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Slaton.......Now You See Him.......Now You Don't

CloakNNNdagger

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Steve Slaton on the outs in Houston

He made a big splash as a rookie, with 1,282 rushing yards, 377 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. Since then, running back Steve Slaton has largely disappeared.

Durability and an inability to hold onto the football landed him in coach Gary Kubiak’s doghouse, and with Arian Foster becoming the NFL’s leading rusher in 2010 and second-round pick Ben Tate still in the hopper after missing all of last season due to injury, Slaton is the odd man out.

And so it’s no surprise that the Texans, per Pro Football Weekly, plan to showcase Slaton during the preseason in the hopes of trading him.

The risk, of course, is that giving Slaton maximum exhibition reps could result in more injuries and/or more fumbles. But with Slaton destined to sit on the bench and unlikely to be willing to embrace grind-it-out special-teams duties in his fourth NFL season, it makes sense for the Texans to try to move Slaton.

Still, with quality running backs being pumped out of college programs every year — and with undrafted gems like Foster lurking under an unturned stone — we can’t imagine anyone giving up anything of real value for Slaton.
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How do you showcase him while not stealing practice time from the RBs that will be relied on when the real season begins.......if it ever does?
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Steve Slaton on the outs in Houston



How do you showcase him while not stealing practice time from the RBs that will be relied on when the real season begins.......if it ever does?
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I would say the order of backs is Foster, Ward, Tate, Slaton.

We know what Foster can do, he does not need serious carries in preseason or a ton of practice time. Same with Ward. He did well in the system last year, so he does not need the extra touches. Tate could certainly use the work, but again, he will be the third back. I could see a situation where in preseaon(if there is one) Foster is in for the first series, Ward the second, and Slaton plays through the third. Then Tate comes in and works in the fourth to ease him in.
 
Doppelganger said:
I would say the order of backs is Foster, Ward, Tate, Slaton.

We know what Foster can do, he does not need serious carries in preseason or a ton of practice time. Same with Ward. He did well in the system last year, so he does not need the extra touches. Tate could certainly use the work, but again, he will be the third back. I could see a situation where in preseaon(if there is one) Foster is in for the first series, Ward the second, and Slaton plays through the third. Then Tate comes in and works in the fourth to ease him in.
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How does that "showcase" Slaton?
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
How does that "showcase" Slaton?
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Well it would essentially let him play the majority of the touches. The first 2 series would probably take up most if not all of the first quarter. So in essence, he would be in there for the second and third quarters. He would be "showcased" against the starters and second team, and some third teamers and get half the game.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Steve Slaton on the outs in Houston



How do you showcase him while not stealing practice time from the RBs that will be relied on when the real season begins.......if it ever does?
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I'm not big on preseason reps for bigtime players. Arian Foster could sit the whole preseason out and it wouldn't make a difference to me. Maybe a series per game, MAYBE. Ward gets about 5 touches a game, let Slaton try to do work against somewhat lesser competition to make him look good, maybe sneak a 4th/5th outta someone. Give Tate hopefully more than 1 carry before his season is over, see what we have in the youngster. I don't see a lot to get miffed about here.
 
Last thing I want to see is Arian Foster getting seriously injured in a meaningless preseason game.

In the past, we HAD to get all the RBs as many reps in preseason as we could...because we were so terrible at RB and we needed to put those guys into the grinder and see what came out (so that we could evaluate and decide who would be the starter in the reg season). Not anymore.

I want Arian Foster in there for the first series to pop pads and stay sharp. Then I want him on the sideline. Same goes for Ward, IMO.

Tate needs the reps. Slaton needs to be "showcased."

I'd play Slaton against the opponent's second and third stringers, to rack up as many highlights as he can. Teams won't care that it was against second and third stringers--They will be impressed by his moves, his tenacity, and will want him. Putting him in there vs. the opponent's starters risks getting Slaton shut down and frustrated and basically impossible to move out of Houston in a trade, IMO.

What we get for him is a whole other discussion. A 3rd rounder would be awesome. Might have to settle for a 4th though. Regardless, getting something back for him is still better than cutting him outright or losing him in free agency.

We need him to understand that he's done here. I would imagine that his agent has already had that talk with him, and that it's understood by all parties that he's essentially auditioning this preseason for his new team.

If there even IS a preseason. Which I don't think there will be.
 
In preseason, in the interest of getting ready for the real one, I say we PUNT every time we get the ball. :tiphat:

PS-Somebody please tell Kubiak not to do that in the real games.
 
Ward is good, but he's doesn't have the potential that Tate does. With a shortened practice season though, this gives Ward the advantage. Eventually though, this will turn out to be the Foster and Tate show.
 
I think it's a pipe dream to think teams are going to give up much, if anything at all, for this guy. He is a fumble waiting to happen, looks tentative and lost at times, and is a zero in the return game.

Someone explain to me why a team give up more than a late rounder at best. In fact, I think we'll be lucky to get that. RB's are a dime a dozen. They will just wait to see if the Texans release him. And if they lose him to someone on the waiver wire, big deal.
 
Porky said:
I think it's a pipe dream to think teams are going to give up much, if anything at all, for this guy. He is a fumble waiting to happen, looks tentative and lost at times, and is a zero in the return game.

Someone explain to me why a team give up more than a late rounder at best. In fact, I think we'll be lucky to get that. RB's are a dime a dozen. They will just wait to see if the Texans release him. And if they lose him to someone on the waiver wire, big deal.
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Not that I think we'll get much for him but if RB's are a dime a dozen did it take so long for us to get a decent one??

Oh yeah Smithiack..
 
Porky said:
Someone explain to me why a team give up more than a late rounder at best. In fact, I think we'll be lucky to get that. RB's are a dime a dozen. They will just wait to see if the Texans release him. And if they lose him to someone on the waiver wire, big deal.
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Anybody else see where the little back from the Houston area, Jacquizz Rodgers who played for Oregan State, go to ATL - 5th round. There's just
no point in giving up high draft picks for backs ? I have no idea why NOLA used a 1st rounder on Heisman trophy winner Ingram ?
 
Texas T said:
Not that I think we'll get much for him but if RB's are a dime a dozen did it take so long for us to get a decent one??

Oh yeah Smithiack..
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Didn't we think Davis was going to be the guy? Stupid injuries.
 
GP said:
Last thing I want to see is Arian Foster getting seriously injured in a meaningless preseason game.
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Sorry I disagree Foster had a great season, but that doesn't mean he's going to produce ever season. He still has to show he can consistently put the #'s up and keep his attitude and issues in check.

He's not proven yet IMHO.
 
silvrhand said:
Sorry I disagree Foster had a great season, but that doesn't mean he's going to produce ever season. He still has to show he can consistently put the #'s up and keep his attitude and issues in check.

He's not proven yet IMHO.
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I'm not sure how you can disagree with the quote you took from GP....

So you DO want to see Foster injured in a meaningless pre-season game?

Regardless of whether he has proved it over time or not, as of right now and heading into next season he is our franchise caliber starting RB.

If he is going to fail, let him fail in the regular season. Makes no sense to say, "ok Arian, despite leading the league in rushing last year and staying healthy all year we want you to prove yourself in these pre-season games"....

I get the point you are making, but I disagree with your disagreeing about having Arian grind it out in pre-season...
 
silvrhand said:
Sorry I disagree Foster had a great season, but that doesn't mean he's going to produce ever season. He still has to show he can consistently put the #'s up and keep his attitude and issues in check.

He's not proven yet IMHO.
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I agree with the 1st part. He's had one great season. We've been bit by this bug before. He has to string a few years of production together. I'm not sure what you mean by his attitude and issues, though. I haven't heard anything really negative about him. He's kind of an odd duck, but that doesn't mean he has a bad attitude.
 
Hell, let Ward, Slaton and Tate fight it out for the two back-up spots behind Foster. Why do we have to go into it saying Slaton's the odd man out? Lets keep the best two and deal the third.
 
wildroot said:
Hell, let Ward, Slaton and Tate fight it out for the two back-up spots behind Foster. Why do we have to go into it saying Slaton's the odd man out? Lets keep the best two and deal the third.
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Why deal the third? Why not keep three RB's or even four?
 
infantrycak said:
Why deal the third? Why not keep three RB's or even four?
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The premiss of the thread was that we'd keep 3, and those 3 being Foster, Ward and Tate. Slaton being the trade-bait.

But if they feel like they'd like to keep 4 they can always make room by thinning out the TE posision.
 
We already know what Foster and Ward can do. Give them 8% each of preseason carries. All the rest of the carries go to see what we have in Tate, showcase Slaton, and field time for undrafted FA's.
 
I was hoping Slaton would be able to make the roster in pre-season but I would not use a spot for him as it appears there will not be much of a pre-season if any. This is a case of a player being mis-used by a coaching staff.

If injuries decimate team, pick up a FA during season. Slaton could probably still be available & knows system.
 
In terms of trading players: If there's no preseason, I think he'll get cut outright. This labor issue, if unresolved until right at the midnight hour of starting the reg season, is going to cause a lot of teams to just cut guys instead of working the trade routes. There simply will not be enough time for teams to dedicate the time needed to work the trade avenues and find homes for all the trade bait players. I think there will be a FLOOD of free agents like never before.

By the way, go to the bottom lefthand side of this ESPN NFL page...and look at the tweets about how the drama might be over by late June or early July. Seems there is either some real credibility here OR it's just wishful thinking that will stumble to a stop tomorrow when we hear that there was nothing of significance at all about the talks. Could end up that the 8th Circuit is scaring the buhjeezus out of both the owners AND the players, and so both sides want a way to avoid a lengthy battle.
 
infantrycak said:
Why deal the third? Why not keep three RB's or even four?
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From reading the linked info I think they don't see Slaton as providing any value on special teams...The info also said that by him being a fourth year guy he probably won't be enthusiastic about playing special teams any ways...
 
Rey said:
From reading the linked info I think they don't see Slaton as providing any value on special teams...The info also said that by him being a fourth year guy he probably won't be enthusiastic about playing special teams any ways...
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he should be enthused to be on roster in any capacity, getting a paycheck and hopefully showing some coach he can play.
 
Uneven Steve(n): He likely won't say so publicly, but sources say one veteran runner who probably would welcome a trade once the lockout ends is Houston fourth-year tailback Steve Slaton.

The former West Virginia star, a third-round choice in the 2008 draft, rushed for a team-best 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. But a shoulder injury has plagued him the past two seasons, limiting Slaton to 150 rushes and 530 yards. Last year, after losing the starting job to Arian Foster, he logged just 19 carries and 93 yards, and didn't score a touchdown.

Slaton is only 25 years old, doesn't have a lot of tread rubbed off the tires yet, and is a good receiver, so he could be an attractive No. 2 back for some team seeking to bolster the position. Rumors have linked him to St. Louis, where the Rams could use a reliable back capable of getting 6-8 touches per game, to reduce the workload for Steven Jackson, but the talk has been unsubstantiated.

Slaton is under contract for 2011 at the league-minimum base salary, then would be eligible for free agency next spring. For the right price, though, he would provide a solid, experienced back for a year. The Texans already have Foster and reports have been good on the recovery of 2010 second-rounder Ben Tate, who missed his entire rookie campaign because of a fractured ankle, so Slaton may be expendable.
 
I would be impressed with Rick Smith if he could get a 5th round pick for Slaton, but I think he will be cut during camp instead.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Uneven Steve(n): ...Rumors have linked him to St. Louis, where the Rams could use a reliable back capable of getting 6-8 touches per game, to reduce the workload for Steven Jackson, but the talk has been unsubstantiated...
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6-8 touches per game?

Breaks down to like 2 carries per quarter. At that pace, he can play in the league until he's 48.

He should go play UFL or CFL or Arena. I just don't see it working out in the NFL.
 
badboy said:
I was hoping Slaton would be able to make the roster in pre-season but I would not use a spot for him as it appears there will not be much of a pre-season if any. This is a case of a player being mis-used by a coaching staff.
If injuries decimate team, pick up a FA during season. Slaton could probably still be available & knows system.
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SS was drafted to be a 3rd down/change of pace back/returner. Injuries and his great play his rookie year dictated how he was used. I don't blame that on the coaching staff. Myself and a few others were talking about him reverting back to what he was originally drafted for when a bunch of others were anointing him the next great thing. SS was very Barry Sanders-esque in that he got the majority of his yards on a few big plays and had a LOT of stops for little or no gain, if not a loss. Unfortunately, SS is no Barry Sanders.
 
I would keep him if he is under one play just might end a season for someone just ask Ben Tate. There are never enough RB's.
 
Coming out of college I didn't like slaton. He showed little vision and often ran into the backs of his lineman. As a former offensive linemen I can't stand when rb's do that.

I think that some of it is just laziness and some of it is scariness. Much easier to run into the backs of blockers and look like you're giving effort than to actually make some things happen. Once he started fumbling his vision magically regressed. Slaton has talent but he is much too timid. Needs to shake that of he'll ever be successful.
 
DocBar said:
SS was drafted to be a 3rd down/change of pace back/returner. Injuries and his great play his rookie year dictated how he was used. I don't blame that on the coaching staff. Myself and a few others were talking about him reverting back to what he was originally drafted for when a bunch of others were anointing him the next great thing. SS was very Barry Sanders-esque in that he got the majority of his yards on a few big plays and had a LOT of stops for little or no gain, if not a loss. Unfortunately, SS is no Barry Sanders.
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I remember it differently. I saw a coach that all of a sudden had a RB that was getting yards and he ran him in the ground. Why was he not used as a swing or running around the end. Maybe one of the posters that have access to film will prove me wrong but seems Slaton went up the middle a whole lot.
 
Rey said:
Coming out of college I didn't like slaton. He showed little vision and often ran into the backs of his lineman. As a former offensive linemen I can't stand when rb's do that.

I think that some of it is just laziness and some of it is scariness. Much easier to run into the backs of blockers and look like you're giving effort than to actually make some things happen. Once he started fumbling his vision magically regressed. Slaton has talent but he is much too timid. Needs to shake that of he'll ever be successful.
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Maybe or maybe the big boys did not move their opponent out of the running lane? I did not follow Slaton so I'll take your word for it.
 
badboy said:
I remember it differently. I saw a coach that all of a sudden had a RB that was getting yards and he ran him in the ground. Why was he not used as a swing or running around the end. Maybe one of the posters that have access to film will prove me wrong but seems Slaton went up the middle a whole lot.
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I just saw a guy get the ball, stutter step forward, and essentially find the nearest blocker and ram his ass...only to fall down as the defenders swarmed him.

To me, rey is spot-on with his analysis. Steve Slaton doesn't have the mental edge that a guy like Arian Foster has.

Steve is acting like something very traumatic happened--like he watched his buddy get killed in 'Nam--and he just can't find the inner strength to do incredibly easy things such as "hold onto the ball" or "find a gap and hit the damn thing as hard as he can."

Not the same guy anymore. Shell-shocked. Had neck injury, fumbling problems, said his arm went all numb when he was hit in the head a certain way (well gee whiz, I wonder why he can't hold onto the ball???).

Snakebit Slaton. He's getting the Kris Brown treatment, though: Being kept around for a tryout during camp to see if he can hang onto the roster spot. He's making the league minimum for vets and might be in his last year here, if I correctly recall recent info on his contract terms.

NFL life is a cold-blooded snake. Don't care who it bites. It just keeps on rolling along.
 
GP said:
I just saw a guy get the ball, stutter step forward, and essentially find the nearest blocker and ram his ass...only to fall down as the defenders swarmed him.

To me, rey is spot-on with his analysis. Steve Slaton doesn't have the mental edge that a guy like Arian Foster has.

Steve is acting like something very traumatic happened--like he watched his buddy get killed in 'Nam--and he just can't find the inner strength to do incredibly easy things such as "hold onto the ball" or "find a gap and hit the damn thing as hard as he can."

Not the same guy anymore. Shell-shocked. Had neck injury, fumbling problems, said his arm went all numb when he was hit in the head a certain way (well gee whiz, I wonder why he can't hold onto the ball???).

Snakebit Slaton. He's getting the Kris Brown treatment, though: Being kept around for a tryout during camp to see if he can hang onto the roster spot. He's making the league minimum for vets and might be in his last year here, if I correctly recall recent info on his contract terms.

NFL life is a cold-blooded snake. Don't care who it bites. It just keeps on rolling along.
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Agree with everything you say but if bolded is true how did he get all the yardage?
 
badboy said:
Agree with everything you say but if bolded is true how did he get all the yardage?
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He tended to chalk up occasional long runs to go along with his many short and no gain runs. Those short gain/no gain runs many times left us wanting in 3rd down situations.
 
badboy said:
I remember it differently. I saw a coach that all of a sudden had a RB that was getting yards and he ran him in the ground. Why was he not used as a swing or running around the end. Maybe one of the posters that have access to film will prove me wrong but seems Slaton went up the middle a whole lot.
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You can see it however you want to but the result is the same. Fortunately for the Texans, SS developed a case of fumblitis and we now get to root for Arian Foster.
You can always go back and review old games and see what I'm talking about.
 
badboy said:
I remember it differently. I saw a coach that all of a sudden had a RB that was getting yards and he ran him in the ground. Why was he not used as a swing or running around the end. Maybe one of the posters that have access to film will prove me wrong but seems Slaton went up the middle a whole lot.
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They all run up the middle a lot. You can't consistently "run around the end" in the NFL because the LBs are too fast and don't have to run as far as you. They just run along the LOS in a straight line and you get no gain even if you outrun them a little. You have to be stud WR fast to outrun them that much and WRs who take handoffs too much WILL get hurt. Sweeps just don't work well in the NFL. These "slant" runs we run all the time going to just outside the DEs require just as much blocking as runnnig up the middle, but we are better at blocking for them because of the ZBS. Anyway, they are not sweeps. Sweeps are for high school, where LBs are slow.
 
The next time Ben Tate makes it out of training camp healthy........


will be the first time.

I'm all about getting something for Slaton while we can, but..... I'd have him take the majority of snaps in the preseason, to ensure the rest of the stable remains healthy.

& the Trade Deadline will be sometime during the season.... it makes sense to keep him on the roster till then, or we'll probably be looking to replace him with a street FA.
 
thunderkyss said:
The next time Ben Tate makes it out of training camp healthy........


will be the first time.

I'm all about getting something for Slaton while we can, but..... I'd have him take the majority of snaps in the preseason, to ensure the rest of the stable remains healthy.

& the Trade Deadline will be sometime during the season.... it makes sense to keep him on the roster till then, or we'll probably be looking to replace him with a street FA.
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Why not just cut him NOW and grab an UDFA...you know, sort of like we did with Arian Foster?

You are too sentimental and not forward-thinking enough, TK. We don't need Steve Slaton anymore. It's inexcusable to have him on the roster at all, actually. More of the same from the Care Bear Kubiak staff: Gotta' let the kids battle and try to hang onto a sliver of hope.

Tell me how Steve Slaton in 2011 (his fourth year now) can regain his rookie year form? He's gone. Left the building. Maybe not in terms of roster, but he's mentally and emotionally vacant. Unless he's reborn as a new NFL man or something, which I doubt.

I just don't get it. He doesn't have have trade value. He can't return kicks, hell he can't even hold onto them and make anything out of all that empty space in front of him. Lost as a blind goose in a blizzard.
 
badboy said:
I remember it differently. I saw a coach that all of a sudden had a RB that was getting yards and he ran him in the ground. Why was he not used as a swing or running around the end. Maybe one of the posters that have access to film will prove me wrong but seems Slaton went up the middle a whole lot.
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In the zone blocking/ zone running system, I would estimate 50% of all the runs called for Slaton were designed to go outside the TE. The job of the running back on the "stretch" runs is to press hard to the edge and continue to the sideline if the pursuit is slow but read the backside for the possibility of a cutback lane.
 
GP said:
Why not just cut him NOW and grab an UDFA...you know, sort of like we did with Arian Foster?

You are too sentimental and not forward-thinking enough, TK. We don't need Steve Slaton anymore. It's inexcusable to have him on the roster at all, actually. More of the same from the Care Bear Kubiak staff: Gotta' let the kids battle and try to hang onto a sliver of hope.

Tell me how Steve Slaton in 2011 (his fourth year now) can regain his rookie year form? He's gone. Left the building. Maybe not in terms of roster, but he's mentally and emotionally vacant. Unless he's reborn as a new NFL man or something, which I doubt.

I just don't get it. He doesn't have have trade value. He can't return kicks, hell he can't even hold onto them and make anything out of all that empty space in front of him. Lost as a blind goose in a blizzard.
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Maybe you didn't noticed, but Steve Slaton picked up 4.9 ypc in 2010... 0 fumbles. That is pretty much his rookie year, except he didn't get as many carries.

His carries were reduced, not because he couldn't play, or didn't warrant the carries, Kubiak was focused on Foster.... that's all.

5 years of Kubiak & we finally get a running back who happens to be a UDFA & you think we'll easily find another.

Foster is the man.......

Ward is a good back up...

Slaton is worth keeping..... Trade him if you get a killer deal.. but don't trade him just to trade him.
 
thunderkyss said:
Maybe you didn't noticed, but Steve Slaton picked up 4.9 ypc in 2010... 0 fumbles. That is pretty much his rookie year, except he didn't get as many carries.

His carries were reduced, not because he couldn't play, or didn't warrant the carries, Kubiak was focused on Foster.... that's all.

5 years of Kubiak & we finally get a running back who happens to be a UDFA & you think we'll easily find another.

Foster is the man.......

Ward is a good back up...

Slaton is worth keeping..... Trade him if you get a killer deal.. but don't trade him just to trade him.
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TK, Those are very deceptive numbers. He ran very tentatively and was hideous on special teams. Based on the visual evidence the past two seasons, Slaton is the 4th best RB on the team right now. So, he could make the squad. The question is whether keeping a 4th RB that is unlikely to participate in special teams is a good idea. Also, it would be foolish not to take advantage of a trade offer for a 4th RB in the last year of his deal if one is presented to the Texans. I think those are the reasons that he's unlikely to be a Texan in 2011.
 
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