Houston Texans
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NFL Team Column 2010 NFL Draft Review By Mark Stein |
Texans Get Run Over
The Houston Texans lost to the New Orleans Saints last Saturday night by the score of 35-20. It was not that close. The Saints ran wild all night against a Houston defense that did not seem ready to play. It was the Saints first game in the Super Dome since winning last season’s Super Bowl and the Saints and their fans were fired up. The Texans were not.
The Texans’ defense was the story of the game in that they have not looked that out of synch in years. Houston’s defensive line rarely made a tackle and had no sacks. The top three tacklers in the game play in the secondary. This shows the ineffectiveness of the linebacking corps and the line. The Texans had to blitz a safety and a linebacker just to record their only sack of the game. They gave up 198 yards rushing and 409 total yards. Perhaps playing back to back road games and living out of a New Orleans hotel all week took its toll. It’s as good an excuse as any for a bad game.
On offense, the quarterbacks looked good as both Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky led touchdown drives. RB Arian Foster ran well and scored a touchdown but had a costly fumble. The receivers and tight ends were solid, but the offense did not get much of a chance to shine as the defense gave up long drives and could not get the Saints offense off the field. The offense was far from perfect as two drives shorted out and ended with long field goals. Foster’s fumble plus a dropped kick by KR Trindon Holliday added to the bad field position Houston suffered much of the night. Houston started flat and stayed flat most of the night.
Next on the schedule is the annual preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. Houston fans are looking for a much more focused Texan team to take the field on Saturday. Most of these fans know that wins and losses are not the main thing in the preseason, but they do know a lack of preparation when they see it. They saw it last Saturday night.
Preseason Game One
Cardinals 19, Texans 16: When is a loss a win? Last Saturday, that’s when. The Houston Texans dominated the Arizona Cardinals for more than three quarters in Glendale Arizona, then decided to let the home town fans have a thrill by letting the Cards come back and win the game. The Texans didn’t really let the Cardinals win, it just worked out that way. It didn’t make much difference as Houston fans had already seen their first and second team totally shut down Arizona’s offense when it counted.
On defense, the Texans were primed and ready for the 2010 debut. DE Mario Williams lead the attack with two sacks, but he had plenty of help. LB’s Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing were flying around with high energy. Safety Bernard Pollard has instilled a toughness in Houston’s secondary that made Cardinals receivers pay for each catch. Rookie LB Darryl Sharpton had a fine game including seven tackles and a pickoff of a Cardinal pass. That must have got him noticed by the coaches and fans. Second year safety Troy Nolan finally got a chance to contribute, grabbing an interception and making some nice hits. Young LB Darnell Bing also was in on a lot of action.
The offense started off with a bang as QB Matt Schaub threw a nice deep ball to All Pro WR Andre Johnson for the first TD of the game. After that, they cooled off a bit, but even though they failed to score a touchdown in four tries in the red zone, they did hit three field goals for a nice 16-0 lead. Houston controlled the game when it counted, but Head Coach Gary Kubiak knows they need to finish drives better. Scoring TD’s in the red zone is a priority this year, but since it’s game one of the preseason and the Texans obviously were trying things they would not do in the regular season, Texans’ fans shouldn’t be too worried.
Starting RB Arian Foster looked in tune with the offense, snapping off some nice runs. Second year running back Jeremiah Johnson also had a nice per carry average and earned some more time. RB Steve Slaton did not impress. He struggled finding holes to run through, then fumbled at the goal line as Houston was prepared to finish a drive. WR’s Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones were the bright spots on the receiving corps. The offensive line did a fine job pass blocking and their run blocking seemed just as good as long as Foster and Johnson were carrying the ball. (Funny how a good running back makes the line look better.) Rookie WR Dorin Dickerson caught the ball well but could learn to run straight up field to maximize each catch. In the kicking competition, neither kicker missed a field goal and their kickoffs were about equal distance.
Overall, the first preseason game has to be considered a success. The score says Arizona won, but the Texans starters have no doubt who really won the game. The worst part of the visit to the desert was the loss of rookie RB Ben Tate from Auburn. The young man reportedly has a broken ankle that will shelve him for the season. (Let’s hope he doesn’t have Charles Spencer’s doctors on the case.) Hopefully Tate will come back at full speed next season to join the Texans on their second run to the playoffs.
Risky Off Season
Houston Texans’ training camp starts soon, and many Houston fans are hoping for a playoff appearance in the 2010-11 season. Much of this hope comes from a young nucleus of good players all reaching their prime. Some of it comes from the thinking that the city is just due to win this year. It is not from all the wheeling and dealing the Texans leadership has been up to, that’s for sure. Texans owner Bob McNair and General Manager Rick Smith seemed to take no risks in the off season. They signed no free agents of note, and made no splashy trades. At first glance, one might think the Texans spent the off season taking no risks, but this is not true. They are risking a lot.
In the off season of 2010, there was no salary cap, so NFL teams could sign proven, starting free agents if the team was willing to go for it. The Texans were not. NFL teams could make trades like never before if they chose to be bold. The Texans did not. By not going out on the market to find a speedy free safety, the Texans’ brass is saying; “We are good enough at safety.” Most do not believe this. Bernard Pollard is a very good run stuffing strong safety, but does not cover well. Eugene Wilson is an average free safety, but injury prone. Through trade or free agency, a fast free safety was needed.
In the 2009 season, the Texans ran the ball poorly. The team could have traded for an established offensive lineman or signed a talented free agent, but they did not. Instead, they drafted young running back Ben Tate and declared the running game would now be better. Most observers and fans thought the team might do more to wake up the dormant running attack. They were told all is just fine. The same can be said of staying with Dan Orlovsky as backup quarterback. “We’ll be just fine”, Rick Smith says. The Texans are taking a risk by not taking risks.
Houston did have an above average draft at first look, but so much more could have been done this off season. So much more was expected from the leadership of a team on the cusp of the playoffs. Instead, Houston saved their money and proceeded to tell their fans they didn’t need to do anything fancy. They are telling the fans they know what they are doing and the team did not need impact free agents to make the playoffs. But by taking no risks on the player market, they are risking their reputations as judges of talent. They are risking the faith of the fans. After eight seasons of football with no playoffs, that’s risky.
Houston Texans have An Eventful May
Once upon a time there was a professional football team in South Texas that dreamed of being mentioned by the national media once and awhile. In May of 2010, the team got their wish, just not exactly the way they wanted to. The Houston Texans finally got some air time on some national shows by one player holding out for a better deal, and another getting suspended for a banned substance.
All Pro WR Andre Johnson held out a couple days of organized team activities, (OTA’s), to get a point across to team management that he would like to talk about a new contract extension. I would like to take this moment to make a point; “Hey Andre, maybe you should have had a real agent negotiating your last deal!” (Andre had his uncle representing him and they signed a deal that was too long.) Johnson did not stay away from practice for very long, and in the end he did hire a professional agent who was not related to him.
Last year’s defensive rookie of the year, LB Brian Cushing was revealed to have been tested positive for a banned substance by the NFL. Cushing will miss the first four regular season games of the 2010 season. This story got significant airplay by the media as they just love to rant on and on about steroids and such. Too bad for the other 31 teams in the league that also have stories to tell. The media just loves to lead off and spend much of their air time on either steroid related stories or Brett Favre.
Meanwhile over near Reliant Stadium in Houston, the Texans OTA’s are almost over and some players have shown very well for Head Coach Gary Kubiak. The coach has gone out of his way to praise fourth year wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Kubiak says Jones is doing better now than ever before and should push WR’s Kevin Walter and David Anderson for playing time. Also on the offensive end, running back Arian Foster has been running with the first team. Foster is said to be doing everything well and he has the size the coaches like. Third year back Steve Slaton also has had some fine practices and is looking just as good as his rookie year, maybe better. Rookie RB Ben Tate missed the first 10 OTA practices and has much time to make up.
Second year TE James Casey and rookie TE Garrett Graham have impressed Coach Kubiak by splitting all the snaps at their position while the other TE’s nurse injuries. The coaches plan on using Casey exclusively at tight end for now.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team has been impressed with their first round pick, cornerback Kareem Jackson and the third round pick Earl Mitchell, a defensive tackle. Kubiak has said these two rookies have the best chance to contribute this year. Also impressing the coach is third year corner Antwaun Molden. Molden has always had the tools to play in the league, but needs to stay healthy if he is to stick around. Safety Troy Nolan, a second year player is doing very well in the OTA’s and he is pushing hard to be the backup to either Brian Pollard or Eugene Wilson, the projected opening day starters at safety.
Overall, it was an eventful May, and the Houston Texans finally got some big time news coverage. Not the most positive of stories, but it is air time, right? At least Houston fans got to see the national media talk about their team. Now if the media would only get a chance to mention the Texans and the playoffs in the same sentence. That’s the dream.
The 8th Round
After the NFL Draft is over, General Managers get very busy signing undrafted free agent rookies. While it’s rare an undrafted player sticks with a team and makes an impact in the NFL, it does happen. For the teams that pick them up, these players provide depth during training camp and could make the practice squad. Best case scenario, the player really surprises and makes the 53 man roster. For the players, it’s a chance to show all the teams in the NFL what they missed out on and if they don’t make the cut this year, they gain valuable experience in an NFL camp to try to make another run at it next year. Reportedly, here’s the rookie free agents the Houston Texans made agreements with after the draft:
QB Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green; 6’4”, 225 lbs – 3rd Team All MAC. Two year starter. Passed for just over 4,000 yards last season. Familiar with the West Coast offense.
FB Jack Corcoran, Rutgers; 6’1”, 230 lbs. – Started 21 games for Rutgers in his career. Strictly a blocking fullback.
FB/LB Isaiah Greenhouse, Northwestern State; 6’2”, 240 lbs – A special teams star in college, Greenhouse will not be outworked. Played linebacker in college.
WR London Crawford, Arkansas; 6’2”, 205 lbs – Good speed, but a raw player. Not used very much at Arkansas. 17 career starts. Injuries held him back in college.
WR Trey Stross, Iowa, 6’2”, 200 lbs – Very good leaping ability, with average speed. High jumped in college for track team. Injuries hampered his career. Won Iowa hustle award for special teams.
TE/OT Steve Maneri, Temple; 6’6”, 270 lbs. – Good blocking TE. If he can gain weight, could be tried at tackle. 3rd team All MAC. With all the TE’s in camp, he better gain weight!
OT Cole Pemberton, Colorado State; 6’7”, 315 lbs. – Three year starter in college. Played in East-West Shrine game. More than a few services had him going in sixth or seventh rounds.
OT Adam Ulatoski, Texas; 6’5”, 310 lbs – 2nd team Sporting News All American. First team all Big 12. Starter for most of his career at Texas. Good strength. Could be moved to guard.
OG Kristian Matte, Concordia; 6’4”, 300 lbs – Played in Canada. Probably will be tried inside instead of tackle.
LB Will Patterson, Indiana; 6’1”, 235 lbs – Three year starter. Team captain his final two years. Smart, if not talented player.
DT Malcom Sheppard, Arkansas, 6’2” 285 lbs; Plays hard all the time. Undersized for defensive tackle, but very productive. Suffered shoulder injury in Liberty Bowl that still bothers him.
DE Mitch Unrein, Wyoming, 6’4”, 270 lbs. – All Mountain West Honorable Mention. Had a good pro day that caught some scouts eyes. Good, but not great speed.
CB Pierre Singfield, Arizona State, 5’11”, 195 lbs. – Good size. Plays physical. Average speed.
FS Torri Williams, Purdue, 6’0”, 205 lbs – Hampered by injuries most of his college career. Tackles well. Played both corner and safety in college.
FS Nick Polk, Indiana, 5’11”, 210 lbs – Four year starter at Indiana. Does not time well in the 40, but plays faster than he tests. Supports against the run well.
SS Aaron Webster, Cincinnati, 6’1”, 210 lbs – Good strength. Has been times under 4.5 forty recently. Led Cincy in interceptions his senior year, and was third in tackles.
While it seems all of these players have some potential, they cannot all make the team. As deep as the Texans are these days, don’t expect more than a few of these players to even make the practice squad. There must have been some reason why they all went undrafted.
The NFL draft weekend has come and gone and it looks like the Houston Texans targeted quantity and depth with their picks. With some wheeling and dealing, Houston General Manager Rick Smith started with eight picks but ended up with nine. Houston went for need picks on the first and second day, grabbing a very good cornerback, a star running back and a defensive tackle with their first three picks. The defensive tackle, Earl Mitchell from Arizona, seems a lot like what the team has now, (a short, sub-300 pound DT), but it is a position of need.
After much discussion over Friday night and into Saturday morning, Houston opened day three by going for depth, not need, with a linebacker and a tight end. The tight ends the Texans have on the roster must be more hurt than the fans were led to believe if the team needed a tight end over safety help. The fans will also keep an eye on the players Houston passed up to take a middle linebacker, trust me. The Texans brass could have also gone with offensive linemen in the 4th or 5th rounds but chose not to do so. They must believe the running problems the team had in 2009 were due to their running backs and not the offensive line as they have done little this off-season to shore up their interior linemen. Time will tell if that is true.
Let’s take a look at the newest Houston Texans:
Round One: CB Kareem Jackson, 5’11”, 195 lbs, Alabama – Three year starter for 2009 national champs then jumped to the NFL after junior year. Physical defender with very good speed. Should start for Texans.
Round Two: RB Ben Tate, 5’11”, 220 lbs, Auburn – 2nd team All-SEC Conference player. Very fast straight line speed. Posted a sub 4.4 forty yard dash at the combine. Follows blockers well, then cuts and goes. Tate should be in the fight for the starting job right away.
Round Three: DT Earl Mitchell, 6’2”, 295 lbs, Arizona – Mitchell has good speed for a DT. He caught the eyes of the scouts by running a 4.75 forty yard dash at the combine. 2nd team All Pac-10. Quicker than he is strong, Mitchell will be counted on to shoot the gaps to disrupt opposing offenses. Mitchell hopefully will be part of Houston’s defensive tackle rotation.
Round Four: LB Darryl Sharpton, 6’0”, 230 lbs, Miami – 2nd team All-ACC. Four year player at Miami, Sharpton was a starter his last two years. Great motor and instincts. Hard hitter for his size. The Texans hope he will add depth to a fine linebacking corps.
Round Four: TE Garrett Graham, 6’3”, 250 lbs, Wisconsin – Sure handed receiver for the Badgers. Also a good blocker. First team all Big Ten, and honorable mention All American. Graham will fight James Casey to be Owen Daniels backup.
Round Five: CB Sherrick McManis, 6’1”, 190 lbs, Northwestern – First team all Big Ten selection by the media. McManis does not have great speed, but is smart enough to compensate. Could be moved to free safety. Will have to fight to make the team. Could be prime candidate for practice squad.
Round Six: OL Shelley Smith, 6’4”, 300 lbs, Colorado State – Honorable mention all conference. Good foot speed, but not great strength. Played in a zone blocking scheme in college much like the Texans. Practice squad material unless he shows well in camp.
Round Six: KR Trindon Holliday, 5’5”, 160 lbs, LSU – Probably the fastest player in college football last year. Consistently timed under 4.4 in the 40. He is a better kick returner than punt returner, but can do both. The Texans hope he can handle both so WR Jacoby Jones can concentrate on his receiving skills.
Round Seven: WR/TE Dorin Dickerson, 6’2”, 220 lbs, Pittsburgh – Texans plan to use Dickerson at WR. Has posted a 43” vertical leap. Very good hands. First team All American. A definite steal in the 7th round, he could make the 53 man roster if he proves he can run pro routes.
Next: The Eighth Round
Texans Corner Jackson
When the Houston Texans decided to let CB Dunta Robinson leave via free agency, everyone knew they would have to address their need for cornerback in this year’s NFL draft at some point. To kill any suspense, the Texans grabbed CB Kareem Jackson from the University of Alabama in the first round. The Houston brass were watching to see if RB Ryan Mathews fell to them at the 20th pick, but when San Diego jumped in front of them to nab Mathews, the Texans turned their sights to a cornerback. At pick 20, the Texans still had their choice of Jackson, Rutgers Devin McCourty, or Boise State’s Kyle Wilson, but Defensive Coordinator Frank Bush stated that the team thought Jackson was the most complete and game-ready player of the three.
Kareem Jackson, 5’11”, 195 lbs, started at Alabama since his freshman season and started in 40 of 41 games he was eligible to play. As a junior, he was a big part of the national championship team. Jackson plays the run well and has better than average speed. The Texans liked the fact that Jackson played in the SEC against a high level of competition for a top coach like Nick Saban. After learning of being picked by the Texans, Kareem said he will bring a feisty attitude with him and play with a bruising style.
Texans Mock Draft
Before I get around to telling you all exactly the players the Texans will pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, I need to say a little something.
I am getting tired of hearing “draft experts” in the media calling Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford a “franchise quarterback”. Mr. Bradford is not a franchise quarterback. He may be in time, but he is not right now. The term “franchise quarterback” should be reserved for QB’s that have actually done something. Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady are prime examples of this phenomenon. Any undrafted QB or any second year NFL QB are not yet franchise quarterbacks. They could be. They might be. They possibly have the potential to be, but they are not. Savvy? Some QB’s are taken very early because a GM or an owner label the kid a franchise quarterback, but they never lead that franchise anywhere. David Carr, Ryan Leaf and Rick Mirer are fine examples of this. If you hear any draftnik, guru or expert say any quarterback is a “franchise QB” before he is drafted, treat everything else that person says with suspicion. You have been warned.
Now then, here is the Houston Texans’ mock draft. Be amazed as I tell you exactly which players the Texans will choose and what round! (Of course, I’m joking, I only intend to get half of these exactly right.)
Round One, Pick 20: Earl Thomas, Safety, 5’10”, 202 lbs, Texas – The Texans have never had a top flight free safety, and if Thomas is there at pick 20, Houston will grab him. Houston has a fine strong safety in Bernard Pollard, but Pollard is not the fastest safety you’ll ever see. Thomas would cover much ground and allow Pollard to play closer to the line. It’s a natural. (Fallback Pick: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State)
Round Two, Pick 51: Kareem Jackson, Cornerback, 5’11”, 196 lbs, Alabama – Houston goes for a need position and a fine player in Jackson. He would compete for a starting job right off the bat. (Fallback Pick: Brian Price, DT, UCLA)
Round Three, Pick 81: Ben Tate, Running Back, 5’11”, 220 lbs, Auburn – Tate has the size Houston is looking for and surprising speed. With all the Houston backs having some sort of question mark, watch the Texans take a running back in one of the first three rounds. (Fallback Pick: Dominique Franks, CB, Oklahoma)
Round Four, Pick 118: Arthur Jones, Defensive Tackle, 6’3”, 301 lbs, Syracuse – Jones can add some weight to his large frame and he is already a good run stuffer. He would fit right in to the Texans’ D-Tackle rotation. Amobi Okoye is on notice. (Fallback Pick: J.D. Walton, C, Baylor)
Round Five, Pick 150: Zane Beadles, Offensive Tackle/Guard, 6’5”, 305, Utah – Beadles is light on his feet and moves well for an O-lineman. Must add some muscle to be pro-ready. (Don’t need no stinking fallback pick. I will nail the final rounds)
Round Six, Pick 187: Jevon Snead, Quarterback, 6’3”, 218 lbs, Mississippi – With Dan Orlovsky as the backup for Matt Schaub, it’s worth a sixth or seventh round pick to take a QB to develop. Snead is the pick. Not very accurate, but big and mobile. (Sounds like Orlovsky)
Round Six, Pick 197: O’Brien Schofield, Linebacker, 6’2”, 225 lbs, Wisconsin – Schofield would have gone much higher than this, but injured his knee during Senior Bowl practice. He will be worth the one year wait, and he’s got a cool name.
Round Seven, Pick 227: Zoltan Mesko, Punter, 6’5”, 240 lbs, Michigan – Houston brought in some competition for kicker Kris Brown, so they now bring in competition for punter Matt Turk. It makes sense, don’t it? Also……cool name.
Next week: Final Thoughts Before Big Thursday
Draft Needs by Position
Before jumping into draft related issues, the Houston Texans took care of some other business recently. They re-signed a couple of their own key free agents, namely LB Demeco Ryans and SS Bernard Pollard. Ryans’ contract was extended six years. Pollard only signed a one year tender, but both sides are talking long term deals. These moves showed the Texans commitment to keep productive players locked up. Could TE Own Daniels be next? We shall see.
The Eagles shook up the upcoming draft by trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. A few draft services had the ‘Skins taking a QB with their first round pick, but now that seems very unlikely. The McNabb trade should not affect the Texans pick at 20 since the ‘Skins are now more likely to grab an offensive lineman in the first round. Houston probably was not going to go offensive line in the first round anyway.
Where will the Texans go in the first round? Let’s look at what they don’t need first. Don’t expect Houston to use early picks at TE, LB, QB, K, P, or WR. Sure, they may grab a player from these positions later, or if someone they love drops to them but these are not “need” positions right now. The top five areas of need for the Texans are CB, FS, RB, DT, OL. The thinking around Texans camp is that 2nd year man, Connor Barwin will be ready for an increased role in the defense in 2010. In a limited role last year, Barwin still notched 4.5 sacks. He should help bringing heat to opposing QB’s, so the team can turn to the secondary. Expect the Texans to grab a cornerback on day one or day two. By not re-signing CB Dunta Robinson, Houston needs more corner help.
Houston has never had a top flight free safety with speed and ball skills. The 2010 draft may be the year they change that. There is depth and talent at both the cornerback and safety position among the young athletes coming out in the draft this year. Houston may use a high pick at safety for the first time. Another position in the draft that has depth galore is running back. The Texans could wait until rounds three or four and still get a nice back to give incumbents Steve Slaton and Arian Foster a run for their money.
The Texans in their history have usually chosen to trade back rather than trade up. With the depth of this year’s draft, it may be wise to keep to that course of action. New England, Philadelphia and San Diego may want to move up and give Houston one of their later picks. This would afford the Texans a chance at five picks in the first four rounds, and they could go after all their need positions. Smith has also shown a flair for adding good late round players, so this “trade back” strategy could serve the team well.
First Stab at Houston’s First Round Choice:
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State, 5’10”, 195 lbs.
Off-Season Needs; Defense
It’s late March in Houston, and no defensive free agents have been signed by the Texans. In fact, all Houston has done is re-sign WR Kevin Walter, P Matt Turk and pluck reserve offensive lineman Wade Smith away from Kansas City. With no salary cap this year, it’s a sure bet more Texans’ fans were hoping for more activity from their team but so far it’s not happening. The lack of activity on the free agent market is starting to dictate what the team needs to do in the draft.
By losing CB Dunta Robinson to free agency, Houston must surely target a cornerback in the first three rounds. On their roster, they do have two capable starters in Jacques Reeves and second year man Glover Quin. Quin had a fine ’09 season for a rookie, but Reeves not so much. Reeves did battle injuries and is expected to be at full speed this season. The Texans do not, however, have a shutdown corner and depth is a problem. Cornerback, safety and defensive tackle all need shoring up equally so any one of those positions could be taken in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft. Houston may also bow to fan pressure to take a first round running back.
When Bernard Pollard was signed by GM Rick Smith early last season, the team’s strong safety needs seemed solved for the next few years. Pollard helps mightily against the run and brings an edge the young Houston defense needed. Pollard is limited in coverage, so the wise choice would be to bring a speedy free safety into the fold to cover more ground. FS Eugene Wilson is above average at the position, but is getting older and more prone to injuries. Big corners Fred Bennett or Antwaun Molden could be converted to safety if Head Coach Gary Kubiak and his staff wanted to think outside the box. If Kubiak continues to follow his conservative nature, expect Houston not to try that and grab a safety somewhere in the first four rounds.
The only defensive position Houston is loaded at is linebacker. All Houston linebackers had their moments last year with Demeco Ryans leading the way. Second year LB Brian Cushing had a stellar year and should get even better. Former seventh round pick Zach Diles is the bookend to Cushing and is very solid. If Houston adds a linebacker this off season, it will be for depth and is not a high priority. The defensive line is another story.
In 2009, the Texans’ defensive line started the season horribly against the run and could not generate a pass rush. During the season, they fixed one of those problems. Houston did better against the run as the year progressed, but never mounted much pressure on enemy quarterbacks. The team spent big money to bring in DE Antonio Smith last year, drafted DE Connor Barwin and already has Mario Williams, so if Houston does go for a lineman, expect it to be a tackle. If Barwin shows enough improvement, Smith may also play more snaps on the inside. DT Shaun Cody played well against the run, but neither he nor fourth year pro Amobi Okoye generate much inside pressure. A rookie with a great motor may get a call from Houston in late April. Tackles Jared Odrick from Penn State or Brian Price out of UCLA could be the young men called.
Off-Season Needs; Offense
The Texans’ off-season is officially off and running! Multiple media sources have reported that the Texans will not put the franchise tag on CB Dunta Robinson this year. The word is the team won’t negotiate a contract with Robinson at all. If true, this decision makes signing a free agent cornerback or taking a rookie corner early in the NFL draft a must. Although the coaches publicly said nice things about Robinson’s abilities, the Texans obviously don’t think he is worth the reported 12 million dollars another franchise tag would cost the team. This news opens the window to talk about Houston’s off-season needs. This week we look at the offense.
Looking at what the Houston Texans will be targeting this off-season gives us a chance to review last season. The offensive line did a fine job in the pass blocking category, but not so much with the run blocking. Was that purely because the offensive linemen are inadequate, or are Houston’s running backs mediocre? If Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew or Adrian Peterson had played for the Texans last year, one must believe the Texans would have produced a 1200 yard rusher. Alas, Houston had running backs Steve Slaton, Chris Brown and Ryan Moats. There was more fumbling than running happening. With starting OG’s Chester Pitts and Mike Briesel coming back from injuries, and their backups gaining valuable playing time last year, don’t look for the Texans to draft an offensive lineman high this year. Running back is another story.
Although some people have been vocal about wanting the Texans to sign RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who was recently waived by San Diego, don’t expect it to happen. The memory of brittle, older running back Ahman Green is too fresh in the teams’ mind. Look instead for Houston to draft a rookie running back with one of their top three picks. Ryan Mathews from Fresno State or Ben Tate from Auburn may be what the Texans brass is looking for. Along with the returning Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats, Houston will also have Jeremiah Johnson coming back from an injury year. Arian Foster, who ran well in the last two games also will be back to compete. Fullback is covered by underrated Vonta Leach. Houston may look for a backup fullback and keep James Casey at full time tight end.
Continuing with the offense, the wide receivers are a great group. All-Pro WR Andre Johnson and sure handed WR Kevin Walter are the starters, but Walter is an unrestricted free agent. Stein says Houston should shell out the dollars to keep Walter on the Texans roster. It’s not my money, I say spend it. Quality backups David Anderson, Jacoby Jones and Andre Davis make wide receiver a non-need area. If a wide receiver is taken, it will be after the first four picks. Tight Ends are also covered with Pro Bowler Owen Daniels destined to be on the roster one way or another. Houston has good depth at tight end with Joel Dreessen, James Casey and Anthony Hill. Quarterback is not a need position with Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub coming back along with backups Rex Grossman and Dan Orlovsky. General Manager Rick Smith may grab a QB in the later rounds if someone he likes is falling. Trading Grossman or Orlovsky is always on the table if a partner is willing.
With two starting offensive linemen coming back, along with TE Owen Daniels, the Texans running game should be better in 2010. There should also be great competition at running back especially if Houston brings in a top rookie. It looks like most of the Texans draft will aim at the defense once again. As always, I advise the team to trade back in the first round. If they trade back or not, the concentration should be at defensive tackle, cornerback and safety depending on what they do in free agency.
Pro Bowl Week
Well, its Pro Bowl week and what do ya know? I’m warming up to the idea of the game being played the week before the Super Bowl. Usually, this weekend is a bit of a letdown after the Championship games, and it’s still not overly exciting, but at least the Pro Bowl gives us a chance to see some pro football players doing their thing. When the Pro Bowl is played the week after the Super Bowl, most people, including myself, don’t give it a glance, but this year, I get the feeling more people will. For Houston Texans fans, this year is a special treat as the team has placed five players on the AFC squad. WR Andre Johnson, DE Mario Williams, LB Demeco Ryans and rookie LB Brian Cushing were named to the team early on, and QB Matt Schaub was a late substitute. However they got on the roster, five Texans in the Pro Bowl is a record. Yes, I know Cushing will not play due to injuries, but why quibble?
The Pro Bowl is not the only football on the tube this week. The Senior Bowl is also this weekend and that gives us a chance to see some of the best college players in the land goes against one another. By watching some network’s coverage, you might think the week is about Florida QB Tim Tebow and some other dudes, but there really are some good pro prospects out there. Texan fans should pay particular attention to running backs, offensive linemen and safeties. Actually, the only positions not high on the Texans need list are tight ends, wide receivers and linebackers, so go ahead and watch everyone. The Senior Bowl, along with the Shrine Game and the NFL Combine go a long way to determining a players draft order, so if you’re interested in the NFL Draft, you should be interested in the Senior Bowl.
Speaking of the NFL draft, it is fast approaching and has become a great two day event over the years. The draft has done very well in the ratings in recent years as a Saturday & Sunday event. Coupled with almost every other major sport playing that weekend, the draft was the focal point of many fans’ April weekend sports party. It’s a shame the NFL is changing the draft schedule to make more money. The league is televising the first round on a Thursday night this year. The second two rounds will be shown on Friday night. It’s a shame. Regardless of the NFL’s claim that they are trying to make the draft more accessible, it’s about the cash. How can a televised event be more accessible on a Thursday night rather than Saturday, when most Americans don’t work? It makes no sense. Maybe the league will change the draft back to Saturday/Sunday next year if enough fans complain or simply don’t watch the weeknight telecasts. We can hope.
Finally Get Nine Wins
So the Houston Texans are finally above average. Houston fans have suspected it for some time, but now they have proof. The Texans defeated the New England Patriots last Sunday by the score of 34-27. The Texans finished 9-7 and it was the first time in their history they finished over .500. Head Coach Gary Kubiak’s team has shown slow and steady improvement since his arrival. Some teams go from bad to great overnight, then back to bad again. Not Houston. It’s steady as she goes. Kubiak’s teams have won six games, then eight, then eight again, now nine. (If this continues, an undefeated season is in the future) Coach Kubiak is working his plan to build through the draft while picking up key free agents here and there. It’s good enough for Texans’ owner Bob McNair to proclaim Kubiak’s job safe for at least one more season.
While collecting their ninth victory, Houston made their fans sweat it out. The Texans were down by fourteen early in the fourth quarter before Kubiak instructed his offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, to go to the hurry up offense. It worked. Quarterback Matt Schaub worked the offense to perfection and in less than eleven minutes, three TD’s were produced and the game was won. When in the red zone, the team stuck mostly to the run game with rookie RB Arion Foster running behind a motivated and effective offensive line. Foster finished with 119 rushing yards and two TD’s to stake his claim to the starting tailback job next year. Were you watching, Steve Slaton? WR Jacoby Jones had a nice game also, making up for a pass in the third quarter that went through his hands for a Pats pick six. On defense, LB Demeco Ryans collected 7 tackles and rookie LB Brian Cushing was everywhere and notched another sack. DE Mario Williams also got his ninth sack of the year. It was a fine effort that was rewarded by possibly the loudest home crowd of the season.
While there was many good things about the Patriot game, two year long problems were still in evidence; Kicker Kris Brown and fumbling. Kris Brown finished up a bad year with a bad game. Brown missed two field goals and an extra point. His year long success rate was below 70%. Expect the Texans to bring in some competition for Brown’s job next year. Then there were two fumbles. RB Ryan Moats dropped the ball and so did WR Andre Johnson. Neither fumble was lost, but they reminded many of why Houston only won nine games. Key fumbles throughout the year dearly cost the team. On the whole, however, it was a good day for the Texans and their fans.
With some help from other teams, Houston would have made the playoffs, but it was not meant to be. The Texans players can go into the offseason with a good feeling about the 2009 season. It could have been a great feeling, but this very young team missed some key opportunities. Live and learn they say. (They do say that, right?)
Notes: Four Texans were voted Pro Bowl starters or reserves: DE Mario Williams, LB Demeco Ryans, WR Andre Johnson, and rookie LB Brian Cushing. Cushing was also named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Slim Playoff Chance
The Houston Texans have finally perfected the art of playing just one half of football. The trick is to score so much in the first half that the opposing team can’t catch up. The Texans defeated the Miami Dolphins at Landshark Stadium in Miami by the score of 27-20 last Sunday. They led in the second quarter 27-0 and held on for the win. Houston did not score in the second half. This has been a theme all year long for Houston with the team either doing well in the first or second half, rarely have they put a whole game together. Houston now has a record of 8-7 and still has a slight chance at a playoff appearance.
The Houston Texans have never been over .500 after 15 games. This is a new area for the team. If they can defeat the New England Patriots next Sunday in Houston, they will end the year with a franchise best 9-7 record. Even if the Texans win the Patriot game, they will still need two of the right teams to lose to reach the post season. More than likely, Houston fans will have to be happy with their first nine win season. (If the Texans beat the Pats)
Last Sunday, Houston played just about as well as they have all year in the first half. QB Matt Schaub was very sharp. WR Andre Johnson probably locked up an All Pro nod by going over 1500 yards for the 2nd year in a row. Johnson also grabbed another TD pass. Rookie LB Brian Cushing and LB Demeco Ryans led the defense to a first half shutout. Cushing’s nine tackle day was highlighted by a sack and an interception. The second half was another story. Miami came out throwing and made it a very close game, but Houston’s defense made plays when they had to, and the offense ran off enough clock to go back to Houston with the win.
With the Patriots coming to Reliant Stadium, the Texans cannot assume they will reach nine victories. Houston has not been a good home team and New England is not known for resting players for the playoffs. The Pats also need a win to be the third seed in the AFC. The Texans will have to play a full game this week or at least play another stellar half to take down the Patriots. If Houston wins and gets some help from some other teams, they may even finally experience the playoffs. After playing badly at home in ’09 and not doing well in their division, this would be a minor miracle.
A Win is a Win?
The Houston Texans defeated the St. Louis Rams last Sunday by the score of 16-13. Any win is a good win right? …Right? This is the question Texans fans must be wrestling with this week. After last week’s demolition of the Seattle Seahawks, Houston fans probably were thinking their team would roll into St. Louis and blast the Rams. Alas, it did not happen. But it moved the Texans a little closer to a winning record. The win kept the team’s faint playoff hopes alive, but did it give Head Coach Gary Kubiak more job security? Not really. Kubiak’s team showed the same flaws it has all year; No running game, fumbles, and playing down to the opponent. Houston also had to settle for field goals in the red zone instead of touchdowns. It was a win, but was it inspiring? No, it was not.
The game in the Gateway City was not all gloom and doom. Some good things did happen. QB Matt Schaub was 28 of 40 for 367 yards and a touchdown. WR Andre Johnson had 9 catches for 196 yards on his way to another Pro Bowl. Houston’s defense held the Rams to only 13 points, notched three sacks and held RB Steven Jackson to 82 rushing yards. Kicker Kris Brown connected on 2 of 3 field goals. He only missed on a 52 yarder, and that hit the upright. The Texans overcame a slow start to defeat an obviously motivated Rams team.
The Texans have now evened their record to 7-7 with two games to go. The playoffs are still a distant dream even if they win both remaining games. They must win at Miami and at home against New England to even hope of a playoff birth. The 2009 season is now about missed chances. What if they could have finished off the Colts after they held a 17-0 lead? What if they had just split with the Jaguars? What if they could have defeated the Titans at home in front of a rabid Monday Night Football crowd? Just one of those wins would have Houston in a far better position. But Houston fans are getting tired of these what ifs. They want results. Houston management surely has noticed.
The questions the Houston brass must now answer is would the team be better off the next 2 or 3 seasons if they replaced Coach Kubiak? Is Kubiak close to leading the team to a playoff birth, or does the team need the spark of a new head coach to reach the next level? Is there a coach out there clearly better than Kubiak that wants the job? These are the questions that make this writer happy he writes and is not a general manager. The thinking here is that owner Bob McNair keeps Kubiak for the 2010 season with the strict edict of playoffs or bust. Too many teams have turned it around in less time than Kubiak has had to play it otherwise.
Next: At the Dolphins
A Blowout Win
The Seattle Seahawks proved no match for the fired up Houston Texans last Sunday. Head Coach Gary Kubiak gave his team an inspirational speech the night before the game that got them in the winning frame of mind. After sprinting out to a 17-0 lead, the Texans were never threatened and won by the score of 34-7.
After four straight losses, Coach Kubiak thought it was time to rally his team with a long Saturday night speech. From what some players said, he reminded the team they still had something to play for and should not give up on the year. Some star players, like DE Mario Williams, were also pulled aside by the coach for some one on one talks. Some people would say this kind of motivation was long overdue, but regardless of when it happened, it worked. WR Andre Johnson had a monster first half with 11 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
QB Matt Schaub had 2 TD throws with 365 yards passing on the afternoon. Both players cooled off in the second half, but the team seemed to be working on the running game. The Texans were also burning as much of the clock as they could in the second half. With a huge lead, it was the smart play.
The defense also played with a lot of passion on the day. LB Demeco Ryans was everywhere while racking up 12 tackles. Mario Williams had his best game of the season with 2 sacks, 6 tackles and a forced fumble. Rookie LB Brian Cushing contributed 10 tackles and a sack. The big picture was the defense allowing Seattle only 7 points for the entire game. Seattle came in with a two game win streak and five victories. They are not a great team by any stretch, but they are not terrible. The Houston D gave up only 13 first downs and 282 total yards to the Seahawks. The defense even scored when SS Brian Pollard grabbed away an interception and scampered 70 yards to the ‘zone. (Was that scampering or running for his life?) It was a good show for the Houston fans, but the question is; Is it too little too late?
The Texans’ record now sits at 6-7 with three games left in the 2009 season. All Houston playoff scenarios start with the Texans winning the rest of their games. That is not likely. Even if that did happen, many other teams need to lose in the right combinations. That is not likely either. What is likely is the Texans players playing hard the rest of the season.
The team likes Coach Kubiak and believes that they are responsible for not winning more games, not the coaches. The players seem to want the current coaching staff around for at least one more year. To do that, they better play as hard and as smart as they did last week against Seattle. If they slip and lose one or more of the remaining games, they may have no say in the matter.
A Very Bad Streak
Well, things are getting downright grim for the Houston Texans. The Texans went to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars last Sunday and lost 23-18. That’s four losses in a row for those of you that are counting. Believe me, plenty of Texans fans are counting. Whatever slim chances Houston had for the playoffs ended in Jacksonville.
Houston went into the contest without their best kick returner, WR Jacoby Jones. Jones missed a team meeting on Saturday, and was told to stay in Houston. Fans that want to blame someone for that decision need to blame Jones, not Head Coach Gary Kubiak. From most accounts, Jones has missed enough meetings to warrant the one game suspension. Jones should be accountable for his actions, and it was the correct decision.
On to the game itself: Playing a division foe in the heat of a playoff race is hard enough, but then Houston lost their quarterback on the first play of the game. QB Matt Schaub, whom some call “Fragile Matt”, separated his left shoulder when hit hard by a Jags defender. (By the way, I’m the one who calls him “Fragile Matt”.) While Schaub was in the locker room, QB Rex Grossman came into the game and threw the ball all over the field to both teams. That boy just loves to fling it. Soon the score was 17-0 Jacksonville and the game looked hopeless, but Schaub was not done. “Manly Matt” Schaub showed grit and courage by getting the shoulder popped back into place and re-entering the game. The injured QB immediately took the team downfield to score a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Texans’ defense then gave up a quick field goal drive to the Jags to go down 20-7 at the half.
The second half saw the Texans chip away at the big lead of the hometown Jaguars with a determined effort to stop the running of RB Maurice Jones-Drew. This was effective for most of the second half. (I repeat; Most of the second half.) The comeback was doing fine with the score 23-12 and Houston driving for a touchdown. Then the Texans coaches decided to run a halfback pass on a first down play close to the goal line. Houston had been moving the ball just fine with the quarterbacks passing the ball and running backs running the ball, but Coach Kubiak thought this was the time for some trickery. It backfired. RB Chris Brown was hit as he threw the ball, and tossed a soft interception to the enemy. This was a blow to the effort, but fans and media who think this play cost Houston the game need to re-watch the film. After the interception, Jacksonville only used up about one minute of time and punted the ball. The Texans then methodically took the ball back downfield and scored the TD with 4:07 left in the game. This made the score 23-18, with Jacksonville leading, but so much time was wasted.
The story of the fourth quarter was not the trick play/interception, it was a combination of things. With the team down by two scores with 7:25 to go, Houston showed no sense of urgency. They didn’t have to run a no huddle offense, but how about a hurry up offense? The players walked back to the huddle like they had all day. They then stood around waiting for the calls to come into the huddle. Many valuable seconds were wasted. Then, after Houston did score their final touchdown, Jacksonville got the ball back with 3:57 to go in the game. The Texans had all their timeouts to use, but could not stop Jones-Drew on seven straight runs for the two first downs the Jags needed to run the clock out. The real story of the fourth quarter was the Texans inability to stop Jones-Drew when they had to and the Texans wasting precious time on their last drive. Kubiak needs to find some way to get his plays in faster and get his players to move quicker.
After a 5-3 start, Houston looked like they could be on the way to their first playoff birth, but after four consecutive losses, all to division foes, that dream is over. The question now is whether Gary Kubiak and staff will be retained for next season. If the losing streak continues, the matter may well decide itself. If the Texans go on their normal late season winning streak, it may be enough for Texans owner Bob McNair to give the current coaches one more season. In any event, Houston fans have now endured eight straight seasons of pro football without their team in the playoffs. How many will stick around for the owner’s decision.
Texans Reject Home Cookin’
It’s official. The Houston Texans are not a good home team in 2009. The Indianapolis Colts took the Texan’s best shot last Sunday and came away victorious. The Colts won the contest 35-27 to make Houston 2-4 at Reliant Stadium this season. Houston got off to a great start with leads of 17-0 and 20-7 before totally falling apart in the second half. The Texans are among the league leaders in losing games by one score. This game was only different in that it really wasn’t as close as the final seven point margin indicates.
Head Coach Gary Kubiak had his team ready to go as they promptly scored on their opening drive for the first time this year. Houston got their hometown fans in a frenzy by extending the lead to 17-0. Getting out to such a lead is a nice feat against any team, let alone an undefeated Colts team. DE Mario Williams and rookie DE Connor Barwin both grabbed Colts QB Peyton Manning for sacks. The defense also pressured Manning into throwing two interceptions in the first half. QB Matt Schaub was rolling out and hitting his receivers just like the coaches drew it up. Houston’s running game was even working, and that’s not an every week occurrence. But much to the coaches’ chagrin, the players reverted to their form of only playing one half of good football.
In the second half, the Houston players played like they lost their focus. That’s not to say they didn’t have the same purpose and focus they had in the first half merely that it did not show. Were they overconfident and sloppy in the second half, or did they just seem that way to this writer’s untrained eye? Were they unprepared mentally? I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they were ready to play. I try not to hurt the feelings of today’s delicate athlete.
What is for certain is that the Texans fell apart at home to a division foe. It was the team’s third loss in a row and their fourth loss at home this season. Houston got away from the run. Matt Schaub lost his accuracy and his ability to protect the ball. The defense just could not hold down Peyton Manning and company like they did in the first half. Whatever the reasons, the Texans just did come out ready to finish off the game. In 2009, either on the road or at home, Houston rarely puts two good halves together.
Houston’s fans deserve better than what they are getting on the home turf, that’s for sure. Four losses in six games are hard for anyone to take. The home field is huge in pro football, especially in Houston Texas. The offense gets near silence to hear the plays and the defense gets a raucous roar to throw off the opponent. The home team is just not taking advantage of their loyal fans. At 5-6 with five games to play, Houston players need to use any advantage at their disposal whether at home or on the road. A winning season depends on it.
Monday Night Letdown
It could have been a turning point game in the history of the Houston Texans. It was not. It could have been a turning point game in Head Coach Gary Kubiak’s career. It was not. The Houston Texans played the Tennessee Titans last Monday night before a national audience and lost 20-17. The Houston Texans remain status quo. The Texans went 8-8 last year and 8-8 the year before. Their record is now 5-5. That’s status quo for pro football in Houston Texas these days.
The big picture is that the Texans could only score 17 points at home against a Titan team that gives up a lot of yardage and points. The big picture is that Houston has now lost three out of five home games in 2009. Many people point to the fact that kicker Kris Brown missed the game tying field goal from 49 yards as the reason the team failed. That is too easy.
There were many reasons Houston lost the game. CB Dunta Robinson dropped a sure interception. RB Steve Slaton and WR Andre Johnson dropped passes. The referees called a questionable “horse collar” tackle on safety John Busing. Coach Kubiak chose to use Chris Brown as his main running back. The offense could not score a TD with three tries from the eight yard line in the third quarter. And yes, Kris Brown missed two field goals.
The offense also failed when they got the ball back in the fourth quarter with 5:14 left in the game with the score tied at 17. They could not put together a scoring drive that used up the clock and won the game. They could not put together a drive that could have changed the course of franchise history. A very good team would do that. The Texans are not a very good team. They are just good, or average you might say. Five wins and five losses is average.
Coach Kubiak is running out of chances to prove himself in Houston. On Monday Night Football after an off week, he could not motivate his team to defeat a six loss Titan team. You want the big picture? There have been quite a few head coaches in history that have turned around bad teams in less time than Kubiak has had. The head coach just had his turning point game and failed. A finishing run to ten wins or the playoffs might be the only thing that saves his job. That’s the big picture.
Colts Still a Bit Better
The Houston Texans traveled to Indianapolis to take on the undefeated Colts last Sunday afternoon. While it was a hotly contested game, the Texans came out on the losing end 20-17. The game came down to the final seconds when Houston kicker Kris Brown missed a 42 yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime. The 8-0 Colts led the game 13-3 at halftime with the Texans unable to move the ball on offense and committing far too many penalties. The second half saw Houston play much better and actually taking the lead in the fourth quarter before succumbing to the better team.
The first half of the contest was controlled by the Colts. The Colts defense prevented the Texans from getting anything going until late in the half. Houston QB Matt Schaub was not sharp much of the day, making his receivers work hard to catch the ball. He also threw two costly picks. Texans running backs were ineffective all day with Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats combining for only 55 yards. Not all was lost as WR Andre Johnson had a good game with 10 catches for 103 yards. Houston’s defense was severely tested a Colts offense and that bent them but did not break them. The defense was on the field for much of the first half yet only yielded the 13 points. The score would have been worse if not for a second quarter interception by safety Bernard Pollard that stopped a late Colts drive.
Houston may have scored more than three points in the first half, but a strange play stopped the rally. Close to the goal line with about 2:20 left in the 2nd quarter RB Ryan Moats appeared to go out of bounds while the ball slipped from his grasp. Houston coaches did not read the play correctly as they let the clock run down to the two minute warning. The Colts coaches took the extra time to review the play and throw their red flag. They made the correct call and got the ball back at their own 20 on the turnover. Head Coach Gary Kubiak needs to reevaluate his operation as the play was clearly questionable. Someone on the Texans staff had to see that they needed to run a play quickly to stop the Colts from challenging the play. Even if the Texans did not think it was a fumble, it was close enough to warrant a quick snap. But the show went on.
The second half saw the Texans’ offense finally rise to the challenge to score on two TD drives. RB Steve Slaton scored on a short run and RB Ryan Moats had a short TD catch. The Houston defense punished the Indy receivers after every catch. Rookie LB Brian Cushing and safety Pollard led the team with 12 tackles each. Pollard also nabbed two interceptions on the day. DE’s Antonio Smith and Mario Williams both had sacks and pressured Colts QB Peyton Manning much more than they did in the first half. The Texans did make a nice game of it after all was said and done, but when Kris Brown missed the late field goal, the result was the same. The Colts defeated the Texans.
Houston will get another shot at the Colts November 29th in Houston at Reliant Stadium. Before that happens, they get their off week and a Monday Night Football game against the Titans. The Texans just came off stretch of four road games in five weeks and they are still on track for a winning season at 5-4. The bye week could not have come at a better time. Key players such as Brian Cushing and Mario Williams need rest. Houston will probably be favored to win in four of their next five games, so if they take care of business, not only will they have a winning record, they may have a shot at the playoffs.
Road Victors
The Houston Texans defeated the Buffalo Bills Sunday by the score of 31-10. It was the Texans third straight victory and their fourth win in the last five games. The Texans are now 3-1 on the road in 2009 and 5-3 overall. Both marks are franchise bests. The Texans dominated both sides of the ball and if not for three turnovers in the first half, the score would have been worse.
Running back Ryan Moats was the story of the game with 151 total yards of offense, (126 rushing), and three touchdowns. Moats would not have gotten as many touches had RB Steve Slaton not fumbled again in the first quarter. Slaton has lost five fumbles in the first eight games of the season. This problem got him benched for the rest of the game and Moats was ready and waiting. Quarterback Matt Schaub had another efficient game by connecting on 25 of 34 throws to 10 different receivers for 268 yards. WR Andre Johnson had six of the catches for 63 tough yards.
The defense had their share of stars with rookie LB Brian Cushing leading the way. Cushing was in on 10 tackles, had one sack and got the last interception to halt the Bills final effort to score. LB Demeco Ryans had eight tackles and was in control of his defense. Cornerback Jacques Reeves grabbed and interception and DE Antonio Smith had a sack.
Houston’s offense took three quarters to get it rolling, but the defense kept the game close until that happened. The Texans are a far better team lately because if one side of the ball is not clicking, the other side picks them up. The Houston coaches are also to be commended for conveying a quiet confidence according to some players.
The worst result on the day was an injury to TE Owen Daniels. Daniels blew out his knee on a routine route and is lost for the year. Rookie TE James Casey played the game with a hurt knee but after a scoping procedure on Monday, he is also lost for three weeks. Houston’s deepest position is now a question mark.
The undermanned Texans must now travel to Indianapolis to face the mighty Colts. For the national media to take the Texans seriously, they need to win games like this. With Houston’s off week looming, expect a great effort to get that win. Houston has done a few unexpected feats already this season, so winning in Indy would fit right in.
Defending the Home Turf
The Houston Texans won Sunday to go 4-3 for only the second time in their history. They defeated the San Francisco Forty-Niners at Reliant Stadium in Houston by the score of 24-21. The Texans jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, and then saw the Niners rally to make it darned close at the end. Texans fans know it’s rarely easy. The Texans have now won two in a row for the first time this season and have won three out of the last four. The last two wins came against quality opponents. Houston will try to extend the streak to three games when they travel next week to Buffalo to face the Bills.
The first half saw Houston struggle but succeed against a rested San Fran team coming off their bye week. The Niners are a good young team and they showed a good defensive plan by blitzing up the middle against the Texans inexperienced guards. Quarterback Matt Schaub withstood the pressure and found his receivers when he needed to get them the ball. Schaub had another fine day with 264 passing yards, two TD’s and no interceptions. WR Andre Johnson was the focal point of the Frisco defense, but that opened up chances for TE Owen Daniels. Daniels tallied seven catches for 123 yards and one trip to the ‘zone. The offensive line is a work in progress but showed some fine blocking along the goal line to spring RB Steve Slaton for a first quarter touchdown. Slaton’s TD came with three TE’s in the game and the play worked liked gold.
The second half saw an emotionally charged San Francisco team come out with a fire they did not have in the first half. The also came out with a QB they did not have in the first half. Alex Smith, the golden boy of the old Niners regime was allowed to play by Head Coach Mike Singletary. The Niners went more to a spread offense and worked the middle of the field against the Texans linebackers and safeties. This resulted in three TD passes to TE Vernon Davis with Texans players trailing just a tad behind him. Houston did have some good drives in the second half, but stopped themselves with a Steve Slaton fumble, penalties and a badly timed sack. Kicker Kris Brown saved the day for the home team by connecting on a 50 yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the winning margin. While chewing up some clock in the fourth quarter, Steve Slaton and WR Andre Davis also made a couple key plays to help seal the win.
Mama always said a win is a win. Houston fans can fret about almost blowing a game, or relish the fact that they now win close games they used to lose. They can fret about Steve Slaton’s fumbling or relish the fact that he had 89 total yards and two TD’s. (It’s a glass half full thing) Slaton is electric, but he simply must hold the ball with two hands when in a crowd. On the other side of the ball, the Texans run defense stepped up again this week. Houston held their fourth straight opponent to under 60 yards rushing. DE Mario Williams had a sack and rookie LB Brian Cushing led the team with 8 tackles. The old man of the team, 39 year old DT Jeff Zgonina even notched a sack. (Zgonina is pronounced just like its spelled)
Houston now shuffles off to Buffalo to go against a 3-4 Bills team that has their own two game winning streak going. If the Texans are to keep their playoff hopes alive, they need to beat teams like Buffalo. Stein says they will. But as Texans fans know, don’t expect it to be easy.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Houston Texans traveled to Glendale Arizona last Sunday to play a football game. Unfortunately, they did not start playing until the third quarter. The Texans were outscored 21-0 in the first half, but won the second half 21-7. Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak is not a rah-rah speaker, but obviously someone needs to fire up his team before the game. This Houston team cannot motivate themselves. The hometown Cardinals had to feel fortunate to be spotted a twenty-one point lead as Houston came roaring back in the second half only to come up an inch or two short of tying the game. (I’ve heard it’s a game of inches.)
The first half had Texans’ QB Matt Schaub missing open targets, the offensive line opening no holes to run through, and Arizona QB Kurt Warner having plenty of time to pass. Houston’s defense was bad, but could have been worse as the Cardinals were only up 14-0 late in the second quarter. Then the Texans version of a two minute drill only consumed around 16 seconds. Punter Matt Turk then shanked a short punt, and Warner made Houston pay with a late TD to WR Larry Fitzgerald. 21-0. Houston’s defense probably would not have given up so many points if the offense could have killed some clock by running. They did not.
In the second half, both teams looked different. Punt returner Jacoby Jones ripped off a long punt return in the third quarter but no points were scored on the drive. Not to be deterred, Matt Schaub put on a throwing clinic for the rest of the game. With the running game still not working, Schaub led three long touchdown drives. Two drives ended with TD tosses to Andre Johnson. The second touchdown by Johnson will be a year long highlight as he powered his way through three defenders to score. 21-21.
While Houston’s offense worked to tie the score at 21, their defense probably played their best half of football ever. Arizona was held to only 43 total yards in the second half and Warner and his receivers were shut down. The Texans even put good pressure on the quarterback which was good to see. The Texans staggered a bit when Schaub was picked off by CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who scored. 28-21, Arizona. After a long kickoff return by WR Andre Davis and a nice drive to the red zone, Houston could not score with a first down and goal to go situation. Game over.
Based on what I’ve heard and seen, Houston’s continuing trouble scoring when near the end zone is extremely frustrating for Texans fans. Players and coaches must feel it too, but in a different way. The Texans last play of the game was widely criticized for its lack of imagination and in many ways it was deserved. The Houston coaches decided to pack in the line and run up the middle between the guard and center on fourth down with less than a yard to go. This is not the team’s strength.
They could have run over RT Eric Winston, sneaked the quarterback, or at least spread out the Cardinal defense by having a couple receivers split wide. They chose not to do this. Lack of imagination, right? On the last play yes, but not over the last four plays. On the preceding down, they passed to TE Joel Dresseen. The play worked perfectly until Matt Schaub needlessly jumped in the air, causing him to throw a bad pass. So with first and goal, the coaches had called a shovel pass, run up the middle, pass to the TE, and run up the middle. They did mix it up, but not successfully. The only thing restless Texans fans want to see now is success.
So, with that in mind, here’s some free advice for Gary Kubiak. He’s never asked me for it, but here it is anyway:
Embrace being a passing team. Throw to set up the run.
Sweeps, draws, and pitches are runs too. You don’t have to run between the tackles.
Spread it out on the goal line. If you pack it in, they pack it in.
You don’t have to wait until you’re inside the 10 to throw for the end zone. I’ve seen good teams do it from the 30 or the 20.
Move CB Glover Quin to free safety. You need speed there.
Now, go out and win! Rah-Rah!
Next: at Cincinnati
A Win for the Defense
The Houston Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders last Sunday 29-6 behind a rejuvenated defense. The Texans held the Raiders to only 165 total yards. Houston’s defensive players seemed highly motivated and were flying all over the field. (Not literally, but you get what I’m saying) We all know it was only the Oakland Raiders, but that Raider team won seven games last year. The true test of whether the defense is taking to Defensive Coordinator Frank Bush’s scheme is next Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals coming off a bye week.
The positive aspects to this game were many. LB Demeco Ryans seemed to be everywhere. Don’t let the stat sheet fool you, Ryans led the Texans defense. If he was not pressuring Raiders QB Jamarcus Russell, he was making tackles or clearing the path for other tacklers. Defensive linemen Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye each grabbed a sack and dominated their opponents. New strong safety Bernard Pollard helped the run defense immensely. The secondary as a whole did a fine job. With Coach Bush’s new attacking defense, mistakes will be made early in the year. Hopefully as the season goes on Houston fans will see more and more games like this one.
On offense, things could have been better. QB Matt Schaub completed only 50% of his passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Schaub, however, was not afraid to fling long balls to various receivers and ended up with an average of over 20 yards per completion. Running back Steve Slaton lost another fumble causing Head Coach Gary Kubiak to bench him for a short while. When Slaton came back in, he was running harder and rushed for one TD, and caught a nice pass for another. Backup RB Ryan Moats showed he is ready when called upon with some nice runs. The average per carry looks bad in the box score due to the fact that the team was up by three scores for much of the second half, and the offense was running out the clock.
Kick returner Jacoby Jones was good and bad all by himself. On the punt after LB Brian Cushing’s safety, Jones electrified the Houston crowd with a 95 yard return for a TD. Not long after that he dropped a punt but recovered it. Jones is a talent, but seems to be one or two more fumbles away from possibly losing his job. Kubiak must lose sleep over this kid. He’s productive, but scary.
This week Houston travels to Arizona to face the high powered Cardinals. The Cards offense is a little better than the Raiders. (Or so I hear) Teams that lose the Super Bowl tend to be super bad the next season but Kurt Warner and company hope to buck the trend. This week the Texans will not have another game where the team gets to run out the clock in the second half due to a big lead. If Houston’s defense can keep up the intensity they showed against Oakland they have a chance to not only win the game, but to do very well this year. Kubiak and staff must hope both the offense and defense show up ready to play this week.
Defense Still Absent
First I would like to thank Gary P Alexander for filling in on this column while I was away on vacation.
This week, the Houston Texans lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by the score of 31-24. Against the Jags, the Texans played a good game on offense, but they were sorely lacking on defense. That being said, Houston only scored three points in the second half and that does not win many games either. QB Matt Schaub had a stellar first half with three TD’s. WR’s Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter each nabbed one TD toss. TE Owen Daniels had another. RB Chris Brown lost a huge fumble late in the 4th quarter at the goal line that would have tied the game. The Texans’ defense generated no sacks and no interceptions. The defense gave up 184 rushing yards and 398 total yards to the Jags. Rookie LB Brian Cushing again led the team with 8 total tackles. The Houston safeties are still slow and not great tacklers. Have you noticed that, Texans’ owner Bob McNair?
Now, just the facts: Over the first three games, the Houston Texans are 1-2. The team is giving up an average of 29.7 points per game even though two of the games were in Houston. Over three games, the Texans’ run defense is giving up an average of 204.6 yards per game. Over the same three games, the opposition team is averaging 6.2 yards per carry versus the Texans. Pending the Monday night game, the team should rank 32nd in yardage yielded by a defense. Did you catch those stats, Bob McNair?
In his weekly press conference, Head Coach Gary Kubiak says the team will work harder at what they are doing. One would think the coaches might swallow their pride and just copy what the best defenses are doing, but the Texans will just work harder. Houston fans have to be pumped about that.
Luckily, the Oakland Raiders are heading to Houston so the Texans shortcomings could be hidden for at least one week. The Texans have shown they cannot take anyone lightly, so Kubiak and Defensive Coordinator Frank Bush need to tighten up the defense quickly. A third straight loss at home could spell doom for both coaches. A third straight loss at home might even make the faithful Texans fans stay home and not buy stuff at the stadium. Are you listening, Bob McNair?
Texans Lose to Jets 24-7
I come to you today as a substitute as your normal intrepid Houston Texans Draft Dog reporter is on tour of the Far East. Unfortunately, he took the Texans offense with him.
What a dismal display to kick off what is/was supposed to be the Texans ‘year’.
We have been down this road all too often as Texan fan, and I will come out and tell you now, I’ve been on this boat since the 3 hour tour began in 2002, this just was not what we expected of this team in 2009.
The skipper on this SS Minnow was Matt Schaub and his merry band of 10 Gilligans on offense.
This one falls on the offense, not scoring at home on opening day, what happened?
Andre Johnson, All-Pro wide receiver catches 1 pass when the game was still in the balance, 1 pass. That’s one more than Ginger ever caught.
Steve Slaton ran like the Professor, and when he did get free, fumbled the ball in the red zone.
Owen Daniels, Pro Bowl tight end, missed a block so badly which could have set Andre Davis free on a nice gainer, just really epitomized the whole game offensively.
They were horrible. Out of synch. Not on the same page. Terrible play calling.
Oh, the defense has a role in this too. Sure they scored a touchdown, which was 6 points more than the offense did, and when it came time to make a stop to get back in it, they failed, crashed on the beach, without a single luxury.
The Special teams played well then again, after a 15 yard penalty against the NYJ on the Pick Six/Fumble return, kicking off from the 45yard line, they kick the thing into the stands. Why not try a high kick dropping it down inside the 10yard line, maybe chance to pin the jets deep?
Who was this team that showed up for Texans White Out day? It was an epic failure as a team.
So the good news, that was yesterday’s game and this week the Texans travel to Nashville to take on the hated Titans. And yes, I hate their guts. The Texans proved last year they could go smash mouth against Tennessee winning late in the season 13-12 in Reliant Stadium. So, it’s a new day and this team has got to be fired up and ready to go Sunday.
Here’s what it will take for the Texans to win their first game of 2009. Steve Slaton and Chris Brown need to run the ball with success, pound it against ‘em, so Schaub can set up some play action, and bootleg roll outs to get away from Titan pressure. And then this gets those safeties to sneak up and free Andre Johnson to do what we know he can do.
Defensively, stop the run, which they did a pretty good job of early against the NYJ, and put pressure on Kerry Collins. Cut 2nd round draft pick Conner Barwin loose, and see what happens. Pressure pressure pressure!
If they can put together a game like we know this team can, yes they can win on the road and yes they can be the team they and we think they can be. If not, looks like we’ll be stranded on this uncharted deserted island forever.
Thanks and Good Luck,
By
Gary P Alexander
Backups Win in Tampa
The Houston Texans wrapped up their preseason schedule in Tamp Bay last Friday night. Playing mostly second and third stringers, the team looked good. Houston won by the score of 27-20. The offense looked sharp in the running and passing games. The Texans defense hit hard and forced some turnovers. Best of all, there were no Tampa Bay touchdown runs of 70 yards or more!
Offense: The final score ended up in Houston’s favor, but the main story was the strong performances of WR Jacoby Jones and QB Rex Grossman. Jones had his finest receiving performance ever with three catches for 148 yards and a long TD. Grossman may have made the Texans coaches rethink which quarterback will backup QB Matt Schaub. Grossman had two TD tosses to go with no interceptions. Current backup QB Dan Orlovsky was once again picked off in his short stint in the game. The running game was average but tailback Ryan Moats looked good with limited carries. If he’s the Texans number three back, that’s a good thing. Rookie TE Anthony Hill had a rough game with a fumble and a dropped pass. The other rookie TE, James Casey, did just fine and grabbed a TD pass. Casey is the second best tight end on the team right now.
Defense: Safety John Busing had a nice game with a near interception and a fine fumble return. Big DT Frank Okam played with fire and had a sack. It’s time for Okam to establish himself now that Travis Johnson is gone. Rookie DE Connor Barwin played the run well in extended time and even had a key tackle for loss on a third down play. Tackles for loss are almost as good as a sack but just don’t get the pub. LB Xavier Adibi was very active and played better than he did against Minnesota, but he was playing against backups this time. Tampa didn’t do too much against the Texans defense until the fourth quarter.
The starters return to the field next Sunday at noon at Reliant Stadium to take on the New York Jets. The Jets will be starting rookie QB Mark Sanchez so look for them to try to establish the run early. Why would they not? If there is a clear weakness for the Texans, it’s the run defense. Hopefully Houston’s revamped front seven is up to the challenge. Those wise guys that live in Las Vegas say the Texans should win and so does Stein. The Jets have new coaches, new schemes, a rookie quarterback and they have to play in Houston. The Texans veterans should expect to win and then go out and make it happen. Head Coach Gary Kubiak has remade this team over the last few years. The vast majority of his players did not play for the last head coach, so Kubiak has his own men and his own coaches. It is time for the Houston Texans to start the season strong and end up with a playoff appearance. Houston fans deserve such a season.
Houston vs. The Favres
The Texans played their third preseason game last Monday night against the
Minnesota Vikings at Reliant Stadium in Houston. If you watched ESPN’s coverage, it was the game that starred Brett Favre and the Vikes vs. some other team. Overall, Houston’s defense played much better than they did previously against the Saints, but that first long TD run by RB Adrian Peterson was a reminder things aren’t fixed yet. The Vikings won the game 17-10 in a defensive struggle. The Minnesota coaches were obviously trying harder to win the game with a wide array of offensive formations. Houston head coach Gary Kubiak seems to want to evaluate his players more than win in the preseason.
The sky is falling! According to fans on Houston talk radio, one 75 yard TD run by Peterson to start the game means the Texans are headed for the cellar again. These fans should probably give last season’s final eight games more weight than a preseason game. Remember last year? When most of the defensive starters were healthy, and the coaches decided to blitz more often, the defense did well. New defensive coordinator Frank Bush probably has plenty of schemes up his sleeve that he has not shown yet.
There were plenty of good things to say about the Texans’ performance on Monday Night Football. Mario Williams motored to another sack. Rookie DE Connor Barwin showed speed and nice moves to pressure the quarterback. (Favre, wasn’t it?) LB Demeco Ryans was amazing with a sack and sixteen tackles. The offense showed some punch in the red zone when RB Steve Slaton ran in a TD in the second quarter. Houston fans should also be very pleased to see a sense of urgency in the second quarter when the Texans got the ball with only twenty-two seconds left in the half. Limping QB Matt Schaub threw some nice passes to get the team in range for a field goal. Schaub was limping due to an ankle sprain received earlier in the game. He should be good to go by the first regular season game.
Of course, not everything was good with the Texans performance. The first TD run by Peterson showed Houston was not ready for the Vikings intensity and that Houston’s defensive tackle and linebacker play need help. The Texans’ safeties are still slow. Second team QB Dan Orlovsky threw a bad pass resulting in a drive killing interception. Matt Schaub also threw an early interception straight to the other team. Even All Pro WR Andre Johnson let up on a deep route that may have cost the team another TD.
There is one more practice game coming up to evaluate the fringe players. The Texans get a very short week to prepare for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they play on Friday night at 6pm Central Time. Expect most starters to get little or no playing time as the Houston coaches must see the second team players. Watch for QB Rex Grossman to come back from his injured hamstring for a last shot to make the team.
The Saints Marched In
The New Orleans Saints came to Houston last Saturday night and had a mighty fine time. The Saints had no trouble running the ball or scoring points. The Texans, on the other hand, had trouble doing both. The final score of the Texans second preseason game was 38 to 14 in favor of New Orleans, but Houston fans should not jump ship yet. With nine and a half minutes to go in the third quarter, the score was only 17-14 Saints. Yes, Houston’s second and third teams got steamrolled, but in preseason, that can happen. Houston’s defense is also operating under a new defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. It may take awhile to learn their systems.
The Offense: Matt Schaub looked good for the second week in a row. Schaub was very accurate and in control of the offense. The running game was not nearly as effective this week as against Kansas City. Steve Slaton sprang for 30 yards on 6 carries, but the other running backs were not as successful. The wide receivers looked sharp with David Anderson and Andre Davis finding the ‘zone. The wide receivers in general are all having good training camps. The cut down to only five receivers will be tough with Jacoby Jones, Glenn Martinez and Darnell Jenkins all showing good things in practice. The offensive line struggled against a high energy Saints line, but to be fair they are working without some key starters. Starting left guard Chester Pitts will be back and practicing with the team this week.
The Defense: Rookie Connor Barwin notched another sack. Over a two game career, young Barwin is averaging one sack per game. If he averaged that in the regular season, he would probably finish the season with around 16 sacks. I could be wrong, but that’s what I came up with. But enough hilarity. Let’s turn to the run defense. Judging by the game last Saturday, the Texans defensive front seven needs a lot of improvement defending the run. The Saints ran wild on Houston. RB Mike Bell averaged 10 yards per carry on ten carries. The defense as a whole gave up 420 total yards. New defensive system or not, the defense needs to execute much better.
Next on the schedule is Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes recently signed Brett Favre, did you hear about that? It’s been in the news. Favre is slated to play the entire first half for Minnesota. This will be a noticeable drop-off from Drew Brees, so Houston’s defense can load up against the run. They will need to stack the line against RB’s Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Expect the home town Texans to come out very fired up after what is certain to be an unpleasant week of practice in the Texas heat. The Houston coaches probably are looking forward to some loud “coaching” this week.
Victory in a Midwest Monsoon
There was crazy weather in Kansas City last Saturday night as the Texans took down the Chiefs for preseason win number one. Houston outscored the hometown Chiefs 16-10 in a torrential downpour at Arrowhead Stadium. The Texans had to contend with the rain and more blitzing than is usually seen in a preseason game. KC was obviously motivated to win Head Coach Todd Haley’s first game but came up short. Houston’s offense was powered by the accurate passing of QB Matt Schaub and power running by RB Chris Brown.
The Texans defense dominated the Chiefs in the first half, allowing only three points. Kansas City gave great effort and finally notched a TD in the fourth quarter. One thing that really stood out about the Texans players was the way they attacked any loose ball. In practices, the Houston coaches have been on the team to get after loose balls, and it was evident against Kansas City.
The Offense: Matt Schaub was extremely accurate in his limited time, completing all seven of his passes. The blitzing Chiefs did get Schaub for a sack, but only because a wide receiver did not cut off his route. Backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky showed good mobility and arm strength, but easily could have been picked off twice. The running game was in high gear thanks to RB Chris Brown.
Brown showed good speed and a nose for the ‘zone. Head Coach Gary Kubiak is a big Chris Brown fan and if Brown can stay healthy, he could be a big part of this year’s offense. RB Ryan Moats also looked extra speedy in his first game.
The receiving corps did a fine job with WR Andre Davis showing the good hands that have coaches raving about his training camp. Rookie TE James Casey was featured on national television for an outstanding one handed grab. Casey will get more reps at fullback this week as FB Boomer Grigsby suffered a nasty ankle sprain. Punter Matt Turk had a highlight as he sprinted for a first down after bobbling a wet snap. “That play was not planned.” Coach Kubiak stated. Safety John Busing was that number 40 that was in on every coverage play. Busing will be hard to cut the way he plays. If running backs Steve Slaton, Brown and Moats all stay healthy, the Texans running game will match their passing game in ’09.
The Defense: Houston’s defense shut down KC in the first half by dominating the line. Houston did not blitz as much as Kansas City, mostly playing the base defense. DE Mario Williams was his usual powerful self. Second year DT Frank Okam looked energetic and seems ready to contribute to the defensive line rotation this year. Rookie Connor Barwin grabbed the team’s only sack with a sweet shoulder dipping move around the left tackle. He should get more opportunities if he keeps up the kind of effort he is showing.
The starting linebackers played a good game and reserve LB Buster Davis showed surprising speed. Davis was a little too aggressive on a late hit in the second half, but otherwise did a fine job. Rookie cornerbacks Glover Quin and Brice McCain showed promise and made no glaring mistakes.
Once starter Jacques Reeves returns from injury, Quin and McCain should provide good depth. CB Fred Bennett is playing his best football in quite awhile. On the other hand, safety Brandon Harrison seems to be continuing his poor play from last year. Harrison is just slow and takes bad angles to the play. The Texans will have to hope starting safeties Eugene Wilson and Dominique Barber stay healthy because there is not much depth at the position.
Next Game vs. New Orleans: Even though they played in a driving rainstorm, the Texans looked good against a young Chiefs team. The competition level jumps up a notch this week when the New Orleans Saints visit Reliant Stadium in Houston. The Saints gang of Brees, Colston, Shockey and Pierre Thomas can put points up in bunches.
The Saints defense, however, gives up points in bunches, so it should be an entertaining game. With third string QB Rex Grossman out for a few weeks with a bad hammy, expect to see Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky to take more snaps than they would normally in the second preseason game. Fans could see a fun aerial show as both secondaries get tested. With people paying regular season prices for preseason games, high scoring games are always nice. Maybe Matt Turk can snap off a fake punt for a TD this time! One can imagine Coach Kubiak thinking; “That play will not be called.”
Training Camp Heat
The Texans open their preseason schedule against the KC Chiefs in just a few days, and training camp is in full swing. Number 23, (whose name shall not be mentioned), is still holding out because 9.9 million dollars is an insult and he won’t stand for it again next year. The cornerbacks that are in camp like Fred Bennett and rookie Glover Quin are happy to take the reps as starters. Veteran CB Jacques Reeves’ broken leg likely will keep him out until about week three of the regular season.
Rookies such as LB Brian Cushing and DE Connor Barwin are doing well and Head Coach Gary Kubiak is looking for ways to move Barwin around the defensive line. Rookie TE James Casey from Rice has taken reps at tight end, fullback, and long snapper. What a slacker. The wide receivers are looking very good as Andre Davis is catching everything and Jacoby Jones is running crisp routes and getting behind the defense. SS Dominique Barber ran with the first team the other day, and may supplant veteran safety Nick Ferguson.
Reports out of camp are that Coach Kubiak is pleased with the effort except for one practice that resulted in a minor injury to center Chris Myers. The quarterbacks are looking smooth and it will be interesting to see is vet Rex Grossman is given a shot at the backup job. Matt Schaub, of course, is entrenched as the starter. Look for the report on the Chiefs game to come out quickly on your one and only NFL Draft Dog.com.
Now, because I pitched it last column, here’s the predicted scores for every game of the ’09 season! You really have to respect a man that will go out on a limb this early, right? ...right?
Week 1, at Houston: Texans 21, Jets 8. Houston will average about 27 points at home, but the Jets D should be stout. The Jets O? Not so good. Texans 1-0
Week 2, at Tennessee: Titans 21, Texans 17. The Texans will split with the Titans, and they lose a close one on the road. (Unless Vince plays, then all bets are off.) Texans 1-1
Week 3, at Houston: Texans 31, Jaguars 17. It will be close early, but the home team explodes in the second half. Texans 2-1
Week 4, at Houston: Texans 34, Raiders 14. Payback for last years surprise loss. Texans 3-1
Week 5, at Arizona: Cardinals 27, Texans 24. A fun shootout, but it does not go Houston’s way. Texans 3-2
Week 6, at Cincinnati: Texans 27, Bengals 24. A fun shootout, and it does go Houston’s way. Texans 4-2
Week 7, at Houston: Texans 30, 49ers 15. San Fran is not ready to be good on the road. Texans 5-2
Week 8, at Buffalo: Bills 21, Texans 20. With their third roadie in four weeks, the Texans lose a close one. Texans 5-3
Week 9, at Indy: Colts 27, Texans 20. Colts too much for road weary Houston. Texans 5-4
Week 10, BYE WEEK
Week 11, at Houston: (Monday Night Football): Texans 28, Titans 14. The rowdy home crowd cheers the home team to victory. Texans 6-4
Week 12, at Houston: Texans 27, Colts 20. Texans avenge week 9 loss by the exact same score! That’s just freaky. Texans 7-4
Week 13, at Jacksonville: Texans 17, Jaguars 14. After beating the Colts, Houston takes down another division foe. Texans 8-4
Week 14, at Houston: Texans 31, Seattle 20. Houston is really rolling. Texans 9-4
Week 15, at St. Louis: Texans 24, Rams 17. Rams just not good this year. Texans 10-4
Week 16, at Miami: Dolphins 20, Texans 19. Dolphins barely earn the win. Texans 10-5
Week 17, at Houston: Texans 24, Patriots 21. New England rests just enough players that the home team wins. Texans 11-5
Houston goes 8-0 at home and 3-5 on the road. If Houston goes to the playoffs, they better hope they play at home. Texans fans probably will just be happy with a playoff experience and the 11-5 record. They are due a winning season.
Next: Preseason Game One
Back to the Top
I Got Your 53 Man Roster Right Here!
With a few weeks until Texans training camp, things are quiet around Houston HQ. TE Owen Daniels and CB Dunta Robinson still don’t have new contract extensions, but neither player has many options at this point, and it’s doubtful either will hold out of training camp. The biggest news lately is that QB Alex Brink was released. That shows you how much is going on with the team. Now seems like a good enough time to guess which players will make the final 53 man squad! Since training camp has not even started and we don’t know who will be running first team in practice it makes it a little more challenging. Besides, the only thing on NFL Network and ESPN is Brett Favre stories. Really.
Stein’s best guess at the Texans final 53:
QB: Matt Schaub*, Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman
RB: Steve Slaton*, Ryan Moats, Chris Brown
FB: Vonta Leach*, Boomer Grigsby
OL: Duane Brown*, Chester Pitts*, Chris Myers*, Mike Brisiel*, Eric Winston*, Chris White, Rashad Butler, Kasey Studdard, Antoine Caldwell-R
TE: Owen Daniels*, Anthony Hill-R, Joel Dreesen, James Casey-R
WR: Andre Johnnson*, Kevin Walter*, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones
K: Kris Brown
LS/TE: Clark Harris
DL: Mario Williams*, Amobi Okoye*, Antonio Smith*, Travis Johnson*, Shaun Cody, Deljuan Robinson, Tim Bulman, Connor Barwin-R
LB: Demeco Ryans*, Brian Cushing*-R, Xavier Adibi*, Zach Diles, Cato June, Kevin Bentley, Buster Davis
CB: Dunta Robinson*, Jacques Reeves*, Fred Bennett, Glover Quin-R, Brice McCain-R
S: Dominique Barber*, Eugene Wilson*, Nick Ferguson, Brandon Harrison
P: Matt Turk
* = Starter ; R = Rookie
Practice Squad: G Dan Stevenson, DE/LB Jesse Nading, CB/S Antwaun Molden, RB Jeremiah Johnson-R, WR Mike Jones-R, OT Jason Watkins-R, DT Frank Okam, S Troy Nolan-R, RB Arian Foster-R
Some people think rookie TE James Casey will be the backup FB, but being a blocking back is harder than it looks. I would still love to see one of the teams cornerbacks converted to safety. Bennett, Molden, and Quin are prime candidates to become a speedy free safety. Brandon Harrison may have been the slowest safety in the history of the NFL last season, and that includes Matt Stevens. With depth at tight end and linebacker, (and quarterback), the Texans would do well to trade for a free safety. Look for Adibi to edge out Diles and Cato June as a starting linebacker. Travis Johnson once again makes the cut, but Deljuan Robinson will see plenty of time.
So there’s the Houston Texans final roster. That’s easy! Next; Stein predicts all the scores to all the games.
Dog Days and Organized Team Activities (OTAs)
It’s early June in Texas and no Hurricane in sight…yet. The Houston Texans are spending their summer days having fun at organized team activities, (OTA’s). Every healthy starter is participating except CB Dunta Robinson and TE Owen Daniels. They are having contract issues. Some rookies and vets are having good OTA’s, but before we get into that, let’s finish up the eighth round.
The Texans did not sign undrafted rookie free agent William Rentmeester from Wisconsin, but they have signed a couple more of these UFA’s. Punter Justin Brantley from Texas A&M was brought in to keep Texans punter Matt Turk from overusing his leg. Brantley had a good punting average in college, but currently lacks the hang time on his kicks the coaches like. Also, he tends to kick the low rolling punts that add to the average, but are very returnable. Other rookies brought in were DT Jake Visser from Ferris State and CB Mark Parson from Ohio University. Parson is very fast, but will find it hard to stick because of the plethora of CB’s in camp. Visser is just OTA filler. He has the slimmest of chances to make the practice squad.
At OTA’s Head Coach Gary Kubiak has had a few days to look over his new rookies and returning vets. One name that continues to come up is 4th round pick CB Glover Quin from New Mexico. Quin just seems to be around the ball, and has come up with enough interceptions to get noticed. Quin has the size to play free safety, but Kubiak likes him at corner. Also getting mentions from the coaching staff was DT Deljuan Robinson. Deljuan is starting his third season with the Texans and is pushing hard to make the rotation at tackle. DT Travis Johnson hobbling around with a bum hamstring is getting Robinson more reps, and he is making the most of his chance.
First Round pick Brian Cushing is running with the first team linebackers and is impressing everyone. There was some confusion about his playing weight, but Cushing says he played around 255 lbs last year at USC but dropped weight for the combine, and then scouts started listing him at 240 or 245. Veterans in camp say Brian moves around like he’s 240 so he must be quick. Rookie guard Brandon Walker from Oklahoma has already been waived. Returning starting quarterback Matt Schaub is looking sharp and is much more comfortable at this time in ’09 than last year. Last year Schaub was coming off shoulder surgery, and could not take as many reps. Look for him to start the year much more accurate than last season. Schaub and WR Andre Johnson are looking to pick up right where they left off last season. And that was red hot.
At running back, Kubiak is talking of Ryan Moats and Chris Brown as 2a and 2b, but Moats is showing off even better speed this year and is really hitting the holes. When rookie RB Jerimiah Johnson is allowed to report after his college ends, the competition at running back should be the best the squad has ever experienced.
While it’s very early in the 2009 season, optimism reigns supreme at the fields near Kirby Drive in Houston. Playoffs are expected by almost everyone. Once the contracts of Dunta Robinson and Owen Daniels get hammered out, it will be one big happy once again. Watch for Demeco Ryans to also get a new deal done soon.
The Eighth Round 2009
The Houston Texans protect their undrafted rookie free agent list like it’s some kind of national security issue, but a little digging has produced some names. This list may not be 100% accurate, but it’s darn close. These players were lucky enough to have not been taken in the 7th round, thus giving them some choice in where they play. At least where they will attempt to play. Here, we call it the 8th round.
RB Jeremiah Johnson, 5’9”, 210 lbs, Oregon; Second team Pac-10, Jeremiah gained 1201 yards last year for the Ducks. He also scored 13 TD’s and had a sweet per carry average of 7.1 yards. Johnson will get a long look as the 2nd or 3rd running back on the Texans roster, as the team did not draft an RB. He has the quickness to hit the hole and good strength, but not game-breaking speed.
RB Arian Foster, 6’1”, 225 lbs, Tennessee; Although Foster has had some trouble with fumbling, he had a very productive junior season. Just two years ago, he tallied over 1100 yards rushing and 12 TD’s for the Vols. Last season his stats dropped like the rest of the Tennessee team. Faster than he looks, Foster hits the hole quick and is hard to tackle. Competition at running back should be fun to watch.
FB William Rentmeester, 6’1”, 248 lbs, Wisconsin; Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, this young man averaged 4.5 yards per carry last year for the Badgers. The problem is he only had 11 carries all year. Big Rent is the definition of training camp fodder. He would have to be special teams beast just to make the practice squad.
DT Josh Leonard, 6’2”, 292 lbs, Hawaii; Leonard is not a top prospect, but after he knocked out 41 reps of 225 lbs at the Hawaii pro day, scouts took interest. He also did very well in the agility test. Texans coaches are probably thinking with a little teaching, the big kid has a shot at the practice squad.
OT Jason Watkins, 6’6”, 320 lbs, Florida; Started 14 games his senior season at right tackle after playing his junior year at left tackle. A Florida team captain, Watkins may not have great feet, but works hard. Honorable Mention All SEC.
C Brett Helms, 6’2”, 280 lbs, LSU; A bit light for the NFL as of now, Helms started 41 games at LSU. When you are a three year starter at LSU, you must have something going for you. Helms hopes to stick around long enough to get a little more weight on his side.
OG Brandon Walker, 6’3” 300, Oklahoma; Walker was 2nd team All Big 12 last season at right guard. He was a two year starter at OU after a stint in junior college. Some scouts had B.W. rated higher than teammate Duke Robinson. Walker could surprise in camp.
OT Doug Dedrick, 6’4”, 301, Iowa State; Started the last 24 games for the Cyclones. A long shot to make the team in any fashion.
DE Tim Jamison, 6’3” 256 lbs, Michigan; Not a top of the heap athlete, Jamison did manage 5.5 sacks his last year at Michigan mostly due to effort. A standout in a mostly forgettable season at Ann Arbor.
WR Mike Jones, 6’4”, 211 lbs, Arizona St.; A three year starter for the Sun Devils, Jones posted 61 catches for 744 yards and 4 TD’s last season. He has a good vertical leap with very good speed. A hometown kid who lives in Sugar Land, his best shot is staying healthy and making the practice squad.
OLB Toddrick Verdell, 6’3”, 225 lbs, Florida St.; A one year starter for the Seminoles, he was 2nd on the team with 66 tackles. Verdell has some potential, but never starred at Florida State.
With the Texans roster deeper and more talented than it has ever been, it will be hard for these non-drafted players to make the team. But, every year there are surprises, and with a couple breaks, one or more can make the practice squad or better.
Post Draft Report ‘09
In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans started with eight picks, and ended with eight picks. The team had an extra fourth rounder the Vikings from the Sage Rosenfels trade. They say sometimes the best trade is the one you don’t make, and that’s how Houston played their cards. Houston was offered a few picks to trade back, but nothing good enough for the team to make the move. The Texans went heavy on the defense, as expected, including their first and second round picks.
Round One: Brian Cushing, LB, USC, 6’3”, 245 lbs; Texans General Manager Rick Smith once again got the man they were looking at all along. Cushing should beef up the team’s rush defense, and the Texans brain trust hope he’s a starter on opening day. Zach Diles was playing a good strong side linebacker when he was injured last year, but hopefully Cushing is a little better at everything. Brian was 2nd team All American last year, and can play any LB spot.
Round Two: Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati, 6’4”, 260 lbs; Surprisingly, the very athletic Barwin was still available when the Texans drafted in the middle of the second round. Many scouting services had this defensive end rated as a first rounder. Barwin was first team All Big East last year. He finished his first season at DE with 11 sacks, and already has some pass rush moves. Barwin is also a special teams standout. He probably will play DE on passing downs with new Texans D-lineman Antonio Smith moving inside to tackle.
Round Three: Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama, 6’3”, 310 lbs; This versatile center from Alabama can also play guard, and played tackle when needed at ‘Bama. Caldwell was first team All SEC and Sporting News All American. Houston needed a running back or more defense here, but must have felt Caldwell was just too good to pass up. Houston coaches have said Antoine will probably backup at center and guard on game days this year.
Round Four: Pick One: Glover Quin, CB, New Mexico, 5’11’, 205 lbs; Some scouting services list Quin at safety, but Head Coach Gary Kubiak has stated they see Quin playing cornerback, specifically the nickleback. Quin was a three year starter at New Mexico, and made the All Mountain West first team.
Round Four: Pick Two: Anthony Hill, TE, N.C. State, 6’5”, 265 lbs; Kubiak had wanted a big TE to take on the larger LB’s they see in 3-4 defenses, so Hill was the pick here. Young Mr. Hill comes with some injury concerns, but when healthy, he should be the best blocking TE on the roster.
Round Five: James Casey, TE, Rice, 6’3”, 245 lbs; The Houston brass did not plan on taking two TE’s, but when the versatile Casey was still available here, they had to pull the trigger. Casey is a Houston hometown favorite. After a few years of baseball, the 24 year old Casey played various positions at Rice. He once played 7 positions in one game. Casey will be counted on to play special teams, some tight end, and probably backup at quarterback. Who knows, we may even see him on defense or at H-back.
Round Six: Brice McCain, CB, Utah, 5’9”, 185 lbs; McCain is a small CB, but when Kubiak was watching film of Utah CB Sean Smith, McCain kept catching his eye. Scouts say that even though he times out well, he plays even better than his measurables. With the sheer number of corners on the Houston roster, he will have to work very hard to earn a spot.
Round Seven: Troy Nolan, S, Arizona St, 6’0”, 210 lbs; Known as a big play guy at Arizona State, Nolan had five defensive TD’s in the last two seasons. He plays faster than his times. With the under whelming talent on the Texans roster at safety, Nolan just may be the steal of the 7th round, and make the 53 man roster.
While Houston did pass up some possible running backs in the draft, they did address the defense. They feel there are other avenues to address the running back position. The Houston Chronicle has reported that the Texans have signed a pair of free agent running backs along with a few other rookie free agents, but it’s best to wait for the Texans to announce the signings. These reports get out early, and are often wrong. Houston strengthened their depth at all three levels of the defense, and will have some fine competition at cornerback and linebacker. Training camp is right around the corner, and Houston fans should be looking ahead with high hopes.
Next: The 8th Round.
Final Thoughts Before the Draft
Less than a week to go before the NFL draft, and some signings and trades are shaking up the draft. The Jacksonville Jags just signed WR Torry Holt, and this definitely lessens their need for a WR in the draft. Philadelphia acquired OT Jason Peters from Buffalo for two picks this year, including a first rounder, and one pick next year. Now Philly just needs that #1 WR for McNabb to enjoy. Also affecting the draft is the report out today that the USC linebackers that had allegedly tested positive for steroids in fact did not. That’s good news.
Some last minute advice for the Detroit Lions:
Trade back, trade back, trade back. Stein’s a huge proponent of trading back, saving some money and taking multiple players. If they don’t trade back, they should not take a quarterback. They should take their highest rated O-lineman. Neither Matt Stafford from Georgia nor USC’s Mark Sanchez is John Elway or Peyton Manning, hence a high probability of them being a bust. It seems like more and more QB’s taken high are just not panning out. Take the lineman, use Dante Culpepper this year, and take your QB next year, when better signal callers will be available. That’s good sense.
Some players the Texans might take in the later rounds that fans would enjoy:
Jarrett Dillard, WR, 5’10”, 195 lbs, Rice; Dillard has great hands, a great vertical leap, and runs precise routes. What’s not to like? He’s like current Texans WR David Anderson, but he can jump higher. That ain’t chopped liver.
Stephen McGee, QB, 6’3”, 225 lbs, Texas A&M; The Texans always like to bring a rookie QB into training camp. If McGee is there in the 7th round, don’t bet on head coach Gary Kubiak passing on him. He’s an Aggie, get it?
Gartrell Johnson, RB, 5’10”, 220 lbs, Colorado State; This kid runs hard all the time, and hates to get tackled. He hates it, I tell you. It does not hurt that Kubiak’s son also went to C. State.
James Casey, TE, 6’3”, 245 lbs, Rice; Nicknamed “Thor”. That’s cool, right!? This big boy plays all over the place. Casey, QB Matt Schaub and TE Owen Daniels on the field together? That’s three QB’s on the field. (Daniels also played some QB in college.) Who’s going to throw the dang ball? No one knows! It’ll drive opposing D-Coordinators nuts. That’s good fun.
Now, let’s get ready for some NFL Draft this Saturday & Sunday. The NFL is going prime time this year by moving the start back to 3pm Central Time. It should be fun.
5th educated guess at what Houston does with their first round pick: Trade back a few spots and still get Clay Mathews, LB, USC. I just don’t think Mathews is valued as high in other cities as he is in Houston. The Texans can get him later than 15.
Next: Texans Draft Results. That’s good timing.
Predicting Houston’s Eight Picks
Two weeks until the NFL draft. Tampa Bay just signed QB Byron Leftwich and still needs a quarterback. In Houston, General Manager Rick Smith and Head Coach Gary Kubiak are probably meeting with team scouts planning what to do with the team’s eight picks in the ’09 draft. (The team acquired an extra fourth round choice by trading QB Sage Rosenfels to the Minnesota Vikings.)
Judging by what the Texans have done over the years, one would not expect the team to take all the picks where they are now scheduled. Houston could either trade up or down at some point during the proceedings, but for the sake of this column, let’s say Houston takes their picks without making any trades. Here’s eight possible picks the Houston Texans may take based on team needs in the April 25, 26 NFL Draft:
Round One, Pick 15: Brian Cushing, LB, 6’3”, 245 lbs, USC; The consistent word out of Texans camp in the off season is the team wants a starter here. This ranks Cushing over his teammate, LB Clay Mathews. Cushing has the skills to start at strong side ‘backer.
Round Two, Pick 46: Sean Smith, CB, 6’4”, 215 lbs, Utah; The Texans needs speed at safety. Smith could easily be converted to free safety. He’s big and has a nose for the ball.
Round Three, Pick 77: Fili Moala, DT, 6’4”, 305, USC; Houston needs Samoans! The knock on Moala is that he does not go full speed all the time. This is a concern, but Houston’s fired up defensive coaches know they can coach him up.
Round Four, Pick 112: James Davis, RB, 5’11”, 218 lbs, Clemson; With Steve Slaton entrenched as their starting RB, Houston nabs Davis as a backup to give Slaton a few more plays off.
Round Four, Pick 122: Brandon Hughes, CB, 5’11”, 185, Oregon State; You just can’t have enough cornerbacks. I’ve heard that somewhere. Hughes would push for minutes from day one. He has speed and attitude.
Round Five, Pick 152: A.Q. Shipley, C, 6’1”, 305, Penn State; Shipley could back up at guard or center.
Round Six, Pick 188: Henry Melton, DE, 6’4”, 270 lbs, Texas; Wanting to have heated competition on the D-line, Rick Smith brings in a possible edge rusher.
Round Seven, Pick 223: Todd Boeckman, QB, 6’5”, 240 lbs, Ohio State; With Dan Orlovsky as your backup, you may as well bring in some competition. Boeckman is an accurate passer with the size Kubiak likes.
4th educated guess at what Houston does with their first round pick: You just read it!
Next: Your guess is as good as mine, but I’ll think of something!