Preview and Prediction: Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Texans
By Austin Gayle
Lamar Miller Will Test Raiders’ Run Defense
Former Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller welcomed high expectations after joining the Texans on a four-year, $26 million contract this offseason, but unlike Osweiler, his heavy wallet hasn’t weighed him down in his play on the field.
Miller, a former fourth-round pick out of the University of Miami, has significantly benefited from a change of scenery, as he is currently on pace to have what would be a career-high 1,280 rushing yards this season.
Coming off a career-high 47 receptions for 397 yards with Miami last season, Miller has had similar production with Houston, bringing in 22 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Houston’s offense ranks 30th in the league in terms of total yards, so Miller’s impact both running the football and in the passing game is one of the only things keeping the Texans afloat offensively.
The Raiders’ defense, though porous at times, will have to continue to make plays against the run if they are going to push the ball into Osweiler hands and ultimately sink the Texans’ ship.
When Joseph and Riley aren’t occupied with the Texans’ tight ends in the passing game, the two should play key roles in limiting Miller at the second level. However, it’s going to take elite efforts from the Raiders’ interior defensive line if they are going to keep Miller from having a dominant performance.
With fourth-year defensive end Stacy McGee expected to return to the starting lineup after missing two games with an ankle injury, the Raiders’ play in the trenches should see an immediate boost. Before the injury, McGee consistently found his way into the backfield because of his ability to bully his opposition and penetrate beyond the line of scrimmage.
Inside of McGee, veteran defensive linemen Justin Ellis and Dan Williams haven’t lived up to their “Meat and Potatoes” nickname this season, but they have flashed their ability at times when inserted into the rotation.
Second-year offensive lineman Greg Mancz has exceeded expectations at center for Houston after going undrafted in 2015, but his teammates alongside him could struggle to keep “Meat and Potatoes” from overloading their plate.
Third-year guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, drafted just three spots above Carr in the 2014 NFL draft, has graded among the worst guards in the NFL in terms of run blocking.
Similarly, fifth-year guard Jeff Allen’s overall grade is ranked 73rd among the 80 guards with at least 160 offensive snaps this season.