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Houston Texans Column
By: Ed Marcinkiewicz |
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4/24/11 No team has been more adversely affected by the NFL labor lockout than the Houston Texans. The switch to the 3-4 defense under the direction of Wade Phillips necessitates a major personnel makeover. Houston needs a real injection of experience in the secondary and would ordinarily look to acquire a starter at cornerback and strong safety via free agency. Those acquisitions would have allowed the team to move Glover Quin to free safety and effect an overall improvement in personnel. Expect the Texans to try and make these moves once free agency resumes. In the meantime the Texans must approach the draft as if they will not make any free agent signings. It will color the decisions that they make. There are two names at the top of Houston's draft board. Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. To acquire either will necessitate a trade up and Houston is not likely to part with what it would take to move that far up. A pass rusher is at the top of the wish list. North Carolina's Robert Quinn and Missouri's Aldon Smith are next in line. Quinn has health questions that must be addressed. Smith played hurt for much of this past year and his production suffered. The team must be sure in both instances that these will not be lingering problems. Mario Williams is already a fragile cornerstone of the defense and the team cannot risk having a second injury prone defender. Both players are raw and have questions defending the run as well as their pass rush technique. Prince Amukamara of Nebraska is the only other cornerback the team would consider in the first round. There are legitimate concerns about his playmaking ability. Ideally the team would wait to the second day to take another corner. Houston could also consider trading down. If they do so defensive ends like Cameron Jordan of California and J.J. Watt of Wisconsin could come in to play as could safety Aaron Williams of Texas and possible outside linebacker conversions Brooks Reed of Arizona and Jabal Sheard of Pittsburgh. The only offensive player likely to receive even brief consideration is Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. He would be a perfect compliment to Andre Johnson but it would only be a best player on the board situation that would see the Texans bypass defense with the first or second selection. In the second round the Texans will likely address either pass rush or secondary again. If the Texans go cornerback in the first round then outside linebackers like Justin Houston of Georgia and Sam Acho of Texas would be candidates. They would both be slight reaches at that spot but would address a critical need. If Houston goes the expected route and takes either Quinn or Smith, then cornerback will be the likely target. Miami's Brandon Harris, Virginia's Ras-I Dowling, and Louisville's Johnny Patrick are the top candidates. UCLA's Rahim Moore is the only possible target at safety. The third round should see some of the same targets. Defensive line becomes another area they will look to address. Christian Ballard of Iowa, Jarvis Jenkins of Clemson, Cameron Hayward of Ohio St., and Allen Bailey of Miami are possible 5-technique targets. Chris Carter of Fresno St. and Dontay Moch of Nevada will be considered at outside linebacker. Davon House of New Mexico, Curtis Brown of Texas, Josh Thomas of Buffalo, Brandon Burton of Utah, and Buster Skrine of Tennessee-Chattanooga are cornerbacks that could fit and that spot. They could consider Oklahoma's Quinton Carter and Jaiquawn Jarrett of Temple at safety. The third round could also see them consider receivers Edmund Gates of Abilene Christian, Leonard Hankerson of Miami, Jerrel Jernigan of Troy, Austin Pettis of Boise St., and Dwayne Harris of East Carolina. The final day of the draft will see the Texans stick closer to their draft board and draft value over positional need. About the only positions Houston will not consider drafting is tight end and running back. Final day candidates on offense include wide receivers Kealoha Pilares of Hawaii, Cecil Shorts of Mount Union, Jeremy Kerley of TCU, Ricardo Lockette of Fort Valley St., Andre Holmes of Hillsdale, Denarius Moore of Tennessee, Terrence Tolliver of LSU, Tori Gurley of South Carolina, Stephen Burton of West Texas A&M, Lestar Jean of Florida Atlantic, and Terrence Turner of Indiana and offensive linemen Willie Smith of East Carolina, Byron Stingily of Louisville, Brandon Fusco of Slippery Rock, Derek Newton of Arkansas St., John Moffitt of Wisconsin, Stefen Wisniewski of Penn St, Jason Pinkston of Pittsburgh, Jah Reid of Central Florida, and Derek Hall of Stanford. At the end of the draft a quarterback or fullback could be targeted. Scott Tolzien of Wisconsin, Patrick Devlin of Delaware, Mike Hartline of Kentucky, and Jerod Johnson of Texas A&M are developmental projects the team will consider. A number of fullbacks could be considered if the team fears losing All-Pro Vonta Leach including Georgia's Shaun Chapas, USC's Stanley Havili, Stanford's Own Marecic, South Carolina's Patrick DiMarco, Pittsburgh's Henry Hynoski, and Connecticut's Anthony Sherman. Houston will also likely draft a punter from among Chas Henry of Florida, Ryan Donahue of Iowa, and Reid Forrest of Washington St. Defenders at every position will be considered. Defensive end candidates include Brandon Bair of Oregon, Lazarius Levingston of LSU, Karl Klug of Iowa, Pernell McPhee of Mississippi St., Cedric Thornton of Southern Arkansas, Lawrence Guy of Arizona St., Martin Parker of Richmond, Zach Clayton of Auburn, Frank Kearse of Alabama A&M, and Ibrahim Abdulai of Arkansas-Pine Bluff are possibilities. A nose tackle is a likely target from amongst Terrell McClain of South Florida, Drake Nevis of LSU, Ian Williams of Notre Dame, Colby Whitlock of Texas Tech, Chris Neild of West Virginia, Sione Fua of Stanford, Sealver Siligi of Utah, and Anthony Gray of Southern Mississippi. Outside linebacker prospects include Ugo Chinasa of Oklahoma St., Jeremy Beal of Oklahoma, Mason Foster of Washington, K.J. Wright of Mississippi St., Steven Friday of Virginia Tech, Cliff Matthews of South Carolina, Mario Addison of Troy, and Bruce Miller of Central Florida. Inside linebacker prospects include Kelvin Sheppard of LSU, Casey Matthews of Oregon, Elijah Joseph of Temple, Chris White of Mississippi St., and Nate Irving of North Carolina St. Cornerback prospects to watch out for include Cortez Allen of The Citadel, Brandon Hogan of West Virginia, Justin Rogers of Richmond, Curtis Marsh of Utah St., and Anthony Gaitor of Florida International. At safety the team will look for coverage skills over Roy Williams type prospects. Da'Norris Searcy of North Carolina, Robert Sands of West Virginia, Tyler Sash of Iowa, Marcus Gilchrest of Clemson, Eric Hagg of Nebraska, Ahmad Black of Florida, Chris Culliver of South Carolina, David Sims of Iowa St., and Mark Legree of Appalachian St. are the type of playmakers they will be looking for. When free agency starts the Texans will make a quick attempt to resign Vonta Leach at fullback, Jacoby Jones at wide receiver, and Rashad Butler at tackle. The rest of their free agents may be slow played. The team needs veterans in the secondary to contend for starting positions. At cornerback Jonathan Joseph of Cincinnati, Carlos Rogers of Washington, Ike Taylor of Pittsburgh, Richard Marshall of Carolina, Josh Wilson of Baltimore, Drayton Florence of Buffalo, and Chris Carr of Baltimore would all fit the bill. At safety, Donte Whitner of Buffalo, Eric Weddle of San Diego, Dawan Landry of Baltimore, Quintin Mikell of Philadelphia, Daniel Manning of Chicago, Dashon Goldson of San Francisco, Brodney Pool of the New York Jets, Deon Grant of the New York Giants, and Abram Elam of Cleveland are possibilities. Outside linebacker candidates like James Anderson of Carolina, Matt Roth of Cleveland, and Manny Lawson and Travis LaBoy of San Francisco could be approached. A few defensive linemen could also be on the radar. Barry Cofield of the Giants, Anthony Adams of Chicago, Ron Edwards of Kansas City, and Marcus Spears and Stephen Bowen of Dallas could fill rolls in the 3-4. If Houston loses Jacoby Jones, a wide receiver will likely have to be acquired. Malcom Floyd of San Diego, Santana Moss of Washington, James Jones of Green Bay, Lance Moore of New Orleans, Mike Sims-Walker of Jacksonville, and Steve Smith of the New York Giants could all fill complimentary starting rolls opposite Andre Johnson. The draft will just be the opening act for what will be a frantic off season for the Texans once it is back to business as usual. This is a team that needs a real injection of experience as well as talented rookies. How quickly they come together as a team will be the determining factor in whether Houston finally becomes a playoff team. 3/11/11 The Texans continued reshaping their roster in the days leading up to the end of the collective bargaining agreement. In the final hours before teams were prohibited from making further signings, Houston inked tight end Owen Daniels to a four year deal. They also signed running back Derrick Ward and potential nose tackle Shaun Cody to shorter deals. The team extended a number of tenders to potential restricted and exclusive rights free agents including Arian Foster. The team failed to tender several players, most notably safety Bernard Pollard. It should come as no surprise to those who follow the Texans. Pollard most closely compares with Roy Williams who was a poor fit for Wade Phillips' defense. Also allowed to leave were defensive lineman Tim Bulman, guard Kasey Studdard, and linebacker Zac Diles. The combine helped sort out who should be at the top of the Texan's draft board. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara, and Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller would be great pickups for Houston but the team will almost certainly have to trade up to get any of them. If they stay in place a more likely prospect would be North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn who would fit as a pass rushing linebacker as would Missouri d-end Aldon Smith. Five technique d-linemen like Cameron Jordan of Cal and J.J. Watt of Wisconsin are both likely to be there as well. The only offensive players worth mentioning in the first round would be wideouts A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama. Many writers rule out the possibility of the Texans going offense in round one. While I agree that it is not their first choice, I don't believe the Texans will pass on their highest rated player on the board and adding a compliment to Andre Johnson has merits. It is also likely that the team will be more active in free agency to address needs in the secondary. There are a number of safety and corner free agents out there and I would think the Texans will sign at least one of each to be potential starters and bring much needed experience to the defense. A pass rushing outside linebacker can be picked in later rounds. Arizona's Brooks Reed, Texas' Sam Acho, Nevada's Dontay Moch, and Fresno St.'s Chris Carter are all good candidates likely to go on the second day of the draft. Safeties are also likely to feature after the first round. Quenton Carter of Oklahoma, Rahim Moore of UCLA, Chris Conte of California, Chris Culliver of South Carolina, and Jaiquawn Jarrett of Temple will be among those considered. A nose tackle is also a likely target via free agency or on the draft's final day. Ian Williams of Notre Dame, Sione Fua of Stanford, Terrell McClain of South Florida, and Chris Neild of West Virginia would all be candidates. 1/27/10 Many Houston Texans fans are angry at retaining Gary Kubiak for another year as head coach even though virtually the entire defensive staff was let go. It was the correct decision for the franchise. The pending lockout made firing Kubiak a poor financial decision. To do so would have required the Texans to hire an established winner like Bill Cowher in order to show progress in the organization. By all accounts Cowher wanted a level of control higher than what the Texans were willing to allow. If the team struggles again this coming season then the organization may reconsider its position with Cowher or some other prospective head coach. In order to address the massive defensive shortcomings Kubiak hired former Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips to coordinate the defense. The Texans will switch to a 3-4 defense. The personnel changes will likely be dramatic as some players have little obvious value in the new defense. The Texans will likely operate with Mario Williams and Antonio Smith at defensive end. Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell will get looks at nose tackle. Conner Barwin will likely move to outside linebacker. Players like Mark Anderson, Amobi Okoye, and Jesse Nading have little apparent value in the new system. Only Okoye may have trade value. The Texans will look for a new starter at nose either through the draft or more likely through free agency. Tim Bulman can play DE in the new system but there will also be a need for additional depth at the end position. A reconfiguration of the linebacking corps is also in order. Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing will likely be the starters inside backer by Darryl Sharpton and Zach Diles or Kevin Bentley. The outside backers are a work in progress. Conner Barwin will get a shot at one spot and Xavier Adibi will be tried at outside linebacker as could Tim Jamison. This is an area that will have to be addressed in the draft and through free agency. The secondary will also get a new look. Glover Quin is being moved to free safety. The team will consider resigning Bernard Pollard but he is not assured of returning. The team will look to the draft and free agency here as well. There is a real need to add veteran performers here. In moving forward the CBA will have a dramatic effect on Houston. The change to a 3-4 necessitates many personnel moves. It is in the interest of the Texans to get this labor dispute resolved quickly. The first area to be addressed should be cornerback. Texans fans want Nnamdi Asomugha as the new corner but that is highly unlikely. Champ Bailey may be more realistic but his age may be of concern. This is a great year for corners and players like Jonathan Joseph of Cincinnati, Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall of Washington, Chris Carr, Fabian Washington, and Josh Wilson of Baltimore, Stanford Routt of Oakland, Ike Taylor and William Gay of Pittsburgh, Drew Coleman of the New York Jets, Chris Houston of Atlanta, and Dmitri Patterson of Philadelphia would all be upgrades and perhaps more than one could be targeted. Safety is also likely to be addressed via free agency. Brodney Pool of the Jets is a Houston native and could be a solution at free safety as could Eric Weddle of San Diego, Dashon Goldson of San Francisco, Madieu Williams of Minnesota, and Sean Consindine of Jacksonville. If Pollard is gone at strong safety then Donte Whitner of Buffalo, Charlie Peprah of Green Bay, Daniel Manning of Chicago, Dawan Landry of Baltimore, and Quentin Mikell of Philadelphia will be on the shopping list. A starting nose tackle is of paramount importance. Barry Cofield of the New York Giants may be the most intriguing option. Anthony Adams of Chicago, Fred Evans and Pat Williams of Minnesota, Aubrayo Franklin of San Francisco, and Chris Hoke of Pittsburgh are other options. They will likely sign prospective backups at defensive end with no signing likely to be of a high profile player. An established pass rusher could be a target as well. Tamba Hali of Kansas City and Kamerion Wimbley of Oakland are two possibilities. It would also serve the Texans well to consider a veteran wideout to upgrade the option opposite Andre Johnson. Jacoby Jones showed some progress but is still a long way from what you need as a number two. He is also a free agent and might leave. Santana Moss of Washington, Malcolm Floyd of San Diego, Lance Moore of New Orleans, Braylon Edwards, and Santonio Holmes of the Jets would all be marked improvements. Depending on when a player becomes unrestricted, receivers like Sidney Rice of Minnesota and James Jones of Green Bay could also be available. The Texans have a number of free agents and several will likely be wanted back. Tight end Owen Daniels heads the list of those they will look to keep. Fullback Vonta Leach, tackle Rashad Butler, defensive tackle Shaun Cody, wide receiver Jacoby Jones, quarterback Matt Leinart, and safety Bernard Pollard are other key free agents. It promises to be an active off season for the Texans and they are chomping at the bit to get started. 12/26/10 There are many unanswered questions regarding the Houston Texans going in to the final two games of the year. First and foremost is the fate of Head Coach Gary Kubiak. If the NFL was not facing a lockout and missed games it would be likely that Kubiak would be fired at the conclusion of the season regardless of the outcome of these last two games. The expectation going in to the season was for the team to make the playoffs and at a minimum show improvement. That has not been the case this year. One can argue that the team faced a more difficult schedule than most but the bottom line is the team has fallen short of expectation. If the team plays well these last two games there is still a reasonable chance that Kubiak will return albeit with a new defensive staff. There are several reasons to go this route. The team has played well offensively and that is the area Kubiak is largely in charge of maintaining. Arian Foster has been a very capable starter and likely Pro Bowl candidate. Adding Ben Tate to the mix next year should help the running game. Matt Schaub has been very good at quarterback although one can argue it was not the season expected of him. Andre Johnson remains arguably the best receiver in football. A real question is whether the Texans have a suitable compliment to him. It is very possible that Owen Daniels will not be back not because of anything he has done. The Texans have a wealth of younger and cheaper tight end alternatives and there remains questions as to whether he will make it all the way back. Cost is also the biggest reason why Kubiak may return. In a lockout it would be difficult for Owner Bob McNair to justify paying two head coaches. If Kubiak can assemble a strong defensive coaching staff to make the necessary changes there is a possibility that this team could be a playoff team next year. It will be interesting to see what McNair decides. The only prominent name mentioned with the position is Bill Cowher and he is sure to have multiple opportunities. If McNair is going to get rid of Kubiak he will likely do it immediately after the season and go aggressively after Cowher. If he does not do this it is hard to imagine that he will do better than keeping Kubiak. As for the defense, many changes are likely in the offing. It starts with decisions on the line. Mark Anderson has two more games in his audition to be the pass rusher opposite Mario Williams. If he performs well the Texans may pass on defensive end this draft as they will also have Antonio Smith and Conner Barwin at the position along with Jesse Nading and Tim Bulman. The team will certainly try to strengthen the interior of the line. This may be the end of the road for Amobi Okoye, especially if Kubiak is fired. He has been a disappointment and would be a prime candidate for the new coach to make a statement on the defense. The linebacking corps will also look for a replacement for Zach Diles as a starter. The secondary has been pathetic throughout the season. No corner has been worthy of a starting spot. Jason Allen has shown some flashes but also gave indications of why he was cut in the first place. A big time corner would be perfect for their first pick in the draft. They will also look to make changes at safety. Bernard Pollard has his supporters but he has been a liability in coverage and has been used badly by the team for most of the season. Eugene Wilson, Troy Nolan, and Dominique Barber did little to justify their retention. This is an area that has to get better. The team may also look to replace both specialists although Neal Rackers has been passable as a placekicker. It is safe to say that all affiliated with the team are auditioning to keep their jobs over the next two weeks and no one is safe from the chopping block. After the season the move belongs to Bob McNair and he needs to be quick in making his decision, whatever it may be. 11/21/10 You can stick a fork in the Houston Texans and their playoff hopes. The heartbreaking loss at Jacksonville was only the latest in a line of defeats the team has accumulated. With a murderer's row schedule coming up and a brutual division the only chance the team has of making the playoffs is mathematical. Going in to the game with the New York Jets the Texans face the real possibility that Matt Schaub may not be available. If that is the case things have gone from bad to worse. Dan Orlovsky has not proven himself capable of leading a legitimate NFL offense and one would assume that Matt Leinart would be put on notice that he could see action as well. At this point it seems wise to let Andre Johnson get healthy and not expose him to serious injury. There is no question that everyone is playing for their livelihood with the franchise. This is especially true on defense. I would expect Jason Allen to see action at cornerback this week and other reserves, particularly in the secondary, should see time. The local talk centers around whether Gary Kubiak and Richard Smith should be back. While in our immediate gratification world it would seem that both would have to go I don't think it would be wise to send them packing. The same cannot be said for some of the defensive coaches and all of them must consider their jobs in jeopardy. There is more talent on the defense then what they are showing. It seems inevitable that changes will be made there. To send Kubiak and Smith packing would mean the franchise would be preparing to start over again and that shakeup would do the franchise no favors. There is a good young nucleus to build around but they need more playmakers on a defense that is last in the NFL in turnovers. On offense it looks increasingly evident that a playmaker opposite Andre Johnson would be a big lift for the team. It would seem that if Kubiak is given another year that he will have to produce a playoff team. That is something this organization should be capable of doing. 11/12/10 The Houston Texans appear to have taken a turn for the worse with Sunday's loss to San Diego the latest debacle. A promising 2-0 start has been followed up by a 2-4 record in the last six games and the schedule looks tougher the rest of the way in. It starts in Jacksonville this Sunday in a game that is as close to a must win game as you can have at this time of the year. The litany of problems plaguing the team are almost too numerous to list but the worst of the issues follow. 1. The defensive line has been pathetic for the last month. Mario Williams started the season brightly but is now in the midst of what has become a pattern of nagging injuries that deter his effectiveness. The team needs him to lead a pass rush and he has not done so. Antonio Smith has been the most consistent lineman but he is not a gifted pass rusher. Mark Anderson has shown a couple of flashes but to this point he has done more to justify the Bears releasing him. The loss of Conner Barwin and Tim Bulman has hurt but this is a team that still cannot rush the passer. When you are playing a secondary as young as the Texans put out there you need a strong pass rush. 2. The secondary has been bad. While I believe the Texans defensive woes begin with a lack of a pass rush there is no question the secondary has underperformed. Kareem Jackson has been made to look like a rookie in virtually every game. No other corner has stepped up to claim playing time. Bernard Pollard and Eugene Wilson have been very poor in coverage and have yet to pick off a pass. Only Jackson and Troy Nolan have picks for the Texans this season. The team will certainly upgrade the safety position this off season. It needs a veteran presence at corner rather than adding another rookie to the mix. 3. Linebacking play has been inconsistent. The defensive theme continues. The loss of Demeco Ryans was a huge blow as he was the team's most consistent defender and the brains of the defense. Brian Cushing has not been nearly as effective as his rookie season. Injuries have plagued the linebacking corps and there has been little continuity from week to week. The troubles here appear to be more injury related than a lack of talent. 4. Pass protection has been spotty at best. Duane Brown and Rashad Butler both showed vulnerability to speed rushers. Dwight Freeney should look to play the Texans every week. He would be mentioned in the same breath as Reggie White if that were the case. Eric Winston has also had his problems and the interior of the line has been fair at best. The Texan running backs as a general rule do a below average job in blitz pickup and Matt Schaub has been guilty of holding on to the ball for too long. 5. The team lacks a true number two receiving option after Andre Johnson. Johnson has been spectacular, particularly considering the high ankle sprain that has plagued him for much of the year. He is the epitome of a professional football player. The problem for the Texans is the rest of the receiving corps is better suited to being complimentary number 3 and 4 receivers rather than a starter. Add in the continuing injury woes of Owen Daniels and it is a recipe for inconsistent passing performance. The team really needs a strong compliment to Johnson and it is becoming more evident that neither Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones are capable of filling that role. The rest of the season is going to be a big test for Gary Kubiak. The problems with the team are generally not of his doing but coaches bear the brunt of criticism. The team has a chance to make the playoffs but .500 is looking more realistic. 10/15/10 The total collapse of the Houston Texans in their 34-10 loss to the New York Giants highlighted all that has been wrong with this team since the start of the season. It should give Texans' fans considerable pause in stating whether this is a legitimate playoff contender. The secondary is the biggest cause for concern but the problems with this team touch every aspect of the game. The biggest issue is the defense which ranks 92th in the NFL giving up more than 400 yards a game. This far in to the season it is not a fluke but the reality of the Texans defense. The secondary is the biggest concern. The corners seem incapable of playing press coverage and give far to much cushion. They have been picked apart and not one of them has stood out in coverage. Glover Quin appears to have taken a step back in his performance. Kareem Jackson while physically capable has been picked on and given up several big plays. None of the backups appear capable of doing better. There have been some injuries at safety but no one has stood out in coverage. Bernard Pollard defends the run well but is often out of position in coverage and there does not appear to be anyone who can create turnovers in the secondary. The poor pass rush has been a major contributing factor. In an effort to give cover to the secondary the Texans have blitzed little and the defensive front four has not been up to the challenge of consistently pressuring the quarterback. Mario Williams has flashed brilliance but the question remains how consistent is his performance. There is little help from the rest of the defensive line. Antonio Smith has played well in a couple of games but is really a complimentary rusher better suited to playing inside in passing situations. They badly need Mark Anderson to provide a second source of pressure on the quarterbacks. The linebacking play has been the best of a poor defense. Brian Cushing looked rusty after his four week suspension and the rest of the linebacking corps has been spotty. Offensively the team has battled injuries but again consistency is the big concern. Andre Johnson is not playing at 100% and it shows at times. Jacoby Jones has also missed a game and Owen Daniels is still coming back from surgery. Kevin Walters and David Anderson are good complimentary receiver but they can not be confused with a number one receiving option. Joel Dreesen has had his moments but he is really just a strong backup and not a difference maker. Matt Schaub has had some difficulty finding and hitting receivers. The offensive line has been decent as run blockers but still allow Schaub to be hit way to often when dropping back to pass. The loss of Duane Brown to drug suspension has hurt but Rashad Butler is not the only problem here. Arian Foster has been good at running back but the pundits who were lauding him as a top tier back in the NFL are getting way ahead of themselves. He is an upgrade to Steve Slaton and fits the offense well but he is not a difference maker. Houston hosts Kansas City before the bye week and face an almost must win situation. The morale of the team is at a critical point. The high expectations and strong start raced the bar and since that time this group has failed to respond. If the Texans fail to win the game against the Chiefs they will go in to the off week losing three games at home and that is a hole likely to be too deep to overcome. Gary Kubiak has said he is going with his guys but he badly needs them to respond or his seat will start to get warm. 10/6/10 After the disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys it was incumbent upon the Houston Texans to respond with a big performance against the Oakland Raiders if they wanted to be taken seriously as a playoff contender. Despite having to play without the injured Andre Johnson for the entire game and without Arian Foster and Jacoby Jones for significant parts of the game due to suspension and injury respectively, the Texans were able to respond with a convincing win over Oakland. The single biggest contributing factor for Houston was the improved play of the offensive line. They did not allow a sack and created running lanes for Foster and Derrick Ward to gash the Raiders D. Ward had his first meaningful contribution to the team and looks ready to spell Foster in the running game. Steve Slaton looks more and more likely to be relegated to a third down specialist and return man. That position is becoming critical with the injury to Jones. It is likely that Jones can play this weekend against the Giants but the team would prefer to take away his return responsibilities. Johnson should also be back and that will be critical as his physical presence was missed. If the offense is to be successful against New York they will need to find a way to slow down the Giants pass rush which crushed Jay Cutler and the Bears on Sunday night. Houston will hope for a hangover from that game and will count on Rashad Butler and Eric Winston to play like they did against Oakland and not how they did against Dallas. The Texans will also have to continue to run the ball effectively. The defense improved marginally this past week. Troy Nolan appears to have claimed the free safety job after getting the team's first two interceptions of the season against the Raiders. Eugene Wilson missed the game due to injury. Dominique Barber started in his place but picked up a slight injury. Nolan responded with a strong performance and will likely keep the starting job for now. The pass rush was also much better thanks largely to Antonio Smith who may have had his best game as a Texan. Houston is still struggling to replace Conner Barwin. To that end they have signed Mark Anderson after he was cut by Chicago. Anderson will be asked to be only an edge rusher and the team hopes he can regain his rookie form. The Texans will also have Brian Cushing back and he will go right in to the starting lineup. His play was missed and it is hoped that he will provide a big lift to the defense. The defense will have a big burden slowing down a versatile Giants offense that relies on the running of Ahmad Bradshaw and a multi-faceted passing game that will test their young secondary. If Houston can pressure Eli Manning then this game is very winnable. If they leave him time to throw then the Giants will have a field day. 9/25/10 The game with Dallas has been highlighted on Houston Texans fans schedule since the game was announced. At the time no one would have expected that the Texans would be 2-0 and the Cowboys 0-2. Despite the records, no one in Houston is expecting this to be an easy contest. If anything the belief is that Dallas will come in to the game like a wounded animal and will be even tougher to beat. Tony Romo must be licking his chops waiting to get a shot at a Texan secondary that has given up more than 400 yards in each of the first two games. The run defense has been effective to this point but that may be as much a reflection on how easy it has been to pass on Houston. The Texans face additional adversity due to the four game suspension of left tackle Duane Brown. He tested positive for a performance enhancing drug allegedly from a tainted supplement. Rashad Butler is an experienced reserve and he will be called to fill in for Brown and try and slow down DeMarcus Ware. Houston also signed Ephraim Salaam to serve as a backup tackle. They will have to hope that using Salaam will be unnecessary as he did not go to training camp and has not played football since last season. Andre Johnson is nursing a minor ankle injury but will be able to play. James Casey will miss the game with a more severe ankle problem. In order for Houston to defeat Dallas the secondary will have to be more effective than they have been in the first two games. Mario Williams will have to lead a productive pass rush against a much-maligned Dallas offensive line. When Houston has the ball they must continue to avoid turnovers. It is probably the single biggest improvement from last season. Coach Kubiak will be happy to take whatever the Cowboys give him and they will either run or throw depending on what is available. If the Texans win this game they will be well positioned to finally make the playoffs and give Texans fans what they have been craving. 9/18/10 The Houston Texans are coming off one of the biggest wins in franchise history with their win over Indianapolis last week at Reliant. The Texans used a dominating performance by the offensive line and decisive running by Arian Foster to control the clock and keep Peyton Manning off the field. The Texans passing game was not up to their usual standards but that was more a reflection of the desire to control the clock and the effectiveness with which they ran the football. Defensively the team gave up a ton of passing yards to Manning but that stat was misleading. Houston controlled the game and spent much of the second half playing a conservative defense designed to keep the receivers in front of them and force the Colts to burn time. A major bright spot was a much better pass rush that sacked Manning twice and hit him countless times. This weekend's game at Washington is a critical step for the team in its quest to be genuine playoff contenders. Houston has not been a great road team but this is the kind of game they need to find a way to win. The Shanahans will come to the game equipped with knowledge of what the team does well and where they struggle. It will be interesting to see how Houston fares in this battle of wits. I would expect Houston to throw the ball more this week but they will still try to establish the run. This is a much more physical defense than the one they faced in Indianapolis. On the defensive side of the ball the Texans will have to pressure McNabb. To replace the injured Conner Barwin the Texans signed Ryan Denney and Adewale Ogunleye. Only one is expected to be active and Jesse Nading may still see most of the time given previously to Barwin. Against Indianapolis the Texans played a great deal of nickle package but this week will have to play more of their regular defense. This will put pressure on Xavier Adibi to fill the considerable shoes of Brian Cushing. If Houston can come out of Washington with a win they will go a long way to establishing themselves as legitimate playoff threats. 9/7/10 The signing of Matt Leinart to a one-year deal does not bode well for the future of Dan Orlovsky with the Houston Texans. Leinart will only serve as a back up for this season and then will almost certainly move on to another team. He must be viewed as an upgrade by Gary Kubiak in order for the Texans to justify signing him. Orlovsky's time with the Texans may be as short as the time it takes Kubiak to bring Leinart up to speed with the offense. Once that is done it is hard to imagine the Texans paying Orlovsky more than a million dollars to be the third string quarterback. At that point I would expect Orlovsky to be cut and the Texans to try and sign John David Booty to the practice squad. The team has one spot remaining on the practice squad and if Booty is signed to that spot it is adios Orlovsky. The Texans made two other roster additions signing. Jamar Wall who was cut by the Dallas Cowboys to become the team's sixth cornerback and David Nixon who signed after being waived by Oakland. Nixon will play outside linebacker. To make room for Nixon, Danny Clark was waived. Clark had been injured for virtually all of preseason and never showed that he was ready to play. The Texans also signed six players that they cut to the practice squad. Center Brett Helms, tackle Cole Pemberton, defensive tackle Malcom Sheppard, linebacker Isaiah Greenhouse, receiver Bobby Williams, and safety Torri Williams were all resigned. Running back Chris Ogbonnaya was signed after being cut by the St. Louis Rams. The final spot had been intended for offensive tackle Steve Manieri but he was signed by the New England Patriots. It will be interesting to see if Booty gets the final spot. He impressed in his final game and showed real leadership qualities. 9/4/10 The Texans rested virtually all of their starters in their final preseason loss to Tampa Bay. The game was about giving reserves a chance to stake a claim for a spot on the team. The efforts were decidedly mixed and their will be several interesting cuts to be made. The team came in to the game with several major decisions to make. It would appear that Antoine Caldwell may have a slight edge on Mike Brisiel for the starting right guard spot. Likewise it appears that Neal Rackers would have the slightest of edges over Kris Brown for place kicking duties. It remains to be seen what the team will do at linebacker while replacing Brian Cushing for the first four games. Darryl Sharpton may have a slight edge over Xavier Adibi and Kevin Bentley but it would not be a surprise to see the team go with a veteran, especially with Peyton Manning and the Colts looming as the first regular season opponent. As for cutdowns, it seems likely the Texans will go with only two quarterbacks. Dan Orlovsky was spotty again and threw two interceptions but he showed flashes of promise and his experience matters. It is not likely the John David Booty would be claimed if he were cut and the team could place him on the practice squad. The team will await the injury diagnosis on Jeremiah Johnson. He would appear to be the choice as third team back ahead of Chris Henry and the Texans are not likely to keep four running backs. Vonta Leach will be the fullback and Houston will keep four tight ends. Derek Fine could catch on with another team as a pass catching tight end. At wide receiver it would appear that five will make the team with Dorin Dickerson beating out Andre Davis for the final spot. Davis may be offered a reduced contract to stay with the team as a return specialist. On the offensive line I think they will keep nine with Brown, Winston, Caldwell, Myers, and Smith making up the starting unit. Mike Brisiel, Kasey Studdard, Chris White and Rashad Butler will be the reserves. My guess is that Shelley Smith will be one of the last ones cut and will sign for the practice squad along with possibly Steve Manieri or Cole Pemberton. On defense I expect the team to keep nine or ten defensive linemen. Mario Williams, Antonio Smith, Amobi Okoye, and Shaun Cody will start. Conner Barwin and Earl Mitchell will be the top backups. Tim Jamison may have edged out Jesse Nading for the last spot at end. Frank Okam and Deljuan Robinson have probably done enought to be kept at tackle. Malcom Sheppard is a strong candidate for the practice squad. At linebacker I would expect Danny Clark and Will Patterson to be cut. Isaiah Greenhouse is borderline to make the team and they will watch the waiver wire closely at linebacker. The secondary is where the toughest cuts will be made. Bernard Pollard, Eugen Wilson, Troy Nolan, and Dominique Barber will make the team at safety. Glover Quin, Kareem Jackson, Brice McCain and Sherrick McManis will make it at quarterback. Jacques Reeves may have to take a pay cut in order to be kept. Antwaun Molden is hard to count on and will likely be let go although he could be kept if they elect to let Reeves go. The team will watch closely the waiver wire at corner as well. On special teams I think they will cut Jonathan Weeks and go with Joel Dreesen as his deep snapper. I would expect the team to make a couple of roster changes once they have had a chance to pick over the waiver wire. Running back and offensive line are also positions the team will look to upgrade. It is also possible that Houston will give waiver settlements to a couple of players on IR in order to clear room there. 8/31/10 The win against the Dallas Cowboys made a lot of Houston Texans fans very happy but there is the acknowledgement that Dallas was not nearly as sharp as you might ordinarily expect. The Cowboys had the longest training camp in the NFL and looked like a team with dead legs. There is no doubt the Texans will see a much different Dallas team in the regular season. With all that being said, the game was a big success for Houston. Matt Schaub had looked sharper in the Arizona game but was still solid. Jacoby Jones is threatening for more playing time and gives Schaub another big play option. It is almost certain that Andre Davis will not be part of this team when the final cuts are made unless one of the big four gets injured in the last preseason game. Dorin Dickerson has locked up the final roster spot. Owen Daniels will be back at practice this week and will likely see action once the regular season begins. The offensive line is getting closer to its final makeup. Chris Meyers will be the starting center. Wade Smith has moved ahead of Kasey Studdard. Mike Brisiel is starting to challenge Antoine Caldwell for the right guard spot. Kubiak would like to see a little more consistency out Caldwell. He also made it clear that the team would look at the waiver wire after final cuts are made. This is particularly true at running back. On defense it appears the Darryl Sharpton may earn the starting nod while Brian Cushing is suspended. This has a much to do with the missed practice time of Xavier Adibi and Danny Clark as it does with the play of Sharpton. Kevin Bentley could also see action in place of Cushing. Both Adibi and Clark return to practice and will probably play in the final preseason game. It would not surprise if the Texans go to the waiver wire at linebacker. In the secondary, Fred Bennett was released to give him more time to catch on with someone else. Antwaun Molden is hoping to stay as the sixth corner. He is battling Mark Parson and the waiver wire. Special teams play will be critical. In Houston's final preseason game many of the starters will be held out. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson will both sit out. Brian Cushing is also likely not to play and it would be a surprise if Mario Williams played. The Texans have done a very good job picking up castoffs and they will have a sharp eye out next week trying to find the next Bernard Pollard. 8/28/10 The Texans are coming off a dismal performance against the Saints and hope to bounce back in their home preseason opener against in-state rival Dallas. Houston will play their starters for most of the first three quarters in this one. There are several things the team hopes to get out of this game. 1. Stay healthy. The team has been riddled with injuries at linebacker. Xavier Adibi is still out and Danny Clark will see little action. Darryl Sharpton has been dinged in practice as well but will play. The team has already lost two draft picks to injured reserve in running back Ben Tate and return specialist Trindon Holliday. The team needs to get through this game without adding more to the IR list. 2. Improve the running game. The fault lies as much with poor performance from the interior offensive line. Right now Antoine Caldwell looks like a starter but Chris Meyers can be pushed around and no one else has stepped up at left guard. There is a starting spot to be won but it may come down to the lesser of evils. The running backs cannot put the ball on the ground. Both Arian Foster and Steve Slaton have lost a fumble thus far this preseason. They need to get through this game without putting it on the ground. 3. Stop the run. The Saints pushed the Texans front seven around last week. The d-line needs to respond and play like they did against Arizona. The play of the defensive tackles is especially important. Amobi Okoye is solid and Shaun Cody has a leg up on starting. Earl Mitchell needs to build on his performances and earn a spot in the rotation. Conner Barwin needs to step up and play better as well. 4. Find Cushing's replacement. Brian Cushing will miss the first four weeks due to suspension. Xavier Adibi came in to camp with the job but has not been on the field and cannot be counted on at the start of the season. Either Kevin Bentley or Danny Clark must win the job or else they will move Zach Diles back to the strong side and play Darryl Sharpton on the weak side. This is an area that the team will be looking at the waiver wire. 5. Solidify the secondary. Troy Nolan is pushing Eugene Wilson for the starting job at free safety. The Texans need to play the pass well, especially the reserves. They have been torched in the first two preseason games. Special teams play will be critical for those on the bubble. 6. Determine special teams roles. This area is more unsettled for the team then it has been in recent history. With Holliday on IR the team will have to settle on their return specialists. Jacoby Jones will likely return punts and Steve Slaton will return kicks along with Sherrick McMannis. The kicking duel between Neal Rackers and Kris Brown has not been resolved yet and the team must decide whether to go with a deep snapper specialist or let Joel Dreesen handle the chores. I don't expect all the decisions to be made this week but things must start to get a little clearer. 8/17/10 The Houston
Texans start to the preseason was much more encouraging than
the final score indicates. Houston's first teamers
thoroughly dominated the game in the first period, scoring
ten points on their two possessions. The defense was
equally dominating with Mario Williams tallying three
tackles and two sacks in two possessions. The second
teamers were almost as successful not allowing a score and
adding two field goals. The fourth quarter saw Derek
Anderson and John Skelton light the third teamers up for two
scores thanks in large part to interference penalties and a
roughing the passer penalty that prolonged Anderson's
scoring drive. The news was not all good as rookie running
back Ben Tate was lost for the season with a broken ankle.
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