NFL Offseason Fixer-Uppers: Three Ways to Fix Texans in 2023
Analysis 3/1/23
In an ongoing offseason series, experts from The 33rd Team offer three things each team can do to improve in 2023.
AFC: BAL | BUF | CIN | CLE | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LV | MIA | NE | NYJ | PIT | TEN
NFC: ATL | CAR | DAL | DET | GB | LAR | MIN | NYG | PHI | SEA | SF | TB
When you look at the Houston Texans, they were 31st in offense and 27th in defense last year, and they rushed for 3.1 yards per play. They just had so many problems. The one good thing about their season was that they were 3-13-1, but in the AFC South, they were 3-2-1, so they had a winning record there, which is always important. With a new head coach for the third year in a row, here are three things the Texans have to do to improve in 2023.
3 Ways to Fix Texans
1. Nail the 2023 NFL Draft
Last year the Texans had two first-round draft picks in Derek Stingley Jr. and Kenyon Green, and then they had two second-round picks, one being Jalen Pitre, who had a very good year with five interceptions. Stingley had injuries coming out, so he only played in nine games last year. Their other second-round pick, John Metchie from Alabama, was on the NFI list because he had leukemia. I think they're going to have to do a good job in drafting this year. They're still a fairly young team, they don't have a lot of big-name players on their squad. - Mike Zimmer
2. Find an Identity
I think in a situation like the Texans', you have to put your heart and soul on everything. We're going to be good at running the football, or we're going to be good at screens or throwing the football. They didn't throw for a lot of yards last season, they were very low as far as yards per catch, defensively they were just so-so throughout the year. They have a lot of work cut out for them.
Fortunately their division isn't outstanding. DeMeco Ryans coming in there (as head coach) with Bobby Slowik as his new offensive coordinator, he's never been a coordinator before, and Matt Burke who has been, they're going to have to set their alignment: 'We're going to be good at doing these particular things, we're not going to beat ourselves, we're not going to have penalties, we're not going to turn the ball over.' And then, try to get to eight wins. - Mike Zimmer
3. Get the Right Quarterback
The one thing the Texans ended up doing last year, they lost so many close games, so they were in a lot of them. They have to figure out the quarterback position. They have to develop some playmakers on offense, and then obviously be able to get to the quarterback and do the things on defense. But with that draft capital they do have, they have an opportunity to do some of those things to improve. - Marvin Lewis
>> READ: Rating 2023 Draft's Top Quarterbacks By Arm Strength
It's like Cincinnati, who was drafting low for a while, they've been able to move up and contend because they got the right guys and the right quarterback (Joe Burrow) in there. Not that Davis Mills was poor last year, I think he was OK, but they have an opportunity to get that quarterback at No. 4 and then an opportunity to get a pass rusher or another big-time player at No. 12. Knowing how poor they were statistically and in all the other areas, they're going to have to hang their hat on something that's going to be really good. - Mike Zimmer
Mike Zimmer is a former NFL Head Coach with the Minnesota Vikings. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys with whom he won Super Bowl XXX, he also coached the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals.
Marvin Lewis is a former NFL Head Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Lewis won AP Coach of the Year in 2009, and is a Super Bowl champion as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Follow him on Twitter at @MarvinLewis.