How Nick Caley Has Adapted: The Texans' Offense Finds Its Groove After a Rough Start

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After an 0-3 start, the Texans' season looked like it might be in trouble. The offense was inconsistent, the run game was ineffective, and Nick Caley’s transition to full-time NFL play caller seemed rockier than expected. But now, as the Texans leave the bye week on a two-game win streak, the story has changed. Houston's offense hasn’t just improved—it’s taken visible strides in identity, sequencing, and execution. That evolution starts with Caley.

Early Struggles: Predictability and Personnel Limitations

Caley was hired to bring an adaptable offense, that projected to feature tight end based off of the Texans personnel & his TE coaching background and a matchup-based offense that blends power running with play-action and quick-game rhythm. But early on, that vision didn’t materialize. In Weeks 1–3, the Texans’ offense lacked variation. Formationally, the tendencies were clear:

• Under Center = Run, often duo or inside zone.

• Shotgun = Pass, usually slow-developing routes with minimal motion.

• Limited RPO or constraint plays.

• Very little tempo or misdirection.

In Week 1, the Texans were forced into a last-second reshuffle up front, moving rookie Aireontae Ersery to right tackle for his first NFL start—a spot he hadn't prepared for during camp. Jake Andrews started at center but left the game due to injury, and Jarrett Patterson had to step in midgame. The result was a completely different lineup than the one Houston had repped throughout training camp. Andrews missed Week 2, returned in Week 3, and since then, the Texans have gradually gotten back to the five-man unit they originally intended to start the season with. Ersery has settled in at his natural position at left tackle, Ed Ingram’s return at right guard has been a massive upgrade, and Tytus Howard is finally back at right tackle, where he’s most comfortable. For the first time all season, Houston has had true continuity up front, and it’s showing in both the run game and protection. Execution has improved across the board—not just because of play calls, but because the players executing them are finally in sync. On top of that, there’s been a recent shift at the last weak link—left guard—where veteran Laken Tomlinson had struggled, and Juice Scruggs has taken over that spot the last couple games, bringing more stability and physicality to the interior.

From a game-planning perspective, it also became clear that Houston wasn’t generating pre-snap leverage or stress. Defenses didn’t have to declare coverage early. Motion was almost nonexistent, which allowed opponents to sit in static zones or rotate post-snap without fear of being manipulated. As a result, Stroud’s time to throw increased—not because he was holding the ball—but because windows weren’t opening on time.

The Turning Point: Jacksonville in Week 4

Although the Texans lost that game, the Week 4 matchup against the Jaguars was the first real sign that Nick Caley was adjusting and beginning to find his rhythm as a play caller. While the run game wasn’t dominant, there was a noticeable shift in how the offense operated—particularly in the second half, where Houston began to show a clearer identity.

Caley leaned into tempo far more than in previous weeks, especially after first downs or big plays. He also incorporated more motion at the snap and early-down play action, giving C.J. Stroud cleaner reads and defined throws rather than slow-developing full-field progressions. We saw a jump in “yes/no” concepts and quick-game spacing that allowed Stroud to make rhythm throws based on leverage.

The scoreboard didn’t reflect the improvement, but the film did. Houston moved the ball consistently in the second half and was undone by three turnovers deep in Jaguars territory, each of which halted promising drives. Without those, the Texans may have walked out with a win—and the narrative around the offense would’ve shifted even earlier.

The Power of Staying on Schedule

DeMeco Ryans has repeated the importance of "staying on scheulde" and that "everything is at Caley's disposal" if they are able to do so.

That’s exactly what started happening. Over the past few games—particularly against the Titans and Ravens—the Texans offense has stayed out of negative plays and embraced an identity built around:

• Gap scheme & duo runs that force vertical push and cutback options.

• Motion before the snap to help Stroud diagnose coverages & weapons gain leverage.

• RPOs off inside zone, giving him quick throws to beat soft boxes or cloudy safety looks.

• Bootlegs & rollouts, especially with motion or run action.

• Short-yardage diversity, using FB dives, QB sneaks, mesh concepts, and play-action leaks.

And most importantly: Caley has fully empowered C.J. Stroud at the line of scrimmage.

We’ve seen Stroud audible protections, identify blitzes, kill run calls, and throw with timing against zone rotation. The Texans are no longer relying on pure talent to make plays—they’re winning with structure.

The Ravens Game: Caley’s Most Complete Call Sheet Yet

Yes, Baltimore was down multiple starters. But this game showcased a coordinator calling with rhythm and purpose.

• 1st & 10 sequencing was sharp. Duo runs with ample motion were paired play action shots on early downs.

• Jaylin Noel's TD came on a fake pitch that used flow to the boundary to isolate a crossing route. The design created a natural rub, freeing Noel by 5 yards.

• Caley used British Brooks as a fullback, filling in for injured Jakob Johnson and adding versatility to the backfield looks. Brooks had multiple carries on 3rd and 4th and shorts go for big gains and conversions. A new wrinkle for defensives to worry about.

• Red zone creativity was much improved. Rather than fading into high-difficulty throws, Caley dialed up short-yardage run fakes and layered concepts to create defined reads.

The Texans didn’t just execute—they played fast, decisive, and physically. That starts with a clean install and a play caller who isn’t just checking boxes. Caley called plays to manipulate leverage, simplify reads, and attack tendencies.

Tempo as a Weapon

Another clear sign of growth under Nick Caley has been the increased use of tempo, especially following first downs or explosive plays. While tempo was rarely a factor in the first few games of the season—largely because the Texans were constantly behind the sticks—it has quietly become a recurring tool in the recent offensive game plans.

Caley has smartly mixed in quick-game tempo after chain-moving plays, allowing CJ Stroud to stay in rhythm, operate with clarity, and attack defenses before they can rotate coverages or disguise pressure. This tempo sequencing does two things:

1. It simplifies defensive looks by forcing the opponent to get set quickly, limiting the types of exotic pressures and rotations they can throw at the quarterback.

2. It keeps Stroud in control, giving him more time at the line to ID matchups and find his quick answer—particularly on RPOs and high-percentage slants, hitches, and flats.

This isn’t just about speeding up the pace—it’s about controlling the flow of the game and tilting the mental edge back toward the quarterback. The Texans are no longer reactive on offense. They’re dictating terms, and tempo is a major part of that.

Using Jet Sweeps to Create Misdirection and Leverage

Another element that has quietly expanded in Caley’s playbook is the use of jet sweeps and motion to create defensive hesitation. In the early part of the season, the Texans’ motion usage was minimal and often static—used more for information than for impact. But recently, Caley has begun calling true jet sweep actions with wide receivers, adding another horizontal stressor for defenses to account for.

We’ve seen players like Nico Collins get the ball on jet motion with a full head of steam, something that’s particularly effective given Nico’s size, acceleration, and contact balance. Unlike your typical smaller slot receiver jet sweep, giving it to a player like Nico changes the calculus—he becomes a legitimate downhill runner once he turns the edge, not just a decoy.

Even when the jet man doesn't get the ball, the action forces linebackers and safeties to flow with motion, softening up interior run lanes or opening up cross-field play-action concepts like leak routes and over routes behind the flowing defenders.

This is the kind of detail that shows Caley isn’t just calling plays—he’s layering concepts, using the same looks to build misdirection, and making every pre-snap motion carry meaning. If this continues, look for these jet sweeps to set up reverses, fake toss bootlegs, or quick swing passes off orbit motion.

Creative Answers on Third and Long

Another encouraging development has been Caley’s willingness to think outside the box on third-and-long situations. Rather than defaulting to generic running back screens or low-probability deep shots, he’s mixed in some well-designed touches that function like controlled extensions of the run game—but with more deception and variety.

We've seen wide receiver screens to Nico Collins, but with route stems and motions that disguise the call and create natural blockers instead of static setups. These aren’t the obvious tunnel screens where the defense immediately swarms—they're more like built-in YAC opportunities tailored to Nico’s strength in breaking tackles and transitioning quickly after the catch.

Similarly, running backs have been used in check-release patterns or isolated swing routes with clearing concepts that give them space rather than clogging the box with blockers. Instead of inviting pressure with a slow-developing screen, Caley has found ways to get the ball out fast and in space.

This approach has allowed the Texans to stay aggressive and unpredictable even when behind the sticks, and it's another example of Caley using design—not desperation—to keep drives alive.

Blake Fisher and the Emergence of Heavy Personnel

One of the more under-the-radar—but highly effective—adjustments in recent weeks has been the Texans' shift to heavy personnel packages, highlighted by tackle-eligible formations using Blake Fisher as an extra lineman. With tight ends Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover, Irv Smith Jr. out with injuries as well as Fullback/H-back Jakob Johnson, Caley has countered by adding a sixth offensive lineman to reinforce the run game and bring a fresh look to opposing defenses.

Fisher has lined up as a jumbo tight end, often on the backside of duo and gap-scheme runs. His presence has helped stabilize the edge, seal the backside on cutbacks, and increase overall physicality at the point of attack. It’s not just about boosting run efficiency—it’s about dictating terms up front and giving the Texans more versatility in formation.

Even more intriguing: this package unlocks counters and constraint plays. Defenses are forced to respect the run when they see Fisher report as eligible, which opens up opportunities for bootlegs, leak routes, and play-action off heavy looks. Given how often Caley has used the fullback in misdirection and motion, don’t be surprised if Fisher becomes the next wrinkle—possibly even catching a pass soon, or dare we say, scoring a touchdown near the goal line.

This adaptation wasn’t just a reaction to injuries. It’s something the Texans probably should’ve leaned into earlier in the season, and it now gives defenses a completely different look to prepare for.

Taking What the Defense Gives Them: Running on 2nd and Long

Another subtle sign of Nick Caley’s growth as a play caller has been his willingness to run the ball on 2nd-and-long, especially when defenses present light boxes. While traditionally viewed as a “wasted down,” this approach—popularized in recent years by former Lions OC Ben Johnson—is rooted in exploiting defensive expectations and managing third-down situations.

Rather than forcing low-percentage deep throws into coverage or calling screens that often stall behind the line, Caley has leaned on duo and inside zone runs in these moments. The logic is simple: if the defense is backing out in coverage on 2nd-and-10 or 2nd-and-9, it’s often more efficient to take the 4–6 yards available on the ground and set up a manageable 3rd-and-short, rather than risking an incompletion or sack and facing 3rd-and-long.

Even more importantly, the inclusion of RPO concepts in these situations gives C.J. Stroud the flexibility to make that choice pre-snap or post-snap—whether to hand the ball off into a light box or take the quick throw if a defender triggers downhill. That built-in optionality has made the Texans more difficult to defend, even when the play call itself is relatively simple.

This willingness to take what the defense gives them—especially in non-obvious situations—speaks to a bigger trend: this offense isn’t chasing big plays every down, it’s stacking smart, efficient decisions to stay on schedule and wear defenses down.

Stretching the Field with Wide Zone and Outside Runs

While duo and inside zone remain the foundation of Houston’s run game identity, there’s been a subtle uptick in wide zone, mid zone, and outside runs like tosses—particularly with Woody Marks taking on a larger role in the backfield.

This isn’t a philosophical change, but it’s a meaningful complement to the downhill scheme. And importantly, it’s been more effective lately than earlier in the season, largely because Marks has the acceleration and vision to threaten the edge in a way previous backs didn’t consistently show.

These change-of-pace perimeter runs force defenses to widen their alignments and respect the possibility of horizontal flow, even when Houston’s bread and butter is between the tackles. When paired with motion or tight end sift blocks, these outside runs don’t have to be explosive to be useful—they set up second-and-manageable situations, force edge defenders to hesitate, and open the door for play-action rollouts and backside crossers.

It’s not the new identity—it’s the new constraint. And it’s helping the Texans stay one step ahead.

“It’s Not Just the Opponent”

A common narrative is that the Texans’ offensive improvement is because of “weaker opponents.” But that doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

The structural changes were already happening against Jacksonville. And what Caley has done—simplify the offense without dumbing it down, mix run looks with sequencing, empower the QB, use personnel in creative ways—those things translate against any defense.

Play-action bootlegs, motion-to-ID coverage, mesh on 3rd-and-medium—these are good offense fundamentals. The fact that they’re now consistent is the real story.

What Comes Next

Caley’s not finished evolving. But the signs are promising:

• The Texans are no longer predictable by formation or down.

• They are using play-action from both under center and shotgun.

• CJ Stroud is being trusted to read the defense and change the play.

• And the run game, while not explosive, is creating enough downhill presence to force respect.

With a consistent offensive line coming together and Stroud gaining confidence in Caley’s system, this offense is poised to continue its rise. The next step? Continuing to add more explosive plays off misdirection and using tempo strategically to tire defenses and generate mismatches.

Nick Caley’s offense isn’t “fixed” yet. But it’s found its footing.

For a first-year play caller dealing with a new quarterback, a rotating offensive line, and an injured tight end group, that’s not just good—it’s impressive. And it bodes well for what the second half of the season might look like in Houston.

Monday night’s matchup against a tough and disciplined Seattle defense will be a strong measuring stick—a chance to see just how far this offense has come, and how it responds when challenged by a unit that thrives on disguise, pressure, and forcing quarterbacks to be patient and precise.