Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
Back with another installment, focusing on the position previews for the Houston Texans roster. Up next, it is time to look at Houston's running back situation.
It took a preseason game in Dallas to change the trajectory of the Houston Texans' backfield. Lamar Miller — a Pro Bowl half-back a year prior — tore his ACL two minutes into a preseason game against the Cowboys ending his 2019 season.
With Miller placed on injured reserved, the Texans traded for Carlos Hyde a week before the start of the season. He had a breakout year in 2019, recording over 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career (1,070). While sharing the backfield with Duke Johnson, Hyde helped the Texans generate one of the most explosive dual-threat running back systems in the league.
Houston will now be without either of their starting running backs as they prepare for training camp in July. The departure of both Miller and Hyde has left a gaping hole in the backfield, and it is uncertain which of the Texans' five running backs can fill the empty void.
David Johnson: Starter
In 2016, many considered David Johnson to be the best running back in the league. He fell 121 yards shy from joining the elusive 1,000-1,000 club, as the All-Pro back recorded 1,239 yards on the ground on 293 attempts (4.2 AVG), to go along with 879 yards receiving on 80 catches with 20 total touchdowns. Four years later, an injury-riddled Johnson was the Texans' grand-prize in a deal that sent DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite the lopsided trade, a healthy Johnson could be an extraordinary addition to the Texans in hindsight. He still possesses the talent to be a top-tear running back, which gives him the advantage to take the reins as Houston's No. 1 option following Hyde's departure. Although he is still a solid power-back, Johnson is still a proficient pass catcher. He has recorded a total of 208 receptions for 2,219 yards throughout his career — giving Deshaun Watson another reliable target in 2020.
However, the 28-year-old running back has been in decline since his breakout campaign in 2016. Last season, he rushed for 345 yards (3.7 AVG) in 13 games, which led to the Cardinals' decision to move forward with Kenyan Drake as their primary back.
It is unsure what to expect from Johnson in 2020. He could be the Texans' primary back running taking the majority of the workload, or a potential waste of a roster spot costing Houston $11.1 million. Regardless of what's in store, the chances of Johnson returning to his All-Pro form are slim to none.
Duke Johnson: Backup
Much of Duke Johnson's responsibilities in 2020 will depend on the performance of David Johnson. If the former All-Pro running back produces an exceptional season, expect Duke to continue his role as a third-down back who can provide Watson an additional target coming out of the backfield. Nonetheless, should David proceed on a declining slope, Duke would seize the opportunity to be featured as a franchise's primary back.
Duke was a vital piece to the Texans' success in 2019. As an all-round half-back, he ended the year with 410 rush yards (4.9 AVG) and 410 receiving yards (9.3 AVG) with five total touchdowns. He nearly split touches evenly with his backfield-mate Carlos Hyde — resulting in a career-year for Duke.
After a full season playing under Bill O'Brien, the 26-year-old running back should presumably take on more of an offensive load in 2020. And with similar attributes as David, replicating a successful duel-back system will be the best-case scenario for both Duke and the Texans as a whole.
Buddy Howell: Third String
Buddy Howell is entering the 2020 season in a unique situation. Expect to see the 24-year-old running back continue his work on special teams. But the uncertainty surrounding the Texans' backfield may provide an opportunity for Howell to move up the depth chart.
He appeared in 39 snaps since 2018 — with 25 coming during the Texans' season finale against the Titans last season. For his career, he has only recorded 10 yards on five carries. But sharing the same position highlighted by Carlos Hyde and Lamar Miller hindered Howell's chances to showcase his potential coming out of the backfield.
If either of the Johnsons succumb to injury or falls short of expectations, Howell can step in taking advantage of the opportunity at hand. In a small sample size, Howell already proved his worth as a back up running back. While helping the Texans take 30-23 preseason victory over the Lions, Howell notched 84 rushing yards (5.6 AVG) on 15 attempts, to go along with one touchdown in the win. Assuming he stays healthy, Howell will be Houston's insurance policy for 2020.
Karan Higdon: Depth
Karan Higdon Jr. signed with the Texans following the 2019 NFL Draft. He came up short from making Houston's final 53-man roster, but was a member of the team's practice squad last season. In four seasons at the University of Michigan, Higdon rushed for 2,616 yards and posted 27 touchdowns. During his senior season, he tallied a career-best 1,178 rushing yards — third-most in the Big 10 for 2018.
With two fewer preseason games, securing a place on the Texans' roster is still a tall order stacked against Higdon. In four preseason games in 2019, the Michigan prodigy recorded 103 rushing yards on 36 carries and no touchdowns.
Scottie Phillips: Depth
Scottie Phillips is one of nine undrafted rookies who signed with the Texans in April. The 5-foot-8 running back may have the most upside out of his five contemporaries — as many considered Phillips' signing one of the most prominent steals following the draft.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Through 20 games, the Houston Astros have managed just six wins and are in last place in the AL West.
Their pitching staff trails only Colorado with a 5.24 ERA and big-money new closer Josh Hader has given up the same number of earned runs in 10 games as he did in 61 last year.
Despite this, these veteran Astros, who have reached the AL Championship Series seven consecutive times, have no doubt they’ll turn things around.
“If there’s a team that can do it, it’s this team,” shortstop Jeremy Peña said.
First-year manager Joe Espada, who was hired in January to replace the retired Dusty Baker, discussed his team’s early struggles.
“It’s not ideal,” he said. “It’s not what we expected, to come out of the shoot playing this type of baseball. But you know what, this is where we’re at and we’ve got to pick it up and play better. That’s just the bottom line.”
Many of Houston’s problems have stemmed from a poor performance by a rotation that has been decimated by injuries. Ace Justin Verlander and fellow starter José Urquidy haven’t pitched this season because of injuries and lefty Framber Valdez made just two starts before landing on the injured list with a sore elbow.
Ronel Blanco, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut April 1, has pitched well and is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts this season. Cristian Javier is also off to a good start, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts, but the team has won just two games not started by those two pitchers.
However, Espada wouldn’t blame the rotation for Houston’s current position.
“It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster how we've played overall,” he said. “One day we get good starting pitching, some days we don’t. The middle relief has been better and sometimes it hasn’t been. So, we’ve just got to put it all together and then play more as a team. And once we start doing that, we’ll be in good shape.”
The good news for the Astros is that Verlander will make his season debut Friday night when they open a series at Washington and Valdez should return soon after him.
“Framber and Justin have been a great part of our success in the last few years,” second baseman Jose Altuve said. “So, it’s always good to have those two guys back helping the team. We trust them and I think it’s going to be good.”
Hader signed a five-year, $95 million contract this offseason to give the Astros a shutdown 7-8-9 combination at the back end of their bullpen with Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly. But the five-time All-Star is off to a bumpy start.
He allowed four runs in the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss to the Braves on Monday night and has yielded eight earned runs this season after giving up the same number in 56 1/3 innings for San Diego last year.
He was much better Wednesday when he struck out the side in the ninth before the Astros fell to Atlanta in 10 innings for their third straight loss.
Houston’s offense, led by Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, ranks third in the majors with a .268 batting average and is tied for third with 24 homers this season. But the Astros have struggled with runners in scoring position and often failed to get a big hit in close games.
While many of Houston’s hitters have thrived this season, one notable exception is first baseman José Abreu. The 37-year-old, who is in the second year of a three-year, $58.5 million contract, is hitting 0.78 with just one extra-base hit in 16 games, raising questions about why he remains in the lineup every day.
To make matters worse, his error on a routine ground ball in the eighth inning Wednesday helped the Braves tie the game before they won in extra innings.
Espada brushed off criticism of Abreu and said he knows the 2020 AL MVP can break out of his early slump.
“Because (of) history,” Espada said. “The back of his baseball card. He can do it.”
Though things haven’t gone well for the Astros so far, everyone insists there’s no panic in this team which won its second World Series in 2022.
Altuve added that he doesn’t have to say anything to his teammates during this tough time.
“I think they’ve played enough baseball to know how to control themselves and how to come back to the plan we have, which is winning games,” he said.
The clubhouse was quiet and somber Wednesday after the Astros suffered their third series sweep of the season and second at home. While not panicking about the slow start, this team, which has won at least 90 games in each of the last three seasons, is certainly not happy with its record.
“We need to do everything better,” third baseman Alex Bregman said. “I feel like we’re in a lot of games, but we just haven’t found a way to win them. And good teams find a way to win games. So we need to find a way to win games.”