Dameon Pierce delivered an epic, punishing and virtuoso tackle-breaking performance last season that stamped him as the winner of the annual NFL’s Angriest Run.
Pierce made an immediate impact as a rookie for the Texans as a Pro Bowl alternate runner whose season ended prematurely. His physical style and his occasional breakaway speed he flashed in the open field helped salvage an offense that struggled mightily in most other areas. And there was a glaring lack of support behind him in the backfield as former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton resorted to run-pass-option plays with quarterback Jeff Driskel during the second half of the season as the running game behind Pierce cratered.
Flash forward to this offseason with the arrival of new coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik installing a version of the San Francisco 49ers’ run-oriented offense with a significantly more qualified running tandem. Signing former Buffalo Bills starter Devin Singletary to a one-year, $3.75 million maximum value deal that includes $2.5 million guaranteed with a $1 million signing bonus gives the Texans an ideal type of complementary back with Piece remaining the centerpiece of the rushing attack.
While Pierce is inclined to running over defenders with his bruising style, Singletary provides more of a slashing, gliding running style and is an accomplished pass-catcher.
“Very excited, I think we're definitely going to be a good one-two punch,” Singletary said. “Just working with Dameon so far, it’s been a lot of fun. Every day, he’s bringing the juice, bringing the energy. I feel like me and him, we’re going to do something special for sure. A lot of guys like to look at Dameon as a bruiser, but I feel like he’s more than that.
“Make guys miss, he definitely can catch out of the backfield. For me and him, I feel like some would say I’m shifty or whatever, that’s my game, but I feel like I can do it all as well. Feeding off of each other’s energy, I feel like that’s what it’s going to come down to throughout the season, us feeding off each other’s energy, picking each other’s brains, finding ways to get better, and I think that’s the biggest thing,” he said.
Pierce rushed for 939 yards and four touchdowns 30 passes for 165 yards on 220 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per run as opponents stacked the box to crowd the line of scrimmage against the fourth-round draft pick from Florida. He gained 506 yards after contact and broke 27 tackles. He also caught 30 passes for 165 yards and one score.
“We respect each other for sure,” Singletary said of Pierce. “This offense hasn’t been showing that more than one guy can eat. The biggest thing for us is we’re going to be feeding off of each other’s energy. Of course, it’s a game. It’s competition. You’ve always got to compete, but it’s going to be a healthy competition. Making each other better, pushing yourself to each other’s best, getting the best out of each other.”
Singletary rushed for 3,151 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 145 passes for 971 yards and four scores in 61 career games for the Bills.
The interaction between the two backs has been productive, and the chemistry is growing fast.
“Every time we talk, we’re always talking ball,” Pierce said. “I’m always asking, because he’s a shiftier kind of guy, more of a in-space type of player, I’m not asking him what he’s doing, I’m asking, ‘What are you thinking when you’re doing it?’
“He’s a very intentional player. The more I get to pick his brain, the more I get into his mindset of how he sees the game, how he sees the play develop. It’s really simple. Sometimes it’s as simple as, ‘Hey, man, he’s dropping, bro. What I’m thinking is, I’m sitting right here.’ Just simple stuff like that.”
Singletary, whose deal includes a $1.5 million salary, has $1 million in incentives. If he plays 50% or more total offensive snaps, he earns $125,000. If he plays 55% or more snaps, he earns another $125,000. If he plays 66 percent or more snaps, he earns $250,000. If he gets 1,000 total rushing-receiving yards, he earns $125,000. For 1,100 total yards, he gets $125,000. And, for 1,200 total yards of offense, $250,000.
Singletary is expected to complement Pierce after joining the Texans during free agency with his elusiveness.
Singletary played against the Texans in 2021 during a 40-0 Bills victory.
He joins an overhauled roster led by coach DeMeco Ryans that includes a commitment to the running game and investments in the offensive line with Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil receiving a three-year, $75 million extension to become the highest paid offensive lineman in the game along with trading for offensive guard Shaq Mason and signing him to a three-year, $36 million extension.
Playing for the Texans with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud expected to earn the starting job Singletary won’t be sharing running plays often with the former Ohio State star, who’s a traditional pocket passer compared to a freewheeling Josh Allen.
“Yeah, it’s different because I won’t be splitting with a quarterback,” SIngletary said. “You know, he touched the ball, the quarterback touched the ball every play. And then this scheme, coming here, I just felt like, man, I watched Christian McCaffrey, I watched [Elijah] Mitchell, I watched multiple guys. [Jeff] Wilson [Jr.], a lot of guys have a lot of success in that offense.
“Once I came here on a visit, I got to meet coach DeMeco, coach Slow. There was a lot of great energy throughout the building, and I’m a big energy guy. I’m like, ‘Man, this is the place to be,’ and you can feel it around the building that we’re headed in the right direction.”
The Texans averaged just 86.8 rushing yards per game last season despite Pierce’s presence. It was the third-lowest average in franchise history.
That should change this year.
The Texans’ second and third-leading rushers last season were Dare Ogunbowale (123 yards), Royce Freeman (117 yards), followed by quarterback Davis Mills (108 yards) and running back Rex Burkhead (80 yards) and Driskel (75 yards).
Singletary, 25, split time last season with James Cook, rushing for 819 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and caught 38 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown.
“Yeah, excited to have both those guys,” Ryans said. “Dameon has shown a lot from his rookie season. He’s shown that he’s a really good player, and being able to add Devin there with him to have sort of that one-two punch to have those guys balance each other out, I think it’ll be really great addition for us. Excited for what Devin can bring. He’s hungry to show that he can do more, so excited to have him in Houston.”
In eight career playoff games for the Bills, Singletary has rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 195 yards.
Playing for Slowik should provide a boost for Singletary with the way the backs, including Christian McCaffrey, were utilized with the 49ers.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of opportunity for a running back in this type of scheme under coach Slow,” Singletary said. “If that’s catching out of the backfield, running the ball, whatever it may be, there’s a lot of opportunity, and with a lot of opportunity, good things can happen.
“We all know how San Francisco ran their offense and stuff, so being under coach Slow, of course that’s what he’s bringing, but he’s putting his own twist to it. Very, very smart guy. Learning a lot from him.”
The Texans also added running back Mike Boone, a former Denver Broncos contributor, this offseason in addition to Singletary.
“Devin has done a good job,” Ryans said. “Devin has put himself in a really good spot, love the attention to detail, how he prepares each and every day, so I’m excited where he is. We’ll see how that looks with Dameon and Devin, Mike, all those guys in our backfield. The way we have a lot of capable guys, and again, we’ll see how that looks come training camp.”
A former Pro Bowl linebacker, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Texans, Ryans is eager to put his imprint on the Texans. That includes a vision of building with players like Pierce.
“I think he did what he had to do,” Ryans said. “He showed some toughness, he showed some competitive fight in him. I love the way he runs, I love his style, and it’s a style that I really want to continue to feed him. I think that style of running is just, it excites the entire team. He runs with an attitude that I really like and want to see him continue to build his game off of that, but I’m excited to see where Dameon, his growth from year one to year two.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.