Coming into the season, there were high expectations for the Houston Texans. But through three weeks the offense hasn't found consistency, and it starts in the trenches.
The Texans (2-1) have moments when the offense is explosive. In Week 1 the Texans had 417 total yards with running back Joe Mixon rushing for a league-high 159 yards during opening week, and quarterback C.J. Stroud threw two touchdowns in the 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
But since then, things have declined.
Stroud has been sacked 11 times, tying him for fifth most with the Las Vegas Raiders' Gardner Minshew and Jacksonville Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence. He's been pressured on 36% of his dropbacks, the seventh most. He's seen the fourth-most unblocked pressures (10) and three of the sacks against Stroud have been unblocked.
Following the 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, when Stroud was sacked four times, hit eight other times and pressured on 44% of his dropbacks, coach DeMeco Ryans recognized that the Texans "have to get it fixed."
"One of our No. 1 keys to success was protecting our quarterback," Ryans said Sunday. "We didn't do that, and we didn't win the game. Don't want to see your quarterback hit as much as he was hit today."
But the offensive woes go beyond just protecting Stroud as the Texans are 27th in run block win rate (68%).
Since rushing for 213 yards in Week 1, the Texans' 113 rushing yards total over the last two games are the second fewest in the NFL. Mixon exited in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears with an ankle injury (which caused him to miss Week 3), but he was averaging 2.8 yards per carry before he left.
What's further concerning is the Texans haven't been able to run the ball despite facing lighter boxes. Teams are running a high volume of two-high safety shells because teams want to prevent explosive plays from receivers Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
The Texans have seen 112 plays against two or more high safeties, the 11th most, and average 4.9 yards per play (27th).
In the opener they averaged 6.1 yards per carry, but in Weeks 2 and 3, they averaged 2.7. The running backs are averaging -0.1 yards before contact, the worst in that span. Ryans said defenses are calling plays specifically designed to stop their outside runs.
"Everybody tries to attack it the same way because you want to get penetration versus a zone scheme and we understand that," Ryans said. "We handle some well. Some we haven't handled so well. So, just a matter of us putting our hat placement in the proper place, making the right calls."
The pass protection has struggled to handle stunts with a four man rush or when they send extra blitzers. Stroud has been sacked five times whenever defenses blitz with five or more defenders (fifth most) and has seen seven pressures unblocked, tied for the sixth most.
"[To improve] we just have to be on the one accord," right guard Shaq Mason told ESPN. "Everybody staying together working as five. Just trust the technique we prepared for it."
This Texans get a chance to get on track Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS) against the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3). The Jags rank 26th in total defense (361 yards per game) and 28th in scoring defense (28 points allowed per game). And according to Stroud, the offense will return to form if everyone does their part.
"I think internally we know who we are and we know what work we have put in and what foundation we set," Stroud said. "We just have to get back rolling on what we know Texan football to be. I think once we start honing into all the little details, be more intentional, we will start rolling again."
