Toro Times
Fansided

Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson, mid-season grades, report card

By Stephen Forsha

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 4: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans scrambles to avoid a tackle by inside linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 4: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans scrambles to avoid a tackle by inside linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Telvin Smith #50 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to tackle Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans during the game at TIAA Bank Field on October 21, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Telvin Smith #50 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to tackle Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans during the game at TIAA Bank Field on October 21, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

The running backs for the Houston Texans this season have had some highs and some lows, but it would be nice to see more production out of both Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue this season, as it would make life a little easier on quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Any offense is smart to have a solid rushing game on their side, and parts of the season have seen Miller break away from the opponent in front of him with two games of 100 yards or more rushing, but the problem with Miller is you just don’t know which player you will get on a given week.

A lot of it might be due to game plan or the in-game situation, with a talented player like Miller averaging 65.6 yards per game rushing, as he’s totaled 525 yards on 125 carries with two touchdowns. Part of the reason the touchdowns are low for Miller is the Texans aren’t the greatest team in the Red Zone, but some of that needs to be placed on Miller, too.

The Texans are lucky to have a player like Miller — who has just one fumble thus far this season — as their starting running back, but it would be nice if he could gain more yards on the ground on a consistent basis. This past Sunday, after coming off consecutive 100-yard games, Miller finished with 21 yards on 12 carries.

Blue is averaging 3.2 yards per carry this season, with 94 carries for 297 yards and one touchdown.

Other running backs on the roster include Tyler Ervin, D’Onta Foreman and Buddy Howell, as Foreman hasn’t yet played this season, while Ervin has two receptions and Howell has not had any carries either.

Grade: C+

Home/Houston Texans News