Houston Texans: Dirty, Tough, Physical and Successful

Gary Kubiak and the Texans coaching staff deserve credit for a game plan that stuck to its guns and ended up winning the game for them.  In a game where no one player stood out as having an amazing game, the coaching staff deserves credit for the win.

The Texans were obstinately committed to the run and physicality, and it was brilliant.  They ran the ball 39 times throughout the course of the game, despite the fact that the Jaguars are a solid run defense, which is anchored by a pair of stout defensive tackles and a line-backing core filled with tackling machines.

The Texans ran Arian Foster 33 times for 112 yards.  His longest run of the day was only 14 yards, but he was able to move the chains enough to maintain possession of the ball for over 35 minutes.  This, of course, helps the defense by limiting the amount of time that they have to be on the field, especially since the defense seems to be battling a war of attrition.

After losing Darryl Sharpton on Sunday the Texans linebackers are down two of their top five linebackers.  Without Sharpton DeMeco Ryans will be forced to play more minutes. Normally that isn't a problem, but with Ryans recovering from several injuries, he needs help to carry the load as a middle linebacker.

Running the ball also created, or enhanced, a sense of toughness in the team.  There are several Jaguar players that accused the Texans of being dirty players.  This is the first time in franchise history that players have accused the Texans of being dirty.  Not to condone cheap shots or dirty play, but if the Texans can walk the fine line between being dirty and being extremely physical, it will make them a better and more respected team.

Many of the best teams in NFL history have walked that line between tough and dirty.  If the Texans want to be an elite team, they can focus their offense on pounding the ball with Foster and Tate, and their defense on stopping the run and harassing the quarterback.

The Texans have leaders on their team that embody that type of physicality and toughness on both sides of the ball.  Eric Winston is a massive human being, who is absolutely a road-grating tackle that can lead the team on the offensive side of the ball.  On defense, Brian Cushing is stepping up his game as well as his role as a leader.  Kubiak said that, at this point, Cushing is playing as well as any linebacker in the league, but in addition to that, he has become a leader on this team.

With Ryans and Williams out, Cushing has stepped up his role as an emotional leader and his natural physicality is special.  He comes off as a wild man or crazy, but that is exactly what this team needs from a middle linebacker.

The game itself may have been an ugly win against a team that won't win many games, but it may also be a turning point in the identity of this franchise—a franchise that has never had a true identity.