Johnson ready to have big role in offense
The Texans’ vision for new running back Duke Johnson has taken on a familiar look.
It’s reminiscent of the multidimensional way the defending AFC South champions utilized retired Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster in the passing game and how the New England Patriots once capitalized on the skills of Kevin Faulk and Danny Woodhead.
During the first season Bill O’Brien coached the Texans, Foster caught 38 passes, including five for touchdowns.
Two seasons ago, Johnson caught 74 passes for 693 yards and three touchdowns for the Cleveland Browns. He has 235 career receptions for 2,170 yards and eight scores.
“We’re moving him around a lot,” O’Brien said of Johnson, who began practicing with his new team Wednesday after recovering from a strained hamstring. “He’s a really smart guy. He’s able to learn what we’re doing.
“I’ve been fortunate. Here in Houston, we had Arian Foster, who was a tremendous receiving back. He was really an excellent running back, but his passinggame ability was unbelievable. When I was in New England, we had Kevin Faulk and Danny Woodhead and guys like that who are really good players. So yeah, Duke’s done a good job learning, and he’s had a good couple days back.”
A former University of Miami standout acquired via a trade for a conditional 2020 fourth-round draft pick that becomes a thirdround selection if he’s active for 10 games, Johnson has rushed for 1,286 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 5 yards per carry last season but plummeted on the Cleveland depth chart and became expendable behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt this year.
The Texans are intrigued by the possibilities of Johnson working in tandem with running back Lamar Miller and quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“He’s an electric guy,” Watson said. “Everyone around the league knows what Duke Johnson can do, what he did for Cleveland at his time there. He’s a guy that’s going to bring a lot of energy, a lot of extra talent, and he can do a lot of different things for us.”
The Texans envision Johnson, who is under contract through the 2021 season, providing explosiveness to their offense.
“Yeah, he loves football,” O’Brien said. “He’s from the U (of Miami). They love football at the U. Very smart guy. He’s able to learn in the meetings. I think in (Browns coach) Freddie’s (Kitchens) offense he was doing a lot of similar things.
“Maybe they call it apples (and) we call it oranges, but it’s conceptually the same thing. So it’s been fun to coach him, and he’s doing good.”
O’Brien was unequivocal when asked if he thinks Johnson will make a big impact on the offense.
“He will,” O’Brien said. “He’s been a good addition so far, no doubt.”