The Houston Texans just took a 27 to 7 beating in their first preseason game, and honestly, they are probably already trying to forget it. From the jump, it was clear some guys were fighting for their jobs, and not always winning.
Defense Looked Rough: Who’s Fighting For a Spot?
Right from the second play, it was tough sledding for some of the defensive linemen. DT Naquan Jones got pushed back five yards, and if he is battling for a roster spot, that is not how you want to start. Later, he showed some good penetration but his gap integrity was bad. Like, really bad, and the notes say that became a theme. DE Solomon Byrd kept moving off his spot, always wanting to shoot the inside gap but getting his shoulders turned. That is not gonna cut it.
Dominic Bailey on the defensive line had poor footwork at the point of attack, letting a first down happen. He needs to rework his arms and establish positioning, no doubt. CB Tremon Smith had good fluidity moving backwards and marking his receiver early on, but later he was playing too far off and did not recover well enough. Is that by design, or is he just lacking speed? They need to figure that out. Stephen Hall was late to understand his coverage in press man, had to reorganize, and let the receiver get positioning.
It was not all bad, though! DT Kayden McDonald showed good horizontal movement against a zone run play. CB Jaylin Smith made an open-field fantastic tackle, all starting from great composure, play recognition, and body placement. That is the kind of stuff you love to see. And #14 Marte Mapu had good pursuit, looking light but strong. Even Jake Hummel, who missed the first part of camp, showed good coverage guarding the running back and adjusted well to the field. But overall, the defense rotated heavily on that first drive. Almost everyone rotated out from the start to the field goal, so you gotta wonder what that means.
A Few Offensive Bright Spots Can’t Hide That 27-7 Score
While the defense had its struggles, there were some sparks on offense. Xavier Hutchinson, in particular, was already showing his versatility. His experience in that offense and with the team will give him “cheap” opportunities to win. Davis Mills, with his experience and poise, dropped a layered throw to Klein. Get ready for the Texans PR team to be hyping that throw up, big time.
Noah Whittington got the start, and his pitch play showed he really knows his “streets,” meaning he shines when he can run downhill in space. That is a good sign for his role. And Rutledge did a fantastic job blocking against a nose tackle. On a zone pitch play, a linebacker came down to blitz, and Rutledge adjusted perfectly to the defense. These are the plays that make you go “alright, there is something there.” But when you lose 27 to 7, those individual moments get overshadowed by the final score.
This first preseason game for the Texans was a wake-up call for some and a chance to shine for others. For players like Naquan Jones, Dominic Bailey, and Stephen Hall, they know those roster spots are on the line. Every snap matters right now, especially after a tough 27 to 7 loss. They have got to clean things up fast if they want to make an impact this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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