C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. (51) are easily the Texans’ MVPs through seven games this season, but haven’t gotten much help.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The Houston Texans are 2-5 heading into their off week.
Through seven weeks, there have been more lowlights than highlights. The Texans have underperformed this season, and there are a number of reasons why.
In this midterm report, we’re going to grade every group, including general manager Nick Caserio. We’ve based it solely on this season.
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Here were the grades from the performance:
C.J. Stroud is off to the best seven-game start of his career, which is perfect timing as he’s looking for a long-term contract.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Quarterback: A-
C.J. Stroud is having the best season of his career through seven games. It’s a shame that it has resulted in a 2-5 record.
But that speaks to how poorly the other units have played.
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Stroud is fourth in the NFL with 1,867 passing yards. He has 11 touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and just one interception, tied for the second-fewest in the league. Minimizing the turnovers was the biggest thing the Texans wanted from Stroud, and he has done that and a little more.
He and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who we’ll get to later, have been the team’s MVPs. Expect Stroud to receive a long-term contract extension no later than this offseason. The extension could make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league.
The key to Stroud’s success has been his comfort in the pocket and pinpoint accuracy. He’s looked comfortable and has done a great job of throwing his receivers open.
It’s been a tough start to David Montgomery’s Texans career outside of a three-touchdown game in his debut.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Running back: C-
The Texans’ running game has been a huge disappointment. They are averaging 84.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the 32-team league. That’s worse than last season, when the Texans knew the running game was a problem.
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Houston traded a fourth-round pick, a seventh-round pick and center Juice Scruggs for David Montgomery.
But the Texans haven’t gotten much from that move. Montgomery is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and missed the past two games with an injury. Woody Marks is doing a little better, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He ran for a season-high 66 yards last week against the Giants.
But it’s not entirely their fault. The offensive line hasn’t blocked well, and the running backs have been hit in the backfield constantly.
Jaylin Noel has come on in recent weeks to give the Texans another receiving threat other than Nico Collins.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Wide receivers/tight ends: B
It’s been a roller coaster for the Texans’ receivers and tight ends. During Weeks 2 and 3 with Nico Collins out, they were perhaps the worst unit in the league.
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But they’ve improved with Collins in the lineup.
Jaylin Noel currently leads the Texans in receiving yards and has been an explosive weapon. Collins is a clear No. 1 receiver when he’s available.
The Texans also recently added Tank Dell and Marvin Harrison Jr., which should pay off if they can figure out how to use their strengths.
Tight end Dalton Schultz has had some moments, and Foster Moreau has been a huge addition in the red zone.
Rookie guard Keylan Rutledge has had his ups and downs so far this season as the offensive line has largely struggled.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Offensive line: D
It’s hard to give this offensive line a positive grade when it hasn’t had success in the running game and commits silly penalties each game, from holding to illegal formations and false starts.
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Even last week, rookie Keylan Rutledge got away with tripping an opponent after he was beaten on the inside.
The Texans have been called for 70 penalties this season, third-most in the NFL. Though some have been on the defense, the offensive line has been the primary culprit. This time, you can’t blame it on Laremy Tunsil.
Both offensive tackles, Aireontae Ersery and Trent Brown, have been called for six penalties each, tied for the league lead.
The pass protection has been average, too. The Texans rank 16th in sacks allowed.
The Texans’ defensive line has been its best unit on that side of the ball, leading the league in sacks.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Defensive line: B
The line has been the Texans’ strongest unit on defense. How it performs often determines how the defense will perform. The Texans are tied for the league lead with 21 sacks.
Will Anderson Jr. got off to a fast start with 7 ½ sacks, which still leads the league despite his not having any in the past two games. Danielle Hunter has four, and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has two.
The Texans’ run defense has been one of the best in the league, in large part because of the defensive line’s performance. But last week’s game against the Giants and the game against the Jaguars were major setbacks. That’s why this group doesn’t get an A.
In the past, coach DeMeco Ryans has relied on his front four to pressure the quarterback without blitzing. That just hasn’t happened as much this season.
The Texans have had to blitz more, which at times has left their secondary susceptible to big plays.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is 10th in the NFL in tackles, but also has missed plenty this season.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Linebackers: D+
Injuries have played a huge part in the Texans’ linebacker room struggles. Henry To’oTo’o missed four games. Azeez Al-Shaair missed one. E.J. Speed will miss the entire season, so the linebacker position has been in flux.
But the biggest stain on the group’s record is its missed tackles.
Al-Shaair has 10 missed tackles in six games this season. That’s tied for seventh-most in the NFL and fifth-most among linebackers. He also has the 10th-most tackles in the league.
But the missed tackles are inexcusable for a player who is arguably the most important in Ryans’ defense.
Both To’oTo’o and Al-Shaair missed tackles on Devin Singletary’s game-winning touchdown in overtime last week.
Safety Reed Blankenship, a free-agent acquisition, largely struggled in coverage before suffering a concussion during the London game against the Jaguars.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Secondary: F+
The Texans’ secondary has been their most disappointing group. It was elite last season. This year, it has been exposed. The Texans have surrendered 34 pass plays of 20 yards or more, the most in the league.
Five of those plays have gone for 40 yards or more.
Kamari Lassiter and Reed Blankenship have struggled in coverage. It feels like teams are picking on both. There have been far too many communication issues between the safeties and cornerbacks.
There have also been too many missed tackles. Derek Stingley Jr. has seven. Before Jalen Pitre’s injury, he was struggling, too.
The worst part is that the Texans haven’t forced many turnovers. They have only two interceptions this season, one by Blankenship and one by Calen Bullock.
Some of the struggles are on the coaching staff, too. It hasn’t always put the players in advantageous situations or played to their strengths.
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (15) has been as reliable as ever, but the Texans’ coverage units on special teams have largely been lacking.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Special teams: C
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has been on the money this year. He has made 15 of 16 field goals, a 93.8% conversion rate, and has accounted for 61 points. Six of his 15 field goals have come from 50 yards or more. He has played at a high level.
Kai Kroeger hasn’t been bad, either.
But early in the season, the kick and punt return coverage teams were horrendous and cost the Texans games. They’ve improved some over the past few weeks with the additions of Dare Ogunbowale and M.J. Stewart. They have to keep improving.
DeMeco Ryans’ defense, the best in the NFL last season, has seen a dramatic drop-off through seven games this year.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Coaching: F+
How the Texans went from No. 1 in the NFL in total defense last season to 18th, despite having most of the same players and all but one of the same starters, is the team’s biggest conundrum. Ryans took over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke to address communication issues, but it hasn’t had much of an effect. The Texans are still getting beat deep.
For the most part, the offense has done well under coordinator Nick Caley and has been the least of the team’s problems. However, the play-calling when Collins was out and in last week’s game was questionable.
And special teams coordinator Frank Ross hasn’t had a good year, either.
They all have to be better.
General manager Nick Caserio had an active offseason but his moves in free agency and the draft have yielded little impact so far.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
General manager: F
The Texans were a little more aggressive in free agency and the draft this year. But it can be argued that their free-agent acquisitions haven’t worked out.
Wyatt Teller is the primary backup at guard. Braden Smith is the third-string offensive tackle behind Trent Brown and Blake Fisher. Blankenship has struggled this season.
Then there’s the draft. First-round pick Keylan Rutledge has made a ton of mistakes. Second-round pick Kayden McDonald has been mostly quiet. Second-round pick Marlin Klein has been inactive for four games.
Fourth-round pick Wade Woodaz has mostly played on special teams.
To make matters worse, the Texans locked up Anderson long term but failed to reach an agreement with Stroud on a long-term deal.