The Texans offensive line may not be that bad.
As much as people want to rip the Houston Texans’ offensive line for the way they played last year, things weren’t as bad as people think,
Pro Football Focus actually listed the 2016 Texans’ offensive line as one of the best from last season when it comes to run concepts.
The Texans really flourished when it came to inside zone run concepts as they averaged 3.98 yards per carry and 2.18 yards before contact.
Here’s what Zoltan Buday of PFF wrote about the Texans:
"Although the Texans ranked fifth in the league with 2.02 yards before contact on gap scheme runs, their running backs were mostly unable to take advantage of what the offensive line created for them. In fact, Houston ball carriers averaged just 1.95 yards after contact on gap scheme runs, which ranked 29th in the league. Consequently, the Texans ranked just 16th in the league with 3.97 yards per attempt on these plays."
Of course the addition of running back Lamar Miller gave the Texans a nice boost on the ground last year.
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Now with rookie running back D’Onta Foreman in the fold, I would expect Houston’s running game to only get better.
Let’s face it, Alfred Blue was an average back at best. Foreman will be an upgrade and will help the Texans give Miller more breaks which will help him stay fresh.
With either Tom Savage or rookie Deshaun Watson at quarterback, the Texans’ running back game will make or break them in 2017.