John Benton is in his sixth season coaching the offensive line for the Houston Texans. Benton’s offensive lines have provided protection and paved the way for some of the top individual and team offensive performances in the NFL in that time and have helped turn the Texans offense into one of the most productive in the league. Houston has set team records for total offense for three consecutive years heading into 2011.
Benton’s unit paved the way for another record-setting season for Houston’s offense in 2010. The Texans ranked third in the NFL in 2010 with a franchise record 6,186 yards of offense (386.6 yards per game), seventh with a franchise rushing record 127.6 yards per game, a team-record 390 points (24.4 points per game) and helped produce the NFL’s rushing and touchdown champion, running back Arian Foster. Foster set team records with 1,616 yards rushing, the most yards ever in a season for an undrafted player, and 18 total touchdowns. It was the third-straight season Houston’s offense finished among the NFL’s top-five offenses.
John Benton is in his sixth season coaching the offensive line for the Houston Texans. Benton’s offensive lines have provided protection and paved the way for some of the top individual and team offensive performances in the NFL in that time and have helped turn the Texans offense into one of the most productive in the league. Houston has set team records for total offense for three consecutive years heading into 2011.
Benton’s unit paved the way for another record-setting season for Houston’s offense in 2010. The Texans ranked third in the NFL in 2010 with a franchise record 6,186 yards of offense (386.6 yards per game), seventh with a franchise rushing record 127.6 yards per game, a team-record 390 points (24.4 points per game) and helped produce the NFL’s rushing and touchdown champion, running back Arian Foster. Foster set team records with 1,616 yards rushing, the most yards ever in a season for an undrafted player, and 18 total touchdowns. It was the third-straight season Houston’s offense finished among the NFL’s top-five offenses.
In 2009, the line provided protection for the NFL’s leading passer, quarterback Matt Schaub, who threw for 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns. Overall, the offense ranked fourth in the league, averaging 383.1 yards per game. The passing attack led the league with an average of 290.9 net yards per game, and the 25 sacks allowed were the fifth-fewest in the league.
In 2008, 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 the 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.
Stellar pass protection has been a hallmark Benton’s lines in Houston. Despite using eight different starting lineups in 2006, the first season under Benton’s tutelage, the 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 line was even better in 2007, 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. The line also paved the way for the team to rush for 1,586 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Prior to coming to Houston, Benton spent two years working with the St. Louis Rams offensive line. As the Rams’ assistant offensive line coach in 2004, Benton helped St. Louis reach the playoffs as a Wild Card team and advanced to the Divisional round with an offensive line led by Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace. The Rams’ offensive line helped St. Louis finish fourth in the NFL with 252.3 passing yards per game and produce 1,496 yards on the ground.
In 2005, Benton was promoted to offensive line coach and his unit opened holes for running back 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 before moving onto California University (Pa.), where he coached the offensive line and also served as the recruiting coordinator until 1994.
Benton returned to his alma mater in 1996, where he served as offensive line coach until 2000 and added responsibilities as the co-offensive coordinator in 2000 until 2003.
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
2006-11: 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
