What does anybody know about the Texans?

[el borracho]

So we have a game coming up and no discussion about the opposition. I just realized I know nothing about the Texans. How is their O-line? How is their D-line? How is their secondary? Who is their quarterback and is he any good? Anybody know anything at all about these guys?

[listopencil]

Off the top of my head, they have recently begun employing the same running system that the Broncos use. They have a RB (Dominick Davis) who our running backs coach, Bobby Turner, thinks was the best RB in that draft class. Bobby Turner called up the Texans when they drafted him, congratulating them on getting the best RB available. This looks very bad for KC.

[el borracho]

Well, I guess that would be important information although it has not seemed to matter who the opposing running back is... it is virtually a given that they will gain over 100 yards against us.

Anybody know anything else?

[tk13]

Davis is like Foster, way underrated.... he's quick, I think he could cause problems...

[FloridaChief]

Originally Posted by el borracho

Well, I guess that would be important information although it has not seemed to matter who the opposing running back is... it is virtually a given that they will gain over 100 yards against us.

Anybody know anything else?

From what I've been reading this week, the Texans are a pretty good ballclub. If it weren't for special team kick return coverage and turnovers (i think they're -4), they could very well be sitting at 2-0 right now. This is not a "pushover" team.

[King_Chief_Fan]

You will know plenty after Sunday.
Davis and Johnson (WR) are pretty good and will probably have a career day in KC. Unless our luck changes.

Their lines are their weakness, IMO. Their best offensive lineman could be Marcus Spears, whom we all know. Their defensive line is constantly riddled with injuries and they can't find a consistent 3 to start.

Their kicker is still Kris Brown, that dude Cowher berated, fired, and put Todd Peterson in his place.... Worst move Cowher ever made.

I haven't seen them yet this year, so I'm speaking from what I've known about them over the past few years.

[the Talking Can]

we know their offense will destroy our defense...but that's a given, otherwise I know nothing about the Texans......

[Otter]

How is their O-line?

Their offensive line was one of the worst in the leauge last year. Not sure what improvements they made.

How is their D-line?

Defensive line is right in the middle of the pack, not bad.

How is their secondary?

Average

Who is their quarterback and is he any good?

David Carr, he remindes me alot of Drew Bledsoe when he was young. Monster arm, tons of potential and hurts you one minute then leads you to a touchdown the next.

Anybody know anything at all about these guys?

During the off-season, the Houston Texans continued their building process and appear to be ready to break out and possibly make their first run at the playoffs. David Carr is in his third season in the league, a year that is often pivotal for young QBs, and he has the running game and an improved line that should keep defenders from teeing off on the former No. 1 overall draft pick. He also appears to have a nice stable of receivers, so by all accounts, he has no excuse for failure this year.
The secondary was a huge concern last year, but team officials feel like they have a future shut-down corner in this year’s first-round draft pick Dunta Robinson. And with a little shuffling of talent, they appear to be much better than last year. Sustaining a consistent pass rush is going to be a big key for the success of the secondary, but with a healthier squad and some key additions, it appears they will be significantly improved in that area this year.
Quarterback
David Carr has shown flashes of ability throughout his first two seasons in the league, but entering his third year with an improved line and plenty of weapons, the pressure is on him to take his game to the next level. He has a strong arm, he’s confident, and he’s a tough guy who leads by example. He’s taken a lot of hits over the course of his short career, but he continues to show poise in the pocket and he appears to be set for a break-out season.
The strong-armed Tony Banks is second on the depth chart and is capable of taking over for the short term. However, he tends to make poor decisions under pressure and is not the answer if Carr should be lost for a significant period of time. Second-year QB Dave Ragone, who has tremendous size and arm strength, could challenge Banks very soon for the No. 2 spot.
Running Backs
The Texans have a lot of potential at running back with two talented youngsters to lean on in Domanick Davis and Tony Hollings. Davis emerged as a solid all-around back as a rookie, displaying effectiveness as a runner, receiver, and a blocker. But there are concerns about his durability and whether he can hold up for an entire season as the feature back.. Hollings is very inexperienced as a running back and he is coming off a knee injury that shortened his college career, but he should receive more carries this year to help keep Davis fresh later as the season rolls on.
Jonathan Wells will likely be the primary backup behind Davis and Hollings, but he lacks explosiveness and will probably never be anything more than a backup. Moran Norris will return as the starter at fullback, and he is a solid blocker, but he is a one-dimensional player who adds little as a runner or receiver.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Second-year wide receiver Andre Johnson has the potential to be one of the more dangerous receivers in the league. His combination of speed and strength will create a lot of matchup problems for opposing secondaries. Corey Bradford, who will likely start the season as the No. 2 receiver, provides this unit with experience and a vertical threat. And third-year receiver Jabar Gaffney appears set for a breakout season after a strong preseason. He is probably the best route runner on the team, rarely drops a pass, and isn’t afraid to go across the middle as a slot receiver.
The problem with this unit is that there is very little depth behind the top three. Derick Armstrong has flashed potential, but neither he nor Sloan Thomas is much more than a special teams player at this point. Billy Miller provides another receiving weapon at the tight end position, but he is a one-dimensional player who does not possess good blocking skills. Mark Bruener will be a nice addition in two-tight end sets and his blocking skills will make him an asset in short-yardage situations and he will probably see some action in obvious running situations.
Offensive Line
The Texans continue to improve their offensive line with the addition of right tackle Todd Wade and the utilization of a new zone-blocking scheme. Wade is a physical run blocker who lacks the athleticism to stay with the league’s best edge rushers, but he is an immediate upgrade at the position. Zack Wiegert offers a veteran presence next to Wade at right guard, and despite the fact that his skills appear to be slipping, he still has the power to move the pile. Center Steve McKinney is an athletic player who does a good job of sustaining his blocks and getting out to the second level.
Seth Wand is penciled in as the starter at the critical left tackle position, and while he possesses good size and range, he is very inexperienced. With Wand emerging as the starter at tackle, Chester Pitts will move to left guard where he is a better fit, and Milford Brown will become the backup. And with guys like Brown, Todd Washington, and Fred Weary on the bench, this unit appears to have some pretty good depth.
Defensive Line
The addition of former Titan Robaire Smith, who will start at right end, gives the Texans a solid trio of run defenders, and combined with a healthy Gary Walker, should improve a pass rush that netted just 19 sacks by this unit last year. The Titans believe Smith has the potential to be a force at defensive end in their 3-4 defense. He has the size and strength to hold up to the run and he has show some pass-rushing ability. Walker is an experienced veteran with a ton of ability, but he always seems to be dinged up. If he can stay healthy, he should have a big year with Smith drawing some of the attention his way.
Seth Payne will return as the starter at nose tackle after missing most of last season himself and he is still recovering from the ACL injury that sidelined him, so durability is a concern for him as well.
But when healthy, he is excellent at stuffing the middle of the line and taking on blockers. If he is not ready to go when the season starts, Smith could be moved to the middle to fill the hole. Jerry DeLoach can also fill in at the nose or at end, and Corey Sears, who started 12 games last year, provides more depth on the outside.
Linebackers
The Texans are also hoping rookie Jason Babin can help improve their anemic pass rush. He is an explosive player with good pass-rushing skills and he has the ability to play every down at outside linebacker in this system. Veteran Kailee Wong is penciled in as the starter on the opposite side, but last year’s third-round pick Antwan Peek could challenge him for playing time. At the least, Peek will be used as a situational pass rusher.
Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman are scheduled to start on the inside. Sharper is a physical, big-play linebacker who may have lost half a step, but still has the ability to make plays on the inside. Foreman has the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline and may benefit the most by the return of a healthy Payne at nose tackle. Overall, the Titans appear to be very strong at linebacker both inside and out.
Secondary
The Texans took a huge step toward shoring up a weak secondary by using this year’s first-round draft pick on cornerback Dunta Robinson, who is scheduled to start on the right side. He has decent size, very good speed, and the coverage skills to be a shut-down corner in the NFL. He's a physical player. He tackles well, and is not afraid to step up in run support. He has a terrific combination of speed and strength, good acceleration, and quickness closing on the ball carrier. He also shows excellent footwork and has a terrific back pedal. He's fluid in his turn and possesses great ball skills. And he could also be used on kick or punt returns.
Veteran Aaron Glenn, who is on the downside of his career, will start on the left side. Despite his age, he does still possess good speed and athletic ability, and the Texans should be able to get another good season or two out of him if he can stay healthy. Kenny Wright will likely be the nickel back with DeMarcus bundle of sticksgins coming into the game in dime situations. Marcus Coleman will move inside to free safety this year where he should be a better fit. He has decent cover skills, but he lacks the speed needed out on the corners. Coleman is a nice complement to strong safety Eric Brown, who struggles in man coverage but excels against the run.
Overview
The Texans appear to be a team that is ready to really put things together on the offensive side of the ball. Andre Johnson looks like a play maker and Dominick Davis should just continue to get better on the ground. And with three potential weapons to choose from at receiver, David Carr must be licking his chops just waiting for the season to begin.
Defensively, there are still questions to answer and some young guys are going to have to step forward, but overall they appear to be better than last year’s squad... especially in the secondary. If the Texans can get off to a good start, I think they have the potential to make a run at the playoffs, although playing in a tough division might make that a tough goal to fulfill. However, an 8-8 season is very realistic and would be a nice stepping stone for the future.