As NFL trends to reduced passing games with two-high safety looks, Texans’ explosive plays, scoring, running game down

HOUSTON – Errant passes fired into constricted passing lanes while two-high safety shell coverage schemes are squeezing away explosive passes to take away deep threats.

A running game stonewalled by stout defenses has rendered the offense one-dimensional.

Uncharacteristic interceptions by Texans’ Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, who hadn’t thrown a pick since November of last year.

And a downward spiral and NFL trend of reduced passing games and longer throws while the two-high defense is proving to be an effective strategy generally counteracted by intermediate passing precision and strong rushing attacks.

As the Texans look to rebound from a 34-7 road loss during which Stroud was intercepted twice, false start and illegal formation penalties created untenable third-and-long situations to kill drives, they’re hoping to jumpstart a talented offense that has lost its way after a promising season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Around the NFL, though, offenses are adapting to historically reduce production. Passing yards per game are down to 403 yards per game this season, continuing a five-year decline from 496 yards in 2020 to 491 yards in 2021, 462 yards in 2022 and 444 yards last year. This three-week sample, should it continue for the entire season, represents the lowest passing yard average per game since the 1993 season.

The popularity of the two-high safety alignment on passing plays is up to 63 percent this year after a 44-percent clip last season, according to Next Gen Stats. Average air yards per pass attempt are down to 7.7 yards, lowest in a decade. Deep throws of 20 yards or longer are down from 10.2 a game in 2019 to 7.7 a game this year.

And there have been the lowest number of touchdowns around the league through three games since the 2006 season.

The Texans rank 21st in scoring offense, averaging just 18.3 points per game. They’re eighth in passing offense in terms of yardage, 17th in rushing offense and rank third in the NFL with 28 penalties, led by Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil’s league-high 10 penalties with nine enforced.

What’s the answer?

“I can tell you through three weeks we played three pretty different defenses,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I think general trends have stayed the same through all three. If I am being perfectly honest and blunt, when I watched our film and when I watched some others as well, offense just needs to play better. I don’t necessarily think there are things anyone is doing aren’t there across the league.

“I think there are a lot of concepts that have been run for a long time that just haven’t been operated as efficiently or as precise as they have in the past. I think a lot of that has to do with that there has been a big injection of youth on the offense in general across the NFL. A lot of really talented young guys are playing at a lot of different positions, and it takes time to get to a point where everybody is on the same page. I will not be surprised if that swings as the year keeps going.”

SEE ALSO ‘Unacceptable’ penalty bug infects Texans in loss to Vikings, linemen say officials ‘making an example out of us’

MORE COVERAGE Texans, C.J. Stroud turn page after blowout loss: ‘Not something you can just soak in your sorrows... keeping our swag’

The Texans’ running game has disappeared since rushing for 213 yards on 40 carries against the Colts as Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon rushed for 159 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown run. Mixon returned to practice Friday and the team is hopeful he can play Sunday after missing the Vikings game with a sprained ankle. The Texans rushed for just 38 yards against the Vikings, a 2.3 average per run as Cam Akers got the start and rushed for just 21 yards on nine carries.

Over the past two games, they’re averaging 61.5 rushing yards per game.

Should the Texans execute better, commit more penalties and finish blocks, the running game could give the overall offense a boost.

What happened against the Vikings wasn’t acceptable.

“It really wasn’t good by anybody,” Slowik said. “It wasn’t good by coaches. We didn’t do a good enough job as far as communicating what we wanted done. Scheme-wise, we didn’t do a good enough job. The number of times we ran a play where everyone was doing what they were supposed to be doing probably could be counted on one hand. It doesn’t matter who lines up across from you, you are going to have a rough time in a game like that. We made a commitment this week that we are worried about the Texans, we are ready to roll and focused in on doing our job the way we want to do it and let’s go play clean football.”

The penalty bug has definitely infected the Texans, who rank third in the NFL with 28 penalties for 233 yards.

“Our role is to ensure it does not happen,” Slowik said. “We know the rules. This has been a recurring theme for us since camp. I know the offensive line was getting dinged the last week. It’s been with eligibles. We have to get that cleaned up, and we’re making sure that happens. It’s clear-cut what we’re doing, and we have to do it.”

Protection issues are also impacting the Texans. Stroud and backup Davis Mills have been sacked a combined 12 times. They’re on track to allow 68 sacks.

Stroud has completed 67.7 percent of his throws for 709 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions for a 93.4 passer rating. He’s on pace to pass for 4,018 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

“I think a lot of teams are playing us different than they play other teams,” Stroud said. “We just have to be able to adjust and see what is out there and if we have to move on from certain things, move on or keep to our plan. Definitely, I am fully aware of what they did to us last year but also know that they are playing other teams different. They could play us different this year. We just have to be ready for everything.”

The Texans rank 11th in total offense.

How are defenses attacking Stroud in his second season after being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after being drafted second overall out of Ohio State?

“How teams approach C.J., it’s been different,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We faced three different defenses this year, so each team has some different ideas and strategies for how they attack C.J.. It’s not so much C.J., it’s just the entire offense. What are we presenting a team, how teams are going to counter that and what type of attack do they have.

The running game has been stuck in neutral.

“I think there’s a lot of reasons for that,” Slowik said. “The No. 1 reason would be the same thing. We could probably count on one hand the amount of times we’re doing what we’re supposed to do. And in the run game, that’s a problem. We had unblocked players tackling us for four-yard losses. That’s not how you draw it up.”

Can the Texans get it done?

They’ve invested heavily in the offensive line, which performed well against the Colts.

“Absolutely,” Slowik said. “I mean, we put it on tape against Indianapolis. We put it on tape in training camp. We can get it done. We can get it done at a very high level when we do it right and when we’re committed to what we’re doing. We just need to maintain consistency.”

The Texans have had just seven explosive plays of 20 yards or longer, including a 55-yard connection with Collins against the Colts. There were only two explosive plays against the Bears, including a 34-yard pass to Collins from Stroud.

The Jaguars have the 26th ranked defense, allowing 361.7 yards per game. They’re 30th against the pass, surrendering 252.3 yards per game.

“When it comes to the split-safety looks, defenses are trying to eliminate the explosive passes,” Ryans said. “That’s how you score points. Strategically, you want to stop the explosives. Offenses still want to find a way to design plays to get you to uncover on the backend so they can hit the explosives. It’ll always be that chess match of who wins the explosive battle.”

Stroud defended Slowik, who has drawn some criticism this week on social media and sports talk radio for his play-calling. It’s more complicated than just what plays the Texans are running, though. It’s alignment, assignment, technique and a lack of execution.

“I was taught that two to three people who get the bullet when something doesn’t end right, head coach, coordinator, and a quarterback,” Stroud said. “That is the job we signed up for and Slowik has always done a good job of just keeping his head down, working. We all have faith in him, and we know that he is trying to put us in the best positions, and we have to buy in to the system just as much as he has to call good plays.

“It is not a finished product just because you have good players on the team. It is a work in progress. Time is of the essence, and we have to get rolling, but I have the utmost faith in Slowik. He has been great, but we have to buy into the system just as much as he has to call great plays. We know we are all grown men; we have to all do our job so. We all talk about how we have each other’s back, and we are going to keep holding each other accountable and have each other’s back.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com