The Houston Texans are staring down a brutal 0-3 record for the second straight season, immediately sparking serious questions about who should take the blame for this mess. It’s too early to completely give up on the season, but the concerns are piling up fast, and some key figures in the organization are definitely feeling the heat. While the defense has played “back to back solid defensive games” and Matt Burke is off the hook, the spotlight is now glaring directly on DeMeco Ryans, Nick Caserio, and Nick Caley.
Caserio’s Costly O-Line Obsession Is Backfiring Big Time
Nick Caserio’s tenure in Houston, stretching back to 2021, has been an ongoing saga of trying to build and rebuild the offensive line every single year. His “modus operandi” is always the same: trade away expensive players like Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard, then try to cobble together a line with a collection of new guys. The problem? It just hasn’t worked yet. We’ve seen key misses in the draft and free agency, including Kenyon Green and Juice Scruggs. The jury is still out on Blake Fisher, but honestly, it is not looking good there either.
Sure, we’ve got names like Cam Robinsons, Wyatt Tellers, and Shaq Masons, but they haven’t been the consistent difference makers. Ed Ingram was a “win last season,” but he “hasn’t been there for the most part this season.” While Airontae Ersery “looks okay” and Keeland Rutledge “could be a good one,” the other three slots on that line look “shaky at best.” And that’s just the beginning! There’s also the glaring inability to surround Nico Collins with enough skill position talent to pick up the slack when he is out. But the absolute “biggest problem” has been Caserio’s choice of Nick Caley as offensive coordinator. That decision has Caserio’s “fingerprints all over it,” given Caley’s New England background and John Carroll University alum connection. All of this adds up to “some serious side eye” for Caserio. He has won 32 games in three seasons, so he probably “gets the benefit of the doubt for now,” but this season might just be his one warning.
DeMeco Ryans’ Rough Start & Late Game Headaches
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has not been in Houston as long as Caserio, so he doesn’t have the same extensive track record. Every coach faces criticism when their team loses, that’s just how it goes. But this past Sunday, Ryans made a major misstep, and it cost the Texans. He “did not handle the end of the game well,” leaving “too much time for the Colts to score” and failing to “use their time outs to give themselves another chance.” Those are the kinds of mistakes that can sink a season, especially when you are already starting 0-3.
This 0-3 start is a massive red flag, especially for Caserio. With his job on the line, he needs to prove he can actually build a functional roster, particularly that offensive line. Ryans, on the other hand, needs to quickly learn from his late game errors and show he can adapt and make smarter decisions in crunch time. The pressure is on, and the “stages of suck” are definitely in effect for the Texans.
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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