Team
Presented By
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John Benton Offensive Line Coach 6th NFL season 4th with Texans |
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John Benton enters his fourth season coaching the offensive line for the Texans.
In his first season with the team, Benton helped the offensive line overcome a rash of injuries to improve in both pass protection and run blocking. Despite using eight different starting lineups, the 2006 Texans offensive line surrendered 25 fewer sacks than in 2005. On the ground, the line improved throughout the year and helped the team average 123.4 rushing yards per game over the second half of the season.
The 2007 offensive line was even better, cutting the sack total in half from 2006, allowing just 22 on the year, which set a team record. The record-low sack total came while the team attempted a record-high 529 passes, meaning the line allowed a sack on just four percent of pass attempts. The line also paved the way for the team to rush for 1,586 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Last season, Benton’s line featured the same starting lineup for all 16 games, marking the first such occurrence in team history. The line paved the way for rookie running back Steve Slaton to set a franchise record with 1,282 rushing yards, while its 32 sacks allowed were the second-fewest in team history. The 2008 offense was the most productive in Texans history, gaining 6,113 total yards, which ranked third in the NFL.
Benton broke into the NFL as the assistant offensive line coach in 2004. During his first season, the Rams’ offensive line was led by Pro Bowl LT Orlando Pace. St. Louis finished the season with an 8-8 regular-season record, but qualified for the playoffs. The Rams rushed for 102 yards on their way to a 27-20 win at division rival Seattle in a Wild Card match-up. The offensive line gave Rams quarterbacks enough time to finish fourth in the NFL with 252.3 passing yards per game. The St. Louis ground attack gained 1,496 yards.
Benton was named the Rams’ offensive line coach in 2005. His line opened holes for RB Stephen Jackson to rush for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Rams running backs averaged 1,579 rushing yards during Benton’s two years as the line coach. Benton lettered at Colorado State from 1983-86 and earned honorable mention All-WAC accolades during his junior and senior seasons. He was a graduate assistant at Colorado State from 1987-90. His first offensive line job was at California University (Pa.), where he also served as the recruiting coordinator.
Benton returned to his alma mater in 1996. He was the offensive line coach until 2000 and also took over as the co-offensive coordinator in 2000 until 2003. Upon his promotion, Benton looked for tutelage from Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. Colorado State emulated the Broncos’ power rushing attack.
A Durango, Colo. native, he and his wife Nicole, have two daughters – Gabrielle and Paige. The family resides in Sugar Land.
BENTON’S COACHING LEDGER
2006-09: Offensive Line, Houston Texans
2005: Offensive Line, St. Louis Rams
2004: Assistant Offensive Line, St. Louis Rams
2000-03: Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line, Colorado State
1995-2000: Offensive Line, Colorado State
1990-94: Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator, California University (Pa.)
1987-90: Graduate Assistant, Colorado State
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