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Houston Texans: What’s Up With Lamar Miller?

By Brian K. Patterson

Oct 25, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) carries the ball to score a touchdown past Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) carries the ball to score a touchdown past Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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I tell you what — after initial dust from the legal tampering period has settled, the Houston Texans have literally cleaned up!

I’ve got to tell you, I haven’t seen this team as aggressive as they have been in quite some time.

It makes me proud to know that they still give a damn about what the fans want.

I know they listen to what we have to say; but, all in all, they feel that they know what’s best for the team.

Having a decent quarterback has been a problem for quite a spell; and, let’s face it, there’s no way an NFL team can be successful if the quarterback play isn’t there.

The Texans seemed to ignore the problem over the years, building up the team in other positions.

Now that the core and support roles have been attached to the foundation, the problem of not having a skilled signal-caller continued to glare.

It was even more so when the Texans were severely routed by the Kansas City Chiefs during Week 1 and the embarrassing, bone-crunching 32-0 AFC Wild Card Game loss after an incredible 9-7 finish to the regular season.

But hopefully that problem was solved with the Texans signing Brock Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million deal just a few weeks ago.

But as one era begins another has come to end.

Which one to I speak of?

I’m talking about the Arian Foster-era.

Yes, it has come abruptly to an end, just as quickly as his 2015 campaign did, when he injured his Achilles tendon late in the game in that forgettable 44-26 blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins.

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When I saw that happen to him, I had a feeling in my heart that it was the end for Foster.

I had hoped that maybe the Texans could cut him and then re-sign him to a cheaper deal but this isn’t some after school special, it’s real life and there’s no in hell that Foster would accept something like that.

As far as he’s concerned, he feels that he’s owed the money that’s due to him — $8.9 million — but from a business perspective, his production is down and there was just no longer any justification.

With the Texans cutting Foster, the team saved $6.6 million in cap savings which allowed them to define their spending spree even more to which we all just witnessed a few weeks ago.

He personally was one of my favorite players and should be on Texans’ Mt. Rushmore as no team member has rushed more yards than he has.

Yep, 6,472 rushing yards. Wow.

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But as much as we like harp on the past, it’s time to usher in the Lamar Miller-era.

The Texans made it official by signing him to a four-year, $26 million deal with $14 million guaranteed.

Let me tell you — this can be quite an exciting one as well as Miller is as reliable as they come.

He’s young, he’s quite versatile — a Bill O’Brien prerequisite — and a runner that has an immense amount of speed, doing it straight-line style.

He also is known for being able to get positive yardage with just about every opportunity he has with each touch of the football and that will be nothing but a boon for the Texans.

But what made Foster great is what can be said about Miller’s weaknesses.

What would that be you’d say?

He sometimes has trouble outsmarting the defense, to which unlike Foster, who had beautiful footwork to be able to get past anybody he faced.

I’m not necessarily saying that will be detrimental to the Texans but I’m going to keep an eye on these particular scenarios when the season starts.

He may have worked on that particular facet of his game so we’ll have to see.

But the fact that Miller is here — and Foster is gone — is such a bittersweet moment for me but I know it was the correct one to make.

I think we’re about to witness some fine things with our offense and it’ll be interesting to see how O’Brien and George Godsey incorporate him into the playbook.

He’ll have Alfred Blue and Jonathan Grimes — who just recently re-signed to a one-year deal — to complement him so I think that unit will be quite stout for this season.

Next: What About Jeff Allen?

Miller, 24, rushed for 872 yards and eight touchdowns as well as 397 receiving yards and two touchdowns in all 16 games — all starts — for the Dolphins in 2015.

That’s 1,269 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Wow!  Go Texans!

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