Tag: AFC South

Senior Bowl Notebook: Day 2 observations and confirmed meetings with Texans

Notes from the second day of practice at the Senior Bowl, including a bunch of confirmed prospect meetings for the Texans

The 2024 Senior Bowl raged on during Wednesday’s practice and the upcoming class of NFL draft prospects once again shined with opportunities against their peers.

Texans Wire’s own John Crumpler was on the ground to look at potential future additions for the Houston Texans and these were his notes from practice – with a particular focus on wide receivers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs.

How the Texans can improve their running game this offseason

The Texans face a pressing question heading into the offseason: How can Houston fix their run game?

Thirty-eight yards.

That’s how many rushing yards the Houston Texans left M&T Bank Stadium with after a devastating 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round.

Starting running back Devin Singletary had nine carries for just 22 yards. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was able to add nine more on scrambles while backup running back Dare Ogunbowale chipped in two carries for seven yards. Altogether, they had accounted for an abysmal ground performance that featured just one carry over 10 yards and left the passing game out to dry.

As such, it was no surprise what happened next. Houston was unable to manipulate any of Baltimore’s defensive looks and the variety of coverages and designer blitzes the Ravens proceeded to throw at Stroud were devastating. Houston scored only three offensive points the entire game.

It’s made the most pressing question for the Texans’ offseason a very apparent one to most fans as they transition towards free agency, the draft, and preparation for the 2024 season.

How can Houston fix their run game?

It’s going to be a multi-faceted question for head coach DeMeco Ryans, general manager Nick Caserio, and whoever is tasked to serve as Houston’s offensive coordinator in 2024. At this time, Bobby Slowik is still interviewing with multiple teams for their head coaching positions.

It’s likely that Slowik, an internal promotion such as quarterbacks coach Jerod Johnson, or another coach from the same style of offense that yielded Stroud his great success as a rookie. Under that scenario, the first thing that football operations may need to consider is simply patience.

Houston has multiple young offensive lineman on the roster that could potentially take leaps in 2024. Second-round pick Juice Scruggs will almost certainly improve as a second year NFL player and will have the added boost of being moved from left guard back to his natural position at center. Late round investments such as Jarrett Patterson and former Pittsburgh Steeler Kendrick Green showed promise prior to season ending injuries and will both play their second year in the system.

Finally, it would be amiss not to think about Kenyon Green. The former 15th overall pick in 2022 from Texas A&M, Green was drafted to be a tone-setting, run-mauling guard for head coach Lovie Smith’s team. He had a dreadful rookie season that was followed up by a sophomore campaign that never happened due to injury.

If Green is able to get healthy and play to the potential he was drafted, he could be exactly what the Texans need in 2024. There’s arguably no greater avenue for improvement than if their formerly elite prospect can become what draft pundits projected him to be.

Beyond the young players, history suggests everyone improves during Year 2 of the zone-based Shanahan scheme.

The 2018 San Francisco 49ers, 2020 Green Bay Packers, and 2023 Miami Dolphins all had enormous leaps in yards per carry during their second year under Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel, respectively. It’s a difficult scheme that both linemen and running backs naturally find more success in with more time to slow down and understand conceptually where the gains are going to come from.

Those factors alone, better health and expected internal improvement, are likely enough where Ryans and Slowik can expect to be better in 2024. That’s before factoring in potential external additions.

Houston has $72 million in salary cap space and it’s going to allow for a bevy of upgrades across the board. They also have a draft pick in every single round, including 23rd overall, and that could yield 2-3 new starters. There are significant needs on both sides of the football and it’s hard to imagine multiple investments that would aid the running game specifically, but a few are feasible.

The free agent running back class is a loaded one and includes names like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard. If the Texans want to make a splash and attempt to maximize their existing, expensive offensive line, plugging in a former All-Pro like Barkley or Jacobs would make a lot of sense. They could be asked to more reliably hit home runs while also picking up the available yardage they saw with Singletary in 2023.

A three-year, $30 million deal that expires as Stroud prepares to sign his quarterback extension could be the right type of deal for Houston to target for improving a “luxury” position like running back. The rival Indianapolis Colts recently completed a similar deal with their star back Jonathan Taylor.

Singletary could be a very affordable re-sign option for Houston, as well. He almost certainly would have topped 1,000 yards if the team had pivoted to his services earlier in the season. Whether it’s Singletary alone, or Singletary in conjunction with one of the names above, he could be part of a far more lethal 2024 rushing attack.

For the offensive line, it’s difficult to envision more huge investments considering what the team has already spent on their front-five. However, it’s possible they pursue a scheme specific fit as they did with Kendrick Green in the $3-6 million range in free agency for further competition at left guard.

Finally, the offense becoming more explosive will only help the run game as defenses are forced to account for the pass.

The team could make a big splash in free agency with a player such as Texas native Mike Evans or someone like Calvin Ridley. Caserio could also pursue a more affordable option such as former Bengal Tyler Boyd or former Commander Curtis Samuel. The draft also projects as a strong place for a receiver.

The Day 2 crop of receivers includes names like the Texas Longhorn duo Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, Washington’s James Polk and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley. All of them would provide an affordable option to plug in next to Nico Collins and Tank Dell for a more explosive passing offense.

None of this is a simple equation for the front office. There’s a risk/reward element to consider and lots of questions about resource allocation to answer as they look to create a more comprehensive 2024 offense. However, for fans, the optimism is readily apparent with multiple avenues that they can await that improvement.

4 offseason takeaways after the Texans’ divisional round loss

Before transitioning to the offseason, here are some takeaways from the AFC divisional round that the Texans should remember:

The Houston Texans season is over.

After a storybook run over former player and rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans, including likely Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year performances from first round picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson, their momentum came to a screeching halt on Saturday night in a 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Texans not only looked schematically outclassed but the talent differential between their own roster and the top of the AFC had never been more apparent all season. The few bright spots that Houston had ridden to 10-7 and an AFC South victory were totally focused on and exploited by John Harbaugh and the Ravens veteran staff.

Houston now transitions to a pivotal offseason. They’ll be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2024 and general manager Nick Caserio will be tasked with surrounding Stroud with talent that can compete with teams like Baltimore and Kansas City.

Before transitioning to the offseason, there are four upper-level takeaways from the AFC divisional round that the Texans should remember:

Best Houston Texans AFC South champions, NFL playoff gear

Gear up, Texans fans, and celebrate the Texans’ division title with new Houston swag.

The Houston Texans are playoff bound.

Are you ready?

The Texans capped off the 2023 regular season with a 10-7 overall record and the AFC South title. Their efforts were good enough to lock in the No. 4 seed in the AFC and a meeting with the Cleveland Browns in the upcoming Wild-Card round.

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It’s the first time since 2019 that Houston has both won the division and cracked the postseason.

While we wait and see how far the Texans will go now, it’s still the perfect time to show your Houston pride.

Get ready and gear up for the Texans’ upcoming postseason run by checking out some of best playoff shirts, hats and more below:

Houston Texans 2023 playoff gear:

Texans secure playoff spot with 23-19 win vs. Colts

The Texans defeated the Colts, 23-19, to secure a spot in the playoffs.

It was unimaginable a year ago.

The Houston Texans were the poster child for dysfunctional NFL franchises and had just lost the No. 1 overall pick on the road in Indianapolis. They fired their second consecutive head coach in as many seasons while many questioned how general manager Nick Caserio was retained in his position.

Fast forward a calendar year and the Texans face a different picture. Their rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, is one of the hottest stars in the league. Their new head coach, former star linebacker DeMeco Ryans, is one of the ascending stars in the coaching circle. Overall, they look like one of the more dangerous teams in their conference.

Most of all, the Texans are advancing to the AFC playoffs after a huge 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Receiver Nico Collins made a statement as a No. 1 receiver with an incredible performance that included nine receptions, 195 yards and one touchdown helping Stroud to a 264-yard and two-touchdown game. Their connection was highlighted early in the contest with an almost too easy 75-yard touchdown off play action from Stroud to Collins.

Running back Devin Singletary, despite a hefty effort from the Indianapolis defense, was able to pace the Houston offense. He totaled 24 carries for 63 yards and a pivotal fourth quarter touchdown. It was a key difference in how the team adapted from their earlier Week 2 loss to the same Colts team.

Defensively, despite Indianapolis outpacing the Texans in yardage (360 to 306), Houston was able to hold on when it counted most. The Colts were a measly 1-for-11 on third down and failed on a pivotal fourth down conversion late in the fourth quarter when running back Tyler Goodson dropped an off-target checkdown from quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Linebackers Blake Cashman and Christian Harris paced the team in tackles, with 13 and 12 respectively, while Harris gathered the team’s only sack of the entire evening.

It was the kind of game that summarized the story book season that Houston has gone through over the past few months. Now, the team will move past the story and into the reality of the AFC playoffs. They’ll either host the Cleveland Browns or travel to Buffalo to face the Bills or Kansas City to face the Chiefs, depending on the results of Sunday’s contest.

Regardless, this team has accomplished more than anyone could have anticipated. Their advancement after finishing in the bottom of the AFC the past three seasons is more than anyone could have hoped for. Now, they await Sunday’s results.

AFC South standings going into final week of season

The AFC South standings going into Week 18 of the 2023 season.

The Tennessee Titans had a chance to hurt the playoff hopes of one of their division rivals in Week 17 but failed to do so after dropping the contest against the Houston Texans, 26-3.

With the win, the Texans kept pace with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars beat the Carolina Panthers, 26-0, while the Colts emerged victorious over the Las Vegas Raiders, 23-20.

Despite having the same 9-7 record, the Jaguars remain atop the division over the Colts and Texans thanks to tie-breaker and can wrap up the AFC South in Week 18 with a win over the Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.

However, if the Jags were to lose to Tennessee, the AFC South would come down to the matchup between Houston and Indianapolis, which will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Now, a look at the AFC South standings going into the final week of the 2023 campaign.

Will Anderson Jr. sets Texans record, makes late push for Defensive Rookie of the Year

Will Anderson Jr. is making a late push for Defensive Rookie of the Year after setting a Texans record on Sunday

The Houston Texans have missed Will Anderson Jr.

They decided the pass rusher from Alabama could be a future face of their franchise when they selected him third overall in the 2023 NFL draft. General manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans’ faith was even further shown through the hefty trade price, including two first-round picks, they paid to move back into the top three after selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud.

By all accounts, his season to date had been a success. He had five sacks, 42 tackles and 56 quarterback pressures while playing a huge role in the Texans massive turnaround in run defense. Anderson had consistently shown the talent and explosiveness that captivated Houston’s coaching staff despite missing their Week 15 and 16 contests.

On Sunday, he added another feather in his cap.

Anderson had one of the best games of his young career against the Tennessee Titans. He gathered two sacks, both on the same drive, and six quarterback pressures while terrorizing both Will Levis and backup Ryan Tannehill. Per Next Gen Stats, Anderson had a pressure rate of 54.5%, affecting the quarterback on over half of his snaps played.

The performance was not only a huge boost for the Texans team hopes, as the win put them in position to clinch an AFC Wild Card spot if they can win their Week 18 finale in Indianapolis, but also gave him some personal accolades.

His seven sacks on the season passed Whitney Mercilus for the most by a Houston Texans rookie in franchise history. For comparison, franchise legend J.J. Watt had only 5.0 in his rookie campaign. It could have also helped him from a national perspective.

The Defensive Rookie of the Year award is far from a done contest, albeit Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is a huge betting favorite. Anderson’s two-sack performance allowed him to pass Carter in the category and his narrative as a compelling factor in Houston’s turnaround, in a potential playoff season, may be enough to capture voters.

Certainly, there are bigger concerns for Anderson than personal awards or franchise records. Houston fans, however, have to feel quite good that their team has incredible building blocks on both sides on the football. They’ll see next week whether or not it’s enough to make the AFC playoffs .

AFC South standings going into Week 16

The AFC South standings going into Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season.

The AFC South race is heating up after Week 15. Following the results of this past weekend, the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts now have identical 8-6 records with three games left to play.

Then you have the Tennessee Titans, who have officially been eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight season, which is the first time that has happened in the Mike Vrabel era.

The good news is, the path to a top-five pick is realistically there for the taking.

The Titans are one of five teams that own a record of 5-9 after 14 games. If things go their way, the Titans could pick as high as fourth overall when it’s all said and done.

The Titans were actually on the verge of securing their sixth victory of the year on Sunday, but sadly for them, they dropped a disappointing overtime game to a Texans team that was without a handful of key starters.

Tennessee had its fair share of positive moments, but not nearly enough to overcome horrendous play-calling, a disastrous offensive line, and an inconsistent defense.

The Colts beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by 17 points on Saturday afternoon, looking like a bona fide playoff contender in the process. Indy currently sits in the No. 7 seed in the AFC, one spot ahead of the Texans.

Lastly, the Jaguars lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, 23-7. The Jags managed to hold on to first place but they’ve now opened up the door for the Colts and Texans to possibly win the division over the final three weeks.

Now that all of that has been covered, let’s find out exactly where all four teams stand heading into Week 16.

Texans turn to Davis Mills at a crucial crossroads

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills has a chance to truly be the hero for once in a meaningful way.

Davis Mills has been here before.

It was just one year ago that Mills was set to start Houston’s pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The game carried a great deal of importance – the opportunity for the Texans to secure the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Rather than fold as a two-win team, Mills led the greatest scoring drive of his young career. His 298 yard, 3 touchdown and 2 interception performance fueled Houston to a thrilling Hail Mary finish and the subsequent two-point conversion to Jordan Akins gave Houston a 32-31 victory and a 3-13-1 record. In the process, they sacrificed the first selection to Chicago.

The series of events altered the course of Houston’s franchise. DeMeco Ryans was hired as coach of the Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud was selected rather than league favorite Bryce Young, and the rest is history.

How much ground are Texans losing with QB Davis Mills?

The Houston Texans are no doubt getting a downgrade at QB in Week 15, but how far is the chasm between C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills?

When an NFL team goes from their starting quarterback to second string, they have to adjust to a stepdown at the position.

Such is the case with the Houston Texans. As rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is stuck in the concussion protocol, the Texans will rely on third-year Davis Mills to guide the offense against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the Texans are going to put the 24th-best quarterback under center at Nissan Stadium for the 12:00 p.m. Central Time kickoff.

C.J. Stroud would represent the Texans in the top 10, but the standout rookie is in concussion protocol after exiting Week 14 against the Jets. Mills, meanwhile, has plenty of starting experience, but he’s been more prone to untimely giveaways.

From top-10 to No. 24 — such is the perception of talent lost between Stroud and Mills.

The former third-rounder from Stanford went 17-of-28 for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in Houston’s 19-14 win over Tennessee last year in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium. Mills has shown the ability to beat the Titans on the road in December once before.

Across the rest of the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence came in at No. 13 with the Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis following directly behind. The Indianapolis Colts’ Gardner Minshew was No. 22.

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