http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3293761 One part of the plan to protect David Carr has nothing to do with the offensive line. The ground game might help out. By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Indianapolis has dominated the AFC South, and it is no secret that the best way to defeat the Colts is to keep quarterback Peyton Manning on the bench. Manning never has missed a play because of an injury, and the only way to keep him on the sideline is to run the ball effectively to control the clock. The Colts' AFC South opponents — the Texans, Titans and Jaguars — won't admit it, but Indianapolis is one reason they've bulked up their running games. Domanick Davis (Texans), Chris Brown (Titans) and Fred Taylor (Jaguars) each rushed for at least 1,000 yards last season, but their teams still replenished their backfields. Although Davis averaged 103.5 yards rushing over the second half of last season when he became one of the NFL's most productive runners, the Texans used a third-round pick on Vernand Morency, the workhorse from Oklahoma State. Counting Tony Hollings, a second-round pick in 2003, the Texans have invested heavily in their running game. So have the Titans, who traded a third-round pick to Buffalo for Travis Henry to pair him with the injury-prone Brown. Because Taylor is recovering from surgery to repair two knee ligaments, the Jaguars tried to acquire Henry. Until Taylor returns, LaBrandon Toefield is the starter. They also have former No. 1 pick Greg Jones playing running back as well as fullback, and they drafted Alvin Pearman in the fourth round. "In our division, four head coaches are former defensive coordinators, and no one appreciates the running game more than a defensive coach," Texans coach Dom Capers said. "If you can run the ball consistently, you can control the tempo of the game. A productive running game and a good defense are usually tied together." During the second half of last season, the Texans adjusted to new offensive line coach Joe Pendry's scheme and ran the ball more effectively than any AFC South team. They rushed for 1,080 yards, a 4.5-yard average per carry and nine touchdowns. The Texans swept the Titans and Jaguars last season, but they lost two more to the Colts, making them 0-6 against Indianapolis in three seasons. "When you play Indianapolis, which has such a high-powered offense, they're going to score a lot of points," Capers said. "They want to get up on you, which forces you to get away from the run. That plays right into their hands because they're so successful at rushing the passer." Through the offseason and the early part of training camp, most of the focus has been on the passing game and pass protection. But the best way to protect quarterback David Carr is to have a strong running game. The Texans averaged 135 yards a game rushing in the last eight games of 2004. They had 12 runs of more than 15 yards each, including 11 by Davis. By comparison, they had only one run for more than 15 yards (by Carr) in the first eight games. Davis rushed for at least 100 yards in four of the last six games. If he can stay healthy and continue that pace, he'll crack the 2,000-yard barrier — a goal he had set for last season. "We hope Domanick will pick up where he left off, but I don't know if he'll get 2,000," offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said. "We'd like for him to get 1,300 to 1,600 yards. In this league, you have to pace your backs, or they'll wind up getting hurt." The offensive line has been criticized for its lack of pass protection. But there's no disputing the terrific job the linemen did run blocking in the last eight games. With Davis, Morency and Hollings — Jonathan Wells is spending more time at fullback — the Texans have talent and depth at running back. But they need for Davis and Hollings to avoid injuries. The coaches know what Davis can do as a runner and receiver. In preseason games, they'll want to see Morency and Hollings as much as possible. "Everyone knows about Domanick," Palmer said. "I'm eager to see Morency go against other teams, and I want to see how much Hollings has grown. They've looked good so far, but until you start playing against other people, you never know for sure."
