The Houston Texans are going with a new offensive coordinator for the third time in as many seasons. It kind of seems to be a theme, much like their propensity for coaching changes in the same span.
However, Bobby Slowik isn’t just another name. The former San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator matured as a coach during the same time DeMeco Ryans was growing as a coach with the 49ers from 2017-22. In fact, Slowik and Ryans’ first job together in San Francisco under rookie coach Kyle Shanahan was as defensive quality control coaches.
Here are four takeaways from Slowik’s introductory presser at NRG Stadium.
1. Precision, not one position
Some offenses are built around the run game or the passing game, which places a certain emphasis on positions. However, Slowik explained that the Texans’ offensive scheme is built around coordination and cohesion.
“It’s not one position,” Slowik said. “It’s kind of the whole unit, how it all fits together. We kind of take a top down view, but how we see everything working together is we’re an offense built on precision; everybody kind of working together in unison, on time. That’s the starting point. It’s not any one given position. We see how it all fits.”
2. Shane Day and Bill Lazor connection
Slowik stated that Lazor and Day were both “massive additions” to the staff as senior offensive assistants.
“Day is someone I have a relationship with, spent a lot of time with,” Slowik said. “We were in two years in San Francisco (2019-20) and talked a lot since then. He knows what I’m trying to do as far as scheme goes. We can speak the same language as far as football terminology and it’s helpful to have someone with you that you can kind of leave the room and you know what you’re saying is being repeated in the same way you say it.”
Although Slowik and Lazor never officially worked together, Slowik was aware of him and had conversations with him in the past.
“We got a bond and a connection and a relationship and he’s called plays before,” said Slowik. “He’s installed schemes before. He’s done it all, and he’s done in many different ways and just even since he’s been here it’s been really exciting to be able to talk and have someone who has gone through it before.”
3. What excites him about the Texans
The Texans finished 3-13-1, which makes it curious why Slowik would want to leave the 49ers, who made the NFC Championship Game three of the past four seasons, for Houston.
“There’s a lot of exciting things at the Texans,” Slowik said. “There’s a lot of youth on the roster that can play. There’s a lot of capital that you have that you can take advantage of in the offseason and keep putting pieces together. In my conversations with [general manager] Nick (Caserio), I really got excited about just his approach and how he sees the game, how he sees roster construction, and everything building together.”
4. Not afraid to play a rookie QB
As the Texans build their roster for the 2023 season, one question they will have to determine is whether they play a rookie quarterback from Opening Day forward.
Slowik has no qualms about going with a young signal caller and used Brock Purdy as an example.
“I would point to the end of last year,” Slowik said of the 49ers’ 2022 playoff run. “Now, unfortunately, we had to go through three quarters of it last year, but we had Mr. Irrelevant who did one heck of a job, played for us in San Francisco and took us all the way to the NFC Championship Game. So, I think how you structure the entire thing — offense, that includes defense, that includes special teams — everything plays a hand into how it all goes together.”
