HOUSTON (AP) -- As practices and now games start to pile up, Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller is settling into his new home quite nicely.
His skills and quiet, lead-by-example leadership are translating well into Bill O'Brien's offense.
"I'm getting comfortable every day," Miller said. "I'm getting used to how the guys block. I think they did a great job the first preseason game of just giving me the opportunity to show the coaches what I could do with my skill-set. So I give all the credit to them, they made my job easy on Sunday."
In Sunday's preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Miller didn't take long to show off what he can do. A handoff from quarterback Brock Osweiler on the very first play of the game for the Texans' offense, Miller found an opening on the right side and went 14 yards.
"It's always good just to get your feet wet," Miller said. "I'm here with a whole new offensive line, whole new scheme. So just to go out there and get my feet wet and just having a good run on my first play is always good."
Miller finished with 30 yards on four carries, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt in his Texans' debut.
Entering 2016, Miller comes in among the best running backs in the NFL.
During the past two seasons, Miller has led the AFC and ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,971) and average yards per carry (4.89). Miller also ranks fifth among all running backs in total scrimmage yards racking up 2,643 (1,971 rushing, 672 receiving) during the past two seasons.
"He's a very hard worker," O'Brien said. "Tough guy. People ask me what type of runner he is, he can run inside, he can run outside. He can move the pile. He's a tough running back and can do different things for us. So it's good to have him."
After spending the past four years in Miami, Miller decided in the offseason to make a change and come to Houston.
With the exit of Arian Foster, who is now in Miami, the Texans needed a leader in the backfield to guide the young corps of backs and he has filled that role.
"Lamar is great," rookie running back Tyler Ervin said. "One thing is he's very patient and not only that, he's just great to be around. I'm learning a lot from him."
Coming to Houston from Miami there have been some differences Miller said and the biggest for him is having more opportunities in Houston to get the ball in his hands.
Thus far everything has gone as planned.
"The opportunity has been good so far," Miller said. "I'm just here every day just trying to put in the work and just trying to get better. It's the first preseason game, I'm still getting used to the scheme and how the guys block. So you know I still have a lot of room for improvement. I'm just trying to get better every day."
