Rookie opened with 49 yards on first five carries vs. Saints.
Houston Texans wide receiver Chris Conley warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Houston.How much can 20 yards reveal? How many answers are there truly in Dameon Pierce’s first carry as a Texan? At the very least there is promise in a quick cut, a broken tackle, a quick burst of dangerous speed that was all too lacking in Houston’s rushing offense last season.
Pierce was known to be powerful. The Texans picked the 5-10, 218-pound rookie in the fourth round out of Florida partly because of his productivity in the Gators’ running back-by-committee approach, a situation in which he still scored 13 rushing touchdowns in his final season in Gainesville. But Pierce’s potential manifested against an NFL opponent in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Saints, and his five carries, 49 yards and threatening 9.8 yards per carry are enough to challenge veteran starter Marlon Mack, who managed just six yards on three carries on two drives that went three-and-out. The Texans desperately need a boost to their run game. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton constructed a West Coast playbook that requires an efficient rushing attack. Houston cannot afford to have another historically unproductive season like they did in 2021, when the Texans’ 3.3 yards per carry were the second-fewest in franchise history. Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce runs against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Houston. Pierce revealed how Hamilton’s scheme can be productive. The offense also showed how it might be structured. Coach Lovie Smith has remarked in the offseason how the Texans will carry a fullback on their roster, and, on Pierce’s first drive, Houston almost exclusively used 21 personnel looks while deploying veteran fullback Andy Janovich. Janovich sometimes split wide. Sometimes he motioned back inward. On Pierce’s 20-yard carry, Janovich led the backfield in a traditional off-set I-formation, in which he charged right and sealed off the edge, which allowed Pierce to cut back left toward the open field. Pierce juked out Saints defensive tackle Shy Tuttle toward the inside, planted a foot, then broke up the field to move the chains for the Texans for the first time of the game.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Distinguished Florida doctor missing at sea, boat found off Sanibel coastA prominent Florida doctor went missing while boating earlier this week — and his unmanned vessel was found Thursday, officials said. Dr. Chaundre Cross, 49, a radiation oncologist, was last …
Read more »
‘He’s a dog.’ How Texans rookie Jalen Pitre is already making an impressionJalen Pitre, the Texans' rookie safety from Baylor, has put himself in line to be a...
Read more »
Isaiah Likely Poised To Make Rookie Impact For RavensIsaiah Likely is poised to make a rookie impact for the Ravens this season. JustinM_NFL breaks down his pre-season debut and how his skill set can fit into Baltimore's offense. FrontOffice33 | RavensFlock
Read more »
We Drive Jonathan Ward’s Ridiculously Cool, All-Electric ’49 MercuryThis classic two-door cruiser could represent the future of customizing in the electric era.
Read more »
With one play, Browns rookie Martin Emerson Jr. shows why his ceiling is still so highThe Browns opened the preseason against the Jaguars on Friday night, and Emerson had the highlight play with a pick-six in the first half.
Read more »
We Drive Jonathan Ward’s Ridiculously Cool, All-Electric ’49 MercuryThis classic two-door cruiser could represent the future of customizing in the electric era.
Read more »