(SportsRadio 610) - It is far beyond time to move past the Texans' 24-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium this past Sunday.
Houston (6-5) still controls its own destiny in the AFC Wild Card race, with an opportunity against similarly situated team in the Denver Broncos facing them this Sunday at NRG.
But Thursday was the first opportunity for reporters to speak with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik since the end of the Jaguars game. There were questions about play calls, such as throwing on consecutive short yardage 3rd and 4th downs, only giving 11 carries combined to the main two running backs, and what he made of the decision to kick a 58-yard field goal to tie instead of going for it on 4th-and-12.
Slowik had some pretty good answers.
The biggest takeaways were Slowik's criticisms of the run game, how the Texans did not move Jaguars defenders up front the way they had during their three-game winning streak against the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also mentioned the running backs did not hit holes the way they needed to when running lanes were created.
That is something the Texans must clean up going into the Broncos game, especially hybrid offensive lineman Tytus Howard out for the season and rookie Juice Scruggs likely starting in just his second game played after missing the first 10 with a hamstring injury.
Slowik was also asked about his confidence in calling a play on 4th and 12, if that's what head coach DeMeco Ryans had decided, rather than going for the 58-yard field goal, which failed.
The offensive coordinator gave a politically correct answer about collaboration and having confidence in both the kicker and Ryans' decision. But sandwiched in there, Slowik was sure to mention that he was as confident as any offensive play caller in that situation, however low percentage a play call it may be.
Whether Ryans should have kicked the field goal or gone for it on fourth down was a big discussion on In The Loop earlier this week.
Clearly, Slowik is more comfortable with the decision than ITL. It's also good to hear his confidence had Ryans decided to put the game in C.J. Stroud's hands at that point.
Low percentage play, sure. But you have to like the chances a lot better with the AFC Offensive Player of the Month and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.
