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3 factors to watch against the Jacksonville Jaguars

By Jair Lopez

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Vyncint Smith #17 of the Houston Texans celebrates his touchdown catch with Deshaun Watson #4 and Jordan Thomas #83 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Texans 32-30. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Vyncint Smith #17 of the Houston Texans celebrates his touchdown catch with Deshaun Watson #4 and Jordan Thomas #83 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Texans 32-30. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans rushes for yardage during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 21, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans rushes for yardage during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 21, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Lamar Miller and the running game

The Houston Texans have struggled to establish the running game the last couple of games, the offense has relied mostly on Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue to set the tone on the ground. The issue has been that once Miller was ruled out last week against the Philadelphia Eagles due to an ankle injury and the Texans run game was non-existent.

D’Onta Foreman, who is coming off a serious Achilles injury, and Blue were unable to get the Texans rolling in the rushing department. Blue had four carries for 14 rushing yards for an average of 3.5 yards per carry meanwhile Foreman had seven carries for -1 yard. A slow start from Foreman was to be expected after the amount of time he spent out of the football field recovering from such a serious injury, but it’s a red flag that the Texans were unable to get anything going without Miller.

For as obvious as it may seem, the only way for the Texans to have success against the Jaguars and go far in the playoffs, they will have to find ways to rush the football outside of Miller. The Texans attempted to stay within their playbook with Blue and Foreman, but Foreman still has ways to go as he continues to adjust to the level of the NFL. Deshaun Watson led the run game with eight carries for 49 rushing yards and two touchdown runs. Texans could use more Watson in the run game to create running lanes for the running backs.

Miller is reported to be ready to play against the Jaguars. Head coach Bill O’Brien has yet to carry Miller, Blue, and Foreman on the active roster in 2018, but it will be interesting to monitor if he decides to utilize Foreman against the Jaguars.

The number of carries he has in this last game could indicate how much of an opportunity he’ll really have in the postseason. Once they get to the playoffs, it’ll come less from experimenting and more of executing to what has worked throughout the regular season.

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