In the interest of trying something new, and with the never-ending interest in HASHTAG CONTENT, we now debut a weekly piece in which we ask the BRB staff a relevant Texans topic. This week’s topic:
What realistic change would you make to the Texans’ offense right now in hopes of improving performance, other than a QB swap?
Let’s see what the staff has to say on the matter...
Chris HDH:
First and foremost, get Lamar Miller more carries on the edge and continue to work in Akeem Hunt when able. You can’t telegraph it too much with Hunt, but I’d love to see a crack toss or two, or get him some runs on the outside some way, somehow. Maybe even motion Hunt out to the slot and have him run some drag routes. I have no idea what the cure to the chemistry woes with DeAndre Hopkins and Brock Osweiler are, but maybe move Hopkins around more and more until they find something that works. I think someone else will expand on that later in this entry, so I’ll leave it to them.
BattleRedCoat:
As was mentioned against the Colts by the announcers: Play Nuk in the slot.
Brock doesn't make many throws outside the numbers. When he does, they're not great. He loves checking it down to the tight ends on short routes or looking for them quickly over the middle.
So why not put our best receiver running routes where Brock can make use of him? Hopkins seems wasted for 95% of the game lining up out wide.
It also plays to Nuk's strength as he's a great route runner and could win on some quick slants. With his good hands, he would catch a lot over the middle.
Basically, continue to make the plays that have been working—the quick throws over the middle to receivers.
Or, failing putting Nuk in the slot, put Will Fuller there. Same reasons, apart from the hands, but Fuller’s speed could be lethal.
Mike Bullock:
Cut out the seven-step drops and running Lamar Miller up the middle. Move to a more west coast style offense where guys like Miller, Fuller and Nuk can get the ball in space and use their talent to make plays. That would take a lot of strain off Brock and lets the explosive players do explosive things.
Luke Beggs:
EVERY TIME THEY'RE ON THE FIELD, I HEAR YAC YAC YAC. Terrible Kendrick Lamar references aside, a small but rather doable adjustment would be to scheme in more pick and screen plays to allow for yards after the catch for the Texans receivers. We're not going to punish teams downfield anytime soon, but we can scare the almighty crap out of them with Will Fuller's speed and
Braxton Miller'selusiveness. It also wouldn't hurt to get Lamar Miller the ball in the passing game.
Matt Weston:
[Editor’s note: Yes, Matt, we understand Brock is the problem. Learn the rules!]
The issue here is Brock Osweiler. They paid $16 million for a QB that put up similar numbers in seven games as Teddy Bridgewater and Brian Hoyer did. Those guys are a second year player taken with the last pick of the first round and someone who was making $3.5 million a year. Despite adding skill players and more talent, Houston’s offense has gone from below average to one of the worst in the league. The difference here is a drop in offensive line play and quarterback play--see Nick Martin and Derek Newton’s injuries, as well as Jeff Allen over Brandon Brooks. Everything else on the offense is better.
Osweiler was capable when he was throwing the ball down field. Now that he can't see the downfield misses to DeAndre Hopkins and takes Will Fuller out of the end zone since teams started playing two deep, Osweiler is worthless. He doesn't have the ball placement. He makes terrible decisions. He forces passes. He 's fortunate to have thrown only 14 interceptions instead of 20. Scour the passing leader boards and Osweiler is at the bottom of every category. Except for one—interceptions thrown.
YEAH, there are scheme things the Texans can do differently. Putting DeAndre Hopkins in the slot and using him as Larry Fitzgerald is a fun change of pace. Running more outside zone runs and getting Lamar Miller outside the tackles instead of running him down the pipe on power runs is something that should be done. Quick passes are nice in theory, but Osweiler doesn't have the quick decision-making or accuracy to do that. Running more play-action and bootleg passes, running more pick plays to beat man coverage, throwing the ball deep five times a game rather than twice are all other examples.
In the end, it comes down to Osweiler. The run offense isn't good enough to carry this team. It's up to him to play better. Until he does, I don't think there is some magical code to detonate this offensive explosion we are all so close to seeing.
Capt. Ron:
The play designs and play-calling could be better to take advantage of opponents, but that is probably asking too much at this point in the season. The most you can hope for is three to five new play designs that can be installed in a given week.
Maybe put Braxton Miller in at QB and run some wildcat?I just don't know. Aside from rearranging the receivers, which may be nay impossible if this damn scheme is so complicated that it might introduce even MORE confusion to these young players, it really comes down to Brock just needing to do his job better.
UprootedTexan:
Quicker passes by Osweiler. He's looked skittish in the pocket since jump street and I think it was BFD who said that Osweiler's best throws came when he didn't think and just threw. If they start working in some short, quick, no-thought throws that get the ball out of his hands in less than two or three seconds, it might help Osweiler build some damn confidence and light a fire under this craptastic offense.
Tim:
You know what I’d do? I’d intently study whatever the heck it was that Brock Osweiler was so comfortable with during the Texans’ first two drives against the Titans back in Week Four. Those two drives were as good as the Texans’ offense has looked all season. The offensive play-calling was balanced, but there were more passing plays than running plays. Osweiler looked legitimately poised, efficient, and productive, completing eight of the nine passes he threw for two TDs.
Even if you want to cite the Titans’ poor secondary as part of the reason for that success, the fact remains that something was working for Brock Osweiler. Find it and bottle it again.
Hopefully this will foster some interesting discussion. Yes, yes I know - Osweiler is the main problem. All we have all done all year is cry about Osweiler, so I’m trying to get a bit more creative thought out of us here.
What say you, BRB? What realistic things would you try to do to get more out of the offense right now? Not offseason moves, not trades, not sweeping firings - realistic and right now. Feel free to give your feedback in the comments section below, and look for the BRB Question of the Week next week!