How the Houston Texans obtained again within the NFL Playoffs

Houston, we now have a playoff crew.

In some way, a way, the Houston Texans are within the playoffs. Regardless of an uneven offensive efficiency all season, the Texans are headed again to the postseason after stymying the Miami Dolphins in a 20-12 victory. What’s humorous about that efficiency by the Texans is that Houston’s offense completed with the identical EPA per play because the Dolphins, and nonetheless received the sport!

The Texans did this on the backs of a very phenomenal defensive efficiency. In what was type of a reminder that head coach Demeco Ryans can nonetheless coach the hell out of protection, the Texans held Miami to 52 speeding yards, picked off QB Tua Tagovailoa 3 times and sacked the Dolphins’ sign caller 3 times as properly. Let’s check out how they did it, and the way it can affect their season going into playoff time.

The Texans are a four-down protection in the identical mildew because the Jets and 49ers, reliant on instantaneous penetration from the defensive position and quick flowing by the second stage. This could possibly be an issue towards a Dolphins’ offense that desires to make use of misdirection to counteract this, however the Texans’ defensive position performed out of their minds, and thus allowed the second stage to stream quick to the ball. On this zone toss run, DE Denico Autry is ready to set a tough edge to maintain this run in between the tackles. From there, you get a quick fill from the protection, who matches to the within of Autry and is ready to make the cease as properly. LB Christian Harris additionally detonates on FB Alec Ingold to blow this play up and preserve it to a brief achieve.

I used to be additionally very impressed with the Texans’ corners in run help. The Texans performed a LOT of Cowl 2 on Sunday—probably the most Cowl 2 they’ve performed in a single recreation this season. Whereas Cowl 2 is nice for bottling up most fashionable passing video games, it asks the cornerbacks to be concerned within the run recreation as a result of they’re within the flat. You pay corners some huge cash to not sort out, however the most effective ones are in a position to be a significant factor within the run recreation. Jalen Ramsey was the most effective tackling CB within the league, and getting corners to play the run unlocks so many issues for a protection. The Texans are in Cowl 2, and the Dolphins are working Crunch (entice/wham). DE Will Anderson Jr. is to the aspect of the wham block, however as a result of he is aware of his assistance is coming from CB Derek Stingley Jr., who’s taking part in the flat. Anderson slants within the suitable sort out, forcing this run to bounce to Stingley, who makes the play.

Within the passing recreation, it’s a narrative of Cowl 2 and Inverted Cowl 2. Groups have performed these two-high shells towards the Dolphins so much since McDaniel’s offense begun getting schemed towards higher, and the Texans leveraged their protection to close the water off downfield, whereas forcing Tagovailoa into errors. Their first rep of this got here on the primary drive, the place Tagovailoa was pressured to throw a checkdown. The Texans line CB Kamari Lassiter (who performed an amazing recreation) within the slot and have the linebackers mugged till they drop out. On the snap, they spin to inverted Cowl 2, with security Calen Bullock working to hold something over the center of the sector. This limits the stress on linebackers in the midst of the sector, whereas altering the image on the again finish. Bullock carries WR Jaylen Waddle over the center of the sector and all the pieces is blanketed, forcing Tua to examine it down.

Then, when the Dolphins tried to get aggressive and throw it downfield, the Texans broke them on two consecutive drives, each by Bullock in Inverted Cowl 2. Watch how the linebackers are in a position to shut on all the pieces shallow as a result of Bullock is lurking behind them. Tua goes to throw this dig pondering it’ll be open, however Bullock is ready to soar it and nearly will get a decide.

The subsequent drive, he will get an interception on the very same idea, inverted Cowl 2. Once more, the Texans are in a position to insulate and shield the center of the sector with Bullock because the Tampa participant as a substitute of a slower linebacker, and watch as Bullock doesn’t transfer off his landmark, ready for this over path to get thrown and jumps it, nearly taking this to the home. You may see all their levers getting pulled, and Bullock is the one which helps flip this right into a turnover.

The Texans’ protection taking part in at this stage going into the playoffs is a big plus for this crew. As poor because the offense has performed, the protection with the ability to get this stage of play is unimaginable. Their secondary put collectively a extremely good efficiency (Derek Stingley Jr All-Professional, anybody?) and it’s an indication that this younger group is taking part in collectively properly. They answered quite a lot of their issues defending the center of the sector towards the Dolphins, and I’m excited to see how they develop.