Football Diner 2008 Team Reviews / Previews
Houston Texans
by Chris Brophy
8/8/2008
 
Overview
 
The Texans finished 2007 with an even record and have still to taste any real success in their short history. They enter the third year under Head Coach Gary Kubiak with hope that they can continue to build on the progress that has being made and stay somewhat healthier than they were in 2007. The Texans possess a roster that has some bright young talent sprinkled across it but still carries problems that have plagued the team since their inception in 2002.
 
Quarterbacks
 
The Texans paid a heavy price to bring in Matt Schaub last season and whilst he played reasonably well and showed excellent leadership qualities, he couldn't last the full season. Sage Rosenfels came in and is a bit more of a gunslinger. He threw more TDs but also more interceptions. Schaub will have to stay on top of his game otherwise Rosenfels may be extended another chance but for now, Schaub is the clear starter. There was talk of Rosenfels being traded in the off-season but he remains and is one of the better #2 QBs in the league. The third string spot likely goes to rookie Alex Brink.
Grade: B
 
Running Backs
 
A bit of a mess. The famed zone blocking scheme of Alex Gibbs saw Texans runners manage a pedestrian 3.8 yards per carry. Ron Dayne led the way last year after veteran Ahman Green went down. Dayne is not back so for now Green is the starter closely followed by ex-Titan Chris Brown, who is talented but brittle. Rookie Steve Slaton (pictured right) looks to have the skills you would look for in a third down type back but he could get involved in what looks like a RBBC approach. Darius Walker put in some useful performances last season and could also get involved. Chris Taylor is taking some reps at FB in order to improve his chances of making the roster. Vonta Leach made the FB spot his own last season, he can block and catch but rarely runs. The long and the short of it is the Texans have lots of bodies (they have also just signed former Bronco Mike Bell) but can anyone rise above the pack to make the Texans running game respectable?
Grade: C-
 
Receivers
 
Gary Kubiak has been spotted praying at the alter of the uninjured player, saving all his prayers to try and make sure star receiver Andre Johnson can make it through 2008 without getting banged up. When Johnson was in the lineup last season he was dynamic, averaging nearly 100 yards and a TD per game. When he was out the Texans just weren't as explosive. Kevin Walter is a steady possession receiver opposite Johnson who led the team in receiving last year. Andre Davis, a veteran who had bounced around the league in recent years turned out to be a pleasant surprise in Johnson's absence and will be asked to continue that form, bringing more big plays from the slot. Add in rising star TE Owen Daniels and the Texans have a real nice set of receivers. Veteran Tim Carter has come in to increase competition behind the top three receivers. He'll be joined in the battle for playing time by Jacoby Jones and David Anderson. Veteran Mark Bruener backs up at TE along with Joel Dreessen.
Grade: A-
 
Offensive Line
 
The David Carr "era" saw the offensive line get a lot of stick but last year they showed they could protect the QB at a better level, allowing only 22 sacks. Still, not resting on their laurels, they added OT Duane Brown in round one and he looks a good fit for Alex Gibbs ZBS. Ephraim Salaam was last year's LT but Brown is expected to surpass him sooner rather than later. He'll line up next to Chester Pitts who has being with the team since they began. Chris Myers came over from Denver, where he will already be well aware of the scheme, to man the pivot. 2nd year man Mike Brisiel looks like he'll get the RG spot and Eric Winston made the RT spot his own in 2007, starting all 16 games. It's a young line that has some potential and if Gibbs can work his magic then the collection of runners behind might just be able to make things click.
Grade: B-
 
Defensive Line
 
Think of the Texans from a defensive point of view and "Super" Mario Williams comes to mind very quickly. Williams took huge strides in his second year to become a dominant force and the fact they passed Reggie Bush for him now looks a great move. Williams will once again be this defense's talisman but he'll get some pass rush assistance from new addition Rosevelt Colvin who is going to be used as a situational rusher. The Texans will be tough to pass on with those two bearing down. Inside, Amobi Okoye looked a useful player in his first year and is expected to progress further. He has steady vet Travis Johnson next to him and Frank Okam, who was drafted in round 5 will battle Anthony Maddox to provide depth. Okam needs to show passion for the game or his smarts and physical ability will be wasted in this league. Anthony Weaver will man the LDE spot on early downs before giving way to Colvin in passing situations.
Grade: A-
 
Linebackers
 
Third year man DeMeco Ryans is the star of this unit but there isn't much after that. Ryans makes a lot of tackles and has good organizational and leadership abilities but he is not a big play type MLB. Outside of him, the likes of veterans Morlon Greenwood and Zach Diles will battle fourth round pick Xavier Adibi for playing time. Adibi has a very good chance of earning a starting berth over the 2008 season but this unit has to do a better job of taking advantage of the chances the D-line can give them.
Grade: C-
 
Secondary
 
Fred Bennett had a nice rookie season, showing he could handle NFL receivers, provide some turnovers and get involved in run defense. Dunta Robinson was looking like one of the league's best before he suffered a torn knee ligament and a detached hamstring on the same play ending his season. He'll start the year on the PUP list and it's a big ask to expect a major impact from him in 2008. With that in mind, the Texans added Jacques Reeves from the Cowboys as a free agent and spent a second round pick on Antwaun Molden who has great physical skills but requires some rough edges smoothing off. Reeves should begin the season as the starter. At safety, veteran Will Demps came in early in the season and finished starting the last seven games. He's done well enough to enter 2008 as the starter. Next to him is CC Brown with Nick Ferguson and Glenn Earl providing depth but watch out for Marion Barber's little brother Dominique. His draft stock appears to have suffered from having little around him in college but he has the skill set and mental ability to play early and earn a role. This unit's strength is at corner but Robinson being out hurts.
Grade: B-
 
Special Teams
 
Kris Brown didn't miss anything under 40 yards last year and went 12 of 15 over 40 yards including a perfect 5 for 5 over 50 yards. His 57 yarder to beat Miami with one second left was a season highlight. Veteran Matt Turk returns as the punter and both he and Brown appear unchallenged in camp. Turk will also hold the snaps sent back by Bryan Pittman. The return game will be in the hands of Jacoby Jones and Andre Davis. Jones needs to make people forget his costly muffed punt versus the Titans last season whilst Davis became only the 7th player to ever return two kicks for TDs in a single game. The coverage units kept opponents out of the end zone last season and will want to maintain their ability to hold returners to a reasonably low return average in both aspects of the return game.
Grade: A-
 
Coaching
 
Gary Kubiak appears to be constructing a squad that could be considered "Broncos lite" with similar schemes and a few ex-Bronco players but there is no doubt that he has helped increase the teams overall talent level and got his players believing in the schemes. Alex Gibbs is one of the most respected offensive line coaches around and his influence is key in what Kubiak wants to achieve. Richard Smith calls the defense which has some question marks in the back seven but he has the strong influence and knowledge of Ray Rhodes to call upon if needed.
Grade: B+
 
Outlook
 
The Texans appear to be a team on the rise and if they were in another division in the AFC, they would have to be regarded as strong wild card contenders but the AFC South features a team that has won five straight division title and a Super Bowl (Colts), a team that won on the road in post season last year (Jaguars) and a team featuring the NFL coach with the current longest tenure (Titans). Last season, the Texans went 1-5 in the AFC South. To have a chance of breaking out past the teams above them, the Texans must win in the division. If they can do that, they have a real chance but it's a tough ask and another reasonable record with little reward looks very possible again.