When general manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans begin to address the Texans’ needs for next season, they should start with a running game that was a huge disappointment.
If the Texans are going to improve on this season’s 10-7 finish and their 1-1 record in the playoffs, Caserio and Ryans know the running game has to get a lot of attention in the offseason. Because the Texans won the AFC South, they’ll play a much more difficult schedule in Ryans’ second season.
It’s a brutal lineup that includes 11 games against teams that finished with winning records. Among the teams the Texans will host are the Ravens, Bills, Lions and Dolphins. The toughest road games are against the Chiefs, Cowboys and Packers. That’s not including a tougher AFC South with the Texans, Colts and Jaguars finishing with winning records.
The running game has been an issue since 2019, the last time the Texans won the division before this season when they finished tied for 22nd with an average of 96.9 yards a game, including 3.7 a carry.
“I think the running game will be significant for us to improve,” Ryans said this week. “As you see as you go through the game, especially in postseason, teams that win games (have) got to be able to run the football and sustain it. The run game is one of those areas we have to improve.
“We’ll see where all of the guys and all the positions on our team are. We’ll look at the roster – me and Nick -- and see where we have to improve. Our job is to improve our roster as best as we can.”
The running game this season was an improvement over 2022 when the Texans were 31st with an 86.8-yard average, including 3.7 a carry. In 2021, they were last (83.6 yards, 3.5 a carry), and they were 31st in 2020 (91.6 and 4.3). The last time they reached triple figures was 2019 when the Texans were ninth in rushing with 125.6 yards a game, including 4.6 a carry.
One reason they won 11 games this season was quarterback C.J. Stroud’s incredible rookie performance and the Texans committing only 14 turnovers, fewest in the NFL. Only two teams had a better turnover differential than their plus-10. In other words, the Texans didn’t beat themselves, but they’ll need to have a consistently productive running game in 2024 to successfully navigate a tougher schedule.
In their first season playing in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s zone running scheme, Dameon Pierce had a tough time adjusting to in seven starts and was reduced to a backup role behind Devin Singletary.
Singletary, 26, will be a free agent in March unless Caserio signs him to a new deal. He had career highs with 216 carries and 898 yards in 10 starts. The Texans were 3-0 when he rushed for at least 100 yards. They were 6-1 when they rushed for at least 100. It stands to reason that one of their goals in the offseason should be to build a running game that can average at least 100 yards.
Perhaps Pierce will figure out the zone scheme in the offseason, or maybe Caserio will trade him for a mid-round draft choice. They shouldn’t give up on him, and here’s an example of why: After the Titans’ season ended, running back Derrick Henry said he regretted not being able to figure out the zone scheme quicker.
Once he did, his career took off. This isn’t to compare Pierce to Henry but to point out it takes some backs more time to understand the concepts that require more discipline than a straight-ahead charge that helped Pierce show so much promise as a rookie in 2022 when he rushed for 939 yards despite missing four games and almost all of another with an ankle injury.
Because the running game plays a significant role in average time of possession, the Texans were 5-1 when they ran the ball at least 30 times. They were 6-1 when they had the ball for at least 31 minutes. And one more key to winning: They were 4-0 when Stroud and the offense generated at least 400 yards.
Now, let’s look at the offensive line that plays a substantial role in the success and failure of a running game. Offensive line coach Chris Stausser came from the Colts and coached his first zone scheme, so he had to learn on the fly, too. Because of injuries, it was like Strausser had to coach his first season with one hand tied behind his back.
Dating back to training camp, two of 2022’s starters – left guard Kenyon Green and center Scott Quessenberry – suffered season ending injuries that started an ugly trend. Eleven different linemen started games this season ranging from 17 by right guard Shaq Mason to one by left tackle Austin Deculus.
During the season, the Texans started three left tackles (Laremy Tunsil, Josh Jones, Austin Deculus), four left guards (Tytus Howard, Juice Scruggs, Kendrick Green, Josh Jones), two centers (Jarrett Patterson, Michael Dieter), one right guard (Mason) and two right tackles (George Fant, Charlie Heck). No wonder the running game suffered with that kind of revolving door for the linemen.
The tight ends and wide receivers played a role in the running game, too. Ryans and Slowik place a humongous emphasis on the importance of the tight ends and receivers blocking for the running game. Those positions will have to be evaluated, too.
The bottom line is that the Texans haven’t averaged 100 yards rushing in their last four seasons. Carlos Hyde with 1,070 yards in 2019 was their last 1,000-yard rusher. They haven’t had a back reach 1,100 yards since Arian Foster rushed for 1,246 in 2014, Bill O’Brien’s first season.
Coaches and players come and go, but one offensive problem has been constant – the running game. Expect Caserio and Ryans to make a great effort to improve it because so many games next season will feel like it’s the postseason.
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John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.