Dameon Pierce endured a frustrating season without complaint last season, exercising silence and restraint during a year where his status on the depth chart, workload and productivity all declined.
One year after being named a Pro Bowl alternate as one of the top rookie running backs, Pierce was relegated to a complementary role behind Devin “Motor” Singletary -- cheered on his teammate while his numbers have taken a hit.
Flash forward to training camp this year and Pierce looks primed to bounce back. He’s worked tirelessly this offseason and has added lean muscle, striking a balance between bulk and speed. He’s also much more decisive in his moves as he appears significantly more comfortable in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s zone schemes. Pierce ran with the first-team offense Saturday with starter Joe Mixon off for the day. Pierce ripped off several good runs.
“He came in ready to compete and ready to work,” Slowik said. “And, I mean, last year, there’s always a lot going on. This year, he’s been able to really focus mentally. He’s been able to focus physically to where he’s can hone in on the offense, but he can also hone in on himself.
“And he’s always been a tireless worker. But now he’s seeing the dividends of that and it’s been fun to watch him in OTAs and camp. I mean, he’s doing really good stuff in camp. I mean, it’s been fun to watch, excited to continue to see him grow.”
Pierce rushed for 416 yards and two touchdowns last season with a 2.9 average per run in 14 games and seven starts, dealing with an ankle injury and a tough adjustment to Slowik’s running system. Pierce gained 939 yards and scored four touchdowns as a Pro Bowl alternate during a dynamic rookie season two years ago, averaging 4.3 yards per run as he established himself as a bruising presence and was awarded the NFL’s Angry Run of the Year for his tackle-busting display against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the Texans did acquire Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals via a trade and signed him to a three-year, $27 million contract extension and drafted Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan, they still have plans for Pierce. Pierce, who has worked diligently this offseason while also taking the time to complete his degree requirements at the University of Florida, figures into the equation as a change of pace behind Mixon and on kickoff returns after his 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last season against the Cleveland Browns.
During spring drills, Pierce looked strong, compact and quick.
“What I have seen from Dameon this offseason is a guy who has put in the work,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As you have mentioned, he has changed his body, he is strong, he has been working out every day of the offseason program. Not only here just working out, but I am also proud of Dameon for him going back and finishing his degree at Florida. So, just the complete man, working out as a football player, but also finishing that degree means a lot to him.
“I see Dameon having a very clear head space as we are out working, and I think that will allow him to have a really productive year this year. He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us and I think him and Joe as a one-two punch, would be very beneficial for us all.”
Against the Browns, Pierce reminded everyone in the NFL how explosive and powerful he can be toting a football in the open field.
Pierce attacked the kickoff coverage during a loss to the Browns at NRG Stadium, aggressively attacking the middle of the field in a structured return before cutting to his right toward the sideline and running away from pursuit. The Buford, Georgia native wasn’t going to be caught -- especially by Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins, who injured his hamstring chasing after Pierce in vain. He got shoved at the 2-yard line by linebacker Charlie Thomas II and dove into the end zone.
It was one of the few bright spots as the touchdown got the Texans on the scoreboard after the Browns opened up a 14-0 lead following a 75-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Amari Cooper.
The touchdown from Pierce was just the third kickoff return for a score last season around the NFL and the second by the Texans after fullback Andrew Beck’s 85-yard return against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Dameon gave us the spark we needed, he gave us the spark to get us back into the game,” Ryans said at the time. “Putting him back there at the kickoff return is something we explored throughout the week, and he did a really good job of practicing it. And, he showed up. He showed up and made a big-time play for us to spark our entire team. Proud of Dameon and what he was able to do for us today.”
Pierce had a season-high 24 carries for 81 yards in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1 and 20 runs for 66 yards against the Atlanta Falcons the following week. He injured his ankle against the Carolina Panthers, missing nearly a month of action before returning.
Pierce, a fourth-round draft pick from Florida, wasn’t a smooth fi within a San Francisco 49ers style zone-based running scheme as he was in a more straightforward offense under former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.
“It’s a completely different offense than he was in before,” Slowik said last season. “It takes time.”
“New offense, so it’s really like another rookie year for me,” Pierce said last season. “Complete overhaul from top to bottom. Completely new identity, whole new philosophy, just trying to find out how I can make plays within the system
“At the end of the day, we’re a lot more detailed than last year, two different offenses. It comes from the 49ers, those guys got a winning tradition, those guys know how to win, they know exactly how to run the ball. They know exactly what they want, they know how they want it.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.