Buccaneers vs. Texans: What's the Game Plan for Houston?

Offensive Game Plan

If you have a plan to get this Houston Texans' offense going, please chime in because I'm running out of ideas.

With Arian Foster and Duane Brown already declared as out and DeAndre Hopkins listed as probable for this week—as of the time this article was posted—there's a chance the Texans will go into this game without their three best offensive players.

Take the three best offensive players off any roster and see how well the team performs. Not to make excuses for the Texans, but every offense would struggle under the same circumstances.

Without Brown, their pass protection was porous last week. Without Foster, their running game has been awful this year. And without Hopkins (if he's out), they won't have a receiving target who scares opposing defenses.

Other than that they'll be fine without Brown, Hopkins and Foster!

Looking past those negatives there are two things I'd like them to try in order to improve the offense: Get Jonathan Grimes more involved and use more tempo with the short passing game.

George Bridges/Associated Press

The Texans don't have the offensive line without Brown or the deep threats without Hopkins to be efficient with the deep passing game, so using three-step drops with quick timing routes could be helpful.

While Brown, Foster and Hopkins are out, the Texans offense won't have many—if any—advantages with matchups, so creating an advantage with tempo to tire out the opposing defense while possibly catching it in a bad formation will also be key.

During the Texans' first drive of the second half last week, they used some tempo against Carolina and scored on an 80-yard drive. Ryan Mallett completed all seven of his pass attempts during that drive, which included five completions on quick passes for less than 10 yards.

Getting to the choice at running back, the decision should be pretty obvious at this point. 

"

Blue look left and goes back right for some reason. Looks like it is blocked well to the left. #Texans https://t.co/QeiZi3e0g1

— PDS (@PatDStat) September 23, 2015 "

"

Look at how technical Grimes is here. Gets his chip and gets into the route to gain some yards. #Texans https://t.co/vFjSxvyMyc

— PDS (@PatDStat) September 23, 2015"

Grimes has much better vision as a runner and better hands as a receiver, and his awareness in pass protection is considerably better than Alfred Blue's. 

"

If Blue stays off of Jones here. He has more. Goes the other way for minimal gain. #Texans https://t.co/NweQ3SjbVh

— PDS (@PatDStat) September 23, 2015"

With the current state of the offensive line, every back not named Foster will likely struggle, but Grimes has more of the tools required to succeed than Blue.

Defensive Game Plan

I believe in the strategy of blitzing experienced quarterbacks while sitting back in coverage more than against quarterbacks with less experience.

Young quarterbacks are more likely to make mistakes, so you don't want to give them the easy looks that blitzes could create. Better quarterbacks will rip you apart if given enough time, so you better pressure them and disrupt their timing.

Blitzes should be used with the goal of causing mistakes and creating turnovers; if a young quarterback is likely to make mistakes on his own, then just sit back, don't give him easy completions and capitalize when the mistakes come.

There are exceptions to every rule, and defenses should always mix up their looks depending on the time, score and the success they're having with the defensive strategy being used, but overall I like the plan described above.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

According to Pro Football Focus, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney rank third and sixth, respectively, in quarterback hurries for their position, which gives me confidence that they can get a pass rush against Tampa Bay while only rushing four players.

Watt also ranks second in sacks with three through two games.

From what we've seen from the Texans secondary so far this season, I don't trust any of their corners to cover Mike Evans or Vincent Jackson in single-man coverage, so I'm in favor of dropping more defenders back in coverage to help out.

Dropping seven defenders into coverage should make the passing windows tight for Jameis Winston, which in turn would cause him to hold onto the ball for a little longer and give time for Watt and Clowney to get pressure on him.

Pressure plus tight windows should help create a few turnovers against the rookie quarterback.

Key Players and Matchups

Blocking Jacquies Smith

The undrafted player out of Missouri has caused havoc for opposing offenses through two games this year with a league-leading four sacks.

Smith also ranks fifth on Pro Football Focus among 4-3 ends in its pass-rush rating. That could cause a big problem since Duane Brown is out and Smith is likely to see some time against Derek Newton, who is the Texans' worst-rated offensive player, according to Pro Football Focus.

Covering Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson

Through two games this year, neither receiver has posted the kind of production he did in 2014, but both players are big-time threats that the Texans have to key in on with their game plan this week.

Evans and Jackson—who both went over 1,000 receiving yards in 2014—will arguably be the most talented wide receiver duo the Texans face all season.

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Both receivers are listed at 6'5", which will create a unique challenge for the Texans' starting corners—Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson—who are both under 6 feet tall.

Neither receiver is a burner but could be difficult to stop if Winston trusts him enough to throw jump balls up against single-man coverage.

Both Joseph and Kareem Jackson have negative coverage ratings on Pro Football Focus—Joseph is tied for 93rd place out of 97 eligible corners—so leaving safety help over the top wouldn't be a bad idea.

Rookie Kevin Johnson actually holds the best coverage ranking from Pro Football Focus on the Texans roster at 29th.

Attack Tampa Bay Corner Alterraun Verner

The former UCLA Bruin made the Pro Bowl in 2013, but his play has dropped off through two games in 2015. Verner ranks 93rd out of 97 eligible cornerbacks in coverage rating from Pro Football Focus.

Verner isn't on the field every down, having played on just 82 of the Buccaneers' 137 defensive snaps, but when he is out there, the Texans need to go after him.

Prediction

If the Texans aren't able to win this game, I probably won't pick them to win again this season until they get their first victory and prove something on the field.

Neither offense is very good, but I'll take the Texans on the strength of their defense and a little boost from home-field advantage.

Final Score: Texans 23, Buccaneers 17