Former Scout Team Running Back Finding a Home in Houston

By Travis Pulver

When the 2009 football season began the Houston Texans had all the promise that goes with the beginning of a new season and then some. They had one of the most explosive passing duos in quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson. Tight end Owen Daniels was proving to be the possession receiver they needed. Rookie Steve Slaton looked to be the running attack the team needed after amassing over 1200 yards on the ground his rookie season.

All the pieces were in place yet somehow the team has found itself on the outside looking in. The fact that they still have a chance though is due in part to the reemergence of their running game behind the former practice squad player, Arian Foster.

Steve Slaton had fallen into the dreaded sophomore slump prior to getting put on the IR earlier this season. In the ten games he did play in Slaton only averaged 3.3 yards a carry for 437 yards (he did have another 417 off of 44 receptions). Ryan Moats had a great game in week 8 at Buffalo racking up 126 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was otherwise unimpressive.  While Chris Brown could pass protect well his running was like Moats, unimpressive. That left only an undrafted free agent from Tennessee, Arian Foster, to be given a shot.

The rookie did not have the most impressive body of work in college. His junior year in 2007 was the only season where he was the featured back in the Volunteer offense; he did gain close to 1200 yards on the ground (1193) on 245 carries for a respectable 4.9 yard average to go along with another 340 yards through the air and 14 touchdowns. However, in his senior season e was reduced to sharing time in the backfield with two other players.

Foster did not get a chance to step into the backfield until week 14 against Seattle where he shared the carries primarily with Moats. A two carry performance in week 15 did not bode well for Foster, but the team had committed to giving the rookie a fair chance.

Week 16 was that chance and Foster definitely did something with it. In a game where possession would be key (the Texans had the ball for just over 5 minutes more than the Dolphins) an effective running attack would be imperative. Foster brought the attack that the Texans needed in his first game as the featured back gaining 97 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. For the season the Texans have averaged only 88.7 yards on the ground. Against a tough Patriot defense he proved to be more than a flash in the pan gaining 119 yards on the ground and crossing the goal line twice.

Whether or not Slaton is able to return to form next season may not matter. The Texans look like they will do just fine with the services of Arian Foster in the backfield.

Tags: Arian Foster, Houstan Texans