The Houston Texans are staring down a familiar barrel, and it is not C.J. Stroud or the offensive line holding the gun. The real issue is far more deeply rooted than individual player performance. Nick Caley, the team’s current offensive coordinator, finds himself in a position that screams “coaching issue,” with the data showing he is bottom five in the league, echoing the struggles of his predecessor, Bobby Slowik, who was dead last.
It’s Not the Players, It’s the Playbook (and the Teachers)
Let’s be real: at the NFL level, talent is off the charts. General Manager Nick Caserio’s job is to load the roster with physically capable, pro caliber athletes, and the EP system itself is adaptable to the roster. So, when you see an offensive line full of NFL caliber athletes unable to open holes for an NFL caliber running back, the odds are low it is the players. What we are really looking at here is a fundamental breakdown in the coaching staff’s ability to teach and mentor. Coaches are teachers, after all. Player mindset, motivation, attitude, and their mental ability to grasp schemes and plays and remember them in the heat of the moment, that all falls on the coaches. It is way too easy for fans to blame the “tip of the spear,” meaning the player involved in the failed play. But that often misses the coaching decisions that put the player in a bad spot to begin with.
The Harsh Reality of Coordinator “Upgrades”
When the Texans fired Bobby Slowik, there was a real presumption it would be a major upgrade. The reality, however, begs to differ. Juan’s tweet from September 23, 2026, laid it out: “CJ Stroud has his former and current offensive coordinator shown at the bottom half #HTownMade.” Slowik was dead last. Caley is bottom five. This isn’t a C.J. Stroud problem, it’s not a running back problem, and it’s definitely not an offensive line problem. You cannot blame the Texans’ wide receiver depth chart, the injury report, or even the fact they have not yet pulled the trigger on a Marvin Harrison Jr. trade. This is purely a coaching issue. Despite Stroud earning a place in the NFL record books last weekend, some folks still want to blame him, the o-line, or the receiving corps.
What the Experts See That We Might Miss
Most of us watching the game cannot easily see coaching issues. We see quarterbacks take sacks and commit turnovers, or tailbacks running headfirst into defensive linemen. What gets collectively missed is the coaching decision that put the player in that bad situation. But there are folks who do see it. Clayton Anderson, HTX Sports, shared insight from JOEL9ONE, an 11-year NFL veteran who played for the Rams, Patriots, and Eagles. This guy is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, an NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, and an NFL All-Rookie Team member. When a decorated veteran like that hints at a problem being coaching related, you better believe it is time to listen. The Texans need to address this now, or they are going to keep seeing talented players underperform simply because they are not being put in positions to succeed.
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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