Texans' Dameon Pierce Doesn't Have 'Good Intentions' For Opponents
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce had quite the rookie campaign last season, despite being a fourth-round pick.
Pierce finished fifth in yards after contact (506), fourth in broken tackles (27) and he broke a tackle every eight rushing attempts (second-best in the NFL). He was one of just three players in the NFL to average more yards after contact (2.3) than before it (2.0). The only reason Pierce wasn't higher in these categories is because he was sidelined in the final four games of the season due to a foot injury.
Now, with less than two weeks until the regular season kicks off, Pierce revealed his mindset in Year 2.
"I don't have good intentions, especially this year," Pierce said during Sunday night's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. "(Offensive coordinator Bobby) Slowik emphasizes that, so now I have to find ways to be even angrier."
Pierce was simply the Texans' diamond in the rough last season and caught the attention of former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, who believes he has a bright future.
"He gets downhill fast,” Taylor remarked about Pierce. “He doesn’t waste a lot of time going sideways. His speed is deceptive. Once he gets out in the open, he seems to run away from a lot of people.”
Pass-blocking was one of Pierce's minuscule list of shortcomings last season, and according to running back's coach Danny Barrett, he's already improving in that area.
"He can now see the big picture and can identify things quicker to get to his pickups," Barrett said. "That's going to help us out tremendously. When he is in the game, teams think we are going to just run the football. But his ability to pass protect, he understands what is needed in our passing game from him.
The Texans made a plethora of changes to their roster and coaching staff this offseason, but the angry running back could be the one to watch.
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