For a fourth consecutive season, running back David Johnson will be playing for a new head coach.
Bill O’Brien follows Kliff Kingsbury, Steve Wilks and Bruce Arians — Johnson’s coaches in his last three seasons with Arizona.
A new coach also means a new offensive system to master. Johnson, who was acquired from the Cardinals in the DeAndre Hopkins trade, spent the offseason program learning virtually the Texans’ system installed by O’Brien and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.
The Texans are supposed to have their first training camp practice on July 26, and when they finally get on the field, they’ll have a Johnson and Johnson backfield — David and Duke.
“David and I came out the same year (2015), and we met at the combine and stayed in contact through the years,” Duke said recently. “I’m expecting the David Johnson we all know can play. When he’s healthy, I think he’s one of the best backs in the league.”
David Johnson missed three games because of injuries in his last season with the Cardinals but played in 16 in 2018. As a Texans’ fan, would you take today a 1,386-yard, 10-touchdown performance by Johnson this season?
Those were numbers Johnson produced in 2018 for Arizona. He had 940 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. He caught 50 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2019, his only season with the Texans, Carlos Hyde totaled 1,112 yards, including 1,070 rushing, and six touchdowns. Hyde had a career-high eight runs or at least 20 yards. Despite being relegated to a reserve role and missing three games, David Johnson had seven receptions of 20 or more yards.
Since 2016, O’Brien has mentioned from time to time how much he likes David Johnson. That’s why he wanted the running back in the Hopkins trade that also included defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in the second round and a fourth-round pick in 2021.
The Texans had plenty of salary cap room to absorb Johnson’s $10.2-million base salary this season.
Hyde and Duke Johnson combined for 1,932 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In replacing Hyde, David Johnson has a lot to prove. If he stays healthy, he and Duke Johnson could become the NFL’s best receiving twosome out of the backfield.
In his first season with the Texans after coming from Cleveland for a conditional third-round draft choice, Duke Johnson had 410 yards rushing and 410 receiving to go with five touchdowns.
With Kelly calling plays for the first time, he’s going to have a backfield duo that can line up as receivers anywhere on the field. They could be on the field at the same time, too. Coaches love that kind of versatility.
“The NFL is all about matchups, and some teams do it better than others,” Duke Johnson said. “It’s about trying to exploit the defense. We could have me and David on the field going against linebackers. You try to find ways to take advantage of those kinds of matchups.”
Like David Johnson, Duke is also adjusting to change for a fourth consecutive season. The last two starting backs he worked with at Cleveland were Isaiah Crowell and Nick Chubb. After coming off the bench behind Hyde in his first year with the Texans, he’ll be playing with David Johnson this season.
“I’ve definitely had a lot of running backs with me,” Duke Johnson said. “That’s a lot of in and out, but there’s no adjustment for me.
“As long as the back is willing to learn and understand the running back room we have, I think it’ll be fine. We all have the same level of respect for each other, and we’re learning from each other.”
In 2019, the plays for Hyde and Johnson were almost evenly distributed. Hyde took 49.9 percent of the snaps and Johnson 47.8.
Johnson got a late start after O’Brien traded for him.
“I think I did okay last year, especially considering I came here the second week of training camp, and at the time, I was dealing with a hamstring injury,” he said. “I was behind in learning the offense, how the linemen blocked and playing with D4 (Deshaun Watson).
“Getting a season under my belt, and even though the offseason has been unorthodox, I’ve been able to master the playbook so I can play the position the way I want to and be everything they need me to be. I’m so much more comfortable now that it’s been like night and day.”
Duke Johnson has never missed a game because of an injury. So much of what happens on the Texans’ offense depends on injuries. The receivers, as well as David Johnson, have experienced problems staying healthy.
O’Brien tried to offset the Hopkins trade with David Johnson and receivers Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb.
“Nobody wanted to see Hop go, and we wish him nothing but the best,” Duke Johnson said, “but we have the potential to be prolific on offense. To have a great offense, we have to be on the same page with D4 and stay healthy.”
Johnson was impressed with Kelly in his first season as offensive coordinator, and he’s fired up about him calling plays.
“I’m excited about it, yes,” he said. “I think Tim’s going to do a great job. He’s energetic and intelligent, and we feed off that energy.”
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing teams to make significant changes to the way they do business on and off the field, at least the players know they’ll report to training camp at some point.
“It’ll be very exciting to get to camp and, hopefully, know that football’s going to be back on time,” Duke Johnson said. “It’ll give people something to enjoy considering how much doubt there’s been for sports in general. I think it’s something we’re all going to need.”
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