The Texans Expect Quick Attack Offense from Jaguars

Until the Texans can stop it they expect to see it

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The quick passing game against the Houston Texans defense ain’t broke. The Texans don’t expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to fix it.

“100 percent,” said defensive end Jonathan Greenard when asked if the defense expected a quick passing game again this week like the one the Indianapolis Colts utilized on Sunday. “They’re going to copy everything the teams run successfully on us.”

DeMeco Ryans knows what to expect on Sunday from the opposing quarterback.

“Trevor [Lawrence] gets the ball out fast,” Ryans said. “Whether it’s screen games, RPO games – the ball is coming out fairly quickly. It’s just a matter of guys being where they are supposed to be and guys being tight in their coverage.”

Trevor Lawrence has the lowest pocket time in the NFL this season according to Pro Football Reference. He tied for the lowest pocket time last season too. Almost none of the pressure stats have Trevor Lawrence in the top ten.

The tone from the Texans hasn’t been worrying about their defense. It’s been brushed off as a one-off. A bad day at the office for the defense.

“Yeah, from the defensive perspective, there’s just too many mistakes and miscues with guys being where they’re supposed to be.” DeMeco Ryans said. “It’s nothing that they shouldn’t know. We have to do better, we have to get it fixed and we have to get better in a hurry.”

Defensive lineman Will Anderson echoed his head coach’s sentiments.

He said it’s an execution issue and the defense knows it. The defense had some moments where they weren’t on the same page said Anderson. He said they’ll be attacking like they want to as a defense. They will minimize mistakes.

It’s about them, not the offense they face.

“That’s literally it,” Anderson said. “It’s just self-inflicted mistakes that’s happening that we’re doing that the other team is not doing.”

The offense they face has a new weapon from last year’s air attack in Jacksonville. Calvin Ridley disappointed in game two, but his debut with the Jaguars showcased there’s plenty left despite his long layoff from football.

DeMeco Ryans had high praise for Ridley.

“Wherever he catches the ball, you have to be ready,” Ryans said. “He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands, really great hands on the perimeter of the defense, but he can also take those short passes that we talked about. He can go to the house, so when it comes to tackling, we have to be on it. Make sure we’re playing great fundamental football, outside instead of making him cut back inside.”

Jacksonville’s running back who ran for over 1,000 yards last season was an element of the Jaguars’ offense that drew praise from the defensive line of the Texans.

“He may be a smaller guy but I think he still runs with so much power and aggressiveness which makes his game downhill,” said Jonathan Greenard of running back Travis Etienne. “Really good back.”

Will Anderson called Etienne a great back as he praised the physicality of the third-year back.

The Texans faced a physical runner on Sunday in Zach Moss, and he averaged nearly five yards per carry.

Passing against the Texans works. Through two weeks Houston has allowed opponents to complete over 75% of their passes. The Texans are allowing 4.3 yards per carry.

There’s a very clear approach to attacking the Texans. It ain’t broke. Houston has to hope they’ve fixed it by Sunday.

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The Wednesday injury report for the Houston Texans brought some good news and some great news.

• C.J. Stroud was limited with his shoulder injury on Wednesday. He didn’t seem worried and DeMeco Ryans said there wasn’t anything to worry about with the shoulder for Stroud.

• Laremy Tunsil returned to practice after his knee injury last week kept him out of the Colts game. DeMeco Ryans clarified it was just one knee with Tunsil after saying knees on Monday.

• Jimmie Ward practiced for the Texans. He has yet to play while he deals with a hip injury. Ward coming back would be massive for the defense.

• Jalen Pitre didn’t practice and I would think he needs to practice at least once if he is going to play on Sunday against the Jaguars.

• Denzel Perryman missed practice with a hand/wrist injury. I would think he, just like Pitre, might need one practice to play on Sunday.