Decoding the Texans 2014 - Week 1

Here is the first edition of "Decoding the Houston Texans".  This report is based off the data already done by Bob Sturm from KTCK The Ticket 1310 AM in Dallas who has been providing this information for years on the Dallas Cowboys.  His reports have been fascinating to read and analyze, it also helps football fans better understand trends, strengths and weaknesses to know when watching the game.  

As he mentions often, this stuff is not for everyone but if you can keep up, I hope you will enjoy it. Below is a link to his blog. 

Bob Sturm's Blog.

Data from Week _1_ vs _Washington______:

Run-Pass	30-32
Avg Starting Field Position	Own 24
1st Down Run-Pass	15-11
2nd Down Avg Distance to Go	7.7 yards
2nd Down Run-Pass	9-10
3rd Down Avg Distance to Go	5.6 yards
3rd/4th Down Run-Pass	6-11
3rd Down Conversions	8-16

Drive Starters – The 1^st play of each drive can often reveal the intent of a coach to establish his game plan. How committed is he to the run or pass when the team comes off the sideline? We track it each week here –

Wk 1 - _Washington_: _11_ Drives - _6_ Run/_5_ Pass

2014 Total:  11  Drives - _6_ Run/_5_ Pass _55  % Run

* This statistic doesn’t count any 1-play kneel down drives.

Play Action Snaps – 6

Play-action had been the Texan’s calling card under Gary Kubiak and Matt Schaub, both of whom are now gone.  But the fact remains that this offense goes as far as their running game takes them, they have not been good enough to beat teams solely through the air.  Here we will track those snaps.

Wk _1_ - _Washington___: _6/119 yards_ _19.8 avg yards/play action pass

Example I – 4Q 3:07

It is 1^st and 10 at the Washington 37, Houston is trying to close out the win running the ball and on the verge of getting into field goal range. Washington desperately wants to get the ball back to their offense in hopes of typing the game up down by just 8. This is the 10^th play of the drive and Houston had run the ball 5 of the last 6 plays with the only pass coming out of the shotgun.  Fitzpatrick comes out in a 21 formation (1 RB, 1 FB, 1 TE) and Washington is in their base 3-4 defense. Notice the safety coming down toward the line on the strongside of the formation.

 At the snap, it appears to be another run to the right off the tackle. All the Washington defenders except for the corners take several steps forward anticipating the run without a care in the world for what is happening behind them.  Fitzpatrick hits Andre Johnson for a 20 yard gain eventually leading to a field goal.

2014 Season Total: _6/119 yards_ _19.8 avg yards/play action pass

Shotgun Snaps – 31

Shotgun snaps are fine on 3^rd down and in the 2 minute drill. But, we track this stat from week to week to make sure the Texas aren’t getting too lazy in using it. They are not efficient enough to run it as their base, and with a 15%/85% run/pass split across the league, there is no way the defense respects your running game. When shotgun totals are high, the Texans are generally behind, scared of their offensive line, or frustrated. High Shotgun numbers are not this team’s calling card for success.

The Texans must decide what to do about this issue in 2014.

Wk _1_ - _Washington___: _31/62_ _50.0_%

2014 Season Total: _31/62_ _50.0_%

Here is the breakdown by groupings:

Before you study the data below, I would recommend that if the numbers for the groupings are unfamiliar, that you spend some time reading a more expanded definition of the Personnel Groupings here.

Package	Plays Run	Yards	Avg/Play	Run	Pass
10	0	0	0.0	0	0
11	6	37	6.2	5	1
12	13	131	10.1	9	4
13	0	0	0.0	0	0
21	8	27	3.4	6	2
22	2	4	2.0	2	0
23	1	-1	-1.0	1	0
S00	1	0	0.0	0	1
S01	4	7	1.75	0	4
S10	2	19	9.5	1	1
S11	21	110	5.2	6	15
S12	3	11	3.7	0	3
S21	1	7	7.0	0	1
Totals	62	349	5.6	30	32

* - Knee Plays are not counted in play calls.

Totals by Personnel Groups on 3^rd/4^th Down:

Package	Plays	Yards	Avg/Play	Run	Pass	FD/TD
11	1	2	2.0	1	0	1
12	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
13	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
21	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	2	4	2.0	2	0	2
23	1	-1	-1.0	1	0	0
S01	2	6	3.0	0	2	1
S10	2	19	9.5	1	1	1
S11	9	45	5.0	1	8	3
S12	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	17	75	4.4	6	11	8

Splash Plays

Let’s take a look at the “Splash Plays” from Week _1_ at the _Washington_:

Splash Plays are key impact plays from the defense. Usually, they are obvious, but there are some that blur the line. I have listed time and play of each one for those who want to double check my work.

For more, read a detailed explanation of this study here: What is a splash play?

Week _1_ at _Washington_______

Q-Time	D/D/Yd	Player	Play
	3/17/O39	34	PBU
	2/5/O25	36	QB Sack
	3/13/O17	36	TFNG
	2/25/O41	36	TFL
	3/7/O43	36; 21	FF; FR
	2/6/H14	58	QB Rush
	3/8/H34	58	QB Sack
	1/10/O21	58/90	TFL
	2/10/H48	58/59	QB Rush
	4/10/H48	58/59	QB Rush
	1/10/H44	99	QB Rush
	2/1/O20	99	QB Rush
	1/10/H7	99	FR
	1/10/O36	99	QB Sack
	1/10/O46	99	TFL
	3/10/48	99	PBU
	3/4/O35	99	QB Rush
	3/1/O20	99/58	TFL
	2/7/O43	99/96	QB Rush
	2/14/O42	99; 58	QB Rush; TFL

Here are the season totals for _2014___:

Player	Name	Splashes
99	JJ Watt	9.0
58	Brooks Reed	5.0
36	D.J. Swearinger	4.0
59	Whitney Mercilus	1.0
34	A.J. Bouye	1.0
21	Kendrick Lewis	1.0
90	Jadeveon Clowney	0.5
96	Tim Jamison	0.5

Blitzing Report

Romeo Crennel has been around the NFL for over 30 years with the past 12 spent as either a head coach or a defensive coordinator.  He is known for being an aggressive coordinator who isn’t afraid to blitz and blitz often.  It’s too early to draw any conclusions off one game but one trend did show up versus Washington.  He is not going to stand back and play coverage on most 3^rd downs, he will bring the heat and force the issue on the QB.

Example II - 3Q 9:27

It is 3^rd and 6 with Washington at the Texans 14.  They are in Shotgun 11 (1 RB, 1 TE) while Houston is in Dime defense showing a single high safety.

 

 At the snap, the Texans bring a well timed blitz sending a total of 6 pass rushers toward RGIII.  Washington only has 5 to block them, the ball has to be out quick to beat the blitz.

 

But he holds the ball for a second too long and the safety Swearinger (#36) forces a bad pass that falls incomplete. Washington fumbled on the next play.

Opposing Big Plays

Q-Time	D/D/Yd	Play	Rushers
	1/10/O40	16 yd Pass	4
	2/16/O30	16 yd Pass	3
	1/10/O12	17 yd Pass	4
	2/4/O17	23 yd Pass	4
	3/7/O43	40 yd Pass	5

Here we will examine Washington’s biggest play of the game, that 40 yard pass.

Example III – 3Q 4:06

It is Washington’s next series following the fumble inside the Houston 10.  Again, Washington finds themselves in 3^rd and long.  They come out in an empty look, shotgun 00 (0 RB, 0 TE) and Houston shows

only 3 down lineman with everyone else spread out in coverage.

 

Crennel blitzes again but Kareem Jackson (#25) doesn’t time it right and is 5 yards off the line of scrimmage at the snap when he comes sprinting in.  Washington was ready this time anticipating the blitz, sacrificing protection to get man coverage downfield. With both safeties deep covering half the field, RGIII knows the ball needs to go down the middle of the field and must get rid of it quickly or else Jackson will quickly make up the lost ground and bury him.

The result is a perfect touch pass for a 40 yard gain that fortunately for Houston ended up being knocked out by Swearinger downfield and recovered by the Texans.  Don’t think for a second the Texans next opponent, the Oakland Raiders won’t know this and put into their gameplan plays designed to beat the blitz on 3^rd and long situations.

Pass Rushers Against _Washington_______ - _36_ pass rush/blitz situations:

Pass Rushers	1st D	2nd D	3rd D	4th D	Total
3 Rush	0	1	0	0	1
4 Rush	12	9	5	0	26
5 Rush	0	2	1	0	3
6 Rush	1	2	3	0	6
7 Rush	0	0	0	0	0

And, here are the full season numbers to date:

Pass Rushers	1st D	2nd D	3rd D	4th D	Total
3 Rush	0	1	0	0	1
4 Rush	12	9	5	0	26
5 Rush	0	2	1	0	3
6 Rush	1	2	3	0	6

The game by game pressure numbers:

Wk 1 - _Washington__: _9_/_36_ - _25.0_%

Totals: _9_/_36_ - _25.0_%