Dameon Pierce: Houston Texans 'Got A Chance' If They 'Keep 7 Clean'
The Houston Texans' health on the offensive line has been the biggest concern so far this season, but has it really mattered?
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been sacked 11 times this season — all of which came in the first two weeks of the season — but he was kept upright against arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL in Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt.
Running back Dameon Pierce said offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will be certain that the offensive linemen tabbed in Houston's current plug-and-chug unit will be "very detailed in their job."
"As long as we keep 7 clean, we got a chance," Pierce said. "When he's clean, when he has time to make reads, when he has time to make throws, he's proven that he's very capable of throwing the ball and making the big plays downfield. We just got to keep him clean.
"It also goes to a mental mindset, too. The cleaner he is, the more calm he is, the more progressive he is in his reads, etc. The better we are in the pass game, it goes to the running game and vice versa."
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium Sunday. Houston won 30-6.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Get your pens and notepads ready as we walk through the Texans' injury report on the offensive line.
Guard Kenyon Green is out for the year with a shoulder injury, while center Scott Quessenberry is sidelined for all of 2023 with a torn ACL and MCL. That's while offensive tackle Tytus Howard and lineman Juice Scruggs are both on injured reserve with hand and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil was the only healthy projected starter this season, but then he went down with a knee injury and has missed each of the last three games. Tunsil's backup, Josh Jones, was also out against Pittsburgh with a hand injury.
Guard Shaq Mason was on the injury report last week with an ankle injury but was able to play, whereas Michael Deiter's chest injury held him out of the game.
The Texans' starting front five from left to right were Austin Deculus, Kendrick Green, Jarrett Patterson, Shaq Mason and George Fants. Deculus played just over half of Houston's 71 offensive snaps, splitting time with Geron Christian who the Texans signed just a few days prior. Kendrick Green missed three snaps and backup center Jimmy Morrissey played in his place.
How did Houston overcome the offensive line deficiencies against the Steelers? It relied on its running backs and tight ends in pass protection and dialed up quick routes for Stroud to get the ball out of his hands.
Stroud's average time to throw was 2.50 seconds, which was the seventh-lowest of any quarterback who led his team in dropbacks in Week 4, according to Pro Football Focus. Stroud's average depth of his 30 pass attempts was nine yards downfield.
Pierce, who ran for a season-high 81 yards Sunday, said the running backs room has to do their part "regardless of what O-line" trots out there for Houston.
"How good can we be in the running backs room to alleviate some of the things that's going on up front?" Pierce said. "This is our fourth rotation we've had in four weeks, it doesn't matter. We've got to find a way to get positive yardage on every run because the line's going to come."
