Slaton making first impression

Steve Slaton fumbled a pitch on one play and got his helmet knocked off on another during the second day of Houston Texans minicamp on Saturday. Later, he dodged three would-be tacklers and sprinted down the field.

The former West Virginia star, drafted by the Texans in the third round, is getting plenty of snaps to show coach Gary Kubiak what he can do. Now if he can only memorize the complicated playbook.

“I’m just trying to learn the system, trying to get the plays down so that I can make an impact right now,” said Slaton, the 89th overall pick. “The pass plays and the pass protections, that’s where my biggest trouble is coming from.”

The 5-foot-9, 197-pound Slaton rushed for 3,923 yards for the Mountaineers and is third in career rushing in the Big East. But that means nothing to the Texans, who have six running backs on the minicamp roster.

Ahman Green and Chris Brown are the top two on the depth chart. Green missed most of last season with a left knee injury and Brown signed as a free agent after five seasons in Tennessee. Chris Taylor missed last season with a knee injury, Darius Walker played in only four games and Arliss Beach spent last season on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

They all have more NFL experience than Slaton, but he doesn’t think that’s a disadvantage.