STOP THE RUN!
The time is now for Whitney Mercilus to step up for the Texans
Oct 2, 2020, 10:19 am
It's now or never. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
The Houston Texans defenders will have their hands full against the Minnesota Vikings, noon Sunday at NRG Stadium.
Both teams are in a "must-win" situation entering the game with distressing 0-3 marks.
Vikings offensive coordinator and former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak will look to use their vicious run attack (146.7 rushing yards per game) to assault the Texans frontline that has given up 160 or more rushing yards in each game this season.
History buffs will note the last time the Texans did this was 2008.
Much of the Vikings run workload will be on the back of Dalvin Cook, coming off a career performance, 181 yards on 22 carries, including a 39-yard touchdown.
Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has yet to muster a scheme to stop the run. The defense has allowed 4.49 yards per carry playing in 4-3 (base), and 6.19 yards per carry in nickel. These numbers demonstrate issues defending the run, with Whitney Mercilus as a prime culprit.
For the Texans to have a chance Sunday, it's time for Mercilus to step up and prove he's worth the 4-year 54 million dollar contact Bill O'Brien signed him to this past off-season. Against the Steelers last week, Mercilus failed to set the edge against the run, the third game in a row he's failed to get the job done. With only five solo tackles on the year and no quarterback hits, Texans fans' patience is running short with Mercilus.
It is clear that O'Brien is missing tackle D.J. Reader as part of the box that could slow a heavy run game. O'Brien obviously valued Mercilus over Reader, who left the Texans to sign an almost identical contract with the Bengals (Four-year 53 million).
One strategy that has been floated in preparing for Minnesota is loading the box with safety Justin Reid to shadow Dalvin Cook.
If the Texans had another veteran in the secondary this could be a workable proposal (cough cough Earl Thomas), but seriously they don't have another skill player in the secondary that can be trusted to defend deep pass routes.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is starting to develop chemistry with former national champion LSU burner Justin Jefferson. Cousins has connected with Jefferson 12 times for 245 yards and a touchdown in just three weeks with the rookie.
Jefferson and Pro-Bowl receiver Adam Thielen rank fourth and fifth in Pro Football Focus' Week 4 wide receiver grades. Texans cornerback Gareon Conley remains unavailable, but the young secondary has stayed consistent, ranking fourth in the league in efficiency against the deep ball. Regardless, Texans safety Justin Reid needs to hang back to lock down deep threats against Cousins and his core of receivers. Weaver should plan to have linebackers Zach Cunningham (team leader in tackles) and Bernardrick McKinney stack the box to contain Cook. Hopefully Mercilus shows up to the party.
Hopeful: Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu returned to practice Thursday after nursing a knee injury. Omenihu's return will be an essential cog to stopping the run and applying pressure on Cousins. Omenihu is tied with J.J. Watt for team leader in sacks (2).
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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.