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Texans Running Backs

His average per carry was 4.0 and I prefer higher but that is still very good for the NFL. Keep in mind we don't need chunks of yardage on the ground if we're getting over 8 yards a catch average.

And that was behind a bad offensive line. But hey I digress, he says he likes Mixon. Hmmm I can’t tell one bit. Lol
 
In theory I'd be happy too but yards without considering yards per carry is where I falter. I want a guy who can get us north of 4.5 yards per carry or a platoon of those guys.
I just spreadsheeted for a bit. There were 5 teams that average over 4.5 YPC as a team last year. Three of those teams also happen to be top 10 in passing yards. Miami. San Francisco. Detroit.

The Texans were a top 10 passing team as well, but I think that was because the run game was so bad. I don't see the Texans offense going into this season at the same level that I see these other offenses.

I love the expectations but concede that they are very lofty for Year 2 in the Stroud Era.
 
Mixon has averaged 16 carries per game... not that heavy


Those guys are pretty rare... D. Henry didn't do it... Taylor, Barkely, Jacobs didn't do it
Yeah it's gonna come down to scheme and blocking.
There were some good examples in that game last night.
If a Back can get even one good block, he can get up enough speed to run around those LBs.
 
I just spreadsheeted for a bit. There were 5 teams that average over 4.5 YPC as a team last year. Three of those teams also happen to be top 10 in passing yards. Miami. San Francisco. Detroit.

The Texans were a top 10 passing team as well, but I think that was because the run game was so bad. I don't see the Texans offense going into this season at the same level that I see these other offenses.

I love the expectations but concede that they are very lofty for Year 2 in the Stroud Era.
When it comes to CJ Stroud, I am not conceding anything LOL except that he is great.
 
They've done (and thought) that for the last few years though. Lots of moves and shuffling but they have yet to really find that unit that properly gels. Having a healthy Burrow could help but he's also one of those QBs that as much as I love him he holds the ball for so long that I feel like no matter how good his o-line actually is everyone will think they're a little worse than they are. At least with pass protection.

I'd hope so. I did like what I saw in pre-season. I think as a pass protection unit they can be a force, but I'm still skeptical when it comes to the run game.

I enjoy the optimism from you but for whatever reason I'm a pessimist with the run game and generally optimistic about everything else.

I'm in total agreement with the usage. I think Mixon (at least on paper) fills a lot of holes from a situational perspective and for that I'm happy. I just heavily disagree about RBs falling off. I think it's incredibly rare for a RB to last until his 30s and still be a bell cow, usually by then they're at limited usage or are totally out of the league. Mixon has had a career with a lot of carries - I'm never optimistic about that. I think the only guy I've ever seen not be affected by a huge workload is Derrick Henry.

In theory I'd be happy too but yards without considering yards per carry is where I falter. I want a guy who can get us north of 4.5 yards per carry or a platoon of those guys.
Burrow almost won a SB with a terrible OL.

He certainly wasn't holding the ball to long then.

I see Mixon on the Josh Jacobs level

Mixon is going to be fine for a couple of years. This isn't some journeyman. Dude has talent and I expect a lot of improvement on the OL this year. I get that you dont expect any of this to happen.
 
The Texans were a top 10 passing team as well, but I think that was because the run game was so bad. I don't see the Texans offense going into this season at the same level that I see these other offenses.
I think there's enough headroom in the Texans offense to expect them to be in the top 5. The additions of Diggs and Mixon alone could make that happen. I don't expect the Texans to average 4.5 yds/carry, but 4.1 would put them around league average. With 3 WRs that can beat coverage quickly, the Texans offense should see safeties back and few defenders in the box.

The Texans were 2nd in passing yards/completion last year, but 23rd in completion percentage. Raising the completion 3% would give the Texans a top 5 passing offense.

Finally, the Texans were 14th in offensive plays and 13th in yards per play last year. That's not bad, but a little more uptempo and a little more efficiency would likely put the Texans in the top 5 of those categories. And in the top 5 in overall offense,
 
Finally, the Texans were 14th in offensive plays and 13th in yards per play last year. That's not bad, but a little more uptempo and a little more efficiency would likely put the Texans in the top 5 of those categories. And in the top 5 in overall offense,
I think having a bonafide RB 1 in Mixon and a 100+ catch alpha WR in Diggs added to the skill position unit will improve the efficiency greatly.

Not to mention the OL finally fielding the starting 5 we were anticipating last season.

The team simply ran out of weapons down the stretch when Tank went down. Nico, Schultz and Singletary were there. But Brown was banged up and playing in Baltimore with adverse weather conditions you just need more horses that time of year.
 
Cam Akers is inactive today.

Y'all still wanna argue about the depth chart and how Pierce wasn't gifted the #2 spot or nah?
 
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That still doesn’t mean he’ll be the number 2 back. Dare or Brooks might get the call to give Mixon a breather.
Dare on 3rd and longs maybe because he's a trusted blocker.

If you believe either is coming in to get legitimate carries I have a bridge to sell you.
 
Glad they let him go get it when that was the best way to win.

Hopefully next week they can handle the Bears and dial back his touches a bit to keep him fresh for the long season ahead.
long season. Wish they had confidence in Pierce to take those carries when we got up two scores in the 4th.
 
Sweech shows yourself. Mixon said eat this crow.

30/159 and a touchdown .

Like said he’s a workhorse and our bell cow. But but he’s old hahaha too funny.
Hello Sweech, I saved a plate for you!

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I absolutely was wrong.

Now I will say 30 carries is unsustainable. I believe the league has shown every single running back bar Derrick Henry breaks down with that heavy of a workload.

That said Pierce actually was fine and I think we can reliably spell Mixon enough that it doesn't have to be 30 carries and we can have something reliable.
 
Someone said last season we don't need a freaking run game.
Damn glad we had one today.
I was explaining to my gf (who doesn't understand a thing about football) what a difference it makes to end the game in 2 and 4 minute situations with a run game that works like that. Was not expecting it to go like that today and hopefully it's something that can continue. That would be such a major edge this season.
 
I think you're vastly underrating Mixon. He's a really good all around RB. He ran the ball well considering how bad the Cincy old was.


He fits the Texans like a glove. He fills the main weakness the team had last year in short yardage and in the passing game. He's very good at making the first guy miss even in tight spaces. The good thing is I expect the ol to be much improved and there to be cut back lanes available. Mixon is very good at finding these lanes and it's the reason that he is good in short yardage, in addition to breaking 4-5 long runs a year.


In short, we haven't seen the best of Mixon yet and expect a big year from him. Also RB's typically don't fall off of cliff until after age 30. So the 3 year deal Caserio signed him too lines up perfectly.


I expect Mixon to be as big of an add to this offense as Diggs is. Maybe even more since he shores up a weakness more than Diggs does. Bottom line is if the old can stay healthy and Stroud doesn't regress this offense should be very much improved and explosive.
I was thinking about this post all game.

My man, if Mixon can repeat that performance for even half of the games left you were very right and I was very wrong.
 
I was thinking about this post all game.

My man, if Mixon can repeat that performance for even half of the games left you were very right and I was very wrong.
Right, and you were also right about sustainability - Mixon is human and can't have 30+ carries a game and still be fresh and damaging week in and week out.
Gotta figure out a way to get him some good help. A fresh Pierce or Akers has to be the answer.
 
He will not be touching the rock that amount of times in every game gentlemen. Let’s be realistic here. This was that type of game in which we needed to lean on him and the running game. There will be games in which Stroud and the passing attack will be clicking on all cylinders.
Totally agree.
Give 'em a few games to gel and we will see the Stroud we know.
 
Right, and you were also right about sustainability - Mixon is human and can't have 30+ carries a game and still be fresh and damaging week in and week out.
Gotta figure out a way to get him some good help. A fresh Pierce or Akers has to be the answer.
Totally agree

But you really need to use your best players the most against divisional opponents.
 
Totally agree.
Give 'em a few games to gel and we will see the Stroud we know.
With the running game clicking we didn't capitalize on it with the play action pass which I think would have been effective. I hope to see play action passes utilized more in the future when we are running the ball well. I also think all our RB's are good enough to have plenty of fresh leggs when needed. I also don't see the running game today as a fluke based on the way it carried over from the preseason. A lot has been made of the WR's on our team but I think the RB's and the running game has been underestimated. I hope going forward we can have a dangerous balanced attack. This season could be special. Outside of a few miscues we had control of today's game. The future looks bright. I sure hope it is!
 
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It really is a pick your poison thing. If you shutdown Mixon that will open things up for Stroud and the receivers.
That thought crossed my mind too but the Colts pass rush wasn't allowing enough time most of the snaps for the passing game to fully develop.
Oddly enough, I thought the run pro of our Oline was better than our pass pro.
As this unit gets more time together I reckon the pass pro will get back to last year's.
I hope Slowik doesn't go back into a shell and rely too much on the running game.
 
I was explaining to my gf (who doesn't understand a thing about football) what a difference it makes to end the game in 2 and 4 minute situations with a run game that works like that. Was not expecting it to go like that today and hopefully it's something that can continue. That would be such a major edge this season.
That's another reason we need a fresh Mixon - to have that power available to win the game in those situations. Let him loose to close out games and punish tiring defenses.
Akers or Pierce or somebody needs to be a reliable 4 plus yards per carry guy to carry part of the load.
 
One thing that impressed me….the yards piled up on the ground against a Colts defensive front that is one of the best in the NFL.

The Texans OL showcased Scruggs and Green….a couple of interior guys from schools (Penn State & A&M) that ran the ball down the throats of opposing defenses. Getting Green back healthy and performing was nice to see and if I had looked….I might’ve seen Caserio sighing in relief.

What I was most surprised with, the authority that Mixon was running with to either side of the line.

It’s also reassuring to know that the Texans have Fisher, Patterson, and Broeker in the wings. Man this is nice….the Texans finally have an above average depth chart!!!!!
 
One thing that impressed me….the yards piled up on the ground against a Colts defensive front that is one of the best in the NFL.

The Texans OL showcased Scruggs and Green….a couple of interior guys from schools (Penn State & A&M) that ran the ball down the throats of opposing defenses. Getting Green back healthy and performing was nice to see and if I had looked….I might’ve seen Caserio sighing in relief.

What I was most surprised with, the authority that Mixon was running with to either side of the line.

It’s also reassuring to know that the Texans have Fisher, Patterson, and Broeker in the wings. Man this is nice….the Texans finally have an above average depth chart!!!!!

Like I was telling a few people on here Mixon is one of those special type backs. He’s going to make the offensive line look better because of his vision and his football IQ.

 
Wow I bet he was pissed on how they did him this past Sunday. No way DP earned any type of burn over Akers.

Are u serious? It’s pretty clear the coaching staff didn’t see Akers as the 2nd best back behind Mixon at any point like the fans did. This trade all but confirms what I thought all along about him. His style of running isn’t a fit for the scheme. Akers doesn’t run hard enough. And to back that up, he does have a rep as a fumbler. Glad they got something for him and got him outta here.
 
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