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Running back

ATXtexanfan

Hall of Fame
I like hyde but no need to settle. They can find better. If they bring him back no need to overpay

Duke is under contract.
 

ROO

Tweak the offense already!
I like Hyde and Johnson, and Jones looked serviceable against the Titans. Miller will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020, so I doubt the Texans bring him back.

My issue is that the head coach doesn't consistently make use of the RBs strengths. Prime example is the way he used Miller - Miller simply wasn't a "pound it up the middle 15 times a game" back, but that is exactly how the head coach used him.

So, final thought, am happy with keeping the current backs, but would love to see O'Brien use them more wisely. No need to draft an RB - Texans need to find a WR to replace the oft-injured Fuller.
 

RGV82

Random guy
I like Hyde and Johnson, and Jones looked serviceable against the Titans. Miller will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020, so I doubt the Texans bring him back.

My issue is that the head coach doesn't consistently make use of the RBs strengths. Prime example is the way he used Miller - Miller simply wasn't a "pound it up the middle 15 times a game" back, but that is exactly how the head coach used him.

So, final thought, am happy with keeping the current backs, but would love to see O'Brien use them more wisely. No need to draft an RB - Texans need to find a WR to replace the oft-injured Fuller.
Agreed. Our first pick in the 2020 draft is 57th overall in round 2, and I am guessing we go OL.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
I wouldn't have an issue with drafting KJ Hamler at 57. He would solve 2 problems. KR/PR and WFV injury replacement.

Then draft defense/defense/more defense and an OL/RB to develop later in the draft. Kylin Hill and Cole McKivitz are 2 later rd guys I like alot.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Im not handcuffed to any of these guys. If a better option presents itself the team should make the move. It would be nice NOT to have specialists at the position. Have a guy who can run, catch and block. It would open up the playbook and make it easier to camouflage what you are trying to do.

Scary thing for players is that teams after the free for all spending at the position (Zeke, Gurley, Bell, David Johnson etc..) is going to set the position back financially especially when those teams missed the postseason.

Melvin Gordon and Kareem Hunt are the only names that pop out at me, and I might even be a player on David Johnson with the emergence of Kenyan Drake in Arizona if they were willing to deal.

Players on staff better be ready to fork over a hometown discount.
 

justmy2cents

All Pro
Contributor's Club
You are joking right ? I mean the Texans just sunk a fortune in the OLine in 2019 with three, count em, three first rounds picks and a high second round pick.
I'd think for the Draft and/or FA an edge rusher is the top priority in the near term.

ID, your logic is 100% correct. Unfortunately, our offensive line scouting has remained pretty much the same. Reminds me of the quote of the 600 year old knight at the end of Indiana Jones-Last Crusade .... " he chose poorly."
 

Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
Im not handcuffed to any of these guys. If a better option presents itself the team should make the move.
Agree. Hyde is fine, but the saying is, RBs are a dime a dozen. And they are. You can find RBs, no need the break the bank there.

Duke would be an awesome pickup if the Texans used him to his strengths. But no surprise to anyone, they don’t. Way to waste a 3rd round pick.

You are joking right ? I mean the Texans just sunk a fortune in the OLine in 2019 with three, count em, three first rounds picks and a high second round pick.
I'd think for the Draft and/or FA an edge rusher is the top priority in the near term.
Well, they’re gonna have to draft a TE somewhere.
 

Seegara

Guitar Picker, Dog Lover, Woodworker
Hyde and Johnson are good, and Jones is a good backup. Keep Gillaspia in there as a lead blocker and occasional ball carrier. Let's have less of these spread formations that leave you helpless against the blitz.

The few draft picks we have left need to be used to upgrade the secondary and replace that corpse in the receiving corps who can't stay on the field more than 6 minutes without pulling a hamstring.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
next offseason I'm looking for guys who can play without coaching and why I'm glad we got Tunsil..
I would like to bring in a free agent offensive guard to replace Fulton whose days seem to be over. Brandon Scherff even at a high price would be a good pickup and meet that criteria. Hyde could stay but would have to be at cheap deal. I thinks he goes Elsewhere for bigger bucks. I would move Duke to the slot and draft JK Dobbins 2.57 and a player like Najee Harris in the fourth round. Edge/ olb and another cornerback would be excellent.
 

Marcus

Windmill cancer survivor
Contributor's Club
You are joking right ? I mean the Texans just sunk a fortune in the OLine in 2019 with three, count em, three first rounds picks and a high second round pick.
I'd think for the Draft and/or FA an edge rusher is the top priority in the near term.
I really don’t care how many high draft picks they use on the OL. And given their history of not addressing the OL, isn’t it about time? If there is one position on the team that requires not only adequate, but good depth, it’s the OL. It all happens upfront.

And yes, I‘m as frustrated with Fuller as anyone. But you’re not going to replace that speed with a 3rd round pick.

And back on topic, I really liked the way that Taiwan Jones ran the ball last Sunday.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
I really don’t care how many high draft picks they use on the OL. And given their history of not addressing the OL, isn’t it about time? If there is one position on the team that requires not only adequate, but good depth, it’s the OL. It all happens upfront.

And yes, I‘m as frustrated with Fuller as anyone. But you’re not going to replace that speed with a 3rd round pick.

And back on topic, I really liked the way that Taiwan Jones ran the ball last Sunday.
I'm in total agreement about the OL.

As much as they need to add a 5 tech and an edge, if KJ Hamler is there in the 2nd rd he would be my pick. He's got WFV type speed and quickness and can KR/PR. After seeing the offense without WFV I think getting a guy that has WFV type ability (Hamler) is just as important as adding to the DL/pass rush.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
OB, creative? :spit:

If it does, I'd be surprised. And if it does and it's successful, why wait all year to get him more involved? Would love to see it though.
He's had games where he's been involved. See: the Pats game.
 

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
Lol at the people saying Johnson isn't being used properly or is being underused. How many touches/passes a game are ya'll expecting him to get as a 3rd down back? There are better options in the run game & he isn't going to get 10 or more passes thrown to him a game in the pass game.......not with at least 3 other better options than him out there..4 if you count Fells.
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
I'm in total agreement about the OL.

As much as they need to add a 5 tech and an edge, if KJ Hamler is there in the 2nd rd he would be my pick. He's got WFV type speed and quickness and can KR/PR. After seeing the offense without WFV I think getting a guy that has WFV type ability (Hamler) is just as important as adding to the DL/pass rush.
With today's game, I wouldn't expect him to be there for us. But I agree. That kind of vertical speed opens up our offense. You see that with Fuller, when he's healthy.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Lol at the people saying Johnson isn't being used properly or is being underused. How many touches/passes a game are ya'll expecting him to get as a 3rd down back? There are better options in the run game & he isn't going to get 10 or more passes thrown to him a game in the pass game.......not with at least 3 other better options than him out there..4 if you count Fells.
I would like to see Hyde and Johnson rotated on series, and not Johnson as a 3rd down back.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
You are joking right ? I mean the Texans just sunk a fortune in the OLine in 2019 with three, count em, three first rounds picks and a high second round pick.
I'd think for the Draft and/or FA an edge rusher is the top priority in the near term.

Or maybe a Cornerback.
 

ROO

Tweak the offense already!
I miss the kind of RB play that Foster made look easy. Wish the Texans had a franchise back to go along with their franchise WR and franchise QB.
There were a couple times early this season that Hyde looked like Foster used to... running parallel to the line of scrimmage waiting to see where the hole would develop, then exploding through that hole for a nice gain.

It almost seems that O'Brien has told Hyde to "run it up Martin's ass, damnit, do not break to the outside."
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
Lol at the people saying Johnson isn't being used properly or is being underused. How many touches/passes a game are ya'll expecting him to get as a 3rd down back? There are better options in the run game & he isn't going to get 10 or more passes thrown to him a game in the pass game.......not with at least 3 other better options than him out there..4 if you count Fells.
What is wrong with wanting more touches for Duke? He's a playmaker. He gained 11.3 yards every time he touched the ball on Saturday, which was ONLY 6 times.
 

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
What is wrong with wanting more touches for Duke? He's a playmaker. He gained 11.3 yards every time he touched the ball on Saturday, which was ONLY 6 times.
I never said there was anything wrong with it..Only that there's only 1 ball and there are other options as good or better than him in both the pass & run game. I guess my point was that who are you going to take touches away from to give him more touches.
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
I never said there was anything wrong with it..Only that there's only 1 ball and there are other options as good or better than him in both the pass & run game. I guess my point was that who are you going to take touches away from to give him more touches.
Particularly yesterday, I would have taken away those touches from Hyde. When we are behind and need to be more offensively aggressive, I'd prefer Duke in the backfield over Hyde.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
Particularly yesterday, I would have taken away those touches from Hyde. When we are behind and need to be more offensively aggressive, I'd prefer Duke in the backfield over Hyde.
Duke has more finesse than Hyde but Hyde is more of a buffalo.
Imho.
 
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Mr teX

Hall of Fame
Particularly yesterday, I would have taken away those touches from Hyde. When we are behind and need to be more offensively aggressive, I'd prefer Duke in the backfield over Hyde.
Duke had a game on Saturday..probably his best game as a Texan imo................... but the problem with getting him on the field more is he's a liability in pass pro for 2 reasons. 1, he's not physical enough at the point of attack when he has to block...At least 2 of DW4's sacks were on him..the guy he was supposed to block disrupted everything. The other reason is b/c him being on the field signals to defenses that they can take advantage of that aspect of his game by blitzing...........or b/c he will most likely be going out in route...which effectively means DW4 is back there naked. Hyde's the better pass blocker of the 2 & that has alot more value when you consider our o-line issues. He's also the more physical runner of the 2 which has practical implications later in the game when defenses are tired and worn down. So even if Hyde's not gashing teams with his runs, he's still contributing...none of those contributions will show up in the stat sheets though.
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
Duke had a game on Saturday..probably his best game as a Texan imo................... but the problem with getting him on the field more is he's a liability in pass pro for 2 reasons. 1, he's not physical enough at the point of attack when he has to block...At least 2 of DW4's sacks were on him..the guy he was supposed to block disrupted everything. The other reason is b/c him being on the field signals to defenses that they can take advantage of that aspect of his game by blitzing...........or b/c he will most likely be going out in route...which effectively means DW4 is back there naked. Hyde's the better pass blocker of the 2 & that has alot more value when you consider our o-line issues. He's also the more physical runner of the 2 which has practical implications later in the game when defenses are tired and worn down. So even if Hyde's not gashing teams with his runs, he's still contributing...none of those contributions will show up in the stat sheets though.
I understand the advantages of Hyde over Duke. On Sat, though, would have preferred more Duke over Hyde. Hyde was largely ineffective, Bills are tough to run up the gut, and we needed a change/spark on offense.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
Agree. Hyde is fine, but the saying is, RBs are a dime a dozen. And they are. You can find RBs, no need the break the bank there.
Yes. But you have to select a few, too. In the O'Brien era, the Texans have selected 4 RBs in 6 drafts. Using a 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th. Alfred Blue was the most productive of those picks. The only one worth a dime.

As much as O'Brien leans on the running game, you'd think he would put a higher value on RBs.
 

santo

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Yes. But you have to select a few, too. In the O'Brien era, the Texans have selected 4 RBs in 6 drafts. Using a 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th. Alfred Blue was the most productive of those picks. The only one worth a dime.

As much as O'Brien leans on the running game, you'd think he would put a higher value on RBs.
He probably values RBs like RS valued QBs.

Doesn't think it warrants a high draft pick to get one.
 

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
I understand the advantages of Hyde over Duke. On Sat, though, would have preferred more Duke over Hyde. Hyde was largely ineffective, Bills are tough to run up the gut, and we needed a change/spark on offense.
Duke is at his best in limited doses and he shouldn't be seeing more than 12 touches a game so i see what you're saying in regards to the game on Sat. where he could've got a few more touches than he got. Aside from that though, I don't think Hyde played all that bad..they were keying on him a little bit & Buffalo is stout against the run. But i think the split is fine how it is. Carlos gets the lionshare of the carries at RB....Duke gets the lionshare of targets in the pass game.
 

Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
This is cool. I’m really starting to like stats that take a lot more things into consideration.

Everything is not equal. For example, a lot of talk about the KC defense the last 6 games and people countering with look who they’ve played. They gave up 23.9 PPG the 1st 10 games of the season and just 11.5 PPG the last 6. That is an incredible improvement except that who they played does matter.

Their Weighted DVOA, which factors games earlier in the season less, so that it gives a better indication of what you've done more recently, is right about in line with where they're rated for the whole season. So that huge 12 PPG improvement does take into account who they were up against, and it comes out to about the same as when they were giving up 24 PPG. That said, they are MUCH improved over last year.

Point is, I like these things that dig a little deeper to try and give us a better look than just what's on the surface.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
This is cool. I’m really starting to like stats that take a lot more things into consideration.

Everything is not equal. For example, a lot of talk about the KC defense the last 6 games and people countering with look who they’ve played. They gave up 23.9 PPG the 1st 10 games of the season and just 11.5 PPG the last 6. That is an incredible improvement except that who they played does matter.

Their Weighted DVOA, which factors games earlier in the season less, so that it gives a better indication of what you've done more recently, is right about in line with where they're rated for the whole season. So that huge 12 PPG improvement does take into account who they were up against, and it comes out to about the same as when they were giving up 24 PPG. That said, they are MUCH improved over last year.

Point is, I like these things that dig a little deeper to try and give us a better look than just what's on the surface.
bingo. if you look even a little deeper you will notice that KC run defense over the same span you bring up was reduced from 140ish per game to 95 yards allowed on the ground. That is big considering you know that their backend is probably the strength of the defense (even though they did lose a starting safety to injury last game of season). Jones and Clark will need to be accounted for every down.

Stats dont tell you everything. They afford a window into discussions and narratives that usually live and die in subjectivity. Numbers have no favorites.

In this specific visual you take into account how many people here are happy with Hyde and that he's 'good enough' and that position is somehow 'good' ... while the RB position in general is in despair due to the horrible contracts handed out to 'star RBs' last few years only for those teams not even to make the playoffs this year, I still think its important to have a dynamic type guy back there who can run, catch and block. When you get into these specialist roles the defense starts to key in on what could be coming. Tendencies develop. While I wouldnt fork over top dollar, its still a position that could afford to be upgraded OR if it was up to me I'd give Duke Johnson a shot at full time RB next year.
 

281Texan

Waterboy
Every mock I’ve seen has us taking etienne or dobbins. I’m not mad at either pick. I do think we could use an overall upgrade at RB considering the running game is such a huge part of the system. I like Duke as a 3rd down back and I do like Hyde too, but idk how much he’ll be asking this offseason and I don’t think he’s going to be worth what he wants.

However, we do need an edge rusher, a speedy WR, and hopefully not, but possibly a reader replacement. Mercilus isn’t deserving of $14.1 mil a year, and we’re supposedly far apart on readers deal. I’d like to see Judon, and Robby Anderson, for starters
 
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