How a simple scheme adjustment could unleash big things for the Texans offense
SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
12 June 2020
SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
The Houston Texans have been known to pattern their offense after the Patriots, and this makes sense with Bill O'Brien being New England's former offensive coordinator. The Pats like to create mismatches against linebackers in coverage by throwing to their RBs out of the backfield or splitting them out wide. This is one element of the New England offense that Bill O'Brien doesn't use that often. In 2019, Texans' Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde combined for only 54 catches, which is a very number compared to other NFL offenses. Patriots RB James White caught 72 balls last season, and caught 87 the year before for comparison.
Many Texans fans thought once the team traded for Duke Johnson, he would be used in this fashion frequently, but that hasn't been the case so far. Now that the Texans added another pass-catching RB in David Johnson, will we see the running backs get more involved in the passing game? Make sure to watch the video as we break it all down.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.