The Houston Texans were pitiful with turnovers in 2020. The defense procured just nine throughout the 16-game season, the fewest in the NFL.
Houston’s defensive production was so dismal that the Texans not only did not retain Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator, but they also scrapped the 3-4 defense entirely. The scheme had been a part of the team’s identity going back to 2011 when first implemented under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in the Gary Kubiak era.
With new coach David Culley came a new defensive coordinator in Lovie Smith, who is putting the finishing touches on the team’s conversion to his Tampa 2 scheme.
The whole goal is to improve the defense, particularly in the takeaway department. In order to do, Smith has had to change the way the defense looks at turnovers.
“First off I think it’s a mindset,” Smith said. “Offense talks about turnovers, they turn it over. We, as a defense, you can’t wait for the offense to turn the ball over. You have to take it away. So, on defense, first off, the philosophy that it’s a takeaway, you have to take the way on the defensive side and then you got to practice it. Simple as that.”
The Texans have done a masterful job through the first two weeks of training camp in taking the ball away. Whether that is due to Smith’s philosophy or the natural progression of camp where the offense is behind the defense will be revealed over the course of preseason.
“An offensive person when you have completion say, ‘Okay, that’s a good catch,'” said Smith. “For us if they catch it, it’s a chance to take the ball away. It goes with that mindset. You just have to keep practicing it, like you practice tackling, like a receiver practice catching the ball, all of those things.”
The Texans will get their first chance to showcase an improved defense on Aug. 14 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field for the first preseason game since 2019.