Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley pulled no punches talking ahead of Week 9’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, openly admitting he didn’t get into the right rhythm last game. That’s a huge statement from a coach, and it sets the stage for some serious changes this week, especially for a guy like Tank Dell who’s “picking up steam.”
Nico Collins and the Call for Better Offensive Flow
First off, Caley wants Nico Collins to be a “focal point” in this offense, like he should be. He’s talking about moving Collins around, putting him in “different spots” positionally and schematically, which is exactly what you want to hear for a top receiver. Caley even said he “could do a better job of that,” taking ownership of the offense’s use of Collins.
Then there’s the “JUMBO” package. Caley says they’ve used it a “decent amount” and it’s helped in moments. But he also linked it directly to his own play-calling struggles last game. He said, “If I just start with myself like I’m always going to do, probably didn’t get into any kind of rhythm that I would have liked to last game and not mixing the groupings as much as obviously I would have hoped for, so just got to do a better job of that.” That’s a pretty candid admission, isn’t it? He’s saying he needs to be better, period. He needs to mix up those groupings more, get that rhythm going, and find the advantages from week to week, tying it into the run game and protections. It sounds like Houston is ready to shake things up offensively.
Tank Dell Is on the Rise, No Restrictions
And when you talk about shaking things up, you have to talk about Tank Dell. Caley’s message for Dell is simple: “Just have him be him.” Dell’s got that undeniable versatility, able to play “all three spots” for the Texans with “no restrictions” whatsoever. Caley praised his “really good job of just being on top of all the details.”
This is where it gets really interesting, especially after Caley’s admission about his own rhythm. When asked about more snaps for Dell, Caley wouldn’t give a definitive answer, because you “never know how these games go,” but he made it clear: “He’s picking up steam and I would say he’s done a great job dating back to the time we had this window opened up for us.” “Picking up steam” and “no restrictions” from an OC who just said he needs to mix groupings better? That sounds like a guy who’s about to see a whole lot more action, and that’s exactly what you want to hear if you’re a Texans fan. He is a skill player that can “offset some things,” and with Caley looking for balance, Dell could be that key.
Dealing with the Jaylin Noel Loss
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The team is dealing with the loss of Jaylin Noel. Caley truly feels “terrible for the guy.” Noel made “a lot of progress,” was a “hard worker,” and Caley was “really proud of the gains he had made just continuing to get better.” He had been gaining confidence and building off things week to week. It’s tough when a player like that goes down, especially one who’s a “team guy.”
This Week 9 game against the Chargers is massive. Caley knows he has to “do a better job” and get this offense into a rhythm. With Nico Collins being a focal point and Tank Dell “picking up steam” with no restrictions, all eyes are on that offensive game plan. Will we see those “different things” with Collins and a heavily utilized Dell? We’ll find out when they kick off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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