HOUSTON – By any means necessary.
That’s how the Texans are approaching the red zone, and short-yardage situations.
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And that’s where tight end Cade Stover enters the picture.
In a 20-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Stover lined up at quarterback in the Texans’ version of the tush push popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles.
He ran the football four times for three yards on direct snaps lined up under center with fullbacks British Brooks and Jakob Johnson in the backfield behind him shoving him forward with his legs driving.
It was a package of plays previously unseen from a Texans offense that has struggled in the red zone all season.
“It was good,” Stover said. “Keep working on it, first time bringing it out the bag. So, hopefully, we’ll keep building on it. We’ve had it in the bag for a while. Kind of decided this was the week to do it, so we did it. It worked out all right a couple of times. Anything that can help us win ballgames and critical downs, critical situations, that’s what we’re gonna do.”
In the third quarter, Stover picked up two yards to convert a 3rd-and-1 situation. In the fourth quarter, his one-yard run gained another first down one play before wide receiver Nico Collins’ touchdown run on a reverse.
The Colts appeared to figure out the exotic play later on as Stover was stuffed for no gain on third down and fourth down as the Texans turned it over on downs.
“We never showed it before,” Stover said. “First couple of times pretty good and then they started catching up to it a little bit. So, hopefully, we’ll figure something out.
“It’s not the guy with the ball. That’s not what makes you successful. It’s the big fellas in front of you. Luckily, we got a couple really good guys on the interior here that get a good push. You gotta make sure you hang onto the ball.”
Added offensive coordinator Nick Caley: “The Genesis of it was for us trying to find an alternative way to give us an opportunity to convert first downs and Cade had experience with that.”
A former Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year, Stover played quarterback in high school. It’s unlikely throwing the football is in his future, though. Stover is primarily a blocker and a complementary presence to tight end Cade Stover. He caught two passes for 16 yards against the Colts.
“I played quarterback in high school,” Stover said. “I don’t know if I was very good at it, but I played it. I just follow the rules.”
Did Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, his college teammate, advise Stover on what to do?
Yep. It was obvious counsel.
“I’m not gonna tell you what he told me, but, yeah, it was good,” Stover said. “He gave me some good advice. I think you’ll get the idea.”
The Texans had a lot of fun running the unusual plays, especially the offensive line.
“Oh yeah, I love the play,” Texans left guard Tytus Howard said. “The thing is it gives us offensive lineman a chance to just fire off the ball and get an easy first down. So, it’s something we can continue to work on and get better at, I think the more we do it, the better we get.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com