Larry Payton

Nick Caley, Cole Popovich and the Texans' rushing unit now has demonstrated on at least three separate occasions—Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants—that Houston legitimately can't run the football even if given massive advantages against vulnerable opponents. It doesn't matter how heavily the hand favors Houston, they just can't do it. ▪️ In week 3 against the Colts, the Texans faced an Indy rush defense that just allowed a combined 354 total rushing yards (177 YPG) across weeks 1-2 (Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens). ▫️The Texans managed only 70 total yards on 3.3 YPC. ▪️ In week 4 against the Cowboys, the Texans faced a Dallas rush defense that allowed at least 160 yards in each of their first three games. (combined 539 yards, 179.7 YPG). ▫️ The Texans managed only 62 total yards on 3.3 YPC. ▪️ And now, yesterday against the Giants, the Texans faced a New York rush defense that allowed a combined 377 rushing yards (188.5 YPG) in the two games prior (New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders) ▫️ The Texans managed only 84 total yards on 3.4 YPC. Besides the chronic offensive line issues that have plagued Houston for the last 6 seasons under GM Nick Caserio, a lack of a consistent run game is the other indictment on the resource management of Caserio and co. This entire offseason was built around physicality at the line of scrimmage and adding a legitimate second dimension on the ground. Instead, they've produced more of the same, and really worse when you consider the pomp and circumstance that went into propping up Caserio's moves in the offseason. Truly an avoidable disaster, and one that could cost Caserio his job if the McNairs really got urgent enough about it.