Tag: Texans running back

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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Texans make adjustments to practice squad entering Week 9

The Houston Texans made some changes to their practice squad as they prepare for Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Houston Texans have made some changes to their practice squad as they entering Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Texans have signed running back J.J. Taylor and center Lecitus Smith to the practice squad.

As a corresponding move, the Texans released defensive end Derek Rivers and cornerback Alex Austin.

Smith is a former Arizona Cardinals 2022 sixth-round pick and started two of 10 games active as a rookie. The Cardinals released Smith at the end of preseason.

Taylor is a former New England Patriots running back, who spent three seasons with the AFC East club from 2020-22. The 5-5, 185-pound running back has carried 52 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games.

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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 Devin Singletary throws TD pass to TE Dalton Schultz vs. Steelers

Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary threw a touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Houston Texans offensive coordiantor Bobby Slowik reached deep into his bag of tricks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

The Texans needed to recapture the momentum following six unanswered points from the Steelers in the third quarter. Slowik had the perfect play-call on second-and-goal from the Steelers’ 6-yard line.

Rather than have rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud look for the end zone, running back Devin Singletary took a pitch to the right side and followed his blockers. As tight end Dalton Schultz slipped towards the end zone, Singletary flicked his wrist for the Texans’ second touchdown of the afternoon.

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s extra point established Houston’s 23-6 early fourth quarter lead.

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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 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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Why the Texans had to keep RB Mike Boone

The Houston Texans went with Mike Boone as their reserve running back behind Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary.

The Houston Texans knew who they wanted as their top two running backs in Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. Even Dare Ogunbowale figured into the Texans’ plans with the running back stable.

However, one veteran back that grew on the coaching staff and personnel department throughout the offseason program and training camp was Mike Boone.

“Mike is an experienced player,” general manager Nick Caserio told reporters Aug. 30. “He’s taken advantage of his opportunities in games and I’d say he’s taken advantage of some opportunities in practice.”

The former Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos running back led all Texans on the ground with 16 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown through three preseason games. Boone was also the Texans’ leader in scrimmage yards in the past two exhibition contests.

“Mike has had a great attitude and he’s been consistent with his performance since he got here,” Caserio said. “Still a younger player even though he has four or five years of experience. It’s good to have those players here, but you can only give one the ball during the game, or probably two. At some point, you’re going to need those players.”

The most work Boone got on offense was in 219 when the Vikings started the 5-10, 205-pound back in two of 16 games active. Boone tallied 49 carries for 273 yards and a touchdown, setting career highs in all three categories.

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WATCH: Texans RB Mike Boone scores 11-yard touchdown against the Saints

Houston Texans running back Mike Boone scored an 11-yard touchdown on the ground against the New Orleans Saints in preseason.

The Houston Texans may have their running back hierarchy, but that is still no reason to sleep on Mike Boone.

The Texans’ RB3 flashed bell-cow moves against the New Orleans Saints Sunday night at the Caesars Superdome. With the score tied 10-10 with 2:29 to go in the second quarter, Boone took a handoff from quarterback E.J. Perry and sprinted 11 yards for a touchdown. Along the way, Boone used the spin cycle to get out of a few would-be Saints tackles.

Boone, 28, has played 57 career games for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. Houston signed Boone to a two-year contract in free agency.

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Fred Taylor says RB Dameon Pierce turned into different player with the Texans

Former Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro running back Fred Taylor observed how the Houston Texans’ Dameon Pierce turned into a different back in the NFL.

Before he was a member of one of the hottest sports podcasts today, Fred Taylor terrorized NFL defenses for 13 years as a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots.

The Pivot Podcast co-host, along with former NFL players Ryan Clark and Channing Crowder, attended the Houston Texans training camp and had some very complimentary things to say about second-year running back Dameon Pierce.

“He gets downhill fast,” said Taylor about Pierce. “He doesn’t waste a lot of time going sideways. His speed is deceptive. Once he gets out in the open, he seems to run away from a lot of people.”

Taylor had a very productive NFL career as he finished in the top-10 in rushing for six of his 11 seasons with the Jaguars, with his best year coming in 2003 with 1,572 yards on 345 carries. He was selected second-team All-Pro in 2007. Before that, he was running through defenders at the University of Florida; the same college Pierce attended before being drafted by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Pierce’s years at Florida remind Taylor of his playing days, as well as he had to split carries with two other running backs his junior season.

“Even when I watched him play at Florida, they were by committee a lot of time, so we didn’t get a chance to really see him when others got most of the reps,” said Taylor, who is also a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame. “So, when he got to the league, he turned into a whole different player. Most guys are built for the pro-style, and he has proved to be one of them.”

The Georgia native took the league by surprise last season, rushing for 939 yards on 220 carries and four touchdowns. His rookie season was cut short in Week 14 when he suffered an ankle injury against the Dallas Cowboys, which placed him on the injured list for the remaining four games.

One of his best games of the season was in front of Taylor in Week 5 when the Texans visited TIAA Bank Field Stadium to take on the Jaguars. Pierce came one yard shy of having consecutive back-to-back 100-yard rushing games as he finished with 99 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown in Houston’s 13-6 victory.

“I didn’t want him to see him run like that against the Jags,” Taylor jokingly responded when asked about the game. “But I was torn because he is a Gator [Florida] boy, so I was proud of him.”

Heading into the 2023 regular season, Pierce has set high goals and expectations. If he meets those goals, he knows it will be a team accomplishment first and then a personal one.

“It’s going to look a lot better than last year, but to answer your question, definitely cap 1,000 [rushing] yards, definitely,” said Pierce when asked what a full, healthy season will look like for him. “I’ll say that. I think I got 960 something [yards], 939, so 60, 70 yards away from 1,000.”

“So, I definitely see that. That’s a goal I have for myself. That’s what I expect from me, so I definitely want to cap 1,000. ‘Slow’ [Bobby Slowik] expects that everybody around me expects that, and I’m going to try everything in my power to get that.”

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