Down year, but Miller to carry on
Running back sees better days ahead after tough season
Boxed in and frequently hit right after he got the football tucked away, Texans veteran running back Lamar Miller endured a difficult season.
Breakaway runs and touchdowns became an elusive target for Miller.
A Pro Bowl alternate a year ago when he rushed for 1,073 yards and five touchdowns, Miller dipped to 888 yards and three rushing touchdowns during his second season with the Texans.
Although Miller remained healthy and contributed heavily as a receiver out of the backfield as the Texans’ second-leading passcatcher with 36 receptions for 327 yards and three scores, it wasn’t the kind of season he or the Texans envisioned.
Miller averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. His longest run was 21 yards, the shortest of his six-year NFL career.
“It was tough,” said Miller, who’s entering the third year of a four-year, $26 million contract. “I’ve never had that low an average before.
“I’m going to go back and watch all my runs and see what I can do better. This is my first year like this. I’ve got to find a way to get more yards.”
Miller was negatively impacted by the instability across the offensive line as the Texans traded away Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown to the Seattle Seahawks and lost starters Chris Clark and Nick Martin to season-ending injuries.
There weren’t always a lot of big holes for Miller to run through behind a line that drew criticism for its pass protection and run blocking.
The running game and passing game both skidded to a halt when rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
“I’m going to go back and watch all my runs and see what I can do better. This is my first year like this. I’ve got to find a way to get more yards.” Texans running back Lamar Miller, on a career-low 3.7 yards per carry
Leaning on Hopkins
The Texans became dependent on Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to provide most of the scoring punch as he led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches. The Texans became a one-dimensional attack.
“I think the young guys later in the season got more comfortable,” Miller said. “I think they did a great job in the Pittsburgh game giving us an opportunity to run the ball. They’ll put in the work.”
When Miller was working in tandem with rookie running back D’Onta Foreman, the Texans’ running game was picking up steam. When Foreman tore his Achilles tendon, it was another blow to a floundering offense.
“It’s tough,” Miller said. “A lot of key players went down. We always had that next-man-up mentality. We’ve got to find a way to try to stay up.
“We have the talent. I’m very excited. With Deshaun back next year, that can really help the offense.”
The Texans ranked 14th in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 115.1 rushing yards per game. However, the running game was far too inconsistent.
“I would say we’re all disappointed in where our running game is right now,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’ve tried every scheme there is, and it just hasn’t been good enough lately. So, relative to Lamar, he keeps running. He runs hard. He does what we ask him to do.”
Miller hasn’t dropped a pass in two seasons with the Texans. He was targeted 45 times this year.
He had durability issues occasionally when he played for the Miami Dolphins, but he didn’t wear down this year as he played in every game. Miller split carries with backup Alfred Blue in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts and gained just 37 yards on eight carries.
Miller said he didn’t know why he didn’t play more in the season finale, but he never complained about his workload.
Optimism for next season
Blue is a pending unrestricted free agent who scored a touchdown against the Colts as the Texans lost the game and finished 4-12 and in last place in the AFC South.
Next season could be a lot different when Watson returns from knee injury. The Texans were the highest-scoring offense in the NFL with Watson at the controls.
Miller also could be involved in another play-time sharing situation when Foreman returns. A third-round draft pick from University of Texas who grew up in Texas City, Foreman proved he can break tackles and long runs.
“Yes, it’s very encouraging,” Miller said. “When everybody was healthy as an offense, we were putting up a lot of points. We can do that again when Deshaun is back.”