The BBH/Big Hitter's Scouting Report: Houston Texans Offense

[bighitterdalama]

Houston Texans Offense

Texans Head Coach Lovie Smith is a long-time NFL coach with a record of success. Highly respected in his profession, Smith's coaching pedigree is on the defensive side of the ball. The 64-year-old Smith began his coaching career in 1980, serving as either linebacker or defensive back coach at several major college programs. In 1996, he joined the NFL ranks as the Tampa Bay Bucs' linebacker coach. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Tony Dungy, Smith was an integral part in the development of the Tampa 2 4-3 defense. In 2001, he became the defensive coordinator in St. Louis, turning what had been a mediocre Rams' defense into a league powerhouse. In 2004, Smith was hired as the Bears head coach. Over nine seasons, Smith's Bears posted an 81-63 regular season record. His Bears won three NFC North titles and included a 2006 trip to Super Bowl XLI, a 29-17 loss to the Colts. Following the 2012 season, despite a 10-6 record, Smith was fired by the Bears. After sitting out a year, Smith was hired in 2014 as Tampa Bay's head coach. Smith lasted just two seasons with Tampa, being fired in 2015 after posting a 2-14 record. Smith moved on to coach at the University of Illinois, leading the Fighting Illini through five lackluster campaigns before getting fired in 2020. In 2021, the Texans  hired Smith as their defensive coordinator. In 2022, Smith was hired as the Texans' head coach, replacing David Culley, who was fired following a tumultuous and unsuccessful 2021 season.

48-year-old Pep Hamilton is the Texans' offensive coordinator. Hamilton played his college ball at Howard University, 1993-1996. A quarterback, Hamilton won the school's scholar athlete award in both 1995 and 1996. In his senior year, Hamilton led the Bison, coached by Steve Wilson, to the Black College National Championship. Following graduation, Hamilton was hired by Howard as an offensive assistant. He served two years as quarterbacks coach, then two years as offensive coordinator. In 2003, Hamilton moved on to the NFL, spending 2003-2006 as an offensive QC/quarterbacks coach with both the Jets and the Forty Niners. From 2007-2009, Hamilton was quarterbacks coach in Chicago, serving under Head Coach Lovie Smith. Following the Bears' firing of Smith, Hamilton left Chicago to become the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal. After three seasons at Stanford, he returned to the NFL as the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. Hamilton spent 2013-2015 in Indy. He then spent 2016 as an offensive assistant in Cleveland. After a single season, Hamilton left the Browns for Michigan, where he served 2017 & 2018 as passing game coordinator. In 2020 he returned to the NFL as the Chargers quarterbacks coach. In 2021 he was hired by Houston as QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator. In 2022, new head coach Lovis Smith named Hamilton as his offensive coordinator.

Both Hamilton and Smith, who serves as his own defensive coordinator, have their work cut out for them. Years of lousy drafts, bad trades, the Deshawn Watson debacle, and poor cap management have resulted in a roster that is sprinkled with a handful of good players but which is otherwise bereft of talent. Going into the season, the Houston front office decided to make 2022 a sacrificial year in which the team would eat almost $75 million in dead cap. The real rebuild will come in 2023, when the Texans will have less than one million in dead cap. At present, positional units mix 1-2 decent players with groupings of veteran castoffs and street free agents. This is not to say that the Texans don't play hard; they do. Much like the Giants, they have been able to play tough against stronger opponents; unlike the Giants, they have lacked the extra punch required to win competitive games. The present Brandin Cooks drama notwithstanding, the team seems to be buying into the direction of Smith and his staff. That said, the return to playoff contention remains off into the future.

Pep Hamilton, a quarterback guru by trade, runs a balanced, if somewhat conservative, offense. The Texans average 1.00 running backs/snap and 1.41 tight ends/snap. They utilize a true fullback on 22% of the snaps. Their average of 2.33 wide receivers/snap is somewhat low by today's standards. Given these numbers, 12, 21, and 22/23 personnel packages are common. The Texans have a balanced run/pass ratio of 40.3%. On run plays, a single back, Damien Pierce, accounts for 79% of the carries. On pass plays, running backs account for 27.2% of targets (5.5 yards/catch), tight ends 23.3% (11.2 Y/C), and wide outs only 49.4% 13.4 (Y/C). The Texans are not big on trick plays. To date they show zero reverse carries by tight ends or wide receivers. Halfback Rex Burkhead has tried one option pass (it was incomplete). To date they have used a sixth offensive lineman a total of 18 times.

Statistically, the Houston offense sits 29th in total yardage (290.5 Y/G) and 28th in points (16.6 PPG). They average 101.9 rush yards/game (25th) on 188 rushing attempts (tied 27th) for an average of 4.3 yards/carry (tied for 20th). They average 188.6 passing yards/game (27th) and are 23rd in each of attempts (259), completions (162), and completion percentage (62.5%). Quarterback Davis Mills has 10 touchdown passes (T18) and 8 interceptions (T 23). He has been sacked 19 times (T15) for minus 147 yards (22). The Texans have just 134 first downs (30th) with a TOP of 28:16 (28th). They have an abysmally low third down conversion average of 31.1% (30th). Indicative of a well-coached team, Houston is one of the least penalized teams in the league, with just 43 total penalties (tied for 5th best) for 338 yards (7th best). They are +3 in turnover ratio (T5), with 10 takeaways (3 fumbles/7 interceptions) vs 7 giveaways (1 fumble/6 interceptions).

Offensive Line

The Houston offensive line is anchored by two fine tackles. Left Tackle Laremy Tunsil was a 2016 first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins. He came to Houston following a blockbuster trade that occurred just prior to the start of the 2019 season. Tunsil has since made two Pro Bowls and has developed in one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Season-to-date, he has earned PFF grades of 78.3 (run)/90.9 (pass pro)/86.4 (overall), ranking him #4 among 79 qualifying tackles. Tunsil has played all 486 offensive snaps. Right tackle Tytus Howard was Houston's 2019 first-round pick (#23 overall) from Alabama State. Howard, who has played all but four offensive snaps, grades 66.3 (run)/71.5 (pass pro)/69.9 (overall), ranking #30 out of 79. Rookie left guard Kenyon Green, a first-round pick from Texas A & M, is hobbled by a shoulder injury suffered in the Week 7 loss to the Raiders. Green, who has taken 438 snaps (90%), has struggled to date. He earns PFF grades of 56.6 for run blocking, a very poor 27.6 in pass protection, with an overall grade of 45.0 (#70 out of 79 qualifying guards). Veteran right guard AJ Cann is a solid performer. He missed the Week 8 game against Tennessee with an illness, but has otherwise played 100% of the offensive snaps. The 31-year-old Cann grades 65.2 (run)/60.8 (pass pro)/66.6 (overall), ranking #26 out of 79. At center, the Texans had expected Justin Britt to be their 2022 starter, but Britt, for undisclosed reasons, landed on the non-football injury reserve list after playing in the Texans' opening week tie with the Colts. Britt's replacement, veteran Scott Quessenberry, has struggled mightily. Quessenberry, a 2018 fifth-round pick from UCLA, grades 50.9 in run blocking, a terrible 29.9 in pass protection, with an overall grade 45.4, ranking 35 out of 37 qualifying centers. Since taking over for Britt, Quessenberry has missed just one offensive snap.

Justin McCray is the primary backup guard, having taken 83 total snaps while filling in for Kenyon Green and AJ Cann. A 2014 UDFA from UCF, the 30-year-old McCray posts PFF grades of 55.2 (run)/29.4 (pass pro)/42.2 (overall). 2020 fourth-round pick Charlie Heck (North Carolina) is the primary backup tackle. He is also often used as a "tackle eligible." In 22 total snaps, Heck grades 47.5/78.2/48.8. KC McDermott, a 2018 UDFA from U of Miami, backs up at both tackle and guard. In 19 snaps, he grades 79.1 (run)/a Blutarski-like 0.0 in pass pro/and an overall grade of 21.6. Backup center Jimmy Morrissey has taken a single offensive snap.

Running Backs

Rookie Damien Pierce, a fourth-round pick from Florida, is developing into a terrific young player. In 302 offensive snaps, he has 148 carries for 678 yards (6th in the NFL), an average of 4.6 yards/carry, 3 touchdowns, and two fumbles. He has also caught 20 passes on 24 targets for 98 yards, 4.9 yards/catch, and 1 touchdown. His PFF grades of 90.4 (run)/59.5 (receiving)/89.0 (overall) ranks him #6 of 59 qualifying backs. Backup Rex Burkhead is more of a "change-of-pace" third-down specialist. In 173 total snaps, the 32-year-old Burkhead has 23 carries for 81 yards (3.5 Y/C) and has caught 25 passes on 33 targets for 131 yards, 5.2 yards/catch, and one touchdown. Burkhead does have one pass attempt (incomplete). His grades of 59.5 (run)/60.6 (pass)/60.4 (overall) rank him #50 out of 59. The #3 back, 28-year-old veteran Dare Ogunbowale, rarely gets on the field, but when he does, he makes the most of it. In just 13 snaps, he has 1 carry for 8 yards plus 6 catches on 8 targets for 54 yards (9.0 Y/C). Rookie fullback Troy Hairston has played 105 snaps (22%). Hairston has yet to carry the ball but does have 3 catches on 3 targets for 12 yards.

Tight Ends

Tight ends are a big part of the Houston offense. In fact, the Texans average 1.41 tight ends per snap and have targeted the tight ends with 23.3% of their pass attempts. As such, each tight end is expected to both run block and serve as an effective receiver. Unfortunately, the TE run blocking has been at best mediocre while the targeted completion rate is only 60%. The nominal starter is a second-year player Brevin Jordan, a 2021 fifth-round pick from Miami. In 163 offensive snaps, Jordan has just 6 completions on 17 targets for 32 yards, an average of 5.3 yards/completion and 1.9 yards/target. Jordan grades 53.1 receiving, 47.8 in run blocking, with an overall grade of 51.2, ranking him #62 of 69 qualifying tight ends. OJ Howard, a 2017 first-round pick from Alabama, has played 219 snaps. Howard has 8 catches on 15 targets for 110 yards, 13.8 Y/C, and 2 touchdowns. He grades 64.3 receiving, 50.8 run blocking, and 59.5 overall, ranking #40 out of 59. Pharoah Brown, who started the season #3 on the depth chart, was released in early October and is now on the Browns. In three games, Brown had 7 catches on 10 targets for 72 yards (10.3 Y/C). Jordan Akins, a 2018 third-round pick from UCF, is the Texans best receiving tight end. To date, in 103 offensive snaps, he has 11 catches on 15 targets for 159 yards, 14.5 Y/C, and one touchdown. Akins grades a very good 72.6 as a receiver, a poor 42.9 as a run blocker, with an overall score of 69.6. Mason Schreck, a 2017 seventh-round pick, has played 43 snaps. To date he has 2 catches on 2 targets for 6 yards, earning an overall grade of 53.0. Prior to last week's Eagles' game, the Texans promoted rookie fifth-round pick Teagan Quatoriano to the active roster. In 18 snaps, Quatoriano caught one pass, a two-yard touchdown reception.

Wide Receivers

No strangers to in-house drama, the Texans found their latest iteration in the person of #1 wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Despite signing a two-year/$36-million-dollar contract last spring, Cooks has been unhappy with the Texans of late and strongly pushed for a trade prior to the November 1st deadline. Likely due to his huge cap hit, no suitable trade partner could be found and Cooks stayed put. Cooks subsequently pouted and left the team facility, resulting in Lovie Smith leaving him off the active roster for last Thursday's Eagles game. Cooks returned to the team facility on Friday and did show up for today's (Wednesday's) practice, although reports state that he did not participate in team activities and was in fact an all-around ass. His status for the Giants is questionable. Year-to-date, Cooks has played 303 offensive snaps. He presently has 32 catches on 53 targets for 354 yards, 11.1 Y/C, and one touchdown. He earns an overall grade of 65.5, ranking him 57th out of 110 qualifying wide outs.

#2 wide receiver Nico Collins has missed the past two games due to a groin injury suffered in the Week 7 loss to the Raiders. As of the writing of this report, his status for Sunday is questionable. Prior to the injury, Collins, a 2021 third-round pick from Michigan, was having a solid season. In six games/250 snaps, he has 18 catches on 30 targets for 305 yards, an average of 16.9 Y/C. His overall PFF grade is 73.4, ranking him #27 out of 110. The #3 wide receiver, Chris Moore, is a former 2016 fourth-round pick from Cincinnati. With 252 snaps, Moore has 14 catches on 21 targets for 171 yards, 12.2 Y/C, and 2 touchdowns. He grades #91 of 110. The #4 receiver is 29-year-old Phil Dorsett. A 2015 first-round pick of the Colts from the U of Miami, Dorsett has never really developed into anything more than an average receiver. Year to date, with 165 offensive snaps, he has 7 catches on 17 targets for 135 yards, an impressive 19.3 Y/C, and one touchdown, with an overall PFF grade of 62.3. Otherwise, wide receivers Chris Conley, Tyron Johnson, and Tyler Johnson have all had 29-30 offensive snaps. None has caught a pass. Tyron Johnson is now on the practice squad while Tyler Johnson and Conley have been released.

Quarterback

Second-year quarterback Davis Mills was a 2021 third-round pick from Stanford. As a rookie, he was thrown directly into the fire, playing in 13 games and starting 11. Under the circumstances, he played moderately well, throwing for 2664 yards, 14 touchdowns, and ten interceptions while earning a quarterback rating of 88.8 and a QBR of 35.5. This season Mills has looked pretty much the same. He has started all eight games and has played 481 out of a possible 486 offensive snaps. He has completed 162 of 258 passes for 1656 yards, a 62.8% completion rate, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. To date he earns an 81.2 quarterback rating and a 32.8 QBR. Mills has an average arm and at times will throw soft "I hope it gets there without being intercepted" style passes.  Mills is fairly protective when holding the ball: over 21 games, he has 9 total fumbles. Opponents have sacked Mills 19 times for minus 147 yards, both stats of which are middle of the pack. Mills is not particularly mobile and will not beat you with his legs. In 2021, he had 18 total carries for 44 yards; this season, 12 carries for 28 yards. His current PFF grades are 66.6 passing, 54.4 running, and 66.5 overall, ranking him 22nd out of 39 qualifying quarterbacks.

Jeff Driskel is the Texans' backup quarterback. He had 5 total snaps between Weeks 1 & 2, running twice for 15 yards. If the Texans' intent was to utilize Driskel as a Taysom Hill type change of pace quarterback, that plan has been junked as Driskel has yet to take another snap.

[Painter]

Well done, as always. Thanks.

Cheers!

[kingm56]

To echo Larry's sentiments, incredibly well done, sir.

[beaugestus]

good job Brian, thanks