Houston Texans

Houston Texans Morning Huddle--Ground Game Surging

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Here are your daily Houston Texans stories for Wednesday:

Texans ground game going by Drew Dougherty, Houstontexans.com

The Texans have ground out 146 rushing yards per game, on average, over the last four contests.
Through the first five games of 2016, they averaged just 101 per game.

One big reason: the return to the lineup of left tackle Duane Brown. After sitting out the first quarter of the season with a quadriceps injury, he was in for 61 percent of the snaps in the loss at Minnesota. But starting the next week at home against Indianapolis, the Pro Bowler’s played every snap over the last quartet of contests.

“I think Duane’s playing real well,” head coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “He’s having a really good season.”

Having a good ground game is essential for the Texans to have success. Brock Osweiler is still struggling, as evidenced by his 99 passing yards on Sunday, making the running game that much more crucial. It confirms to me that Lamar Miller needs to be in the Pro Bowl because of the load he has had to carry.

More from Toro Times

Boos expected before National Anthem in Mexico City by Martin Rogers, USA Today

If the anthem controversy has lost a little steam in recent weeks with Kaepernick’s taking a knee only having been joined by a handful of other players, Monday night’s game in Mexico City between the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans could add a new dimension to the conversation.
“I am ready,” Hector Diaz, 24, said, as he made preparations to attend Monday’s game at the cavernous Azteca Stadium with a group of friends. “When they play the anthem … I am going to boo.”

Well, relations with our neighbors to the south have been contentious recently and the electing of Donald Trump doesn’t seem to be changing that. However I suppose it is good for the worldwide outlook of the game that more eyes are going to be watching.

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