Can’t back down
For the offense to truly soar to its potential, the run game must deliver
The most effective way of combating a pass rush is countering with a productive and consistent running game.
For all the complaints about the Texans’ offensive line last season and the deficient pass protection, the run blocking was proficient until late in the season,
Over the first 12 games, including a three-game losing streak to begin the season followed by a ninegame winning streak, the Texans averaged 140.8 yards rushing. They averaged 146.1 during the winning streak.
Most of the linemen, especially those playing on the inside, were beaten up for the stretch drive, and the Texans averaged only 83 yards rushing over the last four games. They finished eighth overall with 126.3 yards a game. The Texans rushed for 105 yards in the playoff loss to Indianapolis.
Coach Bill O’Brien and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly want the Texans to be
among the league leaders in rushing again. They have added two new guards in rookies Tytus Howard and Max Scharping, the first- and second-round picks, as well as veteran left tackle Matt Kalil.
Barring injuries in preseason, the Texans should enter the season in good health, which translates into a running game that should help the offense control the ball and take some pressure off quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Developing a running game in the offseason and training camp is difficult to do. The blockers can’t hit anyone. The backs can’t be hit. The starters don’t play much in preseason. That’s one reason coaches like O’Brien love joint practices with other teams — they can work on specific things like the running game.
“I think we had some good runs today,” O’Brien said Thursday after the second practice against Detroit. “We’re getting better.”
Starter Lamar Miller understands the limitations of trying to build a running game in practice. “I think we’re going a great job of running the ball in practice, and we have to take it on the field,” Miller said. “Right now, we’re trying to see what everyone’s comfortable doing.”
O’Brien and Kelly won’t know how productive the running game will be until the Texans begin the regular season at New Orleans.
Miller, who rushed for 973 yards, a 4.6-yard average and five touchdowns last season, won’t get many carries in preseason. He missed 2 ½ games because of injuries last season, and the coaches want him to begin the season in good health.
“We’ve got to get better this year,” Miller said. “It’s all about consistency. We’re trying to build chemistry. We know what kind of group we have. If everybody holds himself to a high
standard and keeps working hard in practice, we can do some good things.”
The Texans will use the second preseason game against the Lions at NRG Stadium on Saturday to continue to work on the running game.
Miller didn’t play in the 28-26 loss at Green Bay in the preseason opener. The Texans ran 29 times for 138 yards, a 4.8 average per carry, and two touchdowns by Damarea Crockett and Josh Ferguson. Quarterback Joe Webb was the leading rusher with 47 yards.
Backs like Miller are still getting used to new blockers like Kalil, Howard and Scharping.
“They’re doing a great job,” Miller said about the new linemen. “I try to go off what they do to try to get positive plays. It’s about trusting them.”
Eventually, help will be on the way with new running back Duke Johnson, acquired last week from Cleveland. He’s out with a hamstring injury and may be kept out until regular season.
“He’s fitting in good,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of things he can do out of the backfield. Right now, he’s trying to get comfortable with the plays.”
Miller may get a few carries against the Lions. O’Brien’s not disclosing his plans for the veterans. Either way, Crockett and Karan Higdon Jr. figure to get more carries as the coaches try to decide who and how many backs to keep behind Miller and Johnson.
Running backs coach Danny Barrett likes what he’s seeing from Crockett and Higdon.
"The ability to get behind his pads (and) to run hard,” Barrett said about Crockett. “He's a big back (5-11, 225), and for a big back, he's shown he has good, nifty feet but also has a burst of speed as well.
"(Higdon is) similar to Crockett as far as getting behind his pads, (a) downhill runner, quick feet in the hole and the ability to finish. That's what we like about both of those young guys -- they like to finish falling forward. Positive yardage. They’re both tough and sharp young men as well."
Ferguson, Buddy Howell and Taiwan Jones also are competing for spots on the team. All should get playing time in the last three preseason games before the roster is reduced to 53.