Its Time

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by caspian

There's a lot of room between Ricky Williams (who, incidentally, is also asked to play as a "pound the ball between the tackles" style) and a Hearst/Barlow combo.

True Ricky is a pounder, which probably means he needs more of a breather than speed/shifty backs or his career may decline early.

The greatest backs usually play the game start to finish with appropriate breathers and there are plenty of examples. That's what I would want for either DD or Hollings.

Truthfully I am not concerned with having someone recognized as the greatest back, I am concerned with having the Texans recognized as having a great running game. With that in mind, maintaining the health of the backs and developing the back-ups is a priority over the national acclaim for any individual player IMO.

[caspian]

I would be primarily concerned with developing our best 22 players to their full potential. That is, afterall, what a real coach is suppose to do.

Maximize your players' potentials and the wins, the awards, the money, the respect...the "running game" will follow as a by-product.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by caspian

I would be primarily concerned with developing our best 22 players to their full potential. That is, afterall, what a real coach is suppose to do.

Maximize your players' potentials and the wins, the awards, the money, the respect...the "running game" will follow as a by-product.

Here is where our thinking parts ways. IMO the team is 53 players and the best coach is the one that maximizes the use of all 53 to get the best win/loss record at the end of the season regardless of the individual accolades for any individual player. As an example, it is better for a team to have two 1100 yard rushers than it is for a team to have one 1600 yard pro-bowler and a 250 yard scrub. No doubt though, it is fun to watch your players go for national aclaim--not against it, so long as it is in the best interest of the team, not just the player.

[clandestin]

There's also something to be said for a 'change of pace' back. In 2002, it seemed like whichever back was brought in after the starter (Allen or Wells) tended to be more successful in their first series. I don't think it should be overdone, but hollings speed to the outside might surprise a few LBs after DD's slash-and-bounce style.

It doesn't look likely that we'll bring Mack back, but I liked the idea of bringing him back for short yardage and the occasional change of pace.

[TexanTom]

It's been said before and I'll say it again. Consistency is the biggest need from the running game. You need to be confident you're going to get 4 yards whenever you call a running play. Let David Carr and Andre Johnson stretch the field and bust the big plays. When we're up in the fourth quarter this year I want to be able to see us run for some first downs and kill some clock.

Our offense as a whole needs to be more consistent, but the fastest way to improve that awful 3rd down conversion percentage is a solid, consistent running game.

[El Tejano]

I also believe RBs have to get in a groove in order to start taking over the game. I do believe Davis should carry the majority of the load but there also need to be some times where Hollings comes in to give Davis a breather and so that we are not as predictable throughout the game.

[caspian]

I think that what is in the best interest of the individual players, if properly measured, is in the best interest of the team. I'm all for maximizing the potential for all 53 players, but there are logistical obstacles to accomplishing that (time, human error, etc.) The ultimate "tragedy" to me is a kid who never reaches his/her potential.

Regardless, I respect your position...we're not far off.

[Texman]

I agree that most Rbs' have to get into a groove and get better as the game goes on, but I couldn't help but see visions of #34 last year. The Oilers depended on Earl way too much even though he punished the last man to get to him as much as the first. I'm not saying I see the TEXANS doing the same thing with D.D. but if Hollings can be effective enough to give DD a rest, that would go far in helping Davis get closer to the 2000 yd. mark. Even though he didn't get a lot of carries, I was impressed with Baxter too.

[El Tejano]

I kind of wish we were going to sign Mack because he really didn't have as much tendency to cough up the ball like Hollings. Does anyone think we may just sign a veteran after June 1st?

[rittenhouserobz]

Hollings is still a rookie in my opinion. I look at this as his first real year. He will be 2 years removed from the big injury. DD will be strong as well.

If winning a SB means 2 backs getting 1000 yards each, then thats what I would want. If one back running 1600 yards does the job, then that is what I want. The interesting question might be how 2 different RB's get 1000 yards each. Would they alternate starts? Would they each be featured in one half of the game?

I would think that letting one run the most in one half, and letting the other provide a breather then switching roles in the next half would be productive. It would allow one to concentrate, and the other to stay inthe game.

[scourge]

Originally Posted by Texman

I agree that most Rbs' have to get into a groove and get better as the game goes on, but I couldn't help but see visions of #34 last year. The Oilers depended on Earl way too much even though he punished the last man to get to him as much as the first. I'm not saying I see the TEXANS doing the same thing with D.D. but if Hollings can be effective enough to give DD a rest, that would go far in helping Davis get closer to the 2000 yd. mark. Even though he didn't get a lot of carries, I was impressed with Baxter too.

the same thing happened with eddie george...

[Vinny]

The Texans under Capers seem to like to have diverse gameday packages they use against different teams. Sometimes we see multiple TE sets against one team and more 3wr sets against another. I think that we will use Dom and Tony in the same manner.

One team will have a certain style of defense that will lend itself to certain matchup problems with each back. Hollings gives us blazing speed and a mismatch in the open field. Davis gives us a slasher who breaks arm tackles with ease. I think that they will be rotated two ways; down and distance, and then one back will be in more packages depending on the nature of the defense we are facing.