The Houston Texans will look for success rushing the football in 2021.
It is the beginning of September which can only mean one thing, the start of the 2021 NFL season for the Houston Texans is almost here. With the start of the regular season nearing came a plethora of roster moves, most notably the final training camp roster cut down to the 53-man roster, and signing players to the practice squad.
The Houston Texans were not shy in making their decisions when it came down to the final end of the training camp roster. What seemed to be some surprising decisions will ultimately be the determining factor of how this “rebuild” works out for general manager Nick Caserio and company. One thing shown in bunches with the 2021 Houston Texans is the fact they will run the football, and run it a lot.
It is unusual for an NFL team to hold as many running backs as wide receivers on their 53-man roster, but the Texans have done that. In the case of the Houston Texans it is odd that the position group without the most playmaking depth doesn’t hold the most players on the depth chart.
The Houston Texans are clearly looking to run the ball this season. All training camp long Texans head coach David Culley has preached competitiveness at every position. This season there will be no position group for the Texans more competitive than the running backs.
Currently, the Texans depth chart holds running backs Mark Ingram II, Phillip Lindsay, David Johnson, Rex Burkhead, and Scottie Phillips. It looks as if Ingram and Lindsay will start off as a one-two punch for offensive coordinator Tim Kelly’s offense with Johnson being an additional piece. Burkhead and Phillips will most likely see the occasional snaps when the other backs need rest.
With a position group that holds five pro bowls, one first-team All-Pro selection, and an average NFL tenure of six years, the expectations for these running backs are quite high for the 2021-22 season.
Houston Texans: It will be a need to have success at running the football in ’21
Due to the lack of wide receiver depth the Houston Texans have kept since the end of training camp, and the lack of production that Tyrod Taylor has shown as quarterback, it is obvious the Houston Texans offense will look to ground-and-pound at any given moment.
No one can predict the future, but having that many running backs show that the main objective for the Texans on the offensive side are to maintain possession, run down the clock, limit the quarterback mistakes, and keep the opposing offense off the field.
If the Houston Texans are able to accomplish their goals, they may very well be able to stay close in games, be competitive, and pull out some unforeseen wins against their opponents, starting i Week 1 against AFC South rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium in Houston.