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Slowik and the offense

amazing80 said:
Slowik is hot garbage. Does Demeco have the spine and leadership to make a play calling change mid season? Doubtful
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Unfortunately, no. Demeco would rather blame his qb than his best friend Slowik. You become a real coach when you fire your best friend who's a coach on the team. Dan Campbell did it and the lions are respected.
 
Porky said:
That's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. These issues go way deeper and it's foundational stuff. The analysis I have seen proves that Bobby is a horrible play-caller and play-designer. Look at Alexander's work for one. Changing out Howard and giving Mason a breather is like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. This ship hit the iceberg and is now sinking with Captain Slowik refusing to turn the good ship lollipop, and DeMeco is either incapable of getting it corrected or is unconcerned about it - and either one is extremely troubling. There is no accountability on Kirby, something I wouldn't ever expect from DeMeco. I'm really disappointed in how he's handling this crisis - and yes, it is a crisis.
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Tell me more about these foundational issues. You don't believe in Fisher? Let's get everybody healthy, let them play together for awhile and then we'll see if your post is correct.
 
DanielTx said:
Unfortunately, no. Demeco would rather blame his qb than his best friend Slowik. You become a real coach when you fire your best friend who's a coach on the team. Dan Campbell did it and the lions are respected.
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Dan Campbell didn’t fire Anthony Lynn until after the season was over.
 
austins23 said:
View attachment 14823
This is just ridiculous.

This goes back to other stat I (and others) mentioned about Stroud being the QB that has the MOST 3rd and longs (7+ yards)…. 50 of them!!
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I guess he thinks by running on passing downs he will catch opposing defenses off guard. If that's the case and these stats are correct, Bobby is playing checkers while opposing defenses are playing chess.
 
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austins23 said:
Very true…. I don’t remember any of them being real effective.
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The biggest reason for failure on the many varieties of Slowick’s behind the LOS screens…..he has his receivers as the blockers. Opposing offenses always seem to have success with their screens and it’s eye opening as to how many of those successful screens had OL leading the way. Crazy how Slowick hasn’t diagnosed this during his film study.
 
Lucky said:
So, are you calling for a new play caller? Just have Ryans say Slowik needs to be better in front of the press? Do you have another solution? How should the "crisis" be handled?
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I've already said I'd start with Strausser
OptimisticTexan said:
The biggest reason for failure on the many varieties of Slowick’s behind the LOS screens…..he has his receivers as the blockers. Opposing offenses always seem to have success with their screens and it’s eye opening as to how many of those successful screens had OL leading the way. Crazy how Slowick hasn’t diagnosed this during his film study.
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Maybe because our olineman can’t block?
 
The Texans have encountered similar offensive issues to the Bears under former Kyle Shanahan assistant Bobby Slowik. Stroud’s talent has masked major problems with the scheme—starting with the run game—but opposing defenses have done a better job of exploiting those weak points of late. Stroud has more third-and-long dropbacks than any other quarterback this season, and he’s been under pressure on 53 percent of those snaps. The Texans don’t run a complex protection scheme, and the Shanahan system doesn’t typically allow the quarterback to make significant changes before the snap. So opposing defenses have been able to break Houston’s protection rules early and often, thanks to the Texans’ problems on first and second down. These issues started over the back half of last season and played a big role in the team’s playoff loss to Baltimore. Houston’s offensive line was decimated by injuries, and it was assumed that better health would lead to improvements. But the line has been arguably worse so far this season, and Slowik hasn’t found any answers in the run game or in pass protection. That’s put pressure on Stroud, and we’re just now seeing it create cracks in his game.

This is another area where we’ve seen teams fail. Houston has tried to plug its two best, and highest-paid, linemen—Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard—into the Shanahan scheme, and they haven’t been a good fit. Shanahan offenses typically rely on smaller, quicker linemen, not the bigger, more powerful blockers the Texans invested in. And there’s a clear lack of chemistry between this group, which has led to botched combo blocks in the run game and busts in pass protection. Plus, after adding Stefon Diggs to a receiving corps that already featured Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Slowik moved away from last year’s identity—which was built around heavier personnel—to get the best players on the field. Houston’s offense is now using less play-action and creating fewer easy throws for Stroud.

Williams isn’t alone. We’ve seen Stroud’s decision-making and accuracy go to **** in Houston’s disjointed offense. Lawrence has developed timing and accuracy issues playing in Jacksonville’s disorganized passing game. And those are just the quarterbacks we can confidently say are above average. There are also unproven guys like Richardson, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix who are struggling to find consistency in less-than-ideal setups. And who knows how failed quarterbacks like Jones, Wilson, or Pickett may have turned out had they landed in situations that didn’t highlight their worst passing traits?
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www.theringer.com

How to Break a Young Quarterback in Three Easy Steps

NFL teams are breaking quarterbacks faster than they can build them up—most notably in Chicago, where Caleb Williams is struggling and the Bears have few answers. What are the common threads from these situations? And how can teams fix their mistakes before it’s too late?
www.theringer.com
 
zshawn10 said:
www.theringer.com

How to Break a Young Quarterback in Three Easy Steps

NFL teams are breaking quarterbacks faster than they can build them up—most notably in Chicago, where Caleb Williams is struggling and the Bears have few answers. What are the common threads from these situations? And how can teams fix their mistakes before it’s too late?
www.theringer.com
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Very accurate assessment.
Not sure I remember the last time CJ was under center in a traditional 12 or even 21 personnel and run play action out of it.
Against the colts they trotted out 13 personnel and ran out of that formation for negative yards both times! Just dumb
 
Driving a buddy around doing errands between 1:00 and 3:00 today, I heard on 610 radio some stats concerning Texans running on first down and other run statistics. One of those had us at number 32 in the league. Did anyone else happen to catch a more clear understanding of the stats?

We continue to be locked into the run to set up the pass and it is obviously not working. Hopefully Collins will be back and with Metchie looking good last game, we should have a dominating game against Dallas. Having said that, we will score 20 points in the first half and 0 points in the second half winning 20-19.
 
I don’t really care who the interim online coach is. They ain’t listening to this guy and they probably won’t listen to the next. Sometimes you need to shake the tree to get the fruit to drop. At least that would be a shot across the bow.

The way I see it there are two choices. Do nothing. Do something. I’ll take what’s behind door #2 Monte. It might be a goat or it might be a Cadillac but it’s better than the boring plaid living room set I see in front of me.
 
austins23 said:
View attachment 14823
This is just ridiculous.

This goes back to other stat I (and others) mentioned about Stroud being the QB that has the MOST 3rd and longs (7+ yards)…. 50 of them!!
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Illogical is right, who would call such a game.

It's almost as if someone saw something he didn't like at the LOS & checked to a run play. Makes more sense than calling a run play on 2nd/3rd down & long.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1857511319798186261

Slowik on 2nd half offense - “Honestly, our approach is, Football is football. It’s like is something off? Are they doing something different or are we doing something different? What’s happening? It’s football, it’s the exact same as it was in the first half. We’re not operating and executing the same.”

^
I see why players are having players only meetings. He believe teams aren’t adjusting after half time. He has no clue what’s he’s doing. Our qb can take responsibility but he can’t.
 
DanielTx said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1857511319798186261

Slowik on 2nd half offense - “Honestly, our approach is, Football is football. It’s like is something off? Are they doing something different or are we doing something different? What’s happening? It’s football, it’s the exact same as it was in the first half. We’re not operating and executing the same.”

^
I see why players are having players only meetings. He believe teams aren’t adjusting after half time. He has no clue what’s he’s doing. Our qb can take responsibility but he can’t.
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Stupidest crap 💩 I’ve ever heard
 
DanielTx said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1857511319798186261
^
I see why players are having players only meetings. He believe teams aren’t adjusting after half time. He has no clue what’s he’s doing. Our qb can take responsibility but he can’t.
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He didn't say he doesn't believe teams aren't adjusting, he's saying they've looked at it, disected it & have concluded the adjustment isn't the problem. The breakdown is in execution. Missed blocks, poor routes, lining up properly.

The proper follow up would have been to ask why is an "execution" problem consistent over a three-five week period?
 
thunderkyss said:
The proper follow up would have been to ask why is an "execution" problem consistent over a three-five week period?
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Agreed, but if players aren't executing over a span that long what does that say in your opinion?
Something has to give, Slowik has to ensure he's doing things that they execute well and if the players still can't execute then it's next man up for the coach and/or player(s).
 
My theory…and this isn’t the only problem but could be a big factor. What we are running is simplistic and includes easy tells. Defenses catch up to the tells and know what is coming. They need to look hard at the tells and patterns. And for god sakes…can this team ever learn to run a legit screen game. You want to back guys off…bust a few big screens…slants and draws.

This comes back to Slowik and Strausser.
 
KoolAid Sipper said:
Agreed, but if players aren't executing over a span that long what does that say in your opinion?
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Tells me they aren’t buying into Slowick’s vision.

Maybe there’s a competing vision they’ve bought into, but where would that be coming from with enough juice to quell the OC’s argument. Demeco? Stroud? Dogs? Just doesn’t make sense.

Heck not buying in in the 2nd half when it worked in the 1st half doesn’t make sense, unless they don’t like the direction Bobby is pointing to in the 2nd half, play not to lose or something.

Or maybe he’s berating the crap out of them at halftime nitpicking every play or going all BO’b on them for every penalty. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes that kind of tongue lashing is due but there’s a right way & a wrong way to do it & maybe Bobby is going all wrong way about it.
 
thunderkyss said:
Tells me they aren’t buying into Slowick’s vision.

Maybe there’s a competing vision they’ve bought into, but where would that be coming from with enough juice to quell the OC’s argument. Demeco? Stroud? Dogs? Just doesn’t make sense.

Heck not buying in in the 2nd half when it worked in the 1st half doesn’t make sense, unless they don’t like the direction Bobby is pointing to in the 2nd half, play not to lose or something.

Or maybe he’s berating the crap out of them at halftime nitpicking every play or going all BO’b on them for every penalty. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes that kind of tongue lashing is due but there’s a right way & a wrong way to do it & maybe Bobby is going all wrong way about it.
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Far more likely that Bobby’s bringing a game plan each week that is being found out in the first half and is getting out coached by opposing DC’s. This leads to players not being bought in to the coaching because they know it’s dogshit.

Unfortunately, on Plato’s ship when we mutiny we must not kill the navigator, a ship only has one man trained to navigate by the stars and we can’t take a vote or multiple opinions on which direction to take and expect to get anywhere.

So our only chance is to be bought in to Bobby’s vision and Bobby’s vision is flawed because he is somewhat good at game planning for the week ahead and very poor and making in game adjustments.

I also saw a stat where the Texans are 32nd in the league when running the ball on obvious passing downs, for the last month, for the entire season, and for the last 2 seasons since Bobby got here. Another huge problem.
 
Porky said:
My theory…and this isn’t the only problem but could be a big factor. What we are running is simplistic and includes easy tells. Defenses catch up to the tells and know what is coming. They need to look hard at the tells and patterns. And for god sakes…can this team ever learn to run a legit screen game. You want to back guys off…bust a few big screens…slants and draws.

This comes back to Slowik and Strausser.
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Recently, someone posted a video with Chris Simms making that same point. Simms said Slowik is running the basic version of this offense. He made a great point regarding the disciples of this scheme and how the coaches (Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel) who learned directly from Mike Shanahan and Kubiak seem to know the intricacies of the offense better than these new, young coaches who are now running the scheme.

Time will tell if Slowik is just running the playbook or he knows the playbook well enough or is creative enough to add the counters to what defenses are doing to his offense.
 
Earl34 said:
Recently, someone posted a video with Chris Simms making that same point. Simms said Slowik is running the basic version of this offense. He made a great point regarding the disciples of this scheme and how the coaches (Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel) who learned directly from Mike Shanahan and Kubiak seem to know the intricacies of the offense better than these new, young coaches who are now running the scheme.

Time will tell if Slowik is just running the playbook or he knows the playbook well enough or is creative enough to add the counters to what defenses are doing to his offense.
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I posted that video because it was very interesting that Simms was saying how basic and simplistic Slowik’s offense was compared to who he learned it from. I was wondering why is it so basic when we have the type of weapons that we have.
 
Earl34 said:
Recently, someone posted a video with Chris Simms making that same point. Simms said Slowik is running the basic version of this offense. He made a great point regarding the disciples of this scheme and how the coaches (Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel) who learned directly from Mike Shanahan and Kubiak seem to know the intricacies of the offense better than these new, young coaches who are now running the scheme.

Time will tell if Slowik is just running the playbook or he knows the playbook well enough or is creative enough to add the counters to what defenses are doing to his offense.
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Good point. I’ve been critical of Slowik, as many others have, but then again he only began coaching on the offensive side of the ball in 2019. Before DeMeco hired him as our offensive coordinator, he was just a passing game specialist/coordinator so he’s definitely still learning on the job. And no doubt he could benefit from more support from someone with deeper experience in the Shanahan/Kubiak offensive system and I don't think Bill Lazor has that.
 
Texansballer74 said:
I posted that video because it was very interesting that Simms was saying how basic and simplistic Slowik’s offense was compared to who he learned it from. I was wondering why is it so basic when we have the type of weapons that we have.
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Thanks for posting that video. I couldn't recall the exact post. Yes. It was interesting.

I also find it interesting to watch and compare Slowik and Mike McDaniel with the Dolphins. McDaniel was on the Texans staff with Kyle Shanahan, Mike Lafleur and Kyle Shanahan. When you watch the Dolphins, you can see how he is still expanding the Shanahan offense. Watch how he uses motion to get Tyrek Hill in favorable matchups. I'm still waiting for Slowik to do something similar with Tank.
 
Earl34 said:
Thanks for posting that video. I couldn't recall the exact post. Yes. It was interesting.

I also find it interesting to watch and compare Slowik and Mike McDaniel with the Dolphins. McDaniel was on the Texans staff with Kyle Shanahan, Mike Lafleur and Kyle Shanahan. When you watch the Dolphins, you can see how he is still expanding the Shanahan offense. Watch how he uses motion to get Tyrek Hill in favorable matchups. I'm still waiting for Slowik to do something similar with Tank.
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What’s crazy to me, last season he was actually running plays in which were allowing his receivers to get wide open. This season with better weapons, they’re not getting open as much. Even when Nico went down last season, both Tank and or Brown were getting open.
 
Lucky said:
Do you have a replacement candidate in mind?
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I wouldn't fire anybody during the season because of injury. Lets see how this plays out as the OL comes together with a healthy Mixon/Nico/Dell.

Next offseason if things dont come together then Munchak/John Benton/Dennison would be the guys I would look at bringing in.
 
austins23 said:
Very accurate assessment.
Not sure I remember the last time CJ was under center in a traditional 12 or even 21 personnel and run play action out of it.
Against the colts they trotted out 13 personnel and ran out of that formation for negative yards both times! Just dumb
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They ran the ball a couple of times out of 13 personnel and it didn't work. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
 
KoolAid Sipper said:
Agreed, but if players aren't executing over a span that long what does that say in your opinion?
Something has to give, Slowik has to ensure he's doing things that they execute well and if the players still can't execute then it's next man up for the coach and/or player(s).
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Maybe the OL are dumb as a box of rocks, or a 1st year center was struggling to make OL calls. This should get better with Patterson at center. He did a fine job last yr.
 
Porky said:
My theory…and this isn’t the only problem but could be a big factor. What we are running is simplistic and includes easy tells. Defenses catch up to the tells and know what is coming. They need to look hard at the tells and patterns. And for god sakes…can this team ever learn to run a legit screen game. You want to back guys off…bust a few big screens…slants and draws.

This comes back to Slowik and Strausser.
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Gotta keep things simple for a bunch of dumb OL.
 
Texansballer74 said:
I posted that video because it was very interesting that Simms was saying how basic and simplistic Slowik’s offense was compared to who he learned it from. I was wondering why is it so basic when we have the type of weapons that we have.
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Texansballer74 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1856370980467421557
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One thing that doesn't make sense he says the Center calls protection & Stroud has no idea who's covered & who's not. Cj should know what's been called. All he has to do is pay attention. Other teams do it all the time.
 
thunderkyss said:
Tells me they aren’t buying into Slowick’s vision.

Maybe there’s a competing vision they’ve bought into, but where would that be coming from with enough juice to quell the OC’s argument. Demeco? Stroud? Dogs? Just doesn’t make sense.

Heck not buying in in the 2nd half when it worked in the 1st half doesn’t make sense, unless they don’t like the direction Bobby is pointing to in the 2nd half, play not to lose or something.

Or maybe he’s berating the crap out of them at halftime nitpicking every play or going all BO’b on them for every penalty. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes that kind of tongue lashing is due but there’s a right way & a wrong way to do it & maybe Bobby is going all wrong way about it.
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Or maybe after defenses make halftime adjustments and Strausser asks his OL to make counter adjustments, the OL is too dumb to make adjustments on the fly. The reason they do well in the 1st half is that's what they've been practicing all week. Put them in a situation where they have to think/adjust and you get what we've seen the last month. Fortunately they've got 8 weeks to figure this out before the playoffs. Can they do this? With health and playing together they can IMHO.
 
Texansballer74 said:
I posted that video because it was very interesting that Simms was saying how basic and simplistic Slowik’s offense was compared to who he learned it from. I was wondering why is it so basic when we have the type of weapons that we have.
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Because the OL can only comprehend basic stuff and asking them to do more makes the offense look like it has for the last month. At least that's what I hope is the case, because if it's Stroud can only comprehend basic stuff then that's a foundational issue that cant be fixed.
 
steelbtexan said:
Maybe the OL are dumb as a box of rocks, or a 1st year center was struggling to make OL calls. This should get better with Patterson at center. He did a fine job last yr.
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So who is responsible for the dumb OL we have (either bringing them in or kept/resigned them)? IMO, Patterson has been decent at Center but I'd feel better with a true upgrade and move Patterson to LG....next year.
 
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KoolAid Sipper said:
So who's is responsible for the dumb OL we have (either bringing them in or kept/resigned them)? IMO, Patterson is been decent at Center but I'd feel better with a true upgrade and move Patterson to LG....next year.
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Caserio and probably Ryans/Strausser.

Agreed about Patterson, except I think he's a fine starting center, but given his injury history they cant cont on him staying healthy.
 
austins23 said:
It’s unreasonable that there are 5 olinemen AND 3 TE’s and the RB can’t get positive yards….
If that formation had produced positive yards it would be a perfect set up for play action
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I dont think running a play twice and it not being successful is unreasonable.
 
I don’t necessarily buy the dumb argument. Did they lose a bunch of brain cells in the off-season?

Mason is showin wear and tear. The rookie center was overwhelmed mentally. Howard has been injured to the point where it’s effectively killing his quickness. The LG flat out sucked. And Tunsil moves well…but isn’t physical at the point of attack.

And I’m not sure a single one is the ideal candidate for a ZBS is on Nick and to a lesser extent, DeMeco, Strausser and Bobby.
 
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