Run Away RB1: Why Dameon Pierce Should Be Texans Lead Back

HOUSTON- - Dameon Pierce told reporters while sitting on his childhood bed in Bainbridge, Ga. that his style of running was “angry."

He ran hard. He ran tough. And yes, angry might be the appropriate word to describe how the Houston Texans rookie running back looked Thursday evening.

As the Texans close out their preseason with a 17-0 win against the San Francisco 49ers, coach Lovie Smith can sleep at night knowing his offense won’t be one-dimensional. General manager Nick Caserio can exhale a massive sigh of relief, knowing he made the right call starting on Day 3 of the draft last April.

The title of top running back is Pierce’s to lose entering the regular season. The debate ended when he crossed the goal line in the first quarter.

“When you have someone running the ball like that and the offensive line can block like that for him, we can consistently run the ball well downhill and it can open up a lot in the passing game,” Texans quarterback Davis Mills said.

Working exclusively with the first-team offense, Pierce pounded his way up the middle against the 49ers’ defense. His first run went for a gain of three. The next was for a gain of nine.

Pierce kept the chains moving with Mills commanding the huddle. His 12-yard run on a third-and-one call put Houston inside San Francisco’s territory. By the time the Texans were in the red zone, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton elected to give Peirce a chance to punch in the one-yard touchdown.

“Dameon Pierce has been that way every time we give him the ball,” Smith said.

Six carries were enough for Smith to end Pierce’s night early. He averaged 6.2 yards per attempt and picked up three first downs before punching in the score.

For Houston, stability in its backfield is a plus. Last season, the Texans averaged 3.4 yards per attempt rushing, the second-fewest in franchise history. The Texans also finished dead last in rushing touchdowns with eight.

Smith has said from the get-go he won’t name starters until game week against the Indianapolis Colts. Some positions could take time to flesh out before the first-year coach feels comfortable naming a starter.

Running back isn’t one of them. Even with being held out last week against the Los Angeles Rams, Pierce led all Texans’ running backs in the preseason with 86 yards, an average of 7.8 yards per attempt and a touchdown.

The Texans need a focal point to their run game. Pierce can provide that. Houston's last 1,000-yard runner came in 2019 when Carlos Hyde finished with 1,070. It hasn't had a franchise-caliber running back on the roster since Arian Foster's final season in 2015.

Pierce said when drafted that he liked to run hard. He ran with passion and power to the top of the depth chart with just 11 carries.

“We want to be a run-first football team,” Mills said. “With [Pierce] back there, we’re really confident in doing that.”

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