The Houston Texans just slid to 0-4, a record the franchise has never seen before. Not even the infamous David Culley era kicked off this bad, managing a victory in Week 1. When you’re in uncharted waters like this, it is impossible to imagine everyone in the key spots making it out of this season alive. So, the burning question is just how hot are these seats getting?
Nick Caserio’s Seat Is Warming Up
Let’s start at the top with General Manager Nick Caserio. My take, and hey, people are free to flood the comments with their own, puts Caserio in the “warm” category. You know these reports drop on Wednesdays for a reason: to try and avoid making irrational, snap decisions. Someone smart once said perfect is the enemy of good, and it’s true. We dump “good” way too fast looking for “perfect.” The perfect GM? Doesn’t exist. Look at Howie Roseman: a year or two ago he was the best GM in sports, now Eagles fans are giving him the side-eye.
On balance, Caserio actually pulled this organization out of Bill O’Brien hell and brought some real competitiveness for the last three years. Even three of these four losses this season came down to the final possession. So yeah, there are cracks, absolutely. Everyone’s screaming about the offensive line, and rightly so, but there have been other free agency and draft misses too. But I challenge any hater out there to look at the records of other GMs and name ten better ones right now. That’s a tough ask.
Still, the GM’s job is way bigger than just players. The coaching staff has Caserio’s fingerprints all over it, especially the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, who sure look like “buddy hires.” Funny how those two units are the ones getting all the heat. I can’t see a solid case for firing him right now, but once this whole debacle is over, he’s going to be put on notice. He absolutely has to nail the coaching hires and fix that offensive line. Another year of this and he could be out the door.
DeMeco Ryans And The Kubiak Conundrum
Then there’s Head Coach DeMeco Ryans. Just like with Caserio, you gotta ask yourself: can we actually do better? Some fans always want an offense-first coach, and that’s fair. But what has Ryans done to deserve the axe right now? My personal opinion, and it’s just one man’s view, is that he’s giving me major 2010 Gary Kubiak vibes.
Back then, Kubiak was a gifted offensive mind, running one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. Seriously, the Texans offense has never been better than it was in 2010. But he just could not figure out the defensive side of the ball. What happened? The McNairs stepped in and forced Wade Phillips on Kubiak. It might just be that time for Ryans. What’s spooky? 2010 was Kubiak’s fourth year, and 2026? That’s Ryans’ fourth year. The parallels are hard to ignore.
This 0-4 start is a disaster, no doubt about it. Caserio’s got to get these coaching gaps and the O-line right, or that “warm” seat goes straight to scorching. Ryans, you gotta wonder if the front office is already brainstorming a defensive guru to pair him with, just like they did with Kubiak. What happens next is everything for this franchise.
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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