After their first two preseason games with David Culley as head coach and Tyrod Taylor as quarterback, the Texans are still developing their offensive identity.
Taylor's numbers were better when he played less against the Green Bay Packers, going 4-for-4 and 40 yards passing in just one drive.
With a couple of more drives against the Dallas Cowboys, Taylor was just 2-for-5 with 10 passing yards and was 0-for-2 on third downs.
But the identity of this team will not be in the passing game. They expect guys like Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Nico Collins and tight end Pharaoh Brown to make plays vertically.
It will all start with the offensive line's physicality up front.
"Coach Culley has mentioned to us and reiterated to us we're definitely going to be a physical group," Taylor said after Monday's practice at NRG Stadium. "Of course, we have the speed and the playmakers outside on the edge. But our identity comes up front and in the backfield. I think that opens up our playbook as we get the front-five playing physical and the running backs getting downhill.
"I think it just opens up the rest of our playbook."
If the Texans are going to rely on the offensive line and running backs as much as Taylor lets on, improvement is necessary.
The line itself is still a work in progress, with Laremy Tunsil out the past couple of weeks due to testing positive for COVID-19 and others switching positions on the line.
Tytus Howard appears to be moving from right tackle to left guard, though he's versatile enough to move back if necessary.
The right side features Max Scharping at guard, moving from the left side, and Charlie Heck at tackle as a second-year player who saw limited action as a rookie.
Howard, who had not played guard since his rookie season about two years ago, said he felt good in action against Dallas.
"I feel like up front we did a pretty good job. It's always stuff we can work on," Howard said. "But I feel like we made progress from where we were last year and I think it's going to be pretty good."
At running back, Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay provide their 1-2 punch. Ingram, also making his preseason debut against the Cowboys, ran for 24 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, including a fourth-down conversion.
Lindsay managed just two yards on four carries, usually getting stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Howard said he thought the run-blocking against the Cowboys was fine, but they can and expect to be better this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I think this group is going to do a good thing this year for this team," Howard said. "I think we're going to win some games because of what we do up front."
Another mysterious element to the offense yet to be revealed in these preseason games is how, or if, Houston intends to involve the mobile quarterback Taylor in the run game.
Taylor has yet to scramble out of a broken play, or tuck the ball under his arm on a designed run.
Culley said Monday the Texans aren't asking Taylor to run, but understand his ability to get out of trouble and keep plays alive.
Taylor's athleticism could give defenses fits, when they have the Texans covered and dead to rights, but the quarterback is slippery enough to get necessary yards.
It's the one way Taylor and Deshaun Watson are similar, the tendency to make something out of little to nothing.
There are some designed runs for Taylor in the Texans' playbook, Culley said, but whether they use it based on the particular game plan and opponent.
When asked if it was more important to have designed runs, or to be ready when plays break down, Taylor had this to say:
"I think it's a combination of both. Of course, in the NFL, a lot of big plays from the quarterback position as far as running happen on broken plays. Of course, you can scheme up things. But some stuff happens just organically and I think it's ways to do both and still have success. But more importantly, we have the weapons outside to be able to get those guys the ball and take the hits off the quarterback."
Taylor said he's comfortable with his linemen and running backs, but building a rapport for them to know where to be when plays break down is something they are still working on.
"I think it's something you continue to build chemistry with day-in and day-out, just talking through different concepts," Taylor said. "Even in practice, maybe sacrificing one of those plays to use as scramble drill to move around, just to be able to coach it and where you expect them to be with certain concepts.
"But yeah, I'm definitely comfortable in that area and it's just something we've got to continue to keep improving. That's nothing that you just work on and don't touch until the game. You have to continue to keep having those conversations week-in and week-out. They may present themselves and they may not. But when they do, it's an opportunity for a big play."