Let’s Talk About Growing Pains

In the midst of all the overreactions, I’d like to point out just how much of this Texans team is new, and to remind everyone to be patient.

Of course it all starts with the coaching staff. Ryans, Slowik and Burke are all new coaches who are trying to get this team to compete in a way they’ve been unable to for the last three years. The only lead coach that’s stuck around is special teams coordinator Frank Ross, who’s actually been pretty good at his job.

But then you look at the actual starting units compared to last year. On offense, if you assume a 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE formation, only three linemen (Tunsil, Green and Howard) and two skill position players (Pierce and Collins) are back. More than half of our offense is entirely new guys, assuming Stroud starts Week 1.

On the defensive front there are also a lot of new starters. Will Anderson leads the way, but also new to the line is DT Sheldon Rankins. Two new veterans in Denzel Perryman and Jimmie Ward are also locks to start, and it’s possible that we’ll have another new LB compared to last year if Henry To’oTo’o plays.

I guess the point that I’m trying to make here is that this is a very new team, with new, young leaders and half of our starting unit being different. Unfortunately, that means it’s going to take time for everything to click and for this team to start playing to its full potential. There will be growing pains, and we’ve definitely seen some already, from Stroud’s tough week last week to lack of effort from the depth yesterday. We’re gonna have to live with those.

But with this team being younger, newer, and better on paper overall, we should expect to see growth over time. That’s what we should hope for, rather than clicking right away. That steady improvement from this team will be what gets wins in the long run.