Lamar Miller may only be in his second season with the Texans, but he is the wily six-year veteran that the Texans run game has relied on since his arrival in Houston.
"I feel comfortable," Miller said. "Last year, I was just getting my feet wet, I would say, in this new offense. Now heading into my second year, I'm pretty familiar with the offensive line, how they block."
The Texans have collectively rushed for 826 yards on 188 attempts through six games through 2017, which is the second-most rushing yards in the NFL.
"I think Lamar is an excellent all-around back," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's a very, very good protecting back. He's a guy that really understands defensive fronts, he understands our protection system. He's a very trusted back because of that and then, obviously, he's a good runner with the ball in his hands. Lamar is very good out of the backfield, too. He can catch the ball and make plays with it after he catches it."
Miller's knowledge of the game is an asset to his teammates too. Rookie D'Onta Foreman relies on Miller every day to help ease his transition into the NFL. Even though Foreman can come up with a myriad of questions, Miller is always willing to answer and offer an explanation when he rookie needs one.
"He's always been a great leader, even on the field during the games," Foreman said. "There's nothing I can't ask him when he comes off the field. He tells me everything and tries to be straight up with me about what's going on and even at practice and in the meeting room. He's always trying to make sure I'm on the right page."
Through six games, Miller has rushed for a team-high 372 yards and one touchdown. He is also second behind only DeAndre Hopkins in receiving yards with 175 and one receiving touchdown. This season, Miller also reached a milestone with 25 career rushing touchdowns and five career receiving touchdowns. In less than two seasons with the Texans, Miller has already surpassed Ron Dayne for the sixth-most rushing yards in team history.
Miller's skillset has been the Texans gain. A versatile three-down back that can catch passes out of the backfield, Miller's biggest strength does not show in his statistics.
"I'd say that him and Kevin Faulk are the two best protecting backs I've ever coached, as far as picking blitzing linebackers up, chipping for tackles," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He does a lot of things well and I thought he played really well yesterday."
Faulk, a 13-year veteran back, earned three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots. Miller's rushing numbers are more remarkable, especially given his pass protection skills. Miller set season highs in rushing and receiving in Houston's historic 57-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. The sixth-year veteran running back recorded 131 yards from scrimmage (75 rushing, 56 receiving) and scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving in the Texans historic Week 4 win.
"He can run, he's got good vision, he can run inside, he can run outside, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he's really, really one of the better protecting backs that I've ever coached," O'Brien said.
Lamar Miller may only be in his second season with the Texans, but he is the wily six-year veteran that the Texans run game has relied on since his arrival in Houston.
"I feel comfortable," Miller said. "Last year, I was just getting my feet wet, I would say, in this new offense. Now heading into my second year, I'm pretty familiar with the offensive line, how they block."
The Texans have collectively rushed for 826 yards on 188 attempts through six games through 2017, which is the second-most rushing yards in the NFL.
"I think Lamar is an excellent all-around back," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's a very, very good protecting back. He's a guy that really understands defensive fronts, he understands our protection system. He's a very trusted back because of that and then, obviously, he's a good runner with the ball in his hands. Lamar is very good out of the backfield, too. He can catch the ball and make plays with it after he catches it."
Miller's knowledge of the game is an asset to his teammates too. Rookie D'Onta Foreman relies on Miller every day to help ease his transition into the NFL. Even though Foreman can come up with a myriad of questions, Miller is always willing to answer and offer an explanation when he rookie needs one.
"He's always been a great leader, even on the field during the games," Foreman said. "There's nothing I can't ask him when he comes off the field. He tells me everything and tries to be straight up with me about what's going on and even at practice and in the meeting room. He's always trying to make sure I'm on the right page."
Through six games, Miller has rushed for a team-high 372 yards and one touchdown. He is also second behind only DeAndre Hopkins in receiving yards with 175 and one receiving touchdown. This season, Miller also reached a milestone with 25 career rushing touchdowns and five career receiving touchdowns. In less than two seasons with the Texans, Miller has already surpassed Ron Dayne for the sixth-most rushing yards in team history.
Miller's skillset has been the Texans gain. A versatile three-down back that can catch passes out of the backfield, Miller's biggest strength does not show in his statistics.
"I'd say that him and Kevin Faulk are the two best protecting backs I've ever coached, as far as picking blitzing linebackers up, chipping for tackles," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He does a lot of things well and I thought he played really well yesterday."
Faulk, a 13-year veteran back, earned three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots. Miller's rushing numbers are more remarkable, especially given his pass protection skills. Miller set season highs in rushing and receiving in Houston's historic 57-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. The sixth-year veteran running back recorded 131 yards from scrimmage (75 rushing, 56 receiving) and scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving in the Texans historic Week 4 win.
"He can run, he's got good vision, he can run inside, he can run outside, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he's really, really one of the better protecting backs that I've ever coached," O'Brien said.
