Matt Burke isn’t pretending the Texans’ defensive issues are a mystery. With Houston sitting at 2-5 and heading into Sunday’s matchup with the 0-7 Los Angeles Chargers, the Texans’ defensive coordinator spent Thursday laying out exactly where his group has come up short and what the bye week was used to fix.
Tackling has been at the top of the list. Houston has repeatedly failed to finish plays cleanly, and Burke said the answer starts with getting back to the basics and tightening up the space defenders are allowing before contact.
"I don't know," Burke said when asked why the team's tackling has regressed this season. "Similar answer if you could say this is happening.
Same guys. Biggest thing to me is closing space."
That has translated into extra work on the practice field, including more tackling circuits as the Texans try to clean up one of the most visible problems from the first half of the season.
"Putting an emphasis on it, almost like a break it down to the basics," Burke said. "Had another circuit today, change things to get different results hopefully we see the fruits of our labors on Sunday."
The tackling issues have fed into another problem Burke pointed to: explosive plays. Houston has had trouble limiting them, and the staff has spent the bye week digging into why the defense has been vulnerable in those moments. Burke said missed tackles against the run have been part of it, but he stopped short of pinning the struggles on any single flaw.
There is at least a chance for a boost on Sunday with Jalen Pitre set to return. Burke made it clear how much the Texans value what Pitre brings to the defense, especially in the slot, where his versatility gives the unit more options.
"Weapon for all those reasons, can match up, can do base, nickel, we can do a lot more with him for his ability in run game and pass game, good blitzer, whole list of things JP brings to the table, his energy and his speed, it’s contagious as well, nice to have another element as well," Burke said.
Burke also touched on the Texans’ work on the outside, saying the cornerbacks need to create more disruption on the perimeter no matter what coverage they’re playing. Whether Houston is in press or off looks, the goal is the same: make life harder for opposing receivers.
"We want to be more disruptive on perimeter," Burke said. "All of the techniques we deploy, can still be disruptive either way.
Not an easy position to play. We try to keep things fluid.
Emphasis on us being more disruptive."
Even with the Chargers still winless, Burke made it clear Houston isn’t treating this as a game where the opponent’s record matters more than the Texans’ own urgency.
"I've never believed in matching someone else's desperation," Burke said. "We're desperate to get back on track."
The bye week gave Houston time to reset and attack the issues that have followed the defense through the first half. On Sunday, the Texans will find out whether those adjustments finally show up on the field.
In Other News...
Texans Trade Rumor Brings Back A Seattle Reunion Fans Remember
The Seahawks deadline activity has already stirred up familiar names, and one of the more intriguing possibilities floating around is a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney. Seattle just landed guard Quenton Nelson from Indianapolis, and with more chatter building around the Colts, the conversation has widened to include another former Seahawk in Clowney, who spent the 2019 season in Seattle before moving on to Houston. For Texans fans, it is the kind of rumor that instantly shifts attention from the standings to what the front office might do next.
Clowney is back in the mix because Houston is still in rebuild mode and could be willing to listen on veterans if the right offer comes along. Nothing has been confirmed, and the Seahawks are also being linked to running back Jonathan Taylor, which adds another layer to the deadline speculation. Still, the idea of Clowney resurfacing in Seattle has enough history behind it to make this one worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud May Be Driving Up Houston's Biggest Future Bill
C.J. Strouds rise has already changed the conversation in Houston, even before the Texans have to worry about a new deal. The quarterback reportedly passed on a preseason extension offer worth around $55 million annually, and with the way he is playing this season, that number may not look quite so lofty anymore.
Stroud remains under contract through 2027 after Houston exercised his fifth-year option, so there is no immediate clock ticking on a new agreement. Still, the better he plays now, the more leverage he builds for the next round of negotiations, and the Texans could be staring at an even bigger future bill than the one they were already prepared to pay. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Are Wasting The Version Of C.J. Stroud They Needed Most
C.J. Stroud has done his part through seven games, putting together the kind of efficient start the Texans hoped would steady the offense. He has thrown for 1,867 yards with 11 touchdowns and just one interception, good for a 100.7 passer rating, and the individual production has been there even as the team around him has not matched it.
Houstons 2-5 start has been shaped by the same old problems, with the running game and offensive line both struggling to provide much support and the overall offense still searching for consistency. The bigger concern now is whether the Texans can get the most out of Stroud while he is playing at this level, because strong quarterback play only matters so much if the rest of the operation keeps leaving wins on the table. [Read more 🡒]