Bobby Slowik is aware of he must get Joe Mixon again on monitor.
The Texans’ operating sport, which has run an inconsistent assault all season, has faltered in current weeks. Mixon averaged 95.5 dashing yards per sport within the first eight video games of the season. In his final 4 appearances, he dropped to 50.8, together with a 14-carry, 57-yard effort in Saturday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
As Slowik sees it, as Houston begins its dwelling stretch by internet hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas, it must name extra runs, even when the Texans are tempted to run the ball extra, as they’ve the previous two weeks.
Since Week 12, Mixon has averaged 15 carries, down from 21.5 in Week 11.
“Joe will not get 100 yards after I give him the ball 12 occasions,” Houston’s offensive coordinator stated Monday. “In playoff soccer, the operating sport goes to play a giant position.”
Regaining a quick, environment friendly offense is much more essential for the Texans (9-6) after Tank Dell was dominated out for the season. The second-year extensive receiver dislocated his kneecap and tore his anterior cruciate ligament throughout a landing catch towards Kansas City, accidents that took an emotional toll on Houston. Dell is likely one of the Texans’ most beloved gamers, together with one in all quarterback C.J. Stroud’s greatest associates.
From a soccer standpoint, the franchise misplaced its second-best receiver.
According to Next Gen Stats, Dell ran 310 routes from a large lineup. His absence shall be felt most within the intermediate passing sport, on passes between 10 and 19 yards within the air. That’s the place Dell has obtained 323 of his 667 yards this season (48.4%), in accordance with NGS. This is the place he posted a plus-13.4%-than-expected catch price and plus-26.3 anticipated factors added within the receiving sport. Dell and Nico Collins are the one Texans extensive receivers to have a higher-than-expected catch price and obtain double-digit EPA (together with Stefon Diggs, who suffered a season-ending knee harm in Week 8), demonstrating simply how a lot the director Houston. outdoors.
For additional context, Stroud has focused the center degree of the sector with 23.3% of his passes this season, the tenth highest price within the league, in accordance with NGS. He focused that finish of the sector at one of the best tempo within the league in his record-setting rookie season.
The center degree was a giant a part of Stroud’s success early in his profession, and now he will not have a key motive why.
“You must maintain chopping wooden, maintain hauling water,” Stroud stated. “In the place we’re in, there aren’t many occasions you’ll be able to sulk in your emotions for very lengthy. You simply must maintain rolling.”
Enter Diontae Johnson, who the Texans claimed off waivers from the Ravens on Monday.
In 2023, his final full season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson was more practical by way of catch price than anticipated, receiving EPA and EPA per goal within the intermediate a part of the sector, in accordance with NGS. Of his 717 receiving yards, 310 (or 43.2%) got here from intermediate passes. Additionally, 78.2% of his routes in 2023 got here from a wideout, one other indication that Johnson may very well be a very good addition to interchange Dell at this level within the season.
The downside is that Houston will solely be assured three extra video games in 2024: the ultimate two video games of the common season and a wild-card matchup. And Johnson taking part in towards his outdated staff, the Ravens, on Christmas, simply two days after being claimed, appears unlikely. In reality, coach DeMeco Ryans stated Monday that it will be “unrealistic” for a brand new participant to stand up to hurry shortly sufficient on a brief week to play.
In actuality, Johnson will possible solely have two assured video games with Houston, which is a really restricted period of time to get used to Houston’s playbook and construct a relationship with Stroud.
While Johnson, who caught only one go for six yards throughout a drama-filled six-game keep in Baltimore, is motivated to finish his 2024 on a constructive be aware forward of his contract 12 months, the fact is that his affect on a playoff run the numbers must be small.
That means the Texans must rely closely on tight finish Dalton Schultz to fill Dell’s void, and extra shall be anticipated from receivers John Metchie, Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson. The protection, which has performed at a Super Bowl caliber, must keep its elite play. Houston will carry again beginning linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair from suspension for the regular-season finale towards Tennessee subsequent week, an added increase.
But getting Mixon and the operating sport again on monitor is vital for an injury-strapped staff, beginning Wednesday towards Baltimore.
“Just as a result of we’re on this place doesn’t suggest you’ll be able to really feel sorry for your self or something like that,” Stroud stated. “No, it’s a must to maintain pushing ahead, and I feel taking part in will assist. Winning helps. Of course, it would not fill all of the vacancy of the ache, however it could actually additionally make you’re feeling higher within the second. But I feel the primary factor for us is to simply… take the subsequent few weeks as critically as doable and concentrate on one factor at a time.
“I feel that is the recipe for what the remainder of the season may very well be.”
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, the place he was Titans beat the author for a 12 months and a half. It lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) earlier than shifting to Tennessee. You can observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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