Have the Houston Texans rediscovered their running game?
The Houston Texans have continued to add veteran talent, especially when it comes to who will be coming out of the backfield in 2021.
Only the imbalanced Pittsburgh Steelers gained fewer yards on the ground this past season than the Houston Texans. While the former has had its issues in recent years in terms of establishing the run, the latter was ranked ninth in the league in this category in 2019 and the club claimed the AFC South.
This past season, the Texans managed only 91.6 yards per game on the ground, led by David Johnson (691 yards), quarterback Deshaun Watson (444) and Duke Johnson (235). The previous year, the trio of Carlos Hyde (1,070), Watson (413) and Duke Johnson (410) helped Houston run for a brisk 125.6 yards per contest.
Of course, these are different times when it comes to this franchise. New general manager Nick Caserio and first-time NFL head coach David Culley have had quite the offseason when it comes to the acquisition of players. And it seems it would almost be easier to name who the Texans haven’t signed as opposed to who they have brought aboard.
While David Johnson remains, Duke Johnson was released this offseason. The signings include Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay via the Ravens and Broncos, respectively.
The newest addition to the offensive backfield is Rex Burkhead, late of the New England Patriots. The latter is certainly familiar with the backfield-by-committee approach during his days in Foxborough and both Ingram and Lindsay also know a thing or two when it comes to sharing the load. All four bring plenty of experience to a club in the midst of transition.
The team also has some young running backs on the depth chart (via Ourlads) with minimal experience in Buddy Howell, Scottie Phillips and Dontrell Hilliard. The Texans drafted only five players in April and May and none at this position. And who knows if Caserio is done adding talent to the backfield.
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If Culley and the Texans fail to improve their ground attack, it obviously won’t be for a lack of trying. All told, Johnson, Ingram, Lindsay and Burkhead make for a formidable quartet and if the team can establish some balance, perhaps the team’s passing attack won’t finish with the fourth-most yards in the midst of a 4-12 showing.