The Houston Texans and coach DeMeco Ryans opened up the season on Sunday with a 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The contest featured the NFL debut of first round picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson and was also the first look for fans at the new schemes from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
Despite the results, there were some encouraging signs and potential signs of trouble within the game that are worth discussing moving forward. Here are four interesting developments per NFL Next Gen that fans should pay attention to as the Texans look to turn the corner at home against the Indianapolis Colts.
Dameon Pierce utilized less than anticipated
This offseason, there was a great deal of hype around Pierce, who churned 939 rushing yards as a rookie through 13 games. The former fourth-round pick spent the offseason working on pass-catching abilities to add to what was one of the NFL’s angriest running styles in 2022. Many around the team speculated that Pierce could be the engine that drove Houston’s offense while they acclimated Stroud.
However, the hype didn’t quite look the part on Sunday. Not only did Houston pass the ball 49 times compared to just 23 rushing attempts, but Pierce was not even featured in the rushing attack. He ran the ball 11 times to Singletary’s seven attempts and played less than 50% of the offensive snaps.
Houston's running success rate vs. Baltimore today:
Dameon Pierce: 54.5% successful
Devin Singletary: 28.6% successfulPierce had 11 carries to Singletary's 7. It was a true 60/40 split in the backfield to start the season #WeAreTexans
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) September 11, 2023
Pierce’s success rate was nearly double that of Singletary’s. It’s possible that the team reverts to a heavier workload for the Florida product against Indianapolis, however for now it appears to be a true 60-40 split between the two runners.
Bobby Slowik didn't heavily utilize motion
One of the key points of enthusiasm around Houston’s offense entering the season was the arrival of Slowik. He was supposed to bring the Kyle Shanahan-type offense to the Texans along with many of it’s bells and whistles that have dominated the league.
Definitely less motion and defensive manipulation than personally expected against Baltimore from Bobby Slowik:
🏈Houston employed motion on just 43.1% of their plays
🏈Of 49 passing plays, only 11 (22.4%) utilized play action fakesC.J. allowed to read the defense #WeAreTexans
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) September 12, 2023
On Sunday, those wrinkles were less evident. Houston used motion on less than half of their plays overall, a decrease from what they showed in the pre-season. On passing downs, they utilized play action on just 22.4% of their snaps.
Part of this may have been to allow Stroud to simply read rotating defensive coverages. However, it was a deviation from what was largely expected under the new system.
Personnel packages came as expected
Under Slowik, it was expected that Houston would lean heavily into 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back, one tight end) and 12 personnel (two wide receivers, one running back, two tight ends). They favored heavier formations in the preseason and the San Francisco offense where Slowik came from heavily favored 11-personnel on passing downs.
Didn't realize how tightly Houston hugged the personnel packages we were expecting.
11-personnel (66.7%) and 12-personnel (27.8%) absolutely dominated their offensive snaps on Sunday #WeAreTexans
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) September 12, 2023
This was true in Houston’s first game and should be expected to continue. They ran 11-personnel on two thirds of their snaps and 12-personnel for 27.8% of their plays, encompassing almost their whole game plan. Dalton Schultz was a staple of the offense and Teagan Quitoriano played well when tasked to come in on two tight end sets. Robert Woods and Nico Collins started as the two wide receivers with an interesting rotation choice at the third spot.
Noah Brown and Tank Dell in an interesting timeshare
When Brown was signed, he was largely considered a depth signing that would mean Houston didn’t have to force picks late in the draft. Few would have anticipated months later that he would lead the team in routes run during Houston’s first game.
Brown ran more routes (37) than Collins (33) and Woods (35) while significantly outpacing Dell (21). The former Dallas Cowboys wideout was barely behind Collins and Woods for snaps played but surprisingly was featured on 16 more offensive plays than Dell as well.
Many thought Dell would provide a creative edge for the offense. Instead, Houston has looked at the bigger bodied and better blocking Brown. It should be curious to see if that holds against the Indianapolis Colts.
No traveling corners for DeMeco Ryans
When cornerback Derek Stingley was drafted in 2022, he was expected to serve as Houston’s next shut down corner and help to limit some of the league’s dynamic receiving threats that reside in the AFC. On Sunday, he did that — but only on the left side.
Derek Stingley took 100% of the defensive snaps at the left CB spot.
Steven Nelson took 95% of the snaps at the right CB spot.
Looks like DeMeco Ryans wants those guys to get really comfortable playing one way. Wonder if it changes with elite receiver matchups #WeAreTexans
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) September 12, 2023
Stingley took 100% of his snaps from the left cornerback position while Steven Nelson played almost all of his snaps from the right side. It was still a strong contest for the former third overall pick, he was targeted just twice and allowed one reception for 26 yards and gave up a pass interference call to Odell Beckham.
Will teams begin to target their best receiver towards Nelson’s side as the season progresses? Will Stingley begin to travel with elite receivers as they come up on the schedule? More answers should be provided the further Houston gets into its schedule.
