Texans’ Dameon Pierce preaching ‘endurance’ for his model of play

Standing at his locker Friday morning at NRG Stadium, Dameon Pierce smiled throughout an upbeat dialog about his pending elevated workload and touches that’s been prioritized by Texans coach Lovie Smith.

Utilized sparingly in his NFL beginning debut final Sunday throughout a 20-20 tie in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium, Pierce is predicted to play considerably extra this week in a highway sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos.

“That’s cool,” the highly effective rookie working again stated. “It’s all the time nice when you’ve gotten a coach who has confidence in you. I really like coach. I really like the issues he’s doing right here and I’m joyful to be part of it.”

Pierce wound up enjoying simply 29 % of the 70 offensive snaps, 20 performs general, in opposition to the Colts. He rushed for simply 33 yards on 11 carries with one catch for six yards and didn’t play in extra time as veteran backup Rex Burkhead acquired stuffed for a lack of two yards on a pivotal Third-and-1 main as much as a punt determination that led to the tie. Whereas Burkhead performed 71 % of the snaps, 50 performs general, he rushed for 40 yards on 14 carries with 5 catches for 30 yards on eight targets.

“I simply acquired to be in place mentally and bodily to benefit from it,” Pierce stated. “There’s undoubtedly issues I might have did higher, however ain’t no option to get higher than for those who don’t study from it. I took every little thing from final sport, constructed on it and added to my repertoire and attempt to get higher for Sport 2.”

The Texans gained simply 77 speeding yards on 28 carries for a 2.8 common per run. Each Pierce and Burkhead’s longest run was eight yards in opposition to the NFL’s Tenth-ranked run protection from final season.

Pierce acquired the beginning, however had simply 16 yards on 5 carries within the first half. Within the fourth quarter, Pierce had three runs for 10 yards. In extra time, Pierce had zero touches.

As he reviewed his first NFL common season sport, the fourth-round draft choose from Florida noticed some particular areas he can enhance upon.

That features taking his time and permitting the play to develop in entrance of him. Reflecting on that sport, Pierce believes he was too excited and anxious and that led to missed alternatives.

“Persistence, bro,” Pierce stated. “First sport going quick, know what i”m saying. Sluggish dow,n take higher steps, simply little stuff, nothing huge, however little issues that add up within the league and one thing you possibly can’t get away with. Similar to steps, take time on the reads, present endurance and simply have enjoyable on the market and calm down.”

Smith stated that Pierce must maintain getting higher at go safety and different nuances of the sport to have extra enjoying time.

“In fact, that’s one thing I’m continuously constructing on,” Pierce stated. “I’m factor about catches, steps, go safety, how the O-line is considering, the best way to get higher as a unit. One of the best factor for me to do is embrace these challenges, go together with them with a full head of steam. I do know I’ve guys round me who help me.”

Going ahead the Texans need to get Pierce extra concerned following a powerful preseason throughout which he rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries with one landing.

“Among the different issues we did within the sport, trying on the offensive aspect of the soccer, I perceive what number of performs Dameon Pierce performed,” Smith stated.”The plan after all was for him to get extra. You get into the sport and conditions make you go a bit of bit completely different route. You study from these errors like that, errors of these conditions that you simply have a look at the day after.”

In speaking with working backs coach Danny Barrett, Pierce stated that he realizes what he wants to vary.

“As a working again, it’s important to have endurance,” Pierce stated. “I felt like I used to be too quick final sport. One factor we labored on and put emphasis on this week. (Coach Barrett) was like, ‘Decelerate. You’re one reduce away.’”

Aaron Wilson is a Professional Soccer Community reporter and a contributor to KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.