The stages of suck moves on to week ten with another subject of focus. With most things, the fanbase is likely in the questioning stage with DeMeco Ryans. No one is ready to pull the plug, but there is some serious side eye going on. One of the hallmarks of Ryans’ first two seasons was a sparkling record in one score games. Every win seemed to be close and they almost always found a way to pull out the close ones. The Texans are now 0-5 in one score games on the season. So, that brings the obvious question for today.
Is this bad luck, regression to the mean, or are there systemic issues with the way DeMeco Ryans runs his team?
Clayton A: DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio whiffed on the offensive teardown and reconstruction. Literally, a competent offensive operation has them sitting 6-2 right now. The Texans right now own the 3rd worst (29th) TD rate via the run with 3 TDs, the 9th worst rate (23rd) TD rate via the pass with 11 TDs, and their 42.11% red zone touchdown rate is the 2nd worst in the NFL (31st).
Systemically, the personnel leaves a lot to be desired. However, it’s hard to gauge how ineffective they truly are when you’re seemingly made one of the worst OC decisions this side of Nathaniel Hackett and/or Adam Gase. The point of firing Slowik was to get better, not regress to the bottom of the league. If this continues, not only will both Nicks be in trouble, but DeMeco’s seat could get warmer if it’s perceived that he can’t put a competitive staff together with a rookie QB contract and a Super Bowl caliber defense.
L4blitzer: Probably a combination of factors. Given the fortune that Houston had in 2023, it probably figured to start reverting back to the mean, which is did in the later stages of last season. Now, we probably have swung far down to the negative, being 0-5 in one score games. Biggest factor, which is not going to be a shock to anyone, is the offensive struggles. Sure, the defense surrendered two walk-off drives at home this year, but especially this past week, the offense did them no favors. Then again, most of the games under Ryans’ regime tend to come down to the wire, usually with the Most Interesting Defense in the World called upon to hold off a threat. Especially if a team is strong on one side of the ball but far weaker on the other, you will get these kinds of scenarios. Can it be fixed? You don’t fix “luck”, but if the offense could execute better in the Red Zone opportunities, it might go a long way towards reversing the downward trend on one-score contests.
Kenneth L.: Honestly its a ton of ineptitude in critical moments. Lack of confidence in execution. No grit on offense. Houston is the only team in the NFL without a TD inside the two yard line. That wouldn’t be the case with Joe Mixon. There’s no assurance and only over-thinking that occurs when its go-time at the goal line. Absurd and disappointing.
Mike Bullock: Systemic issue is allowing Nick Caley to call plays. This stems from allowing Nick Caley to run the offense, which stems from a faulty interview process that did not actually identify the best possible candidate, but instead seems to have been set to “Patriots South Nepotism.”
Pull the fuse on that circuit and DeMeco can right the ship. Otherwise all those icebergs between the two yard line and endzone will keep sinking the Texans Titanic Touchdown efforts.
FizzyJoe: I think this both regression to the mean and Ryans fomenting systemic issues with the team. I have a hard time putting any blame on Ryans since he passes most head coach criteria with flying colors, but the demand to be a “tougher” team up front definitely sealed Houston’s fate in a pivotal game with the Broncos. Failing to punch in a touchdown from the one yard line multiple times is a coaching error. Similarly, if Davis Mills skittishness in the second half can be attributed to “rustiness,” that is a failure of the head coach to keep all of his players ready for the game.
But, deferring to the improvement Houston has made on the penalty front this year compared to last, and the gradual embrace of Ryans’ “swarm” mentality on defense (especially amongst the rookies) will show evidence of his coaching style working successfully. Clearly the players are listening to him, believe in his philosophy, and are seeing positive improvements as they continue to work with him as a group. But, and this may seem a little out of left field, what has happed to Dameon Pierce during Ryans’ tenure? Even though Ryans doesn’t have much to do with the offense directly, most players on that side of the ball have improved during his time in Houston…except for Pierce. If there’s one player that I could’ve seen embodying the “swarm” mentality on offense, it’s Pierce. But, because of the reasons both in and out of control of Ryans, he failed to take the next step.
Vballretired: I should start by saying I am still a Ryans guy. Too many NFL teams fail to gain any traction because they give up on coaches too easily. I see him as a Mike Tomlin type of coach, but even Tomlin has his detractors. I think the biggest cracks showed this week in his responses to what was happening in the game. As a former coach, I get the desire to play the kind of ball you want to play. I fully get that. I had a brand of volleyball I wanted to play. If my players weren’t up to that task it was my job to find another way. Sure, I would love a team that can line up at the one yard line and shove it down your throat. The Texans aren’t that team right now. I respect getting the ball back with over a minute and wanting to be aggressive. Yet, you have to watch the way the game is going and make adjustments accordingly. It is one thing to say you have confidence in your guys in public. I am all for that. It is another to ignore the obvious on game day. The next time the OC calls for a run at the one behind left guard I’m ripping the headset off of him and telling him to go to the locker room. I’m telling C.J. or Davis to run something else. Anything else. It certainly isn’t going to be a QB sneak from the two yard line. Listen, I get it. Sometimes you are dealt a lousy hand personnel wise. I fully recognize the difficulty of that. Yet, you can continue to run what you know won’t work or you can literally try anything else.