There is no denying that since DeMeco Ryans arrived as the new head coach of the Houston Texans in 2023, that this team’s ethos stems from the defensive side of the football. Ryans’ “S.W.A.R.M.” mentality is embodied in the violent style with which his defense attacks opponents each week.
That mentality has largely served the Houston Texans well, as they’ve evolved into one of, if not THE, best defenses in football over the last two seasons. There is no denying that either. It’s not an opinion, it’s a statistical fact. However, while they are an excellent defense, they are not perfect. The Texans have a proclivity for giving up far more explosive plays than a defense this talented should allow.
Explosive plays are generally viewed as runs of 12 or more yards, and pass completions of 16 or more yards. So why is allowing explosive plays such a big deal? Well, when you have a defense like the Texans have, where marching methodically down the field on a 10- to 13-play drive is a near impossibility for an opposing offense, explosive plays mean that the opposing offense only needs to go five or six plays — or in the case of the Bills on Sunday, four or fewer plays — to get into the end zone.
Preventing “explosives,” as DeMeco Ryans refers to these plays through a truncated, one word label, has been a stated goal of the Ryans, defensive coordinator Matt Burke, and every defensive player in front of a microphone these last few months. They have supposedly focused on it in practice and in film sessions. Sunday’s performance, however, makes me wonder if any of the Texans were paying attention.
On Sunday, against the Bills, the Texans allowed nine pass plays of 16 yards or more. Furthermore, five of those nine completions were for 34 yards or more, including both of Josh Allen’s touchdown passes. In short, on a Sunday following a summer trying to figure out how to not give up explosive plays, the Texans had their worst day preventing them under Ryans’ tutelage: