When the Houston Texans were searching for a new offensive coordinator, I had two primary criteria in mind: experience and a scheme outside of the Shanahan tree. The struggles of Bobby Slowik’s offense last season, particularly his inability to adapt his system to the personnel, led me to prefer candidates like Chip Kelly or even Doug Pederson, despite uncertainty about their actual availability. Among the candidates who interviewed, my top three choices based on these parameters were Brian Johnson, Jeff Nixon, and Nick Caley—with Caley ranking third.
Now that Nick Caley has been officially hired and I’ve had time to dig into the move, I’ve realized that I may have overreacted in defining my criteria based solely on what we experienced with Slowik. While hiring a young, first-time play-caller is always a gamble, I’m far less concerned than I was initially. The fact that Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans were comfortable with Caley, despite the two concerns I had, tells me they addressed these factors in the interview process. Their confidence in him gives me confidence in the hire.
How the McVay Offense Differs in the Right Areas
A major concern I had going into the OC search was avoiding another situation where the offense was inflexible, forcing personnel into a scheme rather than adapting the scheme to the personnel. That was Slowik’s biggest downfall—his offense relied heavily on zone-blocking concepts despite having linemen who thrived in gap scheme runs and man protection rules. However, as I’ve studied Caley and the Sean McVay coaching tree, I’ve realized the McVay version of the Shanahan system is similar yet different, and different in the right ways.
More Adaptable Run Game – In recent years, McVay has evolved his offense to incorporate more gap runs based on personnel. His disciples, including Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota and Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, have also shown a willingness to adjust their run schemes rather than forcing outside zone. Given how poorly the Texans executed outside zone last year, this is an encouraging sign.
More Motion (With a Purpose) – The Rams’ offense under McVay uses motion more effectively than the Texans did last season. Houston often used motion seemingly just for the sake of doing it, whereas the Rams integrate it strategically. One example: they frequently motion a WR into the C-gap to block a linebacker in the run game, only to later build play-action wrinkles off that same look.
More 11-Personnel & Spacing – The Rams spread defenses out more, creating favorable numbers in the box for the run game. This is a breath of fresh air compared to Houston’s overuse of condensed formations, which often telegraphed runs and made it easier for defenses to clog lanes.
CJ Stroud Will Have More Control – In McVay’s system, Matthew Stafford has the ability to adjust protections, call hot routes, and control more aspects of the offense pre-snap. Stroud should have much more command in Caley’s offense, which is something Texans fans have been asking for.
Caley’s Background & Coaching Pedigree
Caley comes from Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots coaching staff, where he spent years working with tight ends and the running game. Given the Patriots’ history of using gap runs, I believe that will be a major part of Houston’s new system. Additionally, his time in New England and Los Angeles gives him exposure to multiple offensive philosophies, which should help him be more adaptable than Slowik.
A fascinating story surfaced on Reddit from a former college teammate of Caley’s, who described him as an obsessive student of the game. The post noted that Caley uploaded the playbook to PlayStation 2 memory cards so the entire team could learn it faster. Even back then, he was preparing to be a coach, and his relentless work ethic has carried through his career.
Staff Hires & Continuity
So far, Caley has retained QB coach Jerrod Johnson and promoted assistant OL coach Cole Popovich, both of whom have drawn some criticism from fans. However, I’ve argued in favor of these moves for a few reasons:
Continuity for CJ Stroud – One of Stroud’s biggest concerns in the OC search was continuity. He publicly supported bringing back Slowik, stating that constant turnover can be detrimental. Keeping some familiar faces should help ease the transition.
Johnson & Popovich Weren’t the Problem – Some have blamed Johnson for Stroud’s mechanical struggles or Popovich for the offensive line issues, but that criticism may be misplaced. Stroud’s mechanics likely suffered due to constant pressure and a poor pass protection scheme, and Popovich was only an assistant, meaning his ability to impact the OL was limited. The fact that Joe Mixon and the Texans' offensive line vouched for Popovich speaks volumes.
They Know What Went Wrong – These coaches were in the building last year and understand what failed, making them valuable assets for Caley as he builds his offense.
One outside hire to watch is Jerry Schuplinski, who worked with Tom Brady in New England and was a senior offensive assistant with the Rams. We’re still awaiting hires for tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs coaches, but one potential name to watch is Nathan Scheelhaase, currently an offensive assistant with the Rams.
Offseason Priorities: WR & OL
With Caley now in place, the focus shifts to roster improvements, particularly at wide receiver and offensive line.
WR Need – Nico Collins is the only proven receiver currently under contract. Stefon Diggs is a free agent, and Tank Dell is battling back from another devastating injury. Adding a legitimate No. 2 option will be critical.
OL Upgrades – Right guard remains a major weakness, and while coaching changes alone should help pass protection, the Texans still need better personnel in some areas.
I'll dive deeper into potential WR and OL solutions in another article, but I believe the run game improvements under Caley could significantly help pass protection. Running more gap concepts should:
Set up fewer 3rd-and-long passing downs
Align better with Houston’s current personnel
Improve pass protection by utilizing man-blocking rather than slide protection, reducing mental lapses
Final Thoughts: I Love the Hire
At the end of the day, any OC hire is a bet on the person, not just the scheme. But McVay’s coaching tree has produced adaptable play-callers, and everything I’ve learned about Caley suggests he has the intelligence, work ethic, and flexibility to succeed.
I’ve come full circle from my initial skepticism. The Texans clearly identified Caley as the best fit, and after studying his background and philosophy, I completely understand why. His scheme differs in the right areas, he brings experience from multiple offensive philosophies, and the Texans’ leadership believes in him. That’s good enough for me.
Excited to see what’s next for this Texans offense under Nick Caley!
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