Texans next in line for Jaguars' defense

Dec 14, 2017 - 4:49 AM HOUSTON -- It was a perfect storm, a combination of an aggressive pass rush and lockdown pass coverage that completely overwhelmed an overmatched Houston Texans offense.

The devastating manner in which the Jacksonville Jaguars rocked the Texans with a franchise-record 10 sacks to launch the season during a 29-7 victory in September only provided a preview of the talented wrecking crew that the AFC South leaders have assembled on defense.

They are on the verge of a historic defensive season, doing something even the 1985 Chicago Bears and 2000 Baltimore Ravens did not achieve. The Jaguars are three games away from becoming the first team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to finish first in scoring defense (15.5 points per game), sacks (47) and takeaways (30).

They currently rank second in the NFL to the Denver Broncos with 291.6 yards of total offense allowed per game. As problematic as the Jaguars were for the Texans in the season opener, they have become an even bigger problem heading into the Texans' road game Sunday.

"Historically, the defenses that we've faced, where I've been, they're one of the best," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said. "They have a good scheme. They play very fast and they play very aggressive. It's going to be a big challenge for us."

At no level of their defense do the Jaguars come up short on gifted athletes and depth.

Their defensive line is headlined by defensive end Calais Campbell, who has recorded a franchise-record 12.5 sacks and had four sacks in the first game against the Texans. They have several excellent pass rushers besides Campbell, including Yannick Ngakoue, who has 11 sacks, Malik Jackson (7), Dante Fowler (6.5) and Marcell Dareus. The Jaguars are the only defense in the NFL to have four players with at least six sacks.

At 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, Campbell provides a massive, mobile and intimidating presence at the line of scrimmage.

"I think anyone who's been around in this league for a long period of time knows how good of a player Calais is and his production there," Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said during a conference call. "I think he brought a lot to our team as far as that veteran-type player who leads by example, always taking care of his body, really studying film.

"I think we're fortunate to have good players around him and at times be able to free him up where he's been able to do some good things for us. We have a pretty good rotation in there with the defensive line."

Meanwhile, the Jaguars' linebacking corps of Paul Posluszny, Telvin Smith and Myles Jack is fast and hard-nosed.

And they boast arguably the top cornerback tandem in the NFL in former Texans standout A.J. Bouye, who signed a five-year, $67.5 million free-agent deal with Jacksonville in March, and former first-round draft pick Jalen Ramsey.

What can the Texans do to counteract this kind of defense? Are maximum protection blocking schemes in the offing along with plenty of quick-hitting passes and running plays?

"You have to change it," O'Brien said. "You can't do what you did in the first game. I don't want to get into that, but you have to change up how you protect the edge of the front. You have to change up how you run the ball. You have to change up your routes. You have to change everything because nothing we did in the first game was any good."

With Houston quarterback Tom Savage dealing with a concussion, his replacement, T.J. Yates, knows he'll need to deliver the football fast and be decisive.

"It's definitely going to be a point of emphasis for us," Yates said. "We know what type of defense we're going up against and how talented they are up front and in the back end, so we have to be sharp. Definitely the ball has to come out quick."

The Jaguars are the only defense in the past six seasons to have 30 or more takeaways and allow less than 205 points (202) through 13 games in a season.

The Jaguars rank second in the NFL with 19 interceptions, with Bouye picking off six on his own, along with 10 fumble recoveries as a defense.

"Well, obviously, it's a very important statistic where it goes to winning and losing games," Marrone said. "We've been able to get to the quarterback at times because of our coverage with the linebackers and the secondary and then at times, the secondary's been able to hold up coverage-wise and force bad decisions or strip-sacks or things of that nature."

During the first game, the Texans' offensive linemen had several instances where their blocking was so poor they completely whiffed on Campbell and Co. It got ugly fast, including Fowler returning a Ngakoue strip-sack 53 yards for a touchdown. The Texans have made strides in pass protection since that game overall and have given up 41 total sacks.

"They're obviously a great front seven, just like any front seven in the NFL," Texans center Nick Martin said. "You just want to play a little bit better each week. I think we've been doing that."

SERIES HISTORY: 32nd regular-season meeting. Texans lead series, 19-12. The Jaguars beat the Texans, 29-7, to open the season in September.

--When Texans practice-squad quarterback Taylor Heinicke was at Old Dominion, he piled up touchdown passes and rushing yards.

The dual-threat quarterback finished his career with 14,969 passing yards, 132 touchdown passes, 1,320 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. He ranks fourth all-time in Football Championship Subdivision history for touchdown passes and won the Walter Payton award (the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy) and was named an All-American.

Now, the Texans are getting Heinicke ready for potential backup duty Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said the team is planning to have Heinicke back up T.J. Yates.

Heinicke remains on the practice squad, but the Georgia native is expected to be promoted before Sunday as starter Tom Savage remains under the NFL concussion protocol and isn't expected to play this week and possibly longer.

"I've been studying," Heinicke said. "The biggest thing I can do is try to learn this offense like the back of my hand.

"I prepare every week, whether Tom never got hurt and it's unfortunate that he did. Before, Tom and T.J. were getting all the reps. It's the fact that now I'm actually getting reps out there."

--Although Texans quarterback Tom Savage is improving, he remains under the NFL concussion protocol and is unavailable for a Sunday road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Savage suffered a major concussion Sunday when he was blasted by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil.

--Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn is trying to stay confident after missing a pair of kicks during a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. And he's relying on the adages of former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Fairbairn has been watching Bryant videos for encouragement since missing an extra point and a field goal Sunday.

"He talks about not taking misses as failures, but as learning experiences," Fairbairn said. "I'm trying to do that and listen to Black Mamba. You never want to miss, but you have to take each kick for what it is."