Coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke will be insulted if the Texans don’t make significant improvement in a run defense that was the worst in the NFL last season.
Coaches and players have come and gone, but that hasn’t kept the run defense from deteriorating over the last four seasons – 121.1 (19th) yards allowed in 2019, 160.3 (32nd) in 2020, 142.2 (31st) in 2021 and 170.2 (32nd) in 2022.
Those embarrassing numbers aren’t acceptable to Ryans. In his two seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, his run defense allowed 103.5 yards (seventh) in 2021 and 77.7 (second) in 2022.
Even though Thursday’s 20-9 victory at New England was the preseason opener, there were signs of encouragement, beginning with the run defense. With a lot of starters from both teams not suited up, the Texans allowed the Patriots only 164 yards, including 78 rushing and 3.1 a carry.
“To play really well on run defense, it takes guys who are disciplined in their run fits,” Ryans said this week. “I think that’s the start. If everybody’s where they’re supposed to be and we build a wall up front with our line, and the linebackers and safeties fit accordingly, that’s how you play good run defense. It’s everybody playing together, playing with square pads and resetting the line of scrimmage.”
Which is easier said than done, of course. Nobody knows that better than the players who contributed to the team’s atrocious run defense last season. Against the Patriots – and the coaches hope against the Dolphins at NRG Stadium on Saturday – the Texans smothered the run until the last series. That’s when New England brought in rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham.
Until that last possession, the Texans led 20-3. They had surrendered 44 yards rushing, allowing the Patriots 2.2 a carry. Cunningham ran five times for 34 yards and scored New England’s only touchdown.
“The mentality of the defense is (to) swarm, and that doesn’t change,” Ryans said. “We want to be an attacking, aggressive defense, and it’s 11 guys flying around with their hair on fire making plays and playing for each other. But it’s also a discipline brand of football.
“It’s not just everyone running all over the place and not knowing exactly where they should be. It’s about that puzzle coming together – all 11 pieces playing together (and) playing in sync. That’s what you see in practice, and that’s what you’ll see during games.”
That philosophy – that style of defense – is something Ryans and Burke have been emphasizing since they got to Houston. Practice can make perfect if the players play the style the coaches want and stick to their plan. The coaches know the players have to improve on all three levels of the defense.
“I was happy with the way it started,” said Burke, who came to the Texans from the Cardinals. “The effort, the intensity level, the physicality were there, which are some of the hallmarks we’re looking for as a starting point.
“I would say just as a big picture – (we’re) pleased. I know (Ryans] has harped on it, and that’s a starting point. There’s definitely detail that we missed and precision in the way we’re doing things. It’s cool to feel good about some things and have a win, but we have a lot of things we can improve on.”
Outside linebacker Blake Cashman played for the Texans last season. He’s been one of the most impressive defensive players since the offseason program began. He liked what he saw from the defense, especially against the run.
“If the line keeps that up through the preseason and the regular season, I have no doubts that we’ll be able to stop the run,” Cashman said. “I think that’s another group that’s very deep – there’s a lot of dogs up front. If they continue to play aggressive, attacking and moving the line of scrimmage back and they keep that intensity up, we’re going to be able to hold teams in the run game, and that’s going to force offenses to become one-dimensional. It’s going to be great for us.
“The scheme (allows us) to punch first. It’s all about getting off the ball, then running and hitting. Being able to fly around and play fast with having quick keys, it’s fun for a defensive player. That energy becomes contagious. We want to be a tenacious, ball-hawking defense because that’s what’s going to win games.”
General manager Nick Caserio signed and drafted players to help with the overall defense with a goal of helping the Texans stop the run. Free agents like tackle Hassan Ridgeway, tackle Sheldon Rankins, linebacker Denzel Perryman and safety Jimmie Ward and draft choices like end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o are supposed to contribute to what they hope will be substantial improvement in the run defense.
Ridgeway, who followed Ryans from the 49ers, is a good example of what the coaches want to see. His strength is stopping the run.
“I thought it was very important (because he’s) a guy I’ve seen up close and personal play within our scheme,” Ryans said. “I’ve seen him do a really nice job of playing up front and playing at the tackle position the way we like it played. Ridgeway has done a nice job throughout camp and a nice job in the game – not only attacking like we asked him to do, but the effort and running to the ball – that’s what we demand of those guys.”
Through one game at least, Ryans and Burke saw their defensive players carry out their plan, and it was efficient and impressive – something the Texans’ defense hasn’t shown much of over the last three seasons.
(John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and before every practice during training camp on Texans Radio. He also writes three columns a week and does two Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.)
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