Some New (and Old) Faces Can Help Fix Red Zone Blues

A third ranked offense; that’s what the Texans had in the 2008 season.

Well, that may be a bit misleading.

Yes, they had the third-ranked offense in terms of yards per game (382.1), but as for the more important stat pertaining to an offense (points per game), the Texans finished 17th with 22.9.

Thus, for an offense that seemed to have relative ease moving the ball, but failed to put up a lot of points, the weakness in the offense becomes abundantly apparent: red zone efficiency.

The Texans’ red-zone offense was amongst the worst in the league.  They failed to score a touchdown in less than half of their appearances (45.9%), and even more egregious — they were amongst the leagues worst in failing to come away with any points when they got to at least the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys did a poorer job of coming away from the red-zone with any points than the franchise from Houston.

Nevertheless, despite the apparent problems with the red-zone offense in ’08, for ’09, the problems could be fixed with a batch of new arrivals, and the inclusion of some new formations.

The Coach’s Son

Kyle Shanahan, the second-year Offensive Coordinator, is now assuming the play-calling duties for the 2009 season.

For the first fifteen games of 2008, head coach, Gary Kubiak, was the primary play-caller, but in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears — Shanahan got his chance.

Watching the offense operate against the Bears’ defense, there weren’t many notable differences, until they got to the red-zone.

At that point, you noticed one key difference between Shanahan and his predecessor.

Namely Shanahan finally called the obligatory “fade to the corner of the end zone” with Andre Johnson.

It was a welcome change considering Kubiak seldom, if ever, called such a popular goal line play.

It’s a play most offensive coordinators seem to call at least once around the goal line, and evident by the success Larry Fitzgerald had in the postseason: if you do it right, it’s nearly impossible to defend.

With Johnson’s 6’3” stature, his strength coupled with his jumping ability, it should be one of the new wrinkles that Shanahan implements at the goal line.

The Backup Bruiser

Another asset that Kyle Shanahan has is the arrival of new faces, and the assimilation of some older ones.

The running game was good last year.  Steve Slaton ran for nearly 1300 yards, and for a third-round pick, who before the season began was projected to be nothing more than third-down back, his success came as a relative surprise.

However, as it has been noted, and discussed throughout the offseason, the Texans lack that solid backup.

Slaton isn’t the ideal short-yardage back. Fortunately for Slaton and Shanahan, there are a slew of options: Arian Foster, Jeremiah Johnson, Chris Brown and Ryan Moats.

Of those four, the logical conclusion would be that one of those guys are likely to step-up, and assume the backup or "tough yardage" back role.

Chris Brown is back, and despite missing the entire 2008 season due to a back injury, his size (6’3”, 220 lbs) and running style seem to fit the mold of that "tough yardage" or "bruiser" role.

For Jeremiah Johnson, an undrafted free agent, his running style is more aligned with that of Slaton’s, and he’s not that big either (5’10”, 200 lbs).  So he may not be the ideal fit to be the short-yardage, third-down back. Instead, at-best, he can be a third-down receiving option, or shy away carries from Slaton on first or second down.

Ryan Moats did little when given the opportunity to inspire confidence that he can backup Slaton. For Moats, he has experience with the offense, and running behind that offensive line, he could fill the void.

Lastly, the other undrafted free agent, Arian Foster, is quick and bulky enough (6'1", 230lbs) to be valuable in third or fourth and short running situations.

The Tebow Wildcat

Another wrinkle the Texans’ will have in their red zone offense is the “Wildcat.” A formation made famous by Ronnie Brown in the early portion of the 2008 season, it was all the rave by the end of the season. The Texans even tried to utilize this formation, but it’s use came with disastrous results as Jacoby Jones attempted to make the popular scheme work.

With the fifth round selection of former Rice standout James Casey, the Texans could have the answer to their “Wildcat” problem.  

Casey, the former minor-league baseball prospect, lined up at wide receiver and tight end positions amongst other positions while at Rice.

He not only has the hands (111 receptions in '08) and quickness (4.66 40-time), but also the arm-strength to make this scheme work.

Furthermore, if the Texans want to learn anything from the college game, they can look at the offense the Florida Gators utilize. Specifically the zone-read QB draws  that Tim Tebow runs.

Tebow and Casey are relatively similar in size, and as it’s hard to gauge if Casey could be as effective running a zone-read QB draw as Tebow, but at the very least, it’s something the offensive staff can experiment with.  

The Other Tight End

Keeping with the theme of drafted tight ends, Texans’ fourth-round selection, Anthony Hill, can fill the role that Mark Bruener had before he retired this offseason.

Many draft pundits considered Hill the best blocking tight end in the draft, and because of this, he can be used in a variety of ways in Shanahan’s offense.

Like Bruener, Hill can be used in short-yardage situations.

Be it second-and-short in the “Wildcat” formation, and Casey is looking to follow behind Hill’s block. Or a third-and-short situation around the goal line where Foster is at running back, and the Texans’ position both Hill and Daniels next to right tackle Eric Winston, and Foster runs behind those three blockers.

Nevertheless, those are only a couple of scenarios where the inclusion of a quality blocking tight end’s presence can be used.  

Barwin Is The New Vrabel

Connor Barwin, the second round pick of the Texans, was a converted tight end before switching to defensive end his senior season.

Therefore, the athleticism and pass-catching ability is still there to make him a viable red zone target.

If anything, Barwin can be used in the red zone, or specifically in goal line situations, much akin to what the Patriots did with their former OLB, Mike Vrabel.  

During his tenure with the Patriots, occasionally Vrabel would come into the game when the ball was either at the opponents’ one or two yard line.

Vrabel would be line up as a tight end, and the play would either be a run, or a play-action pass.  The play-action generally worked, and at the end, it often found Vrabel catching the pass.  

He had eight catches and eight touchdowns during his time with the Patriots, with no one reception greater than two yards.  

If anything, the offensive coaching staff can learn from this, and utilize Barwin in similar situations.

With a potential lineup at the one or two yard line of (in terms of skill players): Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, Steve Slaton and Connor Barwin, it’s a cavalcade of offensive threats that should enable Matt Schaub to find at least one open receiver, thus, overall resulting an improved red zone offense.