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Texans New 2025 Defense

T

TheRealJoker V2

Veteran
I think barring any unforeseen trades the 2025 defense is now set after the first couple days of free agency. The way the team has approached the start of free agency, it appears the table is set for an offense-heavy draft.

With that said, we have a pretty good idea of what DeMeco wants from his defense now and can see how the pieces will fit in. Whereas, the offense is a question mark. I’d prefer to spend this time focusing on the area of the team that was good enough to win a Super Bowl to end 2024 and just got better this offseason.

Post legal tampering FA roster projection:

DE: Anderson, Barnett
DT: Rankins, Autry, Togiai
DT: Settle, Edwards
DE: Hunter, Horton, Taylor

LB: Harris, To’o To’o
LB: Azeez, Niemann, Hill

CB: Stingley, Ross
CB: Lassiter, Smith
NB: Pitre

FS: Bullock, Ward
SS: CJGJ, Stewart
 
Upon first glance…

The team isn’t carrying 10 DL on the active roster. A good player will get traded. Maybe more than one….

If the team is going to add anywhere else on defense it’s CB depth and possibly LB.

This team has the deepest DL rotation in the NFL. They can send heat at the QB every down for all 4 quarters keeping opposing QBs in the pressure cooker. Which makes the job much easier for what might be the best starting secondary in the league. I don’t see a team that can rival the CB tandem of Stingley/Lassiter and safeties Bullock/CJGJ. Especially if Bullock and Lassiter continue to progress as expected. Then factor in Pitre’s ability to find his way to the action as the nickel back there will be ample opportunities to take the ball away.

If there’s a weakness on this defense its at LB where there isn’t a surefire all pro candidate like the DL and secondary both have. I am hopeful a healthy Christian Harris can change this and give the team a legit answer to TEs and RBs in coverage. Azeez is a solid LB and I think his coverage issues in the playoffs with Kelce were due in large part to playing with a knee injury. But even if healthy, he’s not the Fred Warner type. Harris has the athleticism for that role though.

The team did make an offer to Dre Greenlaw which tells me they aren’t 100% sold on Harris being that guy. To’o To’o improved in year two and is a solid spot starter but his ceiling is capped due to his athleticism.

This group is filled with “SWARM” at every level. Everyone they have “fits the profile”. I hope Caley can be clear on his evaluations with Caserio and the offensive coaches can develop that talent the way Ryans and the defensive staff have proven they can.
 
The current roster looks promising on paper and we know DeMeco always gets max effort from his defense. Still a lil concerned about interior run defense and CB depth, but no position is going to have starters throughout the depth chart. Having gained a full season together at 3 of the 4 secondary positions, I do expect less WTH moments and tighter play as a unit. They gave up quite a bit of passing TDs last year.
 
TheRealJoker V2 said:
I think barring any unforeseen trades the 2025 defense is now set after the first couple days of free agency. The way the team has approached the start of free agency, it appears the table is set for an offense-heavy draft.

With that said, we have a pretty good idea of what DeMeco wants from his defense now and can see how the pieces will fit in. Whereas, the offense is a question mark. I’d prefer to spend this time focusing on the area of the team that was good enough to win a Super Bowl to end 2024 and just got better this offseason.

Post legal tampering FA roster projection:

DE: Anderson, Barnett
DT: Rankins, Autry, Togiai
DT: Settle, Edwards
DE: Hunter, Horton, Taylor

LB: Harris, To’o To’o
LB: Azeez, Niemann, Hill

CB: Stingley, Ross
CB: Lassiter, Smith
NB: Pitre

FS: Bullock, Ward
SS: CJGJ, Stewart
Click to expand...
I think the defense is going to be better than last season and we all know how good they were last season. If Harris can stay healthy, it's going to be a lights out unit.
 
TheRealJoker V2 said:
I think barring any unforeseen trades the 2025 defense is now set after the first couple days of free agency. The way the team has approached the start of free agency, it appears the table is set for an offense-heavy draft.

With that said, we have a pretty good idea of what DeMeco wants from his defense now and can see how the pieces will fit in. Whereas, the offense is a question mark. I’d prefer to spend this time focusing on the area of the team that was good enough to win a Super Bowl to end 2024 and just got better this offseason.

Post legal tampering FA roster projection:

DE: Anderson, Barnett
DT: Rankins, Autry, Togiai
DT: Settle, Edwards
DE: Hunter, Horton, Taylor

LB: Harris, To’o To’o
LB: Azeez, Niemann, Hill

CB: Stingley, Ross
CB: Lassiter, Smith
NB: Pitre

FS: Bullock, Ward
SS: CJGJ, Stewart
Click to expand...
I missed Togai extending which I hoped for. I would still like to sign a backup cornerback.
 
Texans have three realistic candidates for all pro/DPOY consideration on this defense in Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson and Derek Stingley.

Guys like CJGJ, Lassiter and Bullock on the back end I see as guys who could be pro bowl candidates depending who wins the INT contest they’ll be having amongst eachother this season.

The DT room has solid NFL caliber starters in Rankins, Autry (DE/DT hybrid) and Settle coming off his career year.

The LB room now has 4 solid NFL caliber starters at a position group that will likely only field two of them the majority of the game in Azeez, healthy Harris, To’o To’o and Speed.

Pitre would be considered a solid starter in the role he plays as a nickel/LB chaos creating hybrid.

They have high end depth across the board, particularly at edge rusher. This is easily the best defense on paper the Texans have ever had and the team hasn’t added anyone from the draft yet!

Speaking of the draft: I could see DT, LB and CB/S as areas they could possibly add depth. But i’m not sure anyone outside the top 100 has a realistic path to making the active roster outside of injuries.
 
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Looking at the LB room and DeMeco’s additions since joining I notice some patterns emerging.

They have certain size/length thresholds. Neville Hewitt was the only LB they carried with sub 32” arms and it appears he has been replaced by Nick Niemann who is faster (4.51 40 and 1.56 10 yard split) than Hewitt (4.69 40 and 1.65 10 yard split).

Niemann also is bigger with longer arms. 6’3” 234 32 5/8” arms

Hewitt 6’1 3/8” 231 31 5/8” arms.

They’ve drafted Henry To’o To’o and Jamal Hill. Both have 32”+ arms and in the case of Hill 4.4 speed. To’o 4.62 40 and 1.57 10 yard split is very similar to Speed’s 4.60 40 and 1.58 10 yard split.

Speed started his college career as a WR and converted to LB. Hill started as a S and converted to LB.

Azeez 6’0 5/8” 234 32 3/8” arms no athletic testing numbers due to injury but he looks like a 4.6 guy on film.

Hansen and Harris from previous regime both 32”+ arms and in the case of Harris 4.4 speed.

So it looks to me they are looking for LBs with 32”+ arms and the speed cutoff is low 4.6 40. This LB unit has been revamped to have long athletic players that can close quickly on opponents. Every LB in the room now meets these thresholds.
 
TheRealJoker V2 said:
Texans have three realistic candidates for all pro/DPOY consideration on this defense in Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson and Derek Stingley.

Guys like CJGJ, Lassiter and Bullock on the back end I see as guys who could be pro bowl candidates depending who wins the INT contest they’ll be having amongst eachother this season.

The DT room has solid NFL caliber starters in Rankins, Autry (DE/DT hybrid) and Settle coming off his career year.

The LB room now has 4 solid NFL caliber starters at a position group that will likely only field two of them the majority of the game in Azeez, healthy Harris, To’o To’o and Speed.

Pitre would be considered a solid starter in the role he plays as a nickel/LB chaos creating hybrid.

They have high end depth across the board, particularly at edge rusher. This is easily the best defense on paper the Texans have ever had and the team hasn’t added anyone from the draft yet!

Speaking of the draft: I could see DT, LB and CB/S as areas they could possibly add depth. But i’m not sure anyone outside the top 100 has a realistic path to making the active roster outside of injuries.
Click to expand...
Autry needs to bring it and earn that guaranteed money.
 
TheRealJoker V2 said:
Looking at the LB room and DeMeco’s additions since joining I notice some patterns emerging.

They have certain size/length thresholds. Neville Hewitt was the only LB they carried with sub 32” arms and it appears he has been replaced by Nick Niemann who is faster (4.51 40 and 1.56 10 yard split) than Hewitt (4.69 40 and 1.65 10 yard split).

Niemann also is bigger with longer arms. 6’3” 234 32 5/8” arms

Hewitt 6’1 3/8” 231 31 5/8” arms.

They’ve drafted Henry To’o To’o and Jamal Hill. Both have 32”+ arms and in the case of Hill 4.4 speed. To’o 4.62 40 and 1.57 10 yard split is very similar to Speed’s 4.60 40 and 1.58 10 yard split.

Speed started his college career as a WR and converted to LB. Hill started as a S and converted to LB.

Azeez 6’0 5/8” 234 32 3/8” arms no athletic testing numbers due to injury but he looks like a 4.6 guy on film.

Hansen and Harris from previous regime both 32”+ arms and in the case of Harris 4.4 speed.

So it looks to me they are looking for LBs with 32”+ arms and the speed cutoff is low 4.6 40. This LB unit has been revamped to have long athletic players that can close quickly on opponents. Every LB in the room now meets these thresholds.
Click to expand...
Can we get one that can cover?
 
For all intents and purposes, Pitre is the coverage LB as the hybrid Jack. He’s not perfect in coverage, but he’s still the best we have. Harris might be a plus cover backer…if he can stay healthy long enough to take DeMeco’s training and coaching.

At this point, I don’t see room to add a true coverage LB this year. Might still be one of the few weak spots on the defense, so expect opposing teams to work TE’s and slots against our D.
 
If there were any questions whether the Texans would use more 3 LB sets they should be answered with Pitre’s contract.

Texans have 4 viable LBs to soak up the snaps for the 2 LBs on the field. Azeez is locked in for one spot. Training camp competition between Harris, To’o To’o and Speed for starting LB2.

Pitre is essentially starting LB3/nickel corner.
 
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