Ryans Facing Discipline Crisis as Texans Struggle with Penalties

The Houston Texans enter the second half of their season grappling with a discipline problem that has contributed to the team falling three games under .500. According to Sports Illustrated, Houston currently ranks in the top five in the NFL for average penalties per game and is one of only eight teams to have 70 or more total flags called against them.

Reporting from Sports Illustrated notes that the Texans are among 10 teams that have surrendered over 500 total yards due to penalties. A primary culprit is offensive holding; Houston ranks third-most in offensive holding calls per game and is one of five teams losing more than 20 yards per game to those specific infractions. Head coach DeMeco Ryans admitted on Monday that these penalties have nullified 20-plus yard gains for tight ends, players on the edge, and Aireontae Ersery, which has negatively impacted the team's run game.

Ryans stated that the responsibility to fix these issues lies with both the players and the coaching staff. He specifically noted that the team must learn "when to let go on the edges" to avoid holding calls that officials have emphasized this year.

As the Texans prepare to face the Los Angeles Chargers, they meet an opponent with its own discipline struggles. Sports Illustrated reports that the Chargers are one of seven teams averaging over eight penalties per game and rank in the top eight for average pre-snap penalties per game.