Man, it’s rough out there for the Texans, sitting at a brutal 0-4, and head coach DeMeco Ryans just pulled the trigger: he’s taking back defensive play-calling duties from coordinator Matt Burke. This isn’t just a small tweak; it’s a huge move that brings Ryans back to his original role from his first two seasons as Houston’s head coach, a role Burke took over last year.
From Elite to Struggling: The Defensive Dive
You gotta look at the numbers to see why this change went down. Last season, with Burke handling the play-calling, the Texans defense was legit, finishing No. 1 in yards allowed and No. 2 in points allowed. That’s elite, right? Fast forward to *this* season, and it’s a completely different story. Right now, this Texans defense is dead last in the league in points allowed at No. 27 and not much better in yards allowed, sitting at No. 20. When you go from top tier to bottom ten in just one year, something’s gotta give, especially when you’re staring down an 0-4 record. Ryans clearly saw the dramatic drop-off and knew he had to do something drastic.
Burke’s Take and the Road Ahead
Matt Burke isn’t sugarcoating it, admitting he’s “a little disappointed.” But he’s not making it about himself. He said, and I quote, “not even about me, just obviously I think we’re all disappointed in where we’re at and how we performed and being 0-4 at this point.” That tells you everything you need to know about the locker room’s frustration. Ryans was straight up with Burke, telling him, “I think we need to spark a change.” And Burke, like a true pro, responded, “OK, what do you need from me?” His role now? “Keep game planning and working on the plan with me through the week, and same as we’ve always done.” As for how this impacts the actual defensive schemes, Burke could only offer, “we’ll see.” It’s clear the Texans are desperate to turn things around, and this play-calling switch is their big swing. For an 0-4 team, every game is a battle for relevance, and this move means Ryans is betting on himself to fix the biggest problem.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply