There is a general concept of what type of defense the Houston Texans will run with new coach DeMeco Ryans. The former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator has two seasons of film spectators can observe to get a sense.
Nonetheless Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke clarified the type of defense Houston seeks to deploy in 2023.
“We’re going to base out of a four-down front, and I would just say if you wanted to do the whole pick one word, it would be attack,” Burke told reporters May 31 at organized team activities. “We play our defensive line in a penetrating style, try to edge them up, play nine techniques, those sort of things to cause disruptions.”
With the 49ers, their defense was able to generate 44 sacks, tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the 10th-most in the NFL. San Francisco shut down the oppositions’ ground game with 3.4 yards per carry surrendered, tied with the Tennessee Titans for the fewest in the league.
“Our goal is to be able to affect plays with our front by the style that they play, the attack mode they play in and penetrate and disruption and reset the line of scrimmage and those sorts of things,” said Burke. “I would say if you just wanted to bottle it up, that would be the main thing.
“Again, the more that you can pressure a quarterback with four and not have to commit other resources to doing that, that helps kind of protect your coverage a little bit so you can play multiple coverages and change that element up if you can affect the quarterback and the offense with your front. That’s kind of the general approach and philosophy that I’d say we’re taking.”
What also helps an attacking front four is to have a playmaker, which San Francisco did in defensive end Nick Bosa, who led the team with 18.5 sacks. Houston hopeful No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson can grow into that role.
