Redskins in agreement: Texans’ offense is tough
ASHBURN – The phrases are used repeatedly; it doesn’t matter the player — or even the coach. When it comes to the Houston Texans’ offense, they’re also appropriate.
“They have weapons.”
“It’s a challenge.”
The Redskins are right on both counts. After facing an offense that finished second in the league a year ago, they now face the offense that finished fourth. And the Texans’ offense, unlike Dallas’, has clicked since training camp opened.
It also became a little more dangerous last week when running back Arian Foster ran for 231 yards in a 34-24 win over Indianapolis.
“That’s more ammo,” said Redskins corner Phillip Buchanon, who played for Houston in 2005-06.
The Texans, like Washington, love using play-action passes. But they’ve never had a consistent running game to complement quarterback Matt Schaub. That might have changed.
“I don’t think a team will come in and run the ball on us like that,” Redskins corner Carlos Rogers said. “Once they feel like they can’t, they’ll get back to that passing attack.”
But Foster adds a new dimension to Houston. The former practice squad player gained 216 yards in the final two games of 2009 and averaged 5.5 yards a carry. He also averaged 6.0 yards a run in the preseason. So it’s not a guarantee that he can be stopped so easily.
He also fits the Texans’ zone-blocking, cutback scheme.
“He’s a heck of a running back,” Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “He runs hard, and he has great vision.”
The Redskins haven’t defended the run well since camp opened, but the 3-4 is well-suited to stopping a cutback runner if the outside linebackers are effective. It also means 350-pound nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu must do well in his battle vs. 296-pound Chris Myers, who has been overpowered at times in the past.
But stopping this offense isn’t that simple. There’s a reason Houston has scored 24 or more points in 11 of its last 17 games.
The Texans have a quarterback in Schaub who threw 29 touchdown passes last season, and they have arguably the best receiver in the NFL, 6-foot-3 Andre Johnson. He’s the complete package: big, fast and runs good routes. It helps that the Redskins face speedy receivers in practice, especially Brandon Banks. But few teams have anyone with Johnson’s skills.
“My thing is to get my hands on him and stop his track game,” Rogers said. “Me and DeAngelo [Hall] and [Buchanon], we can run, too. But if he runs past us, it will be a problem.”
The Redskins can help themselves with a strong running game offensively, controlling the ball. But the defense will get yet another chance to show how good it is.
As Haslett — and just about every defender — said, “It’s a challenge.”
