Tag: Houston Texans running game

TeX’s and O’s: Joe Mixon brings needed dimension to Houston’s offense

Joe Mixon provides the Houston Texans with a much-needed upgrade at the running back position if they want to elevate the offense.

The drumbeat had been remarkably steady.

For weeks, local fans of the Houston Texans and national media alike clamored for the team to add a star running back. Whether it was a high-profile free agent like New York star Saquon Barkley or 2022 first-team All-Pro Josh Jacobs, everyone saw the Texans as a team well-positioned to make the move.

The decision to add a truly elite threat to the backfield in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s run-first offense alongside NFL Offensive Rookie C.J. Stroud seemed logical. Devin Singletary led the Texans in 2023 but didn’t break 900 rushing yards and the team as a whole finished 22nd in rushing yards and 29th in yards per attempt.

Instead, general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans opted for a different direction. Houston traded for longtime Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon for a 2024 seven-round selection. They subsequently extended Mixon on a three-year contract worth $27 million in total value.

Mixon is a talented player. The Bengals drafted the University of Oklahoma product with the 48th pick of the 2017 NFL draft. Since then, Mixon rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four of his seven NFL seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and has 62 total touchdowns over his career. Mixon’s excellent play had previously netted him a four-year, $48 million extension in 2020.

Despite that, this still wasn’t the caliber of signing of a Barkley or Jacobs. Mixon has never led the league in rushing, been a first team All-Pro or carried that designation as a franchise-changing back. What caused the Texans to look in this direction instead of what everyone had penciled in?

While many hoped Houston would add someone that could serve as the “engine” or primary driver of their offense, in reality the Texans went for a more complimentary role. In that note, the Texans opted for more of an “All-Wheel Drive” feature for the offense. Mixon won’t win them the race, but he can keep them on schedule and out of the mud.

General manager Nick Caserio said of the recently signed Mixon on Sports Radio 610 that Mixon “is a player that has been a very consistent, very productive, very durable player over the last few years. He’s usually out there. He’s got good balance, a good running style, he’s versatile and can play in the passing game.”

Indeed, the tape shows a player that’s tailor-fit for this role in Slowik’s offense for all those reasons.

Mixon is a powerful, decisive runner with ample experience in running the zone scheme. He has the patience to allow runs to develop and offers explosiveness to those gaps once present. Mixon’s strength may be his greatest asset, as his forward momentum often moves defenders and he gains additional yards after contact either shedding tacklers or bringing them with him.

It’s not just the film. He’s had a Pro Football Focus rushing grade more than 70 for each of the past three seasons and still averaged 4.0 yards per carry this past season despite Joe Burrow going down with a season-ending injury. He’s been a phenomenal runner in multiple circumstances and schemes for the Bengals.

Mixon showed throughout his career he’s capable of handling a large volume rushing role and the same should be expected on the Texans. His physicality will help to wear down defenses over the course of the game and his vision should maximize runs as they materialize in Slowik’s gap scheme. The offensive line should not only be healthier in 2024 but also will have the benefit of experience on their side, Mixon is a savvy veteran who can help Houston to realize any gains that unit collectively makes.

Although not considered a home-run hitter, Mixon still has the relative explosiveness and speed that, when combined with how decisive of a runner he is, translates to big gains. He’ll provide chunk plays to Houston’s steady diet of runs without the kind of questionable decision making that can lead to big losses and throwing the offensive script off schedule.

What about the passing game? One of the primary perks of adding a Barkley was that the running back could further contribute to their own value by catching passes. Unfortunately, Mixon does not have this same attribute but can still contribute in simpler ways.

He was often tasked as an outlet option in the Bengals offense and also saw a good volume of screen plays. Cincinnati worked to get Mixon the ball when the defense was overly aggressive or too focused on their perimeter weapons — something that Houston is similarly well positioned to capitalize on.

His qualities as a runner translate very well when catching the ball and facing linebackers in space as well as when he’s given blockers to work behind on screen plays. Mixon is someone that can be motioned out wide as a decoy or thrown the ball in motion as someone who is still an unpleasant tackle for any defensive back.

It’s an excellent fit in an offense that doesn’t need their running back to be everything. Stroud is the primary driver with his elite processing and accuracy, while receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz remain matchup nightmares at their respective positions. Mixon is a great fit to ensure they see favorable passing scenarios while also being able to benefit off the attention that group absolutely demands horizontally.

If Mixon is such a perfect fit, why was the cost so cheap? Why isn’t he being paid as much as others?

His perfect fit for this offense is a near coincidence of his current skillset overlapping with Houston’s need. He still is not a splash play runner at this stage of his career and there are fair concerns over his ability on third down that go beyond his ability as a receiver.

Cincinnati did not appear to trust the veteran back as a blocker in 2023. They often leaned on running back Trayveon Williams or even tight end Drew Sample on third down to protect their quarterback. A back who isn’t capable of protecting his quarterback and picking up the blitz is an inherently limited player. In this way, the Texans will have to independently evaluate how much they trust Mixon.

The best case scenario will be that he can rebound as a pass protector in 2024, potentially serving as an every-down bell cow back for Houston. The worst case may be that the Texans need to seriously invest in a true third-down back for scenarios where they need additional protection to buy time for Stroud to pass.

Regardless, the fit is largely clear between the veteran and his new team.

Mixon will help the offense to stay on schedule and hopefully provide Slowik with a back that is more capable of maximizing the offensive line and the runs that develop on outside zone. His ability to handle high volume combined with his physicality leads to a difficult player for defenses to assess throughout the game and someone who can be used on all three downs.

The Texans upgraded at running back, regardless of questions over just how much. Now, they’ll have to see if their savvy investment in the veteran can lead to the type of return they’re hoping for in the run game to alleviate Stroud.

NFL free agency: Texans trade for Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon

The Houston Texans found their starting running back after agreeing to a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for Joe Mixon.

The Houston Texans have a running back.

General manager Nick Caserio made his biggest move of the offseason after he agreed to a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for star running back Joe Mixon, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Reports initially stated Mixon would be released after the Bengals signed Zack Moss on Monday.

There were rumblings of Houston’s interested in Mixon, Sports Illustrated’s Coty Davis reported Monday, after the Texans didn’t strike deals with any of the other big-name running backs like Saquon Barkley or Tony Pollard. Houston also let 2023 leading rusher Devin Singletary leave. Their interest must have been serious, Caserio declined to wait for the star running back to hit free agency and instead simply traded for the 27 year-old back.

Mixon played for the Bengals for the past seven years since he was drafted with the No. 48 pick in 2017. During that period he has rushed for more thn 1,000 yards in four different seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

He’s in the final year of his current deal and will be owed $5.75 million in 2024, $3 million of which will be guaranteed on March 17, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The other $2.2 million is Mixon’s base salary. He will also earn incentives for specific rushing yard milestones and a $500,000 Pro Bowl incentive bonus, per KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson:

  •  $250,000 for 1,100 yards
  • $350,000 for 1,300 yards
  • $500,000 for 1,500 yards
  • $250,000 for 1,600 yards from scrimmage
  • $350,000 for 1,800 yards from scrimmage
  • $500,000 for 2,000 yards from scrimmage
  • $250 for 10 total touchdowns
  • $350,000 for 12 total touchdowns
  • $500,000 for 14 total touchdowns.
  • $500,000 Pro Bowl incentive

For the Texans, this answers a serious question over their running back dilemma. Mixon will be the starter and likely serve as a three-down back for offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense. Dameon Pierce and potentially another free agent or rookie will serve as depth behind the veteran star.

This move should hopefully take pressure off of NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud as well and create a more balanced attack than the team featured in 2024.

RB Devin Singletary leaves Texans, agrees to deal with Giants

The Houston Texans didn’t retain their No. 1 running back from the 2023 season after Devin Singletary agreed to a deal with the Giants.

The Houston Texans will need to find another running back after Devin Singletary agreed to sign with the New York Giants. Singletary will sign a three-year, $16.5 million deal to join New York, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler.

This deal comes a season after Singletary posted career-highs in attempts (216) and rushing yards with an 898-yard, four-touchdown campaign for Houston. He joined the Texans in 2023 on a one-year contract in the 2023 offseason from the Buffalo Bills and appeared to be the backup to Dameon Pierce. Instead, Singletary turned into Houston’s featured back by the midseason.

The Texans spoke highly of Singletary all offseason, but appear to have no liked him enough to make what the Giants offered. Singletary could step into a feature role in New York after Saquon Barkley left for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Houston, meanwhile, will look elsewhere to another running back to join Dameon Pierce.

TeX’s and O’s: Saquon Barkey could bring lethal edge to Texans’ offense

If the Texans are looking to take their offense to the next level, adding Saquon Barkley could do the trick

It is approaching Saquon Barkley mania in Houston.

After a crushing loss to the Baltimore Ravens 34-10 in the AFC Divisional Round, the goals for the Houston Texans’ offense have been abundantly clear. If they want to compete with the cream of the conference, including Baltimore and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, they have to find ways to more effectively run the ball.

With major investments already made along the offensive line, including three of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league, the focus has naturally gone to the running back position. From there, the dream pairing has been obvious to everyone.

National analysts, fantasy football fans, and the Texans’ own diehards all share a common sentiment that it would be incredible to watch free agent Saquon Barkley join rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the rest of an extremely talented offense under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

In the last two weeks, Barkley has done nothing to stop the speculation. In fact, despite public comments that he would like to play in New York, he has thrown more fuel on the fire.

Barkley followed Stroud, wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, incumbent starting running back Devin Singletary, franchise legend J.J. Watt, and tight end Brevin Jordan on Instagram last week. He also liked a tweet from Houston rapper Paul Wall recruiting him to come to the team.

KPRC reporter Aaron Wilson confirmed the interest on Sunday when he reported that Barkley reached out to members of the team, including Stroud, to express his interest in joining Texans.

The fit, at least at a glance, could not be more clear. A team that desperately needs to improve how they run the ball and find ways to take pressure off of their quarterback could add one of the most dynamic backfield weapons in the NFL. It isn’t very hard to tie the connections together and why Barkley, who is seeking a payday from one of the NFL’s teams with ample cap space, would be interested in the opportunity to compete while securing the money he’s earned.

Is it too good to be true?

Barkley is coming off a 2023 campaign where he played in 14 games and carried the rock 247 times for 962 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry and also chipped in 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. It was a sharp decrease from his 2022 campaign, where he made the Pro Bowl, rushed for 1300 yards and helped guide the Giants to the playoffs.

On paper, he represents an explosive vertical runner who could maximize Houston’s investments on the offensive line and get the most out of their commitment to the running game. They just have to ensure that they’re getting one of the better versions of Barkley compared to last year.

However, that small decline is one of two main questions regarding how Barkley would really fit as a runner under Slowik.

This decrease could logically be attributed to playing on a failing offense under quarterbacks Tommy Devito and Tyrod Taylor while Daniel Jones was injured. The Giants were considered one of the least talented offenses in the NFL and he naturally received the bulk of defense’s attention from that standpoint.

It’s very fair to believe that Barkley would improve immensely behind Houston’s superior offensive line and with defenses forced to account for weapons such as Collins, Dell, and tight end Dalton Schultz. In fact, New York Giants reporter Dan Schneier believes that it should be one of the biggest reasons the Texans should believe in Barkley.

“Ultimately, playing alongside C.J. Stroud will be the biggest difference for Barkley.” Schneier said told Texans Wire when asked about the free-agent running back’s potential fit in Houston.”It will be the first time in his career he’s played with elite or borderline elite QB production.”

Defenses would certainly have to account for Stroud in the threat of play action on any down. However, last season’s offensive tendencies would suggest that the Texans will still run the ball plenty. This has led to some concerns over how Barkley would succeed in the Shanahan-style zone running scheme, contrary to the power gap mechanisms that he thrived in early in his career and at Penn State.

The data doesn’t suggest that the new playbook would be a problem either.

Barkley ran predominantly zone in 2023, with his four highest-graded rushing performances of the season, per PFF, coming in games where he saw 11-plus zone carries. Giants head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have run a variable offense that has helped mature Barkley into a more patient runner who is willing to take what is blocked for him rather than always hunting home runs. On that note, Schneier also believes the past two seasons have well prepared him for the transition.

“Over the last two seasons under Daboll & Kafka, Barkley has made significant changes to his running style – getting vertical faster,” he said of the runner’s maturation. “This could help him transition to Slowik’s scheme faster.

If you believe that Barkley will both rebound with a legitimate supporting cast and is prepared for how Houston wants to run the ball, it’s an easy fit to get behind. However, this still might not justify the level of pay that Barkley will likely command at over $10 million per season. What differentiates him from other players who could succeed running the ball with the support of this offense?

Look no further than motion and the passing game.

Last season, Barkley ranked in just the top 20 in running back targets. The Giant’s offensive ineptitude was demonstrated by the back seeing his second-lowest volume of targets ever in a season where he was healthy. However, in the year prior, 2022, when New York’s offense was functional, he ranked sixth with 76 targets. In fact, across his career, Barkley has had over 40 receptions in five of his six seasons in the NFL and he represents a versatile player who can contribute through the air.

Barkley is capable of taking screen passes to the house, serving as a late checkdown, or even lining up wide on the line of scrimmage. From the line of scrimmage, he can run quick routes, crossers, or even be incorporated into sweep concepts that demand attention from the defense and spread heavy personnel thin.

It would add another weapon to threaten defenses on the perimeter, but it becomes even more intriguing when considering Slowik’s love of motion. Barkley demands attention from defenders whenever he moves, even when plays are not designed to get him the ball. This could be sequenced together with the rest of Houston’s dynamic offensive players for an offense that becomes infuriating to stop.

A runningback who punishes defenses when he carries the ball, threatens defenses vertically and horizontally when running routes, and further distracts and exhausts them even when the play is not designed to go his way. It’s exactly the type of player that could make this offense lethal; just look at how the San Francisco 49ers have evolved with the presence of Christian McCaffrey.

There are fair concerns outside of Barkley’s football fit that are worth addressing.

Barkley could demand upwards of $12 million per year on a multi-year contract. While the rest of the league works towards spending less money on the running back position and saving costs there, this would represent going completely against convention. The team will also likely need to win a bidding war against other franchises looking to add the dynamic back in free agency.

Fortunately, the financial situation in Houston is different from the rest of the league. They not only have a great deal of salary cap space, but they also have the luxury of a rookie quarterback and most of their marquee players currently playing on rookie deals. If there was ever a team that could afford a short, front-loaded contract for a running back, the Houston Texans would be that team.

The other concern would be Barkley’s injury history. He played in only two games in 2020 and, despite playing in 13 games in 2021, he was only able to carry 162 times and ran for less than 600 yards. He is 27 years old and carries the common concern that teams do not want to be the ones that pay for a second-contract running back and witness their decline

This is an inherent risk of signing Barkley but one that the Texans may feel comfortable with due to their ability to alleviate his workload by leaning on elite quarterback play. It also would not be out of the question for Houston to sign another high end backup to further make sure that their star running back can stay healthy

Overall, this assessment makes as much sense on the deep dive as it does on the surface level.

Barkley has the chance to add a dynamic edge to the Texans’ offense and create one of the most balanced attacks in the NFL. What he could represent for Slowik, both with his ability to carry the ball and his presence on motion concepts, could allow every player in the offense to be a better version of themselves.

If the money makes sense and the interest is indeed mutual, this one seems like a perfect pairing. Fans will just have to wait to see if general manager Nick Caserio can deliver on their offseason dream.

Texans listed as top fit for free agent RB Derrick Henry

Could the Texans be a landing spot for free agent running back Derrick Henry?

The Houston Texans’ need for a running back is no secret. The team’s inability to run the football was exposed in their AFC divisional-round loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and it’s been a talking point ever since.

Houston is top-five in available salary cap space, with a current projection of $57 million, from Over the Cap, and it’s led to speculation about many of the top backs including Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and even divisional rival Derrick Henry from the Tennessee Titans.

One outlet believes that Henry would be an excellent fit, as The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher went in depth on why the former Titan could be an excellent supplementary piece for C.J. Stroud.

This isn’t a perfect fit for many reasons, including the Houston Texans’ style of offense. They use a lot of shotgun and empty back sets on later downs, and their run game is predicated on wide-zone runs. But there are a lot of reasons why this could work.

First of all, no team in the NFL knows Henry better than the Texans. In 14 career games against Houston, Henry ran for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. Familiarity is nice for free agents, but it shouldn’t be the selling point. This makes a ton of sense for the Texans because a dominant ground attack is the only thing this team is missing from making a deep run into the playoffs. Devin Singletary had a nice season but is also scheduled to become a free agent in March. Singletary is a good player, but his lack of size and power showed up against better defenses this season.

Under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, the Texans used I-formation or a single back under center on 41 percent of their first down plays. Their 15 percent I-formation rate on first down was the second-highest in the NFL, only behind the Raiders. So maybe this is a better fit than most would perceive. Henry would likely be part of a committee in Houston, and it would need to pair him with a back with more passing game prowess. But adding him to an offense with a young C.J. Stroud makes a ton of sense

Mosher makes compelling arguments about the potential statistical fit for Henry as an early down addition for Houston’s run-heavy offense. He does note, fairly, that Henry likely won’t be the three-down presence he was for most of his career with the Titans. It’s possible he could be paired with someone like 2023 lead back Devin Singletary.

Henry could be a welcome addition for Texans fans who have spent the last half decade watching him terrorize the team. In their most recent contest, Houston finally had the best of Henry when DeMeco Ryans’ defense held him to just nine yards on 16 carries.

His best days may be behind him, but there would certainly be plenty of intrigue if general manager Nick Caserio was to add a name like Henry to the offensive equation that offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will be piecing together. Fans will wait anxiously for March to see just how the team looks to help their offense take the next step.