No Dance Master
Ben Tate is not just the Texans' new fantasy: McNair, he has even "more speed"than he showed
Bob McNair emerged from the closed double doors of the Houston Texans' locker room a little before 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday night of hope, his face flushed from a smile. The owner of Texans likes what he sees from his re-energized team.
"It showed the talent we've got," McNair said of a 27-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints, a preseason game dominated by the Texans' first-team offense.
When it came to the most unexpected talent burst — the show from backup running back Ben Tate, who lifted himself out of what turned out to be a very premature career grave — McNair is sure it's only a start though. It's only a glimpse. Tate may have ripped off 95 yards on only nine carries. He may have juked his way to one 43-yard run and averaged more than 10 yards per carry. He may have reminded everyone why there was so much excitement in the Texans front office when Houston grabbed him in the second round last year.
"I was very surprised that (Ben Tate) played as well as he did," Bob McNair said. "He hasn't practiced that much. His conditioning's not where it's going to be. He has more speed than he showed tonight."
He may have punctuated it all with what starting tailback Arian Foster dubbed "the worst touchdown dance in the history of football."
But that's nothing yet. Not according to the man who owns the franchise.
"I was very surprised that he played as well as he did," McNair said. "He hasn't practiced that much. His conditioning's not where it's going to be. He has more speed than he showed tonight."
That's right, more speed. Tate, who starred at Auburn in the speed-heavy SEC but missed the entire 2010 season and the first preseason game this summer with injuries, wasn't about to disagree.
"It's just a start," Tate said. "I know that."
One that already has the owner sure they'll be much more. When you miss your entire rookie year with a broken ankle, when hamstring troubles keep you out of most of training camp and the preseason opener, when some people are suddenly (crazily) wondering if you could even be cut in a crowded Texans' backfield, questioning if you'll ever show anything, it's something to take in stride.
Even if you're sure that stride is going to get even quicker.
"I guess practice is overrated," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.
For more, read a full CultureMap column on the Saints' game and how the Texans are suddenly the favorites in the AFC South.