No love here for Slaton?

[painekiller]

I am shocked by the total lack of pro Slaton post here. I know it is only one game, but the kid played with a huge heart and showed second and third efforts, the type efforts that won DD over to the fans.

I will admit I was completely wrong on the young man. I saw him as a speed guy with no fire to get the tough yard. Boy did I miss on this one so far.

Slaton did not get drafted as high as he thought he would, but this was a very deep RB draft. He has been a quite, humble man. And he is what this team needs, a player that makes the defense respect the long running play.

Lineman love to block for guys like this, he makes them look good because they only need to hold their guys up for a split second and speed guy is gone. Also he has shown a patience to let the play develop and then he burst through the hole.

Now if we can only find the big power back somewhere.

[KJ3]

between the steelers beatdown, hurricane ike, and the dissappointing loss to the titans i don't think there is much love to go around. but slaton steadily improves his stock with every week so it shouldn't be too long before people take notice.

[jppaul]

I gave Slaton plenty of love in my review of our performance, touting his breakaway skills and hailing him as the back that the "fans have known that we needed", since the team's inception.

I stand behind that, but I think that as a fan base we are a little demoralized right now, and as such, hesitant to praise anything having to do with the Texans.

To analogize it, it is like seeing a rare coin in a pile of dog crap, sure its nice but do you really want to put your nose near the stink just to get a better look?

[coloradodude]

Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slato n...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...S laton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton ...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Sl aton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton. ..Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Sla ton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton.. .Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slat on...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton... Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slato n...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...S laton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton ...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Sl aton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton. ..Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Sla ton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton.. .Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slat on...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton... Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slaton...Slato n...Slaton...Slaton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ricky Slaton, the man.

[Mike]

He played a great game and looks like a keeper. I agree with the rest of the gang, with so much that is looking bad with the city, team and recovery not much love to go around. If we would have beat the damn possum eaters, then he would have gotten great run.

I am excited about the future of Slaton. Duane has looked OK so far all things considered and Okam played pretty well last week. I would love to se Adibi on the field for one of our OLB's.

I am pumped about Slaton's last game. I would love to see another effort with the big plays again this week. Couple that with a win and I'll be spreading alot of love.

[kravix]

Slaton had a great game, and against one of the toughest run D's in the league. I hope he can make that happen all the time, especially once the OL gels a bit more. I am excited about this kid.

At the same time it was 1 game, and I will not anoint him the savior at RB based on that performance. Just as I wont throw the book at Schuab for his last two. Personally I will wait until game 6ish to make either of those calls.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by Mike

I am excited about the future of Slaton. Duane has looked OK so far all things considered and Okam played pretty well last week. I would love to se Adibi on the field for one of our OLB's.

to the bolded- don't you think 18 carries is probably asking just a little too much out of the guy? i know we don't have a lot of options but i would like to see a future for slaton.

i didn't see okam get in last week, any elaborations on his game?

[nunusguy]

You're right PK, the rooks performance in Nashville has been under reported and under appreciated. I say 3 cheers for Steve Slaton !
And maybe most important was that he played with heart. He's already kinda
looking like an offensive version of D-Rob. Small but hits like a truck. Which is cause for concern, because as with D-Rob I'm already worried about his durability because of his size. And as we know, nobody takes as much punishment as running backs.
But just imagine, we've got us a guy who can run over a defender at the goal
line AND bust a tackle and break it off for a 50 yard run. I dunno if we ever had that here ? Of coure the only possibile comparison was Dominick, but he didn't have the long-ball capability of Slaton.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by KJ3

don't you think 18 carries is probably asking just a little too much out of the guy?

I would be concerned only if it looked like he lost something as the game wore on especially since speed is a key element to his game. As just an overall workload though, I don't have any big concerns. Slaton averaged more carries than that in college.

2006 - 13 games, 248 rushes (19.1/gm), 27 receptions - 21.1 touches/gm
2007 - 12 games, 211 rushes (17.6/gm), 26 receptions, 3 KORs - 20.0 touches/gm

I think he would be more effective if the Texans let Taylor (or some other bigger inside rusher currently not rostered) carry the ball 5-6 times per game. I think it might make Slaton look and feel even faster when he does carry the ball. Then let Darius Walker spell Slaton on a limited basis if a breather is needed or an injury occurs.

Otherwise, I'm kinda hoping Slaton has 20 touches per game from here out this season.

[KJ3]

ah, great points and i agree about taylor too-let him use his size as a diversion from slaton. are you surprised at all that a slaton hb/taylor fb set hasn't been used? do you think we'll see that sometime this year? while it may let a little blocking go with leach substituted out i think it gives the threat of multiple runners at one time. might be tough for a defense to figure out if done wisely.

[popanot]

Slaton is the best player we have on the field right now. And yes, that includes AJ. He's the only one who seems to be a big play waiting to happen.

[Nconroe]

Yeah, looks like Slayton will be getting plenty of love as season goes on. He is giving a max effort and concentration every play. with pretty good results.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by popanot

Slaton is the best player we have on the field right now. And yes, that includes AJ. He's the only one who seems to be a big play waiting to happen.

Every time he touches the ball I hold my breath thinking he is going to bust one.

[nunusguy]

Finally our own private Reggie Bush but at much less the cost (taken in this years NFL college Draft with our second 3rd round pick), and minus the downside of bad pub from past ties to shady agents in his college days/prima donna factor.
Plus this guy can run with some authority inside tackle and catch balls other than little passes in the flat or screens as evidenced by his long reception in the EZ yesterday.

[NBT]

I am pleasantly taken with Steve Slaton so far. We badly need his offensive presence to give opposing defenses another thing to worry about. What I am not too happy about is Chris Taylor hasn't shown any more than he has. I really thought he would be better than this, given the chance.

[Bull]

Originally Posted by NBT

What I am not too happy about is Chris Taylor hasn't shown any more than he has. I really thought he would be better than this, given the chance.

Our line is not run blocking worth a crap. Slaten had a 50 yard run las week basically on his own and his long score this week was a pass.

I don't know if L.T. or A.D. could do anything running behind our line. They really need to start improving in the running game.

[KJ3]

bull, i disagree with you, their run blocking is worth a crap.

every now and again though, by mistake or by design a hole opens up and slaton scoots through it. taylor bulldozes, but he's not quite the size for that type of running. he had a one nice hole to run through last game too.

[NBT]

Where is this fired up coach Gibbs we have been hearing so much about with his vaunted ZBS that had his former teams in the top 10 in Oline and rushing?

There are very few players left from the C&C era. These players are almost all Kubiaks. So where are we talent wise, and why aren't we getting better production, especially on defense. Is Richard Smith to blame or is it the players? I still think it is Smith.

[KJ3]

at least gibbs' side of the ball and schemes have produced something. 100 yard game is pretty neat, something i could definitely get used to. smith's defense however...is...very poor. on top of being very poor, it's also not changing much. what they do hardly works as a defense but hell if they are going to try anything to find a spark....except terrible ideas like dropping mario into coverage. vanilla as a concept is somewhat interesting but for real...it's been 3 years of 25+ ranked defenses. time for a change because the only hearts that this defense can rip out are the fans.

[NBT]

Right now our defense is ranked next to last in the AFC. That should be a wakeup call to all concerned. I am really fed up with Richard Smith's vanilla crap. Hello Kubiak, it is time for a change of DC, are you listening? We will see.