Nick Caley's Introductory Press Conference: Why I'm More Confident in the Texans' New OC
- Feb 13
- 5 min read
Nick Caley was introduced as the Houston Texans' new offensive coordinator, and after listening to his press conference, I walked away very impressed. A lot of what I suspected we might hear—based on what we had learned about him since his hire—was confirmed, and in some ways, it even exceeded my expectations.
Re-Evaluating My Initial Criteria: Experience and Scheme
When the Texans' offensive coordinator search began, I set two primary criteria: experience and scheme. Initially, I was skeptical of Caley because he lacked play-calling experience and had spent his career as a position coach rather than an OC. But after learning more about his background and hearing him speak, I feel significantly better about both concerns.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about Caley’s inexperience as a play-caller and had a great answer: "Everyone has to start somewhere." He reminded us that he himself was a first-time play-caller when he took over as the 49ers' defensive coordinator and emphasized that hiring an OC isn’t just about experience or scheme—it’s about the person.
This brings us to one of the biggest themes of the press conference: adaptability.
The Importance of Adaptability and Adjustments
DeMeco Ryans made it clear that when hiring his second offensive coordinator, he knew exactly what he wanted. He didn't explicitly criticize former OC Bobby Slowik, but I couldn't help but feel that his biggest issue with Slowik was the same one I and many Texans fans had: an inability to adapt.
Slowik came from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, and for much of the year, he seemed to only know one system—the wide-zone scheme. That scheme is heavily reliant on smaller, more agile offensive linemen who can move well in space. However, it became increasingly evident that the Texans' personnel—particularly on the offensive line—was better suited for a more physical, gap-based running approach.
Despite the Texans finding more success when incorporating gap concepts, a full transition didn't happen until late in the season and the playoffs, reportedly at the request of the players. When it finally did, the run game thrived.
DeMeco Ryans hinted at his dissatisfaction with Slowik's reluctance to adapt in his Coffee with the Coach episode with John Harris and Marc Vandermeer, where he alluded to gap running being a better fit for the team. He emphasized that in this search, he wanted an OC with experience in multiple schemes—someone who could adapt to the team’s personnel and to opponents week-to-week.
Nick Caley drove this point home when asked whether his offense would look more like the Los Angeles Rams’ system (his most recent stop) or the New England Patriots’ system (where he spent the bulk of his career). His response:
It's gunna be Houston's. It's gunna be OUR scheme.”
He explained that it’s not about copying another team's system but rather tailoring the offense to fit the Texans’ personnel and their strengths, while also being flexible enough to adjust based on opposing defenses. That kind of answer gives me confidence that we won’t see the same stubborn commitment to a rigid system that held the offense back at times last year.
DeMeco’s Decision to Fire Bobby Slowik
Firing Slowik was not an easy decision for DeMeco Ryans. He acknowledged that Slowik was not just a colleague but a close friend with whom he had spent nearly his entire coaching career. Given the success of the team in reaching the playoffs two straight years, there was certainly a case to be made for giving Slowik more time.
However, Ryans made it clear that his goal is not just making the playoffs but taking that next step toward a Super Bowl. He felt that to do so, the Texans needed a new direction offensively. That type of mentality should be encouraging for Texans fans—Ryans isn't settling for “good enough.”
Fixing the Offensive Line: A Priority for Caley and Ryans
Another major topic addressed in the press conference was pass protection and the offensive line.
The Texans made an interesting move by promoting Cole Popovich to offensive line coach. Popovich was previously an assistant, but now he takes over the lead role. Ryans said this decision made sense for two key reasons:
His relationship with Nick Caley – The two coached together in New England, meaning there is already built-in chemistry.
Player support – Ryans mentioned that many offensive linemen love working with Popovich.
Another intriguing note came from Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, who revealed that last season, the Texans had two assistant OL coaches splitting duties—Zach Yenser handling pass blocking and Cole Popovich handling run blocking. This suggests that there wasn’t a dominant coaching voice in the offensive line room. Promoting Popovich to a singular leadership role could bring much-needed cohesion.
When discussing pass protection, Caley also name-dropped Dante Scarnecchia, the legendary Patriots offensive line coach. Both he and Popovich worked under Scarnecchia, as did Texans GM Nick Caserio. Having that shared background in fundamental OL play could be a significant positive for the Texans.
Caley’s Vision for the Offense: QB Play, Joe Mixon, and Tight Ends
One thing was clear: Caley is excited to work with C.J. Stroud. He said he has followed Stroud since college and praised his arm strength and accuracy. Given that Stroud has already shown elite traits, it’s promising to hear Caley talk about putting him in the best position to succeed—especially when it comes to giving him more control over the offense, including setting protections, audibles, and hot routes.
Caley also lit up when discussing Joe Mixon, which makes me wonder how he plans to incorporate him into the offense. Running backs like Kyren Williams (Rams) and Damien Harris (Patriots) have thrived under Caley’s influence in previous stops, so Mixon could be poised for a big year.
And then there’s the tight end position—an area where Caley has extensive experience. When asked about it, he gave a simple but intriguing answer:
“I like tight ends.”
It makes you wonder what his plans are for the group. Could we see a bigger role for Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover? And what about Brevin Jordan, a dynamic talent returning from injury? There’s also speculation about whether the Texans might move on from Schultz in favor of a younger TE in the draft.
Ryans specifically highlighted Caley’s tight end background as a strength, pointing out that it gives him a well-rounded understanding of both the run and pass game.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I left Nick Caley’s press conference feeling much more confident in the Texans’ offensive future.
My two biggest concerns—experience and scheme—have already been eased.
Caley and Ryans emphasized adaptability, which was a key weakness in the previous offense.
The offensive line situation seems to be improving with a clearer coaching structure.
Caley’s excitement for C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon, and the tight end group is promising.
It remains to be seen how everything translates to the field, but for now, the early signs are very encouraging. If Caley delivers on what he’s preaching, the Texans’ offense could take a major step forward in 2025.
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