What gets me is that Foster had 18 carries and Tate only had 9. Foster still had twice a many carries as Tate, what's the problem Arian? During the preseason many Clutchfans were saying Kubiak was overusing Foster in previous years and that he should be used less. I'm actually surprised Foster got 18 carries after not playing in the preseason. Going forward I would like to see a 50/50 split between Foster and Tate. I don't think Foster would like that.
Just listened to the Nick Wright interview. Two comments: 1. I didn't have a problem with his comments. If Arian has indeed been a jerk behind the scenes he deserved to be called out on it. 2. It's good someone from the flagship station said this. I get tired of Vandermeer's advocacy of all things positive.
Excited to see Tate will have a (near) 50/50 split with Foster. This is how it should be. Tate is gone no matter what next year, run him into the dirt. Preserve Arian, if not for the playoffs, then for the next couple of years.
Tate - 9 carries for 93. 10.3 Avg. 60 Yds Longest gain. Foster - 19 carries for 79. 4.2 Avg. 16 Yds Longest Gain.
Tate was great. He continues to run angry like he has something to prove. Foster ran hard, didn't go down easy and fought for every yard. The difference was Tate's long run. I'm happy with both guys.
If foster doesn't stretch out for that two point conversion we would have lost the game. That play right there is why i prefer Arian over Ben, Foster's elusiveness and vision is what will win us games. Not to mention the guy is VERY clutch.
I'm happy with both players also, that's exactly what we want both of them running like they have something to prove. The 2 point conversion run by Arian was a great run.
Foster is boring and predictable, that's why his YPC are pathetic. Tate brings energy and hits the holes as hard as Foster did in his rookie campaign. Foster is overpaid, he doesn't compare to AP or Lynch, MJD, McCoy, Ray Rice, etc. All of them are better backs than Foster. We run the ball so much in this system that we require a durable back, and I don't even think Foster is durable. His body is going to collapse in another year or so given how many carries he's averaging.
Foster's YPC is low because he's not explosive through the hole and he never has been. His biggest strengths are his vision and his patience. He can see a hole opening and he waits for it where a lot of RBs go too soon or miss the opening, etc. When we had a great OLine, this made him deadly because holes were opening up all over the place and stayed open. Right now the problem is that hole collapse quickly with the way our OLine is playing. He hits the hole and a defender is lunging at his feet nearly instantly.
Tate is a bruiser. He doesn't have the vision of Foster. There were 2 runs in the 4th, during the comeback, that showed why Foster is the main back. One where he is stopped...spins outside...and gets a nice drive for a First. The other was the 2 point conversion play.
Foster had a bad 1st game, but he looked like Arian yesterday. Tate is also playing spectacular. I still trust Foster a lot more in short yardage situations, but I'm loving this production. Both are running hungry.
I like that Tate has seemed to get most of his carries between the 20's. Foster is getting most if not all the 3rd down and goal line carries.
Foster has a great nose for 1st downs and goaline situations, plus he's good in pass-pro and catches the ball very well. I think Tate might be good in 1st down and goaline situations, but we've never given him the chance. He'll never touch Arian in blocking and pass catching though.
that was a nice bounce back for Arian. i still think he falls forward way to much when he could push someone for more yards.
Texans’ Foster moves forward, will again share carries with Tate Arian Foster didn’t just look and feel sharper Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. He clearly was better, Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. While Ben Tate tops the team in rushing yards (148), thanks to an 8.2 yards-per-carry average, Foster racked up 79 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion on 19 carries during a come-from-behind victory against the Titans. “Arian got better this week. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Kubiak said Monday at Reliant Stadium. With Foster finding his comfort zone and Tate providing a strong second punch, the Texans will again split carries between the backs during Week 3 at Baltimore. “Ben was exceptional, too,” Kubiak said. “We’re pretty close there (with carries) until the end of the game. … They’re both playing real well. Arian is catching up, so to speak, from the time he has missed. Ben’s playing at an extremely high level right now. So it’s important to give him his touches and we will.”
My one issue is when Tate leaves in the off-season what do we do then. Wood is great and I think he can be very good, but we will still need a bruiser back to compliment them both. And do we offer Jones an extension or go with a young FB. Arian needs a FB to take those initial hits off of him. You can clearly see since Leech left his YPC has dropped, and I would like to maintain an enforcer for our run game.
