Tag: Texans running game

Texans S Jalen Pitre says fellow rookie Dameon Pierce ‘is going to run you over’

Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre says rookie running back Dameon Pierce has the ferocity to run people over.

Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre is part of a dynamic draft class that could forge the new attitude of the team.

Pitre, a second-round pick from Baylor, has been making plays throughout training camp and is developing as a playmaking defensive back. First-round cornerback Derek Stingley has flashed shutdown ability and also breaking on the ball throughout camp.

Fellow draft mate Dameon Pierce has been bringing the ferocity. According to Pitre via video from Texans Wire’s own Brian Barefield, the former Florida running back has a nasty streak when it comes to laying out teammates.

“Dameon Pierce, if you in his way, you’re going to run you over,” Pitre said.

The Texans could use a tough runner in the backfield. Houston was the worst in the NFL with 3.4 yards per carry and 83.6 rushing yards per game last season, the bottom of the league. As Houston makes their way back to the top, Pierce can at least smash and bash defenders to make them respect the run.

 

Nick Caserio mentioning James White was odd foretelling Texans would draft RB in Round 4

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio referenced New England Patriots RB James White ahead of Round 4 when Houston picked Dameon Pierce.

The Houston Texans drafted former Florida running back Dameon Pierce with the No. 107 overall pick in Round 4 of the 2022 NFL draft Saturday.

However, it was what general manager Nick Caserio said during the recap presser after Day 2 that was particularly interesting.

When Caserio was elaborating on the talent that could be found in the middle parts of the seven-round draft, he mentioned New England Patriots running back James White.

“I’ve been a part of plenty of good teams where players that were drafted in the third and fourth round were inactive for an entire season,” said Caserio. “James White, let’s look at his career in New England. He didn’t play as a rookie, literally. He was a fourth round pick. We thought he was a good player. Nine years later I would say he has been one of the best sub-backs probably in the history of that program.”

The Texans had yet to take a running back to that point, but they managed to grab one in Pierce.

Unlike White, Pierce doesn’t appear to be on pace to miss his rookie season. The former Gator generated 547 yards and 13 touchdowns on 100 carries through 13 games in 2021.

Pierce joins a running back corps that includes Rex Burkhead, another former Patriots running back, Royce Freeman, and Marlon Mack.

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Carlos Hyde is the perfect back for Bill O’Brien’s first-down philosophy

Houston Texans running back Carlos Hyde ranks within the top-10 in the NFL in yards per first-down carry, an important statistic.

The Houston Texans are no stranger to first-down runs. Under Bill O’Brien, the team favors rushes to set up second and third downs, as they do so 57% of the time, per Sharp Football Stats.

Luckily, O’Brien has one of the NFL’s best first-down runners. According to ESPN, their top tailback, Carlos Hyde, sits within the top 10 for average yards rushing on first down. Hyde gains 4.9 yards per first-down run, good for seventh in the NFL, ahead of household names Alvin Kamara and Leonard Fournette.

Hyde’s abilities as a first-down rusher have the Texans second in the NFL in success rate on first-down runs (53%, per Sharp Football Stats).

A journeyman in the last two seasons, Hyde has been a revelation for the Texans offense. His ability to run upfield helps them move the chains on first downs while also setting up play-action.

“Carlos has come in here and he runs hard,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Oct. 23. “He’s done a good job. He’s done a real good job for us, and hopefully it can continue.”

Hyde has rushed for 769 yards and four touchdowns on 158 attempts (4.9 yards per attempt) in 10 games as a Texan.

RB Carlos Hyde needs the Texans’ run game to do ‘a better job’

Houston Texans running back Carlos Hyde needs the team’s running game to do a better job after loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Carlos Hyde scored the Houston Texans’ lone touchdown of their 41-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, as if it mattered. His 41-yard touchdown scamper did not hide hyde the fact that the Texans’ otherwise great run-game struggled mightily in the embarrassing loss.

The Texans rushed the ball 22 times for 120 yards and a score against Baltimore. Without the touchdown, that goes to 79 yards on 21 carries, good for 3.8 yards per carry. That’s not going to cut it. As Hyde says, playing the Ravens is about controlling the tempo with the run.

Houston did not do that. The Ravens’ stout run game helped them win the time of possession battle 36:19 to 23:41.

“It was going to be about who could sustain drives, who can protect the ball, who can run the get their run game going,” said Hyde on Sunday. “We did not have a good run game. So, we have to do a better job.“

Hyde has been a pleasant surprise for the Texans in 2019, that sentiment did not change on Sunday. For the year, he has 769 yards and four touchdowns on 158 yards. Nevertheless, he isn’t here for stats. Houston is his home because he wants to win.

Hyde and Co. can rebound quickly; they face division rivals Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. With the important game — with playoff implications — on the horizon, there isn’t time to dwell on the loss and the lack of a run game.

“We have a short week,” said Hyde. “We have to put this game behind us and get ready for Indianapolis. We are all here playing to win.”

Last time Hyde faced the Colts, he had a game to forget. He rushed for 35 yards on 12 carries. Perhaps the fuel of losing added to his fire will get him over the hump to having a standout performance against the division rivals.