Tag: Texans running back

Texans RB Dameon Piere won’t ‘spill the beans’ on role in new offense

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce likes what he has seen from the new offense, but does not want to “spill the beans” with details.

It is only natural for a running back to be excited when his team hires a Kyle Shanahan protege as their new offensive coordinator.

With new coach DeMeco Ryans came former San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as the new Houston Texans offensive coordinator. The 49ers were known for their rushing offense with 4.7 yards per carry, tied for eighth-most in the NFL, and the eighth-most rushing yards per game at 138.8.

Second-year running back Dameon Pierce could not hold back his enthusiasm when meeting with reporters June 6 after organized team activities.

“Oh, the more ways I can get the ball, the better, baby,” Pierce said. “I love that. I love that. But, I’ve got a lot of great guys to look at. Most recently, probably Christian McCaffrey. He thrived last year in the league, in his offense he’s just getting out of the backfield, getting in the flat, catching hitches or whatever the case may be. There’s multiple ways to get a running back the ball.”

McCaffrey generated 159 carries for 746 yards and six touchdowns along with 52 catches for 464 yards and four touchdowns in his 11 games for San Francisco following a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

However, Pierce believes his teammates in Devin Singletary and Dare Ogunbowale can provide effective models on how to thrive in the new offense.

Said Pierce: “We’ve got a lot of great third down backs. A lot of guys that I can model my game after and a lot of guys that I can learn from.”

Nevertheless McCaffrey was the first to come to Pierce’s mind because of his production and working with Slowik with the 49ers.

“It just really exemplifies Slo’s offense, more specially, his cut ups with the option routes, the angles, the whip routes. ” Pierce said. “I’m not going to say too much because I don’t want to spill the beans too much, but, yeah.”

Pierce tallied 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Texans through 13 games last season, finishing third in the NFL among rookies in rushing yards.

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Texans RB Dameon Pierce says he is ‘always talking ball’ with Devin Singletary

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce says that he is constantly talking about the game when he interacts with new teammate Devin Singletary.

The Houston Texans have a dominant running back in Dameon Pierce. Nevertheless the organization signed former Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary in free agency in March.

Pierce, a 2022 fourth-round pick, doesn’t see Singletary as a threat. Rather, he views him as a resource.

“Every time we talk, we’re always talking ball,” Pierce told reporters after organized team activities June 6. “I’m always asking — because he’s a shiftier kind of guy, more of a in-space type of player — I’m not asking him what he’s doing, I’m asking, ‘What are you thinking when you’re doing it?’”

Singletary generated 3,151 yards and 16 touchdowns on 672 carries along with 145 receptions for 971 yards and four touchdowns through 61 games for the Bills. What Pierce has noticed from his conversations with Singletary is his deliberate approach to the game.

Said Pierce: “He’s a very intentional player. The more I get to pick his brain, the more I get into his mindset of how he sees the game, how he sees the play develop. It’s really simple. Sometimes it’s as simple as, ‘Hey, man. He’s dropping, bro. What I’m thinking is, I’m sitting right here.’ Just simple stuff like that.”

The potential is evident with Pierce, who had 939 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 220 carries through 13 games as a rookie. With a new offense directed by coordinator Bobby Slowik placing an emphasis on the run game, both backs will have their opportunities to showcase their complementary styles.

“He’s been a great help, a great mentor so far during OTAs, and I look forward to keep picking his brain,” Pierce said.

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Texans RB Dameon Pierce seeks to protect the ball, QB in 2023

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce wants to upgrade his ball security and pass protection as he gears up for his second season in the NFL.

Danny Barrett is unique.

The running backs coach is the only position coach to survive the Bill O’Brien, David Culley, and Lovie Smith eras. Despite the Houston Texans producing just one 1,000-yard back since his 2018 hiring, management has understood Barrett’s unenviable task.

At last the Texans have a bell-cow in Dameon Pierce, and the second-year running back gives Barrett considerable credit in his development as a pass protector.

“Pretty much 85% of it has got to go to coach DB [Barrett],” Pierce told reporters June 6 after organized team activities. “Coach DB makes sure that he spends extra time with not only me, but all of us, making sure that we’re very precise in our pass protections.”

According to Pierce, Barrett has two requirements when it comes to playing for the 61-year-old coach.

Said Pierce: “You’ve got to protect the ball and protect the quarterback, and we’ve been working a lot on both.”

The former 2022 fourth-rounder had a promising rookie campaign with 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns through 13 games, all of which he started. However, Pierce fumbled four times, including in his final game of the season, Week 14 at the Dallas Cowboys.

“I think I had four on the ground, and I’m trying to drop that to zero,” said Pierce. “One is one too many. So, we’ve been working a lot in that aspect, kind of working on a lot of things without the ball. Because he knows everybody in that room is very capable of doing great things with the ball, so, it’s more so what can we do without the ball to help our offense?”

The Texans had Pierce on the field for 64% of the team’s offensive snaps last season. The percentage will increase the more Pierce is able to hone his pass-blocking skills along with the new offense’s commitment to the run.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says RB Dameon Pierce brings energy to the whole team

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says that second-year running back Dameon Pierce is bringing energy, not just to the offense, but to the team.

DeMeco Ryans faces a Herculean task in his attempt to lift the Houston Texans back to relevance in 2023. But, with a rookie quarterback and fresh faces on the offensive side of the ball, Ryans will be able to lean on the team’s above-average running game to help get the Texans in the in column early and often during the regular season.

The first-year coach noted the efforts of one member of Houston’s backfield in particular, Dameon Pierce, during comments to the media after practice on June 6, pointing to the second-year back as a player who looks to factor into his offensive attack in a major way.

“Dameon has been consistent all offseason,” Ryans said. “He’s been here every day, he’s been upbeat. He brings tremendous energy — not only to our offense, but to our entire team. Always has a smile on his face, always working hard, improving on the little things that he has to work on. I’m excited for the season that he will have ahead of him.”

While the focus from the outside is on the former 2022 fourth-rounder, Ryans and the coaching staff must keep their considerations on the running back stable as a whole.

Said Ryans: “Not only Dameon, I think it’s the compliment of the guys that we have — adding Devin [Singletary], Mike [Boone], other guys there in our backfield — it’s just a compliment where Dameon doesn’t have to do all of it on his own. But his physical style, the speed that he plays with, the way that he’s improving in his pass protection — it’s been fun to watch.”

The Texans’ influx of premier talent has steered fans away from recalling Pierce’s efforts in 2022. Despite being limited to 13 games due to injury, the former Florida product generated 939 rushing yards, which were the third-most among rookies.

With a more well-rounded roster around Pierce, the reigning NFL’s “Angriest Run of the Year” winner has a chance for a breakout effort when the regular season starts in September.

WATCH: Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary lead Texans’ RB drills at OTAs

Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary were the first two leading the running back drills at Houston Texans OTAs on May 31.

Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary were among the first two running backs to lead the drills at Houston Texans organized team activities on May 31.

According to video from Texans TV’s Deepi Sidhu, Pierce and Singletary took snaps as running backs coach Danny Barrett facilitated the drill.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud told reporters on May 23 that the Texans were fortunate to have a back like Pierce on the roster.

“Just being around him a little, getting to know him every other day, he’s hilarious,” said Stroud. “He’s always very upbeat, very positive and wants to work and wants to get better. I accept a lot of feedback from him. He likes feedback from me. We’ve just been enjoying working with each other, so it’s been a blessing to have someone like D.P.”

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Texans’ Dameon Pierce earns ‘one-man wrecking crew’ moniker in RB rankings

The Houston Texans have one of the top-15 running backs in the NFL with Dameon Pierce.

The Houston Texans turned around their running game in a season, and all it took was drafting one player.

Houston picked running back Dameon Pierce in Round 4 of the 2022 NFL draft, and the Florida product generated 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns in just 13 games.

According to Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus, Pierce, who also earned the NFL’s “Angriest Run of the Year” last season, placed No. 14 in their running back rankings.

Pierce was a one-man wrecking crew during his first NFL season. He ranked first among rookies and fifth in the league in total missed tackles forced (49). He was also tied with Nick Chubb for the most missed tackles forced per attempt. His total first-down runs and yards after contact were both top-10 marks in the league as well.

Only the New York Jets’ Breece Hall (No. 11) and the Seattle Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker (No. 12) were ranked higher than Pierce.

The Texans have beefed up their offensive line with the acquisition of right guard Shaq Mason. Houston already had three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green, and right tackle Tytus Howard on the roster to clear space for Pierce. The 23-year-old should also have more opportunities to prove his value as a runner with Houston implementing a new offense borne out of Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast offense.

For Pierce to land in the top-15 among running backs in the NFL after his rookie season indicates the direction of Houston’s run game.

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How undrafted RB Xazavian Valladay could make the Texans’ roster

Undrafted free agent running back Xazavian Valladay has a shot to make the Houston Texans’ final roster.

The Houston Texans didn’t exactly load up their undrafted free agent class following the 2023 NFL draft. Nevertheless there could be a couple of gems from the signees who find their way onto the Texans’ final roster.

According to Jeff Risdon from the Draft Wire, a good candidate among the undrafted crop is former Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay.

The Texans gave Valladay $175,000 to sign, an indication of how much they like the speedster from Arizona State. His ability to catch the ball and reliably make the first tackler miss give Valladay the ability to usurp Dare Ogunbowale on the Houston depth chart.

Ogunbowale, who originally found his way into the NFL in 2017 as an undrafted free agent with the Texans, returned in 2022 as a reserve back in Houston’s running back stable. The 28-year-old carried 42 times for 123 yards and a touchdown while also catching 20 passes for 104 yards.

Valladay generated 1,192 yard and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries through 12 games with the Sun Devils last season. The potential for production is not in question.

Where the former graduate transfer from Wyoming would have to prove himself is in the transition phase of the game, as the majority of the offensive reps are going to Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. Ogunbowale played 281 special teams snaps compared to 183 offensive snaps. Valladay would have to demonstrate to coach DeMeco Ryans and special teams coordinator Frank Ross that he can be trusted to supplant Ogunbowale in this role before any playing time on offense comes into question.

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Get to know Devin Singletary: Another ‘Motor’ to the Texans’ offense

Find out more about the “Motor” the Houston Texans added to their backfield with Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary.

Devin Singletary earned the nickname “Motor” with the Buffalo Bills, and the running back could provide the same drive for the Houston Texans’ offense.

There is no doubt the Texans found success on the ground last year with rookie Dameon Pierce, who earned the “Angriest Run of the Year” for his efforts. However, there wasn’t hardly any depth behind Pierce, and it showed in the four final games the fourth-rounder was on injured reserve.

Enter Singletary, who is a conscious attempt to upgrade the running back stable.

Nick Wojton from the Bills Wire stopped by to provide a feel for Singletary’s game. Here is what the former 2019 third-round pick could bring to the Texans’ backfield.

Get to know Mike Boone: How the Broncos RB can mesh with Texans’ offense

What can the Houston Texans expect from former Denver Broncos RB Mike Boone? @byjonheath from @thebroncoswire provided valuable insight.

The Houston Texans are in the midst of a completing a rebuild.

Part of the job is gathering the materials to pull it off, namely free agents on short-term deals.

Among the Texans’ most surprising signings was veteran running back Mike Boone, who spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos as valuable depth in their backfield.

Broncos Wire managing Jon Heath provided insight as to how Boone might be able to help out in new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense. Here is a look at a different perspective on the Boone signing.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce named Senior Bowl rookie of the year

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce made it as a @seniorbowl rookie of the year alongside WR Christian Watson and CB Tariq Woolen.

The origin story for Dameon Pierce continues to grow.

The Senior Bowl announced Thursday their three 2022 rookies of the year, and the Houston Texans’ fourth-round running back was among a trio that also included Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen and Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson.

Pierce sustained an ankle injury in Week 14 that limited his rookie campaign to 13 games. Nevertheless the former Florida product generated 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries while catching 30 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Despite missing the final four games, Pierce was third among rookies in rushing yards and 17th in the league.

New coach DeMeco Ryans is aware of Pierce’s talent in the backfield and appreciates the fortitude the former Gator showed in carrying the Texans’ offense.

“I think he did what he had to do,” Ryans told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix March 27. “He showed some toughness, he showed some competitive fight in him. I love the way he runs, I love his style, and it’s a style that I really want to continue to feed him. I think that style of running is just — it excites the entire team. He runs with an attitude that I really like and want to see him continue to build his game off of that, but I’m excited to see where Dameon — his growth from year one to year two.”

Pierce also won “Angriest Run of the Year” at the NFL Honors in February.

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