(SportsRadio 610) - With Lovie Smith hired as the Texans' fifth head coach in franchise history, and their third in as many seasons, it's time to move forward and envision what this may look like for the team.
To do that, original Texans defensive lineman Seth Payne lays out three things to consider about Smith.
1. He does not simply run the Tampa-2 defense
There is a misconception because Smith runs a 4-3 base, Cover-2 defense that it's all he does. In fact, the Texans' defense was more multiple than that in 2021. Smith did a good job of mixing things up, as opposed to running what many believe to be an antiquated styled defense.
2. His defenses force turnovers
Defensive takeaways are random, often tied to luck, and hard to predict. But it's a hallmark of a Lovie Smith defense. When he was the Chicago Bears' head coach, where he won Coach of the Year in 2005 and took them to the Super Bowl, Smith's defenses were routinely in the top five in forced turnovers. And one of the few things the Texans did well last year, as a team, was be in the top third of the league in taking away the football.
3. This is a good opportunity to judge Texans general manager Nick Caserio in a conventional way
If Josh McCown had been hired, as we expected until Sunday night when news surfaced of Smith, it would've been impossible to tell exactly the issues: whether it was McCown, more dysfunction in the shadows, or whatever it might be.
Now, we can evaluate Caserio's draft picks and other player acquisitions in a more conventional way, with a more sensible hire for head coach.
Listen to Payne & Pendergast, weekdays on SportsRadio 610 and Audacy from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.
