Does winning the rushing title count as "getting established?" I really hope Texan fans don't start screaming for Tate to start the first time Arian puts up less than 100 yards (if that ever happens...).
Ward hasn't been practicing all week. Right now the best I see him at is questionable for Sunday's road game. I think they will start with Foster and liberally sub Tate in the game and if we go up over 2 scores I can also see them subbing in Slaton on 1-3 plays
come on, DD. you're making this too easy. do you even remember why Slaton lost his starter job in the first place? the guy had serious fumbling issues and wasn't healthy. this gave Foster an opportunity, who showed he doesn't fumble AND is a better running back. any coach with half a brain isn't going to put Slaton back on top of the depth chart. actually, Slaton's issues were a blessing in disguise. we may never have discovered Foster otherwise.
I agree, I love Foster, but Tate looked really good too....and Kubiak has a history of finding obscure guys and making them stars, and then seeing them flame out pretty quickly. Foster is good, real good, but the system has a lot to do with how good he is... DD
The offense does make everyone look good. But there is no doubt in my mind Arian Foster is the best possible back in the league for our system. Put Chris Johnson there. Put Petersen there. Ray Rice. None of them are a better fit than Foster. Maybe Steven Jackson 3 years ago. Foster is clearly on another level. Do we need him to win every game? No, not at all. The Texans aren't built that way. But he completely opens up the game. He's a gamebreaker. Like a Desean Jackson only he has the consistency to go with hitting that next level. Foster isn't losing his job.
Tate looked good, but not nearly as good as Foster did last year. He does share some of the same positives in his decisive cuts and nose for seams. I think we should all be content cheering for what could be a dynamic duo. Slaton killed himself after his rookie year when he decided to add mass and lost his acceleration. He also somehow picked up the terrible habit of hesitating in the backfield, no longer hitting a hole with authority.
My guess is that DD has Tate on his fantasy team and wants to see him run over Foster. As well as Tate ran against the Colts it wasn't as dominate as Foster was last season. I would like to see a nice breakup of carries for the Texans with Foster getting around 15-25 to Tate's 5-10 carries per game.
That may be overstating it just a bit. Yes, they can crank out 1000 yard RBs, but there's a difference between a Terrell Davis (2008 yards in 1998) and a Mike Anderson (1487 yards in 2000) or an Olandis Gary (1159 in 1999) or a Reuben Droughns (1240 in 2004). The question is if Foster is more TD or JAG (just a guy) in the ZBS? I'm thinking Foster is more like TD whereas Ward (and maybe Tate) are JAGs.
If Arian is going to plan in the game then he is going to play, meaning, he will get whatever normal workload he would usually get. At least, that seems to be Kubiak's mentality...or my perception of it. I see Tate being the primary backup for this game, mostly because i'm unsure about Ward's ankle and he hasnt practiced. Granted, Ward is a good pass blocker and I have a feeling Miami is really going to put some pressure on Schaub, so i could see him getting in there. But again, it depends how good/bad his ankle is. AS for how good Arian is...he is very good, no matter what system he would play in. Yes, the texans have a good system with a good offensive line but you can't discount Arian's obvious talent because of that. I heard a good point made on 790 this morning when they were talking about the Bronco's system and ability to plug RBs in there and have big numbers. yes, there were other good seasons by several other guys, but when you look at TDs numbers, there was a huge increase. That's the difference between some guy and a great RB.
Foster is a top 3 running back in the NFL in my opinion. He is the absolute perfect back for this system. He isn't slow getting to the hole by any means, but he allows enough time for the line to make their blocks. He allows enough time to find his hole and hit it. The thing that makes Foster so good, is that his explosion comes as he's about two steps into the hole. This provides a bit of punishment for someone trying to tackle him, OR, if there is no one to meet him, it provides separation. The other thing with Foster is his decisiveness. The guy is very decisive. And he usually picks the right running lane. He seems to be one of the smartest backs in the league, with good physical tools, in the perfect system. That combo is what puts him at a level above others. I'm not saying that he wouldn't be good in other systems, because I have no doubt that I would. I'm just saying, this system maximizes his ability. With a lesser offensive line, he doesn't go for 1600 last year, but I think he still goes for 1350-1400. Foster is a definite notch above Tate, who, in my opinion, is also a great fit for this system. Tate just doesn't seem to have as great decision-making ability as Foster, nor the explosiveness through the hole. That said, Tate would still start for at least half the teams in the league, and would be a legitimate 1,000 yard threat every year. (Note: I'm basing this on very little NFL game time experience) These players aren't just "nobodys," thought. Foster was widely considered to be a first or second round prospect after his junior year, but had a bad senior year, and failed to get drafted. Tate, as you remember, was a second round pick. Ward (who, I think should be third on the depth chart) is kind of like a clone of Ben Tate, just with skills that are slightly inferior. Ward is still a good back, though. And Slaton, if he truly is at his original form, is no slouch either (when he holds onto the ball). I'm pretty sure we have the best backfield in the NFL. (Swoly, have at it)
Arian Foster will never lose his job to Tate unless he has a serious injury, fumbles often, or keeps having off the field issues(missing meetings). Foster is more elusive than Tate, has better vision, and is the perfect back in the open field for screens, dump offs, and even slants in to the endzone. It will never happen. If Tate reaches his full potential, it will still be 1a 1b like it is in Carolina with Jonathan Stewart and there other back.
Eddie, wasn't Foster injured his senior year? Everyone needs to stop talking about the NFL's LEADING RUSHER losing his starting job. Arian will CRUSH the baby fish! His thrust up the middle will be unstoppable!! (that's what SHE said ) ¡VAMOS TEXANS!!! /msnimpersonatesswoly
I'm high on Tate too, but no way he starts for even close to half the teams in the league. Not at this point in his career, at least.
I think Tate is going to be a complete stud...he has the skill set to be among the top 10 or so RBs in the league. Just a great situation right now to have two RBs that can get the job done. If they can both stay healthy, I can see the Texans pounding the rock and wearing out defenses...you cant underestimate having two RBs that can be interchanged with very little difference in production. If the Texans have 4th quarter leads then itll be a powerful weapon to have fresh RBs going against tiring defenses.
No no no....I like Foster, but I don't yet believe he is on an elite level, too early to tell if it is his talent or if it is the system or a combination of both.... I wish I had him, but we are in a keeper league and he was kept...of course. I do have Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson though....... DD
Tate could start for alot of teams in the league...He seems like a good workhorse type back ...You can sense it in his running style...Foster is the ultimate feature back...He does everything good without looking to exert much effort or energy, which would make for a lengthy productive career .. Only 2 backs I feel are better than Foster, Peterson and C hris Johnson....Maybe its biased based on that their teams are more heavily dependant on them to get the the offense going, but Foster I believe aint too far behind.. Put Foster on any team with a respectable offense and he puts up great All-Pro numbers...Not so sure if you put him on Tennessee or Minnesota and he makes the Pro Bowl.... IMO of course
Watch the way he runs; I again forget who - but someone compared him to Marcus Allen and man, oh man - I can't shake it: dead-on. Tate is fine, I guess - looks OK. But Foster's on another level. He moves so fluidly, accelerates so deceptively. I will be shocked if he doesn't have a repeat perforamcne of last year (barring injury, of course) and would be shocked if he couldn't successfully run in whatever system. What's so, so great about Foster - watch him get tackled. He is in such control of his body, he rarely gets hit, or hit hard. He's a real freak of nature, physically. (And, apparently, mentally.)
Tate was known at Auburn for having good hands for a back his size. But, you could tell that there were some runs against Indy that Arian would have taken for more yards than Tate did. I'm not criticizing Tate, but Arian has an uncanny ability to cut into an area that he normally shouldn't be able to fit into, and turn upfield in a flash. Tate might get there, but Arian is the superior back as of right now.
Not comparing him to TD, DD. I'm saying the Denver ZBS system can make a 1000 yard rusher out of an average running back, but the difference between what an average RB can produce and what an elite one in this offense is pretty significant.
