Tag: Texans run defense

Texans’ Anthony Weaver expects Bears run game to improve in Week 14

The Houston Texans know they will get the best from the Chicago Bears when it comes to the NFC North’s rushing offense.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is not taking the Chicago Bears run game lightly.

Though the 5-7 club from the NFC North is tied for the ninth-fewest yards per carry at 4.0 and also has the second-fewest rushing yards with 1,043, Weaver expects the Bears to commit to the run in their Week 14 encounter Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field.

“I expect them to try to commit to the run probably a little bit more than they have been in the past,” Weaver said. “Right now, they’re last in attempts in the league (264). They only average around some 87 yards per game, but I think if you look at it from a matchup perspective and when you see us and where we’re ranked statistically, you’ve got to think they’re going to try to go in and test the waters.”

The Texans run defense invites Chicago to give their run game a shot. Houston gives up the second-most rushing yards per game at 150.9 and the second-most yards per carry at 4.9.

“I expect them to go in and try to run the ball early and hopefully we do a good job of deterring that and making them put the ball in the air,” Weaver said.

[listicle id=57178]

Romeo Crennel: Texans won’t have to change much to stop Jaguars RB James Robinson

The Houston Texans won’t need to alter much of their game plan to stifle Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back James Robinson.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the undrafted steals of the year in running back James Robinson.

In the Week 5 matchup, the rookie from Illinois State collected 48 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 22 yards. The Texans even made the rookie fumble while bottling him up throughout the 30-14 win at NRG Stadium.

As the Texans get ready to close out the season series with the Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at TIAA Bank Field, interim coach Romeo Crennel says the defense won’t have to adjust much of their game plan to contain Robinson.

“I don’t think that we have to change,” Crennel said. “I think we have to continue to do what we did in that game to slow him down. Now knowing that he’s gotten better, so we’re going to have to be better in trying to stop him, as well. That comes down to that discipline.”

Robinson produced 119 yards and a touchdowns on 22 carries along with catching four passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 39-29 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, just before Jacksonville’s bye week.

Regardless of who the running back is, Crennel has had to stress to his players that assignment discipline is the name of the game.

Said Crennel: “I’ve talked to these guys about all the time is the discipline of doing your job first, and then trying to help out and not jumping off blocks too soon, which creates seams. If we don’t create seams, then we have a better chance of slowing down the run.”

If the Texans can slow down Robinson, it will put the onus on sixth-round rookie quarterback Jake Luton, who will be making his first career start, to win the game, which is a tough proposition given Crennel is 12-2 against rookie quarterbacks since 2014, postseason included.

[vertical-gallery id=55532]

Can Texans ILB Zach Cunningham make the Pro Bowl in 2020?

Houston Texans inside linebacker Zach Cunningham was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2019. Can the former 2017 second-round pick earn his first career nod?

Houston Texans inside linebacker Zach Cunningham was so close to earning his first career Pro Bowl in 2019.

The former 2017 second-round pick from Vanderbilt tallied 142 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries, but was only considered as a Pro Bowl alternate. The Indianapolis Colts’ Darius Leonard, the New England Patriots’ Dont’a Hightower, and the Buffalo Bills’ Tremaine Edwards held down the middle linebacker spots on the AFC’s roster.

However, new data from Pro Football Focus indicates how dominant Cunningham is at his job. The football scouting firm posted the top-4 linebackers with run stops in 2019, and Cunningham was atop the list with 47.

It is one thing to be in a category with Luke Kuechly, Bobby Wagner, and Joe Schobert. It is another to lead them in said category.

Part of the Pro Bowl selection process is a popularity contest. Leonard, Hightower, and Edwards play for clubs with entrenched, loyal fan bases. However, these players also are involved in numerous splash plays defensively that drive up their stock.

Leonard produced 5.0 sacks along with his five interceptions, including a pick-six, and two forced fumbles. Hightower had 5.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. Edwards was the closest to Cunningham in terms of splash plays as he had one interception and nine pass breakups.

Assistant head coach Romeo Crennel believes Cunningham will improve in his fourth season, the final year of his rookie contract.

“Every year guys make progress in the league, and the longer you play, the more progress you can make,” Crennel told reporters on Jan. 9. “I think that what we’re seeing is we’re seeing that progress occur with him from year one, to year two, to year three. He’s got a good football sense, he works hard and puts himself in position to make the plays.”

Cunningham was close a season ago. If he adds takeaways or sacks to his stats in 2020, a Pro Bowl selection should be in his future.

Stopping the Colts’ front is the first key for the Texans’ run defense

The Houston Texans are preparing to defend a stout Indianapolis Colts running game that starts up front with one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

For the Indianapolis Colts, if there is any phrase to live by, it’s three words: run the ball. The Houston Texans know that all too well. Thursday’s matchup between the two 6-4 teams will be their fifth since the start of the 2018 season.

In their last two bouts, the Colts have averaged 131 yards rushing on the Texans, with the bulk of them coming in an Indianapolis playoff win in Houston.

Indianapolis ranks fourth in rushing yards per game (141.1) and seventh in rushing offense in terms of Football Outsiders‘ DVOA metric. Their production is sustainable, as they pile on the yards with one of the NFL’s most feared offensive lines.

“It starts up front with them,” said Texans coach Bill O’Brien on Monday. One of the best offensive lines in the league. Do a great job. They have good scheme, good backs.”

The Colts’ big, physical offensive line, led by All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, is fourth in the NFL in second-level yards per rush (1.41), 14th in power-success rate (66%) and 11th in adjusted line yards per attempt (4.42), per Football Outsiders.

In Week 11, the Colts tallied 264 ground yards and three rush touchdowns on the vaunted Jacksonville Jaguars front-seven.

“They’re running the ball very well, and to run it against Jacksonville, that’s a tough defense to run it against and they did a good job,” continued O’Brien. “So, it’ll be a big challenge for us.”

However, there is a potential hindrance to the Colts’ ground-game success: they will be without their star tailback Marlon Mack for Thursday’s matchup. Mack, who was on-pace for a Pro-Bowl season, suffered a hand fracture against the Jaguars.

Before sustaining the injury, Mack had recorded 862 yards and four touchdowns on 192 attempts (4.5 yards per attempt) in 2019.

Against the Texans, the Colts will have to use Jonathan Williams, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines. The trio has combined for 359 yards and a touchdown on 67 rush attempts (5.3 yards per attempt) on the season. Whether or not Houston will shut them down depends on if they can penetrate the offensive line.