Running backs make a tough decision harder
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An inexperienced quarterback’s best friend is a strong running game.
The Texans have two inexperienced quarterbacks in starter Tom Savage and backup Deshaun Watson.
In their preseason-opening 2717 loss at Carolina on Wednesday night, Savage and Watson led three scoring drives in the first three quarters, and they couldn’t have done it without impressive contributions from their running backs.
Veterans Alfred Blue and Akeem Hunt and rookie D’Onta Foreman contributed to two touchdown drives and one fieldgoal drive.
Blue, the dependable four-year veteran, came off the bench to carry five times for 33 yards, including
a 16-yard touchdown run.
Foreman, the touted third-round pick from the University of Texas, ran nine times for 76 yards.
Foreman has been expected to win the backup job. That’s a role Blue has relished, and he showed against the Panthers he’s not giving up his spot without a fight.
“They ran hard,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “They’re big backs that have good vision, and they did some decent things.”
Hunt, a three-year veteran who provides quickness and speed, produced the most as a receiver on the field goal and touchdown drives. He had three catches for 38 yards.
Most of those who watched the Texans’ first two weeks of training camp in West Virginia believe cutting running backs will be the toughest decision. The Texans have six backs vying to be among the four kept.
O’Brien is a strong proponent of the running game. In his first three seasons with the Texans, they’ve run the ball more than any team in the league. They finished eighth in rushing last season when they won the AFC South for the second consecutive season.
The AFC South has become a physical division in which the Texans, Tennessee and Jacksonville plan to pound the ball to help set up the pass. Indianapolis may have to adopt that philosophy since quarterback Andrew Luck still can’t throw a pass after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason.
Drafting Foreman, one of two backs in Longhorns’ history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season, showed that O’Brien has no intention of opening up his offense with an untested quarterback.
O’Brien showed that again Wednesday night.
Lamar Miller, firmly entrenched as the starter, carried twice for no yards against the Panthers before getting a quick seat on the bench without breaking a sweat.
Blue, not Foreman, was the first back off the bench, and he put on a splendid performance.
Besides his rushing performance and touchdown run, he had runs of 4 and 12 yards called back because of holding calls.
Blue (6-2, 225) showed quickness, power and vision when he ignited a running game that had been dormant before his arrival.
Foreman (6-0, 235) got his chance, and he didn’t waste it. He ran for 4,5, 0, 14 and 4 yards and helped Watson engineer a fieldgoal drive. On that same possession, Hunt had a 7-yard run and caught a 16-yard pass from Watson cutting across the middle.
In the first half, Blue, Foreman and Hunt combined for 11 carries covering 67 yards. That kind of production is essential if Savage is going to develop into being a bona fide NFL quarterback.
In the third quarter, Foreman and Hunt played key roles in a touchdown drive that ended with Watson’s 15-yard scoring run. Foreman caught two short passes and ran twice. Hunt had receptions of 8 and 14 yards.
In the fourth quarter, Foreman looked like he was still running for the Longhorns.
Foreman took a handoff from Watson and broke to the outside and outran the Panthers until they hauled him down after a 41-yard run. That was the kind of run Texas fans were used to seeing. It’s the kind of run Texans’ fans hope to see in the future.
O’Brien and his coaches should find some things they liked about Wednesday’s game, and the performance of the running backs should rank at or near the top. john.mcclain@chron.com twitter.com/mcclain_on_nfl