address their o-line coach before any changes at OC.
Be sure to watch the video above for our full breakdown of the Texans offense, the coaching staff, and our thoughts on how the Azeez Al-Shaair suspension will impact the team.