The Houston Texans have lacked a steady foundation since the 2020s began.
The Texans fired coach and general manager Bill O’Brien four games into the 2020 campaign. After finishing the season with a 4-8 record — 4-12 for the season — the Texans did not promote 72-year-old Romeo Crennel from the interim role to the full-time job. Instead the Texans went with 65-year-old David Culley, but fired him after a 4-13 finish.
Lovie Smith has been a part of the whirlwind as the Texans promoted him from defensive coordinator and associate head coach to the main gig, but the 64-year-old is providing a stable presence for the organization.
“I think Lovie has been consistent since the day that he was put in that chair and from the start of the offseason program about what the expectation is for the players, what the expectation is for the program, and it’s about work and it’s about improvement,” general manager Nick Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Thursday. “So, I would say when that was laid out to where we are now, I would say progress in that area.”
The Texans have completed their offseason program with the finalization of mandatory minicamp. The Texans will have the next five weeks off, and Caserio knows that Smith’s communication with the players has instilled a sense of ownership over the 2022 product.
“The players ultimately have to take ownership, but the communication from Lovie to the players and Lovie to the leadership group and then the leadership group disseminating information throughout the team, I’d say we’re in a really good spot relative to those measures,” Caserio said.
Smith has not coached in the NFL since he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014-15, compiling a 6-24 record in that span.
