2.8 - RB Steve Slaton, Texans
 

New Texans running back Steve Slaton wants to make a name for himself when he hits the field at Reliant Stadium. But that doesn't mean the third-round pick minds his new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan comparing him to Marshall Faulk and Reggie Bush.

Slaton (5-9, 197 pounds) had a prolific career at West Virginia, rushing for 3,923 yards in three seasons. The Texans aren't looking for a 1,000-yard season from Slaton as a rookie, but they do have big plans for him.

Shanahan and Gary Kubiak want to see Slaton come off the bench as the Texans' third-down back.

"We see him as a kind of change-up kind of guy," Kubiak said. "He's got home run ability as far as his speed. He makes a lot of big plays. There's a place in the National Football League right now for what people describe as third-down backs, guys that can catch the ball out of the backfield, do those types of things ... We just think he gives us a little bit of a speed element that we may have been missing."

I know this may be a bit of a stretch, but Houston desperately needs RB help, hopefully he turns into a Reggie Bush or Kevin Faulk. If he shows enough as the third down guy, who knows what might happen. This now completes my evil plan to land all the third round RBs.

Re: 2.8 - RB Steve Slaton, Texans
 

He's one of those "probably just going to be a change of pace, third down back" kinds of guys... but with not a lot ahead of him in Houston, let's hope he's got more of his sophomore year in him (and not so much of his junior year!). Decent pick at this point in the draft.

Re: 2.8 - RB Steve Slaton, Texans
 

Texans rookie Steve Slaton fumbled twice in Saturday's non-contact practice.
RBs coach Chick Harris called them "typical rookie mistakes." Slaton struggled with fumbles at West Virginia in 2007 after having wrist surgery. As a situational back, he'll have to fix that problem to see the field.


I agree, but at this point, what do you expect.

Re: 2.8 - RB Steve Slaton, Texans
 

He's nervous! Give the guy a break. When you're that fast, it's hard to hold onto the ball.