Following the acquisition of running back Duke Johnson earlier this month from Cleveland, the Texans thought they had the backfield set and were looking like they were entering the 2019 campaign with one of the best two-headed monsters in the AFC.
Now, less than two weeks removed from Lamar Miller having his season ended on the second play of a meaningless preseason game against the Cowboys, tearing his left ACL, the Texans are again in search of a back up running back.
Duke Johnson is more than capable of carrying the load, but can the Texans afford to use him like they did Lamar Miller over the last few years?
Since Miller became a Texan in 2016, he's averaged 238 carries per season while Duke Johnson, who is 3 years younger than Miller and came in the league in 2015, has only had one season of more than 100 carries (104, his rookie season in Cleveland).
Johnson is highly regarded as a pass catcher out of the backfield. That's what intrigued the Texans so much and why they used a 2020 third-round draft pick to pry him away from Cleveland earlier in August. In fact, Johnson, entering the 2019 season, ranks fifth among all active running backs in career receiving grade, according to ProFootballFocus.com.
As the regular season draws closer, the Texans will now have to rely on Johnson to literally carry more of the load as a runner, as well as find a way as to not run him in to the ground while still reaping the benefits he brings as an elite pass catcher out of the backfield.
The Texans have to decided between The speed of veteran running back Taiwan Jones (6'0, 195), rookie Damarea Crockett's (5'11, 225) size and power, Josh Ferguson's (5'10, 205) quick and shifty style or Karan Higdon's (5'10, 202) violent running style.
While the second year running back out of Florida Atlantic, Buddy Howell (6'1, 218) flashed against the Lions earlier this preseason, making the best of his 15 carries, running for 84-yards and a touchdown, the special teamer from last years Texans squad, forces a difficult decision on the coaching staff.
O'Brien didn't address the running back competition after the game, but he did say Tuesday he liked the situation as it currently stands in the backfield.
"I think as you look at our running back situation right now, we have a good situation. I think adding Duke Johnson was a good move. He's been good in the meeting room, in practice, professional attitude. Taiwan Jones, that addition in the offseason was a good one. Buddy Howell has been a really steady guy for us on special teams. We've got (Karon) Higdon and (Damarea) Crockett battling it out, we've got (Cullen) Gillaspia. So, we'll see what happens. Anything can happen," O'Brien said.
Jones and Howell both have a bit of an inside track if you take into account the value both have on special teams. Jones also brings 9 years of NFL experience to the table but his value is overwhelmingly as a special teams player, as is the case with Howell, having spent last season with the Texans, making 15 appearances and being a special teams contributor himself, is 8 years younger and a bit of a bigger body, didn't play in Thursday's game (Is that an indication he's already made the team?). Finally, there is Ferguson who received high compliments from Bill O'Brien during the offseason for his work ethic, who is looking to stay in the AFC South after two season with the Colt's.
Higdon got the start in the Texans fourth and final preseaosn game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, was apart of a well-balanced attack on the Texans first offensive series rushing for 20-yards on 4 carries with the drive ending with a Joe Webb 5-yard TD strike to tight end Jerrell Adams.
The Texans struggled to get anything going on the ground all night aside from that first offensive series. The Texans finished with 97 yards on the ground on 21 carries, much of which was gained in garbage time of the Texans 22-10 loss.
There is also the possibility of the Texans finding their backup running back on the waiver wire once teams have made their cuts to get down to a 53-man active/inactive roster by the August 31st, 3p.m. CT deadline.
The sentiment in the lockerroom following Thursday's game was that training camp and the preseason have come and gone, it's over. All of the chips are on the table and they want a crack at palying one of the greatest games on earth for a team. Come Saturday evening, they'll know if it's with the Texans or not.