Tag: Houston Texans rushing offense

WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud takes a pitch on an end-around against the Bucs

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud demonstrated another element to his game in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What can’t C.J. Stroud do?

The Houston Texans rookie quarterback took a pitch from running back Devin Singletary in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday for Week 9 at NRG Stadium.

The pitch helped keep Houston’s drive alive, and they took the lead with a Dare Ogunbowale field goal, 33-30.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told reporters earlier in the week that the key was playing a clean game, which would enable such timely play-calling.

“Because when we play clean football, we feel like we’re confident in what we’re doing,” Slowik said. “And when we’ve held ourselves back, usually that’s when we’ve really struggled.”

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Devin Singletary can make case as Texans RB1 versus the Buccaneers

Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary has an opportunity to entrench himself as the starter with a good outing versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Houston Texans rushing offense will undergo an interesting trial in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Starter Dameon Pierce may be sidelined with an ankle injury. The second-year running back has also had a frustrating start to the season with 109 carries for 327 yards and a touchdown. Pierce’s yards per carry are a paltry 3.0 compared to his 4.7 a season ago.

If the Texans are without Pierce, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is confident in the other backs in the stable — from Devin Singletary to Mike Boone and even Dare Ogunbowale and practice squadder Gerrid Doaks.

However, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik elaborated on the skills of one particular back when asked about his ability in Week 9 should Pierce not play.

“We really like what they do, and ‘Motor’ [Singletary] is one of the best at — if you just say regardless of athleticism — who is just one of the best football players you have on the team? Without a doubt, Devin Singletary is one of those guys.”

Pierce has yet to have a game over 4.0 yards per carry, and has yet to even approach 90 yards rushing. Houston’s ground game is also the third-worst in the NFL at 3.3 yards per carry and 10th-worst at 91.9 yards per game.

If the Texans are able to spark their run game with Singletary as the lead back, it could open the door for Pierce to take a backseat, especially when Singletary is already highly regarded.

Said Slowik: “He does everything. He does everything really well, he does it very smooth and with the right mindset. He’s aggressive in everything he does. He’s confident. I think he’s one of everyone’s favorite people on the team for that reason. So, we have the upmost confidence in really that whole group.”

Singletary has 49 carries for 183 yards and seven catches for 43 yards through seven games.

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WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud rushes for touchdown against the Panthers

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud scored a rushing touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.

The Houston Texans were having trouble punching it in from the goal line with time winding down in the third quarter.

Why not use your 6-3, 218-pound quarterback?

With no other options, the Texans went with C.J. Stroud for a quarterback sneak as Houston took the lead over the Carolina Panthers with 41 seconds left in the penultimate period Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.

Stroud had 18 carries for 55 yards and six first downs coming into the matchup with the Panthers. The No. 2 overall pick can now leave the contest with at least one career rushing touchdown.

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WATCH: Texans FB Andrew Beck, gives RB Dameon Pierce ball to spike

Houston Texans fullback Andrew Beck scored a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers and gave RB Dameon Pierce the ball to spike.

Andrew Beck was caught giving a friendly gesture in Week 8.

After the Houston Texans fullback crossed the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown against the Carolina Panthers with 13:17 to go in the second quarter, Beck sought out running back Dameon Pierce and invited him to spike the football in celebration.

Pierce had his touchdown run the play prior reversed as the Panthers challenged that he had not crossed the plane. The officials reviewed and overturned Pierce’s scoring run.

The Texans capped off a 17-play, 92-yard drive with Beck’s entrance into the end zone.

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Exploring the Texans’ broken running game: What needs to change?

The Houston Texans run game has some problems. What must be corrected in order for the ground game to finally be potent?

The Houston Texans have a problem.

“For us to be a good offense, we have to have Dameon [Pierce] at his A-game,” Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik preached early in Houston’s offseason. “For Dameon to have his A-game, our offensive line has to be on their game, so it’s all a matter of guys working in sync, working in conjunction, and I think having Dameon, it’s not just about Dameon. We know his abilities, capabilities as a back and what he can do, but it’s also having that complement. So, having Singletary, having [Mike] Boone, our other guys, it’s about having that complement of guys that can carry the load.”

Despite their clear intentions in the summer, Slowik and his offense simply can’t find a way to run the ball, nor have they found ways to get Pierce at his A-game. Houston ranks dead last in the NFL in yards per carry at 3.0. Their 413 total rushing yards are 26th in the NFL and their minus-.21 EPA/carry is 31st in the NFL.

Pierce, who many expected to have a breakout sophomore campaign, is averaging 2.9 yards per carry on the season. The former Florida product has been stuffed on runs at a higher percentage than he’s found rushing success. Devin Singletary has similarly suffered, albeit with a slightly higher average at 3.5 yards per carry.

This has created quite the dilemma for Slowik and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. What is the identity of Houston’s offense where they struggle to establish the run? What are the routes forward in a world where Pierce and the offensive line have struggled to this degree?

The problem might be multi-dimensional.

To begin, the way in which Houston is committed to their running games makes them somewhat predictable. They’re top-5 in the league in rushing attempts on first down per NFL NextGen Stats and they lead the league in sequences of run-run-pass. This has allowed defenses to tee off on early downs, expecting that either Pierce or Singletary will likely carry the rock.

This becomes further exacerbated by the fact that Stroud is unlikely to audible out of undesirable run looks on early downs. Only the 49ers have attempted as many rushes into loaded boxes as Houston (8-plus defenders) and they’re only able to do so with an elite blocking tight end like George Kittle and the league’s best running back in Christian McCaffrey.

Slowik has also shown a preference to run with heavier personnel to assist his depleted offensive line. This has created some clear offensive tells for Houston based on personnel. They rank 31st in the league in running the ball when there are three receivers on the field. Meanwhile, Slowik’s offense is top-10 in rushing percentage out of all other groupings.

The predictable sequencing, down-to-down tendencies, and formations create an edge for the defense. This is before one even considers the personnel struggles that Houston has faced.

Houston’s offensive line is composed of far better pass blockers than run blockers. There is evidence to this in their historic Pro Football Focus grades and those trends continued, even with a healthy offensive line, against the Atlanta Falcons.

Meanwhile, Pierce has struggled with the transition to Slowik’s zone-based running scheme. His propensity to embrace contact hasn’t allowed for him to take full advantage to how the running game is drawn up. There could be arguments for Singletary to see additional carries, or one could argue they should play to Pierce’s strengths. Either way, something likely needs to be adjusted for strengths to match the ball carrier.

Predictable play calling. Personnel fits. Players underwhelming to their pre-season expectations. There’s not an easy solution for Houston to address their problems.

Don’t be surprised if, as Stroud continues to develop, they allow his arm to take pressure off of the running game. Houston has an early down passing success rate similar to the Kansas City Chiefs and, that early threat, could create far more favorable rushing situations for the team while making them less predictable. It’s additionally possible that, as their expensive offensive line returns to full health, they’re trusted to block in 11-personnel at a higher percentage rate.

Adjustments are needed all around in Houston for a team that should believe they can compete for the AFC South. Now, it’s just up to Slowik to find his next evolution.

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WATCH: Texans RB Dameon Pierce scores 1-yard touchdown against the Jaguars

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce scored a 1-yard touchdown run to strike first blood against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.

The Houston Texans knew they could count on Dameon Pierce.

The former 2022 fourth-round pick bulled his way for a 1-yard touchdown Sunday afternoon in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field.

Pierce started off the seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive being the subject of the first four plays. After being setup with a 46-yard Tank Dell catch and a 1-yard rush from the 2-yard line from quarterback C.J. Stroud, Pierce was ready to deliver.

The scoring drive was setup thanks to a missed 48-yard field goal from Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus. The Texans have not lost in Jacksonville since 2017.

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Texans should lean into QB C.J. Stroud and the 11-personnel offense

If the Houston Texans want to kickstart the offense, the best way to do so would be to embrace the 11-personnel and let C.J. Stroud go to work.

C.J. Stroud has arrived — at least according to the box scores and fantasy football.

The Houston Texans rookie quarterback has completed 63.7% of his passes for 626 yards and two touchdowns through his first two games. It’s enough that Stroud has the fourth-most passing yards through two weeks. To contextualize just how good Stroud has been, the rookie record for passing yards in a season was previously set by the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert at 4,336 yards.

Stroud, if he sustained the ridiculous pace he’s set against the Ravens and Colts, would beat that record by nearly 1,000 yards and throw for over 5,300.

The Ohio State product has flashed the accuracy that made him a highlight machine in the Big Ten. He’s shown the mobility that had scouts raising their eyes when the Buckeyes nearly upset Georgia in the College Football Playoff. He’s shown the poise to produce huge passing numbers despite a crumbling Texans offensive line that has had him sacked a league-leading 11 times. This is what Houston and their offensive coaching staff likely dreamed of.

The biggest benefactor of Stroud’s early success as a passer? The pass catchers.

Nico Collins is on pace for multiple personal career bests in his third season. The Michigan product has 13 receptions for 226 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Tank Dell, after a slow start, has 10 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Veteran Robert Woods is having the type of bounce back campaign many around the Texans expected, with 12 catches for 136 yards.

This stands in stark contrast to the running game. Dameon Pierce, expected to be a breakout star in his second season, has struggled on the ground to the tune of 2.7 yards per carry, 26 attempts for 69 yards and no scores. Devin Singletary has been slightly worse off at 2.6 yards per carry.

Those results are even further exacerbated when Houston attempts to force the run with heavier personnel. Against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, Houston ran 21 plays with heavier groupings, featuring multiple backs or tight ends, and averaged less than three yards per play. Unsurprisingly, their best results came when the previously mentioned Collins, Dell, and Woods were allowed to feature on the field together. The Texans ran 58 plays in 11 personnel for 336 yards and their two touchdowns.

All of this comes within the context of Houston’s offensive line struggles. Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs remain out, leaving what was supposed to be an early strength for Houston one of their biggest weaknesses.

This begs an interesting question for Houston and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik: Is it time for the run-first Texans, an identity they preached all summer, to make an early pivot towards their biggest strengths?

Their possible avenues to find easier ways to run as a pass-first team are certainly worth discussing as Stroud launches the ball with ease to begin his NFL debut.

If Houston wants to lean into a pass-first identity, they wouldn’t have to change much. 105 of their 147 offensive plays have been passes thus far and they’ve leaned into getting their receiving trio on the field, running 11-personnel for 110 or 72.8% of their plays.

An opportunity may exist though in how they script these plays. Houston has hardly taken advantage of their passing threat to create running lanes and soft boxes for Dameon Pierce, often instead opting for more blockers. Slowik has run from this formation on only 19.1% of those plays, good for 31st in the league.

Allowing Pierce to run alongside Dalton Schultz and the receiving trio not only would allow for more motion concepts but would force defenses to match with nickel and dime personnel packages that will have a much harder time tackling the NFL’s reigning Angriest Runner. They just have to lean into it a little earlier.

Houston’s 11-personnel grouping despite present for most of their plays, including 94.6% of third downs, is featured on just roughly two thirds of their first downs. Presenting a more pass-threatening, symmetrical threat to defenses earlier in the downs could make a world of difference. These tells are even more incriminating when 36.2% of Houston’s first downs are under center, compared to less than 3% of their 3rd down looks.

Houston has a threatening passing game highlighted by young pass catchers and a quarterback that is validating his selection at second overall. Their willingness to lean into passing often, and more importantly, passing early could make a world of difference.

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Texans commit to running the football more in Week 2

The Houston Texans are determined to run the football more in Week 2 as they take on the Indianapolis Colts.

HOUSTON — Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce led all rushers in total carries on Sunday in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Just the sound of that would make Texans fans happy until they checked the box score and saw that he had 11 attempts for just 38 yards.

That is not enough carries for one of the best running backs in the NFL last season, who was the only consistent weapon the Texans had on offense.

Houston lost to Baltimore by a score of 25-9, with Pierce only receiving 35 snaps for the game, which was only eight more than backup running back Mike Boone.

“I think we can run it more,” said Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during his press conference. “We’ll try to run it more. I think we can be more effective at it, we can block it better, and you’ll see that.”

With the Indianapolis Colts headed to NRG Stadium on Sunday for the Texans home opener, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik knows that to be successful and get Houston their first home win in over 19 games. Their last at NRG was on December 26, 2021, against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“To me, everything is a starting point [and] comes back to me,” said Slowik about the lack of production in the running game. “I wanted to stick with the run longer, and I got away from it at the end. ‘D.P.’ [Dameon Pierce] should touch the ball more than he did. I don’t think anyone in here has any question about that; I mean, we all want to see Dameon run. So that’s definitely something we want to do. Sometimes it was a play call issue on my part. Sometimes it was an issue as far as just executing self-inflicted wound stuff. So, again, we’ll be cleaner on that this week.”

Slowik’s offense is predicated on getting the run game going so he can incorporate passing plays down the field by using play-action and allowing rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud to use his arm to get the ball into the wide receiver’s hands, which was something missing from the offensive production in the second half when the Texans were outscored 18-3 by the Ravens. Houston ranked 31st in rushing efficiency and last in the NFL in designed runs after Week 1.

Pierce, 23, finished his rookie campaign with 939 yards rushing on 220 carries in 13 games, missing the final four games due to an ankle injury. He worked all off-season to ensure he came into training camp in shape and ready to handle more of the offensive load in the Slowik-led system.

Although he wanted more touches in the game, Pierce realized that certain factors played a role in his limited production.

“Playing from behind and playing from behind the sticks [yard markers], Pierce said, were the two main reasons Houston had to abandon the running game last week. “You can’t run the ball. That is not a recipe to run the ball.”

“Last week, we were not as crisp, getting down in the play clock and snapping the ball with two seconds. We got a few penalties for not being set or illegal procedure. We just need to make things a lot simpler for C.J. this week and an offense as a whole.”

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Texans vs. Ravens inactives: RB Dare Ogunbowale inactive

Here are the list of the inactives for the Houston Texans as they take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

The Houston Texans released their inactives ahead of their Week 1 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.

S Jimmie Ward (hip), WR John Metchie (hamstring), and LB Blake Cashman (hamstring) were ruled out Friday afternoon. The Texans declared QB Case Keenum, CB Alex Austin, and RB Dare Ogunbowale (hamstring) as inactive for Week 1.

The Ravens ruled CB Marlon Humphrey (foot) out on Friday afternoon, and TE Mark Andrews (quad) was listed as questionable and ultimately downgraded to out. Baltimore declared QB Tyler Huntley, CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB Arthur Maulet, G Ben Cleveland, and G Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu as inactive.

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PFF says Texans’ 6.0 win projection is ‘reasonable’

Pro Football Focus’ analytics projects the Houston Texans being a six-win team, which is “reasonable” in their evaluation.

The Houston Texans have plenty of new aspects to their team, but it also means there are plenty of question marks.

The Texans have a rookie coach with DeMeco Ryans, new offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik, rookie first-round quarterback in C.J. Stroud, and a retooled roster that is a meld of Ryans’ vision and young talent. While there is excitement, there is also trepidation.

According to Amelia Probst from Pro Football Focus, the Texans rank No. 31 in their power rankings and also are at a win total threshold that doubles 2022’s output.

The Texans simply don’t have enough weapons to support rookie QB C.J. Stroud. This receiving corps ranked 31st in EPA per play in 2022 (-0.165). The team has since traded away Brandin Cooks, and the additions of Robert Woods, Noah Brown and Tank Dell don’t figure to bring the production they need. On top of that, they also had the sixth-lowest-graded offensive line in the league (62.3) in 2022.

The Texans had the second-lowest-graded defense in 2022. For now, 6.0 projected wins seems reasonable.

While the Texans had a bottom-5 defense in terms of PFF’s grades a year ago, the scheme has changed. No longer will Houston run Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2, but a more attacking 4-3 front. Nevertheless the newness factor invites skepticism until the Texans can prove it.

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