Back in February, head coach Demeco Ryans and the Houston Texans franchise selected Rams passing-game coordinator Nick Caley as the franchise's 11th offensive coordinator in its history. Ryans championed the hire, citing these 12 reasons why (according to the official Texans website):

1. "He brings a wealth of knowledge."

2. "Smart coach."

3. "He's coached on the defensive side, (and on) offense."

4. "Coached multiple positions."

5. "Worked with a lot of different people."

6. "Not just beholden to one scheme."

7. "He's very well-versed in run-game (and) pass game protection. He's well versed in it all."

8. "Very energetic guy."

9. "Great leader."

10. "Everybody I talked to about him throughout this process had nothing but awesome things to say about Nick and his approach, the players that he's coached. There's nothing but rave reviews about Nick and how he's how he's helped guys in their careers."

11. "I'm excited to work with him."

12. "I can't wait for our players to get here and work with him. I know they'll feel his energy, feel his excitement and what he's able to bring to our team."

Fast forward to week 10, and Caley finds himself and his offense under fire from media and fans on a weekly basis. While it may seem premature, there are a litany of valid reasons as to why the longevity of his tenure is already being questioned after only eight games of play. 

For starters, his rushing attack ranks 23rd in total yards with 871 and 29th in touchdowns with only three. While the offensive line has done the unit no favors with their 68% run-block win rate (worst in the NFL), Caley insists on decisions like giving the lion's share of carries (91) to a post-major injury Nick Chubb as opposed to a more explosive option in dual-threat rookie back Woody Marks (67). 

Chubb's current season line reads: 355 total yards (44.4/game), 3.9 yards per carry, 13 first downs and two rushing scores. Marks goes: 241 total yards (30.1/game), 3.6 yards per carry, nine first downs, two receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. 

On that same note, quarterback C.J. Stroud is the team's 3rd leading rusher in carries (29) and yards (189), but he stands alone in first downs with 14. Stroud will never be confused for fellow quarterback Lamar Jackson or the retired Michael Vick, but he's had to spin his wheels by necessity at various points for Caley's offense to even stay on the field. 

Thus, with a rushing unit consisting of Chubb, Marks, Dameon Pierce, British Brooks, Dare Ogunbowale, and even receiver Jaylin Noel occasionally, one could understand outside frustration at the thought of Stroud having to lead the team in any ground-based category. 

The exclamation point on a futile Houston running-game would absolutely have to be the abysmal statistic that shows the Texans as the only team in the NFL without a score while at any opponent's 1-yard line. 

That's right. The Texans are 0-10 in such situations. Yet, there's even more to what ails their offense. 

The second problematic factor in Caley's stewardship has been a perception of continued negligence when it comes to featuring the newly drafted Cyclone duo of receivers Jayden Higgins and Noel on a consistent basis in the passing game.

The more egregious of the two being that of Noel, who frequently outshines those in front of him on the depth chart, like the oft-injured Christian Kirk. 

While veteran leadership and a seventh-round draft pick trade make for somewhat compelling argument for players like Kirk to get the nod, the reality is Noel and Higgins further represent an idea surrounding the franchise that arbitrary play calls and rigid ideologies dominate the mentality of the play designer, as opposed to adaptability, open mindedness and the willingness to shape game plans around the individual strengths of the players. 

This takes the narrative back to the previously mentioned Ryans "12 reasons" list on Caley's hire that opened this piece. The key statements in mind being "he brings a wealth of knowledge", him being a "smart coach" and he's "not just beholden to one scheme." 

In no way is this to say that Caley lacks in general football IQ or is unqualified to be on an NFL sideline. However, the on-field product and his persistent personnel decisions don't seem to line up with the offseason pitch of his flexibility and situational self-awareness. That, and his own self-evaluation of the offense's "DNA" given yesterday to the media have caused many eyes to roll. 

When asked what the "DNA" of the offense is by the media yesterday afternoon, Caley responded with, "a physical outfit that wants to run the ball downhill." 

With all of the statistics, data, eye-tests and 3-5 record to show as evidence, the notion that Caley believes the essence of the team to be a smash-mouth unit that can bully teams at the line of scrimmage explains so much of where many of the issues with the offense may stem from. 

It can be argued that Caley has been trying to fit a square peg in a round hole all season with how he's utilized his offensive weapons.

That perception, even if certain aspects of the offense aren't that bad, completely flies in the face of everything that was proclaimed of Caley coming into the season. It also somewhat contradicts what Ryans himself has emphasized as it relates to offense, which is just a general desire for them to "move the ball" regardless of how it looks. 

There's a reason why the Texans are a below average scoring team. There's a reason why Houston struggles to frequently sustain key drives. And there's a reason why they are the only team in the NFL to not have a score from the 1-yard line of any opponent on the season. 

Yet, Caley and the coaching staff has preached a message of simple "execution" as being the fix-all to their issues. When player personnel has demonstrated a need for a change in philosophy, what can one expect when those calling the shots think that much of the same is the answer?

What do you think? Should Caley be given more time for his offense to take root and bloom? Or, should the Texans be looking for their third offensive coordinator in as many seasons?