Texans coach DeMeco Ryans bemoans inconsistency against the Colts
The Houston Texans have shown flashes of excellence over the past eight quarters of 2023. However, that is the problem for DeMeco Ryans: flashes.
With the Texans starting 0-2, the rookie coach knows that part of the issue is related to the team’s inability to sustain successful play throughout a full 60-minute contest.
“What I say to our guys after this is, ‘We can’t wait till the second half,'” Ryans said after the 31-20 Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. “Like I did see improvement from game one to game two from our offense, but our defense took a step back. And we can’t have the back and forth. We have to be consistent, and that’s the one thing. Be consistent and don’t have self-inflicted wounds that you’re too far behind and have to catch up.”
The Texans allowed the Colts to gain 353 yards total offense and allowed Indianapolis to convert 6-12 on third downs.
Houston fell down as far as 28-10 at halftime before scoring 10 second half points thanks to a C.J. Stroud touchdown pass — second on the afternoon — and a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal.
“We can’t play catch-up ball,” said Ryans. “We have to be in it the entire game. So that’s what I say to those guys. I definitely appreciate what they did in the second half, to have that grit to fight back to give us an opportunity there, and we came up a little short. So always encouraged and pleased by that, but we’ve got to start faster.”
The Texans will have a chance to put together a more consistent effort when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sept. 24 for Week 3 at TIAA Bank Field.
