Top 10 Texans Draft Successes - #9: Steve Slaton

by bigfatdrunk on Apr 19, 2011 2:00 PM CDT in News

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Before Arian Foster's incredible 2010 season, the Texans' single-season leader for rushing yards was Steve Slaton. In addition to his 2008 total of 1,282 rushing yards, Slaton was dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield, where he chipped in another 377 yards. For those of us with calculators, , that's a nifty 1,682 total yards, which was the second highest total in team history. Not such a bad return for a 3rd Rounder, #89th overall. Here's quite the harbinger of a scouting report on Slaton.

Goodness gracious, was this man an explosive, exciting player. The run against the Colts, especially, gives me chills.

Alas, Slaton decided to put on weight before the 2009 season, and a neck injury prematurely ended his season. From all appearances, he worked hard to come back in 2010, but the neck surgery had taken a toll, and Slaton simply couldn't regain his burst from 2008.

Since this is my list--no matter how much some of you people hate it!--I'll add that I thought Slaton was a damn fine running back. I am sad to see how he's regressed, but it's also part of the game. Slaton's acceleration was legendary, as his ability to go from 0-60 was awe inspiring. The injury, and the unnecessary weight gain, clearly had a deleterious effect on him. The Steve Slaton I'll remember is the one from the links above, not the one who was trying, quite unsuccessfully, to return kicks in 2010.

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He was a good pick from the viewpoint

of evaluating his talent. I feel the same about Dunta. I pushed him off my list because he only had one good year and maybe that was too harsh.

Besides the injury, I think the fumblitis thing was a problem for him. I actually blame the coaching staff for much of that. Taking him out every time he fumbled was not positive re-inforcement. Get him a hypnotist if you have to, or take the bad with the good. And then putting someone with a fumbling history on returns??

by BleachBum on Apr 19, 2011 2:11 PM CDT reply actions

Not sure I agree...

When he was drafted, both Kubiak and Smith acknowledged that he was brought in to be a change-of-pace guy. I don’t think either envisioned him as an every-down back. I think he exceeded all expectations as a rookie; props to him. But if anything, his 2009 campaign (great catching passes out of the backfield, but not great running between the tackles) is what we should have expected from him.

by Nashmeister on Apr 19, 2011 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Not sure I agree with one part here...

Was it just me, or was Steve really good at running between the tackles? Seems like I remember him getting pinned in on many occasions, then finding a way to squirt out the other side of the pile, carrying a guy, then shaking him off for big chunks. We didn’t have nearly the holes Arian had last year then, but he was extremely effective still. On the other side, I don’t remember him having much luck on sweeps and designed outside runs, though.
Anyone wanna chime in to help my memory?

Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.

by beefy on Apr 20, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree

Plus, in our system, we just don’t run a lot of pure “sweeps.”

A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
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"Blind fandom is all I got left." - LoneSpot

by bigfatdrunk on Apr 20, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Right...

an outside zone run is essentially moving your “between the tackles” all the way to the numbers.

Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.

by beefy on Apr 20, 2011 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

My memory

When Slaton played, which wasn’t much, he ran into his blockers. I think the difference in comparison to Foster was, Foster watches and waits, if you can do that, and then bursts past his blockers. If I could describe in two words what I perceive the difference to be between their running style its patience and vision. Slaton seemed to forget about that. I don’t know why, because his first season, he seemed to have a lot more. Although, I will say he didn’t have the patience and vision in his first season as Foster had last season. Foster was in class all by himself; waiting and watching, then bursting.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 20, 2011 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

The style that Foster displayed last season

the best comparison I can think of would be OJ Simpson when he was in his prime. That is what Arian Foster reminded my off.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 20, 2011 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

One good season

I wonder how Slaton stacks up to Aaron Glen, another round 3 pick…from the expansion draft.

Anyways, I like Slaton. I don’t know if his career is over. I think he’s a hard worker and he’s probably listening to what’s wrong and perhaps he’s losing the weight he picked up and getting his quickness back. There might still be a spot for him on this team. He’s not too old.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 19, 2011 2:11 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah I agree.

I think that given how long the off season has been and how terrible last year was, it will give slaton an opportunity to recharge. I would really like it if he returned at least as a 3rd down runningback and a better returner. I dont think he was given much guidance on how to return kicks and punts and tried his hardest not to screw up. Unfortunately it made things worse.

Feeling the five stages of grief since 2002.

by NoSafetiesNeeded on Apr 19, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I completely agree

I watched Slaton some in college and was pleasantly surprised when we drafted him. I knew he could be productive in Kubiak’s system but wasn’t expecting him to be an every down back either because he’s really not built for that, and in college he did have a tendency to be streaky. Needless to say I was pretty stoked when he bust out like he did but not totally shocked to see a let down in ‘09. Still, the fumblitis was/is a big concern. A lot of people speculate that the fumbles were related to nerve issues in the arm due to the neck injury. That sounds logical enough so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

But now it’s Foster’s show, Ward is still technically the #2, and Tate is the coveted 2nd rounder. That leaves Stevie potentially packing his bags, and that’s a damn shame. Personally I think he’d still make a dynamite 3rd down back with his ability to catch, so I’d like to see him stay.

I'm a man!! I'm forty!!

by Hydroshock on Apr 19, 2011 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions

For all those reasons, it would be great to see him rebound, make the team and contribute to a winning season

I think all Texans fans are rooting for him.

For me, he burst onto the scene when he and Pat White were freshman at WVU in their bowl game. I’m too lazy to look up who it was against. Georgia Tech (apologies if I’m mistaken) seems to ring a bell for some reason. But, the two of them just ran north, south, east and west all over that team. It was one of the most exciting bowl games I have ever seen from a disconnected fan point of view. Well, not totally disconnected, since I applied to WVU many years ago. But, not invested, anyways. Ever since, I’ve been a fan of Steve Slaton.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 20, 2011 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions

I dunno

He had a great 1st year – his 2nds sucked – not even getting into the injury thing. As far as talent and ability – good pick – but one good year doesn’t seem to make a successful draft pick to me. But you are right bfd – it’s your list!

My name is Barry - I am from Texas

by Barryfromtexas on Apr 19, 2011 6:20 PM CDT reply actions