"New England, We have a Problem!" (Connections between Houston's staff and NE's staff)

[bakes781]

Josh McDaniels' connection to the Houston Texans is primarily through his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who serves as the Texans' Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator and was hired in 2021, and also through former Patriots personnel chief Nick Caserio, the Texans' General Manager, who was McDaniels' college teammate at John Carroll University, creating a significant "Patriots South" network in Houston's front office and coaching staff.
Key Connections

• Brother (Ben McDaniels): Josh's brother, Ben, joined the Texans in 2021 as an assistant receivers coach and was promoted to his current role under coaches David Culley, Lovie Smith, and DeMeco Ryans, remaining a fixture despite coaching changes.
• GM Nick Caserio: Caserio, the Texans' GM, worked with McDaniels in New England and played with him at John Carroll University, establishing a strong professional link.
• "Patriots South" Staff: The Texans' front office and coaching staff feature many former Patriots, including Nick Caley (OC), Cole Popovich (OL), and Jerry Schuplinski (Senior Offensive Assistant), many of whom have worked with or under McDaniels in New England or Las Vegas.

So the key point being THEY KNOW OUR OFFENSE.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

Anything they know about the offense everyone in the NFL could know with film since everyone has 20 years of McDaniels calling plays.

Any of the intimate details they could have learned to give them an inside advantage that other teams couldn't have about player tendencies and habits don't apply since everyone from their era is basically gone, it's also a totally different defensive gameplan playing against Drake Maye because you have to worry about his legs.

 

[hornetfb85]

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Which means
We know their Offense
Rather have the teacher than the student

 

[DaBruinz]

Josh McDaniels' connection to the Houston Texans is primarily through his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who serves as the Texans' Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator and was hired in 2021, and also through former Patriots personnel chief Nick Caserio, the Texans' General Manager, who was McDaniels' college teammate at John Carroll University, creating a significant "Patriots South" network in Houston's front office and coaching staff.
Key Connections

• Brother (Ben McDaniels): Josh's brother, Ben, joined the Texans in 2021 as an assistant receivers coach and was promoted to his current role under coaches David Culley, Lovie Smith, and DeMeco Ryans, remaining a fixture despite coaching changes.
• GM Nick Caserio: Caserio, the Texans' GM, worked with McDaniels in New England and played with him at John Carroll University, establishing a strong professional link.
• "Patriots South" Staff: The Texans' front office and coaching staff feature many former Patriots, including Nick Caley (OC), Cole Popovich (OL), and Jerry Schuplinski (Senior Offensive Assistant), many of whom have worked with or under McDaniels in New England or Las Vegas.

So the key point being THEY KNOW OUR OFFENSE.

That's a gross over-statement of things. The BEST that can be said is that they know Josh and what his tendencies were with Brady as the QB.. But Brady isn't here anymore.

Drake Maye is the QB. The play-book is different with Maye as the QB. There are things that Maye does that Brady could never do. And we KNOW that McDaniels is still creating new plays and looks. Henry said as much about the TD play against the Chargers. For reference, Henry was here in 2021 before McDaniels went to the Raiders. I think he'd know if the play had been in the play-book previously.

 

[Vindicate]

There is this myth that "knowing a defense means you've figured it out and it's in peril"

That is not the truth. Just like good encryption, without the keys, it shouldn't matter. There has been HUNDREDS of hours on live TV of McDaniels gameplanning. And when the personnel is right and McDaniels is doing his job, it doesn't matter.

You could look at the Texans defense and say you know everything about them in one play. And you'd be right. The important part is that they still suffocate you, regardless.

That's just how it is in the NFL.

 

[DaBruinz]

Which means
We know their Offense
Rather have the teacher than the student

I don't agree with this sentiment either.

Caley was the TE coach under McDaniels. So, yes, they worked together. But Caley has since gone to the Rams and then Houston. In both stops, Caley has gotten more responsibility and grown. So, while McDaniels might know Caley's tendencies from game-planning while McDaniels was the OC and Caley the TE coach, there is a giant chasm between being a TE coach and the OC.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Not many know this but the success of the McDaniels Offense is predicated on scoring more than the other team.

The fact that the Texans know this presents a strategic weakness for the Patriots for sure.

Actually I think it's fine and fun to postulate - there actually IS a lot of intel sharing hands this time of the year when there are new teams to face.

Hence, to me, I was rooting for Pitt to win since we're already familiar with them... just as I'll root for the Bills to beat the Broncos since we've already proven we can beat the Bills.

And yes, look around at the coaching/GM trees of "who is where" to determine who they might be calling upon.

All that being said, Maye is not Brady and the fact that everyone KNOWS Maye will spread the ball around the field and find the least likely open receiver for a big play doesn't really help them too much.

If anything, while the Chargers showed how pressure on the OL can hinder Maye, they put the pressure up front at their own risk as he'll find the open guy. This alone is Maye keeping Ds honest - but I think the Chargers game plan more than any other intel is what we'll see from Defenses from hereon out.

 

[turkeyneck]

The Texans have been picking up Patriots castoffs and refugees for twenty years in an effort to have dynasty magic rub off on them somehow and it hasn't gotten them anywhere yet. Maybe it does this time but I'll have to see it to believe it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Hey Stefon....tell me what you guys did in Houston last year again.

 

[upstater1]

Since very few teams use elements of the Perkins/Erhardt system, most defenses are not used to seeing it, so their instincts and tendencies are more focused on stopping Shanahan style offenses.

My bigger concern would be the fact that with Caley and McDaniels, Houston might possibly use elements of the Perkins system. However, Caley spent a lot of time with McVay and probably veered that way, away from the Patriots system. If he didn't, then maybe the Houston D sees elements of the Patriots system everyday in practice.

It would be pretty dangerous to tell the lights out Houston defense to do anything different than what they've already been doing week in and week out.

 

[Steve102]

I agree with @Vindicate, this is life in the NFL. Once they cross the white lines, none of it matters.

 

[TommyD4207]

I agree with @Vindicate, this is life in the NFL. Once they cross the white lines, none of it matters.

 

[fnordcircle]

 

[sb1]

I agree with @Vindicate, this is life in the NFL. Once they cross the white lines, none of it matters.

They can’t be helped after they cross either.

 

[203Pat]

With that logic we know what their quarterback and receivers are going to do.

 

[Pape]

Hey Stefon....tell me what you guys did in Houston last year again.

"i think i might have a copy of the playbook someplace..."

 

[TommyD4207]

Josh McDaniels' connection to the Houston Texans is primarily through his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who serves as the Texans' Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator and was hired in 2021, and also through former Patriots personnel chief Nick Caserio, the Texans' General Manager, who was McDaniels' college teammate at John Carroll University, creating a significant "Patriots South" network in Houston's front office and coaching staff.
Key Connections

• Brother (Ben McDaniels): Josh's brother, Ben, joined the Texans in 2021 as an assistant receivers coach and was promoted to his current role under coaches David Culley, Lovie Smith, and DeMeco Ryans, remaining a fixture despite coaching changes.
• GM Nick Caserio: Caserio, the Texans' GM, worked with McDaniels in New England and played with him at John Carroll University, establishing a strong professional link.
• "Patriots South" Staff: The Texans' front office and coaching staff feature many former Patriots, including Nick Caley (OC), Cole Popovich (OL), and Jerry Schuplinski (Senior Offensive Assistant), many of whom have worked with or under McDaniels in New England or Las Vegas.

So the key point being THEY KNOW OUR OFFENSE.

 

[bakes781]

 

[Real fan 02]

Josh McDaniels' connection to the Houston Texans is primarily through his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who serves as the Texans' Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator and was hired in 2021, and also through former Patriots personnel chief Nick Caserio, the Texans' General Manager, who was McDaniels' college teammate at John Carroll University, creating a significant "Patriots South" network in Houston's front office and coaching staff.
Key Connections

• Brother (Ben McDaniels): Josh's brother, Ben, joined the Texans in 2021 as an assistant receivers coach and was promoted to his current role under coaches David Culley, Lovie Smith, and DeMeco Ryans, remaining a fixture despite coaching changes.
• GM Nick Caserio: Caserio, the Texans' GM, worked with McDaniels in New England and played with him at John Carroll University, establishing a strong professional link.
• "Patriots South" Staff: The Texans' front office and coaching staff feature many former Patriots, including Nick Caley (OC), Cole Popovich (OL), and Jerry Schuplinski (Senior Offensive Assistant), many of whom have worked with or under McDaniels in New England or Las Vegas.

So the key point being THEY KNOW OUR OFFENSE.

They know the Brady Josh offense.. Drake provides an element that Josh never really had besides that terrible cam Newton season. The factor that Drake is a dual threat QB.. as good as the Texans D is rightly so having to worry about Drake throwing and running puts hesitation in defenses heads no matter what.

It also makes the Texans to have to commit someone as a spy wich then IMO gives advantages to our offense.

We saw this same Houston team last season and I saw some things that could be done against them.. they are susceptible to giving up big plays..

Another factor that's not getting talked about.. our defense seems to feel they are being disrespected they are ranked right up thier with the Texans in PPG.. all the praise seems to be given to the Texans lately.

With Collins out Gonzo probably takes Higgins.. if we can erase Higgins I like our defense to have a day and hopefully create some TOs.