In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at the Houston Texans’ potential issues at running back.
Will it be Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Steve Slaton or Chris Taylor? In other words, which running back will start for the Houston Texas this year?
Just one year ago, Green signed a four-year, $23 million contract to join the Texans from Green Bay. But in just six games last season, Green rushed for only 260 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries because he was limited by injuries. So far this preseason, he’s battled with a groin injury and might not even make Houston’s roster.
The thought is that Green is battling Chris Brown for a roster spot. Brown, a 27-year old who has shown flashes of potential throughout his career but can’t seem to catch on with one team, has been limited this preseason due to a lingering back injury.
The rookie Slaton seems to have the most promise out of any of Houston’s current backs. The former West Virginia product fell to the third round of the 2008 draft because of his small size (5’9”, 201 pounds), but Slaton is incredibly quick and gives the team a homerun threat out of its backfield.
Taylor has the size (5’11”, 220 pounds) Houston covets, but is inexperienced. In the Texans’ third preseason game, Taylor started and rushed 11 times for 47 yards. Last season, the team tried him at fullback but it appears that he has successfully made the transition to half back.
If the season were to start today, it Taylor would probably be the Texans’ starter, with Slaton as the change-of-pace back coming off the bench. It makes no sense for Houston to keep both Green and Brown, so the roster spot might come down to which player is healthier.
Either way, does a Taylor/Slaton tandem give the Texans the best chance to win? Taylor certainly has good size and will be utilized in short yardage situations, but he doesn’t have a ton of speed and has never carried a full rushing load before. Slaton, on the other hand, has plenty of speed, but the concern is whether or not he can take a beating running between the tackles. It appears that the Texans have what they want in a running back, just not in one running back.
– According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Antonio Cromartie all missed practice Wednesday. All three are expected to play Sunday.