To open the 2025 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams are facing what has become a common theme, an ex-coach who used his time in L.A. to climb the coaching ladder and looks to turn the tables on his former bosses. Week 1 brings the Houston Texans and their new offensive coordinator, Nick Caley, to SoFi Stadium.
Caley spent the last two seasons (2023-24) with the Rams as tight ends coach and added the title pass game coordinator for Year 2. He came to L.A. after eight seasons as an offensive coach for the New England Patriots, seven of those schooling tight ends. Caley took Rams senior offensive assistant Jerry Schuplinski along to Houston. Their ties run deep, both are John Carrol alumni and were together in New England.
The Texans hiring of Caley has a sense of deja vu around it. One of the major tasks facing him in Houston is improving a porous offensive line. After giving up 38 sacks in 2023, that number rose to 52 last year and although the run game fared a little better, they were a mid-pack offense. If you recall, after a disastrous 2022 offensive line performance, L.A. brought in Caley and another former Patriot, Ryan Wendell, to upgrade the offensive line play.
What to expect from the Texans offense
Conventional thinking would be that the Texans offense will be very similar to what Caley has been a part of in the past. To his credit, he’s went to lengths saying that his offensive scheme won’t be a Los Angeles Rams nor New England Patriot clone, it will be built on Houston’s individual talent.
That said, preseason games show schemes quite similar to what L.A. runs. In general, trying to be multiple from formations that all look similar. Caley was likely holding his cards close to his chest, but did show a lot of three wide receiver sets, condensed formations, and receiver stacks. The only thing really noticeably missing was pre-snap and at-snap motion. Houston employed very little and it was usually outside receiver down into or out of a condensed look. Some, but not a lot of two tight end looks were used, very akin to what the Rams do.
The run game was also very similar, a downhill attack. Duo, inside zone, straight ahead 1on1 drive. Just enough wide zone to run the counter bootleg pass. Deja vu comes into play here as well, Caley has paired with promoted offensive line coach Cole Popovich. Like the Rams Wendell, he’s an ex-Patriots coach from the school of legendary tough guy Dante Scarnecchia. The Texans do have a fullback on the roster and used one on a handful of preseason game reps, but he’s not a huge human and works primarily on special teams duty.
In theory, it could a hybrid of of the Rams motion and simplicity subterfuge, the Patriots downhill run game and options-based pass routes, and/or what’s left of the 49ers rhythm and precision scheme the Texans have ran over the past couple of seasons.
How to defend the Caley offense
It will be a work in progress, being that the only film of what the Texans will do under Caley’s leadership is all of three preseason games. The Rams will likely have to play it pretty straight to start and the make their adjustments accordingly.
For the Rams defense, until they see enough to adjust, getting Stroud off his spot will be key. He wants to be a pocket passer, he can obviously sling it and his explosive weapons are concentrated in receivers, but he has taken 90 sacks in two years behind a bad offensive line that doesn’t project to be much better. No matter how bad your offensive line is, a quarterback must own some of those sacks. L.A. needs need to press this advantage and press it with conviction.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud has had a solid first two seasons, showing that he’s adept at throwing to all levels of the field and although he’s not classified as a “running” QB, is nimble in the pocket. Reports are that he wanted more control of the offense, wider berth to change plays and more input on blocking calls at the line of scrimmage. He has an array of talented wide receivers at his disposal, a nice mix of size and speed, led by Nico Collins, Interestingly, the Texans have three receivers from Iowa State, rookies Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins join three-year vet Xavier Hutchinson. In both the 49ers and Patriots offenses the tight ends were a big part of the playbook. Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover combined for 68 catches on 107 targets last year.
Houston’s offensive line is almost completely rebuilt with Tytus Howard, a middling former Round 1 pick, the only returning starter at right tackle. His bookend on the left side is Aireontae Ersery, a giant who was projected to be a right tackle. In the pivot is untested Jake Andrews, who missed all of 20024 with torn knee meniscus and has one pro start. The guards are Ed Ingram, in from the Minnesota Vikings, where he had lost his starting job and another middling Round 1 draft pick, Laken Tomlinson, who has bounced between five teams in 10 NFL seasons.
When it comes to L.A.’s “stopping the run”, that equates to minimizing chunk plays. The Rams have made a concerted effort in the off season to reinforce both linebacker and on the defensive line. Houston’s run game is manned by bigger, workman-like backs, Nick Chubb continues his return from major injury, while Dameon Pierce is a solid RB#2. Houston’s preseason games showed a proclivity to run between the tackles, not surprising when seeing the play styles of their backs. Where the Rams have had problems in the past is off-tackle and giving up the edge.
The final word is that although Caley has experience in stellar offensive systems, he’s never called plays before so once he gets off the scripted start, how he adjusts will be the wildcard. Basically, the same can be said about QB Stroud, he will now take on the responsibility of changing plays and setting protections at the line of scrimmage for the first time. It’s almost as if they are both coming in together as rookies. It would not be surprising if there are hiccups.
So, in short—
- Take advantage of the Texans offensive line
- Get both Caley and Stroud off their marks, make them go to 2nd and 3rd options
- Limit yards after contact in the run game
- The secondary must tackle, completions are expected
- Force the young coach and QB to show they can sustain long (10-12 play) scoring drives
Not really much different than defensing most NFL teams, but with a trio of distinctions. As talented as the Texans playmakers are, they had one drive together in the preseason. The onus will be on the new coordinator’s scheme and play calling, the QB and how he handles his new added responsibilities, and an uninspiring offensive line to show they can mesh in Week 1.
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