Slaton Propels Texans

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Steve Slaton preps for the Texans' Oct. 5 home game vs. the Colts (Photo courtesy of the Brit 2 on flickr)

When the Texans drafted Steve Slaton out of West Virginia as the 26th pick in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, it wasn't heralded as the answer to their longstanding rushing woes. Fourteen games, 1,429 yards from scrimmage, and nine TDs later Slaton is looking like a brilliant draft pick for the Gary Kubiak regime. With the third-most rushing yards in the AFC many Texans fans felt Slaton was deserving of a Pro Bowl nod and he's certainly proven to be a playmaker for Houston's explosive offense.

An excellent example of his smart play is a third-and-eight in Titans territory with less than two minutes to go last week at Reliant. The Texans were confident enough in Slaton to give him the ball and he took it around the end dropping to his knee once he comfortably had the first down allowing the Texans to run out the clock for the win. A brilliant heads-up play for a rookie. Once considered only a possible third-down back, he's proven to be hard to tackle and has been carrying the bulk of the load for the Texans running game all season. On that note, Kubiak has to be careful with the small back in the remaining two weeks and try to get something out of backups Ryan Moats and Cecil Sapp. I think Moats (who has 56 yards on 14 carries) needs to be given more of an opportunity to shine. Slaton needs to end the season healthy so the Texans can start next season as hot as they are now.

Domanick Williams (formerly Davis) holds the majority of the Texans' career rushing records with Slaton now in line to be heir to the throne. He is on pace to be the best single-season rusher in Texans' history. In 2004 Williams carried the ball 302 times for 1,188 yards and 13 touchdowns. All Texans career single-season marks. With two games remaining, Slaton is short only 64 yards to become Houston's all-time single-season rusher in only his first year in the NFL. Williams fumbled four times in 15 games in '04 while Slaton has fumbled twice in 14 games. Slaton already holds the Texans franchise record for longest run with a 71-yarder in Indianapolis far surpassing Williams long of 51. That's not to say the Texans don't need to pick up a Deuce McAllister to spell Slaton's Reggie Bush.

Speaking of Bush – the back the Texans infamously looked over, instead drafting stud defensive end Mario Williams – Slaton very well may end up with a more impressive NFL career than Reggie when all is said and done. And Williams will certainly/hopefully leave a larger mark on the league than Bush or Vince Young when their careers are over and the dust has settled.

The Texans game on Sunday at 3pm in Oakland won't be carried locally on TV. Catch it live on 1530AM ESPN Austin and at your local sports bar.

For a photo gallery by the Brit 2 of the Texans 27-31 home loss on Oct. 5 to the Colts, click here.