SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
How a simple scheme adjustment could unleash big things for the Texans offense
Jun 12, 2020, 8:00 am
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.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.