Houston Texans' DeMeco Ryans Preaches the 'Little Things' Key to Improving Pass Rush

The Houston Texans' pass rush has arguably been the defense's least effective unit. Head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke about what must happen in order to improve.

For all the great things Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has done in his first year on the job, cultivating one of the league’s better pass rushes has not been one of them. At least not yet.

Through six weeks, Houston is a surprising 3-3, through the strong play of quarterback C.J. Stroud and the development of many of its younger players. Despite injuries and a fairly difficult schedule, they’ve admirably kept themselves afloat.

The defense, however, hasn’t been a particularly strong unit. They rank in the bottom 12 in expected points added per play and success rate on that side of the ball. Despite a game-winning stop to beat the New Orleans Saints, 20-13, on Sunday, there is work to be done defensively.

Jonathan Greenard and Maliek Collins tackle Saints quarterback Derek Carr / USA Today

Houston is tied with the Chicago Bears for the second-fewest sacks in football through Week 6 (nine). However, they rank 13th in the percentage of passes with a hurry and 11th in the percentage of passes with a quarterback hit. Regression should work in the Texans’ favor, especially for rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr, who has just a single sack.

Ryans spoke about the group’s lack of productivity heading into the bye week.

“When it comes to the defensive line, we have to execute better,” Ryans said. “I talk about four guys rushing as one. We have to just continue to rush together and make sure … we’re executing our plan, we’re doing exactly the things we practice, we’re doing that on game day.”

Currently, defensive end Jonathan Greenard is the only Houston lineman with multiple sacks (3.5 per Pro Football Reference). The unit has yet to generate much pressure from the interior, either. According to Ryans, the line has spent too much time as four individual rushers, and not enough as a cohesive force.

“It’s just about guys doing the little things and being on it,” Ryans continued. “Rushing together, and not feeling like they’re out there by themselves and nobody pressing to try and make a play.”

It’s worth noting that only the Indianapolis Colts blitz less frequently than Ryans’ Texans. With a blitz rate of 15%, it’s clear Houston wants to win with four. It seems like only a matter of time before that strategy begins to pay off, and the lives of the back seven are made that much easier.

On Monday, Ryans remained confident in his defensive line and their development.

“Play together and the sacks will come,” he concluded.

Houston will have a chance to showcase its improvements after the bye week against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29.