Ryans Keeps Faith in Coaching Staff Despite Texans’ Offensive Struggles
Despite the offensive issues the team is facing, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has confirmed he has no plans to make changes to his offensive coaching staff.In January, the Texans fired former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik due to the team’s problems in 2024, when the unit averaged 21.9 points and 320 yards per game. However, the Texans’ offense has worsened under the direction of new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. In the current season, Houston averages 21.2 points and 304 yards per game. Excluding the 44-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, in which the Ravens were without several All-Pro starters, the offense averages 16 points per game. An important problem last season was pass protection. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times, the second-highest figure, behind Caleb Williams (68). In the first seven weeks of this season, Stroud is tied for ninth in sacks (15) and has suffered the 13th-most pressures (74), despite having played only six games. Stroud’s numbers this season have yet to reach the heights of his rookie year in 2023, when he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, leading the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio, with a passer rating of 100. This season, he has nine touchdowns and four interceptions with a passer rating of 91. Houston’s ground attack has also regressed, going from averaging 117 yards per game (13th) to 106 yards per game, although star running back Joe Mixon has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury. The Texans’ offensive struggles could continue as the team hosts the San Francisco 49ers, who rank seventh in points allowed per game (19.7). Furthermore, there’s a chance that Houston’s star receiver, Nico Collins, won’t play, as he’s in concussion protocol after hitting his head against the turf against the Seahawks. Despite adversity, Ryans takes responsibility and remains optimistic.“We’re moving forward with everyone we have,” Ryans declared a day after the Texans’ 27-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. “We’re all in this together.”
DeMeco Ryans
“It all starts with me,” Ryans said. “So, if you want to point fingers, point them at me. That’s my job and, ultimately, it’s my job to fix it. That’s how it will be, but we’re working with what we have and we all need to improve. We need to coach better. We need to play better. We need to execute better on game day. And, as bad as it seems, I tell the guys at the end of the day, we’re still one possession away from winning that game.”
DeMeco Ryans
