The Houston Texans have a new coach, but his style of play may already be on the team.
Coach DeMeco Ryans spent his entire coaching career with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-22 under Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers are known for their stingy defense and also their creative yet forceful rushing attack.
If Ryans wants to bring that style of play to the Texans, he already has a big piece in running back Dameon Pierce.
“If you want to play great offense in this league and go far in the playoffs you have to be able to run the ball and, to do that, you need a guy like Dameon who can carry the load, a guy who and plays the game with a physical mindset, finishing forward,” Ryans said via Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV. “That’s the type of style I want to play, offensively and defensively, playing a physical brand of football and Dameon fits the bill.”
The former 2022 fourth-rounder generated 939 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 220 carries. Pierce even demonstrated some proficiency in the passing game as he caught 30 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Pierce finished third among rookies in rushing yards, which is actually impressive considering frontrunner Kenneth Walker had 1,050 and second place Tyler Allgeier had 1,035. Both players appeared in at least 15 games compared to Pierce, whose season was finished after Week 14.
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