Running backs worth watching at Texans camp
Watching how the running backs work in practice, and especially when those practice games start could be the most interesting viewing of the Texans' preseason.
I like the kid, but if Arian Foster is the Texans' top back this season, the running game is not likely to be very good. I knew he would make the team as an undrafted free agent last year, and I thought he should have been given an opportunity sooner than he was, but that had a lot to do with the competition and how poorly Chris Brown was playing. I curious as to how much Foster has improved. He looked good in the couple of plays I saw him run on the first day, but again, those don't tell you much. Is he a front-line NFL running back? He thinks so, and he'll certainly have a chance to prove it.
Steve Slaton told me Friday that he is bothered (in a competitive way) about not being No. 1 on the Texans' depth chart at tailback. "I'm always going to feel like I'm the guy, that's a pride factor," Slaton said. That's good to hear, because the last thing you want is a player, particularly the most talented player on the team at a position, one who is returning from a serious injury, to be accepting of a backup role. Whether Slaton can return to form after neck surgery, is a major question. He is confident that he'll be fine, and says he is ready to go. Slaton said his biggest issue with the injury was not being able to get enough sleep because of the troublesome numbness in his arm caused by the pinched nerve in his neck.
As per the standard line that always sounds a little nutty to me, Slaton said he is looking forward to getting hit for the first time, as that is the official start of training camp to him. He probably got tapped hard Sunday, but today he'll get hit. We hope. Hey, it's a rough game. Slaton's return especially since he is lighter now and should be more of a threat to break runs and the expected power boost from rookie Ben Tate should give the Texans a solid backfield.
And thus far, Chris Henry has been running better than any back in camp. He's looking to earn a roster spot with his aggressiveness and work on special teams. "I'll tell you it's been impressive," Gary Kubiak said. "You don't want to put too much on a player this early, but he's been a very bright spot by seeing how hard he goes and he's doing a great job for (special teams coordinator) Joe (Marciano). I think our players are impressed with him. I think that's the most important thing. He'll get a good chance, so let's see how he does."
You can tell Tate is going to be a player. Texans coaches are putting heat on him to get up to speed in a hurry and take care of that thing that is almost an issue for rookies consistency. "I think he's improving," Kubiak said. "I don't like the fact that he would correct a mistake and come back and do it again after a few plays later. He needs some consistency from that standpoint. That's part of being a pro.
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