Houston Texans

NFL Previews - Houston Texans

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2007 HOUSTON TEXANS PREVIEW

(My Sportsbook) - If you're Matt Schaub, it has to be great to be a Houston Texan right about now.

Schaub is finally a starter after caddying for Michael Vick in Atlanta for three years, and also has a six-year, $48 million contract in his back pocket.

The fact that he was traded in the spring to a team with an all-time record of 24-56 (.300)? Who cares?

The fact that in its five-year existence, the only thing Houston has done consistently is to allow its quarterbacks to eat the Reliant Stadium grass? Not a problem.

The fact that Schaub's supporting cast pales in comparison to those that AFC South contemporaries Peyton Manning and Byron Leftwich enjoy in Indianapolis and Jacksonville, respectively? Won't lose sleep over it.

Why should Schaub be so positive?

Consider the phrases "Michael Vick questions" and "PETA protesters" and you'll realize why the stifling heat of Houston must feel a little bit like paradise to Schaub at this moment.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Houston Texans, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 6-10 (4th, AFC South)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: None

COACH (RECORD): Gary Kubiak (6-10 in one year with Texans, 6-10 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Sherman

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Richard Smith

OFFENSIVE STAR: Andre Johnson, WR (103 receptions, 1147 yards, 5 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: DeMeco Ryans, LB (155 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 21st rushing, 27th passing, 28th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 20th rushing, 22nd passing, t25th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: Kansas City (9/9), Indianapolis (9/23), at Jacksonville (10/14), at Tennessee (12/2), Denver (12/13)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Matt Schaub (from Falcons), RB Ahman Green (from Packers), WR Bethel Johnson (from Eagles), WR André Davis (from Bills), WR Keenan McCardell (from Chargers), WR Jacoby Jones (3rd Round, Lane), T Jordan Black (from Chiefs), DT Amobi Akoye (1st Round, Louisville), DT Jeff Zgonina (from Dolphins), LB Danny Clark (from Saints), LB Shawn Barber (from Eagles), CB Tyrone Poole (from Raiders), CB Jamar Fletcher (from Lions)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB David Carr (to Panthers), RB Domanick Williams (released), RB Chris Taylor (out for season/injured), WR Eric Moulds (to Titans), T Zach Wiegert (released), DE Antwan Peek (to Browns), DT Seth Payne (to Jaguars), DT Lional Dalton (not tendered), DT Cedric Killings (not tendered), LB Kailee Wong (retired), LB DaShon Polk (not tendered), LB Troy Evans (to Saints), CB Lewis Sanders (to Falcons), CB Jason Horton (out for season/injured), S Michael Stone (to Giants), S Glenn Earl (out for season/injured)

QB: The David Carr era is over after five seasons in Houston, with the 24 wins the team produced during that timeframe not enough to keep the former No. 1 overall pick in the mix. Enter Schaub (208 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INT with Atlanta), who started just two games in three seasons while stuck behind Michael Vick in Atlanta but who showed enough in his few appearances to make several teams covet his services. In the long run, Schaub won't be much more successful than Carr unless the team gets serious about addressing its offensive line woes, but the Virginia product will at least bring a fresh perspective to the proceedings. Backup Sage Rosenfels (265 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), who has played well basically every time he's been given an opportunity during a six-year career, is one of the better backups in the league. Rookie Jared Zabransky will be kept around to hold the clipboard if Kubiak decides to keep three QBs.

RB: The Texans were dealt a major blow just prior to last season, when it was revealed that the former Domanick Davis (now Williams) would miss all of 2006 and possibly be done for his career with a knee injury. Houston was forced to make do with the likes of Ron Dayne (612 rushing yards, 5 TD, 14 receptions), Wali Lundy (476 rushing yards, 4 TD, 33 receptions), and Samkon Gado (217 rushing yards, 1 TD, 16 receptions) in the backfield, meaning their NFL rank of 21st in rushing was actually an achievement. All three of those players are back, though none will be the starter after the Texans picked up free agent Ahman Green (1059 rushing yards, 46 receptions, 6 TD with Green Bay) in the offseason. Green is 30 and has had injury problems, but Houston still believes he can be a reliable every-down back. The smart money is on Dayne and Lundy both making the squad as backups, with Gado being subject to the final cut. At fullback, Vonta Leach (6 receptions, 1 TD) should make the team over fellow holdover Jameel Cook (18 receptions) and rookie Jon Abbate.

WR/TE: One season after disappearing during the second half, Houston wideout Andre Johnson rebounded by posting career-highs in catches (103) and yards (1147) in '06. The performance was all the more remarkable in that Johnson had no real complement on the other side of the field, a situation that doesn't look to have changed much heading into 2007. Projected No. 2 Kevin Walter (17 receptions) scares no one, which is why dazzling third-round draft pick Jacoby Jones (Lane) has a great chance to take his job in the early stages of the season. Also pressing for playing time will be Browns, Patriots, and Bills castoff Andre' Davis (2 receptions with Buffalo), who worked his way onto the team with a strong preseason, holdover David Anderson (1 reception), and return specialist Jerome Mathis. The club also picked up 37-year-old vet Keenan McCardell (36 receptions with San Diego) in the offseason, but it appeared that McCardell would be cut as the end of the preseason neared. The tight end rotation will consist of Owen Daniels (34 receptions, 5 TD), who outperformed expectations as a rookie; ex-Bronco Jeb Putzier (13 receptions), who was a contributor last year; and veteran blocking specialist Mark Bruener (9 receptions, 2 TD).

OL: It doesn't take more than a casual glance at the Houston Texans to assess that offensive line play has been this team's Achilles heel throughout its existence. Yet for some reason, Houston's brain trust insists on tinkering with this group every year rather than simply blowing it up, which might make more sense. The problems start at left tackle, where would-be starter Charles Spencer will begin the year on the PUP list, meaning journeyman Ephraim Salaam is the starter and Chiefs wash-out Jordan Black is his backup. The guards, Chester Pitts (left side) and Fred Weary (right side) are capable run blockers but won't be seen waiting at the mailbox for their Pro Bowl invitations. Veteran center Steve McKinney has battled injury problems, and right tackle Eric Winston is a second-year work in progress. The team used second-day draft picks on tackle Brandon Frye and guard Kasey Studdard, both of whom should make the 53-man roster. With center Mike Flanagan looking set to lose his job to McKinney, the club could see fit to cut the 11-year vet and allow holdover Drew Hodgdon to be the top backup at center and guard.

DL: It had to be a difficult year for Texans end Mario Williams (47 tackle,s 4 sacks), who never stopped hearing about how he wasn't Vince Young or Reggie Bush and wasn't fully healthy for much of the campaign. If Williams fails to approach double-digit sacks in his second season, the taunts are going to get louder. With fellow starting end Anthony Weaver (35 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) coming off knee surgery, converted linebacker Shantee Orr (32 tackles, 2 sacks) stands to get regular snaps opposite Williams, along with fellow holdovers Jason Babin (26 tackles, 5 sacks) and N.D. Kalu (21 tackles, 2 sacks). The newest face up front will be tackle Amobi Akoye, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft who will join with another former first-rounder, Travis Johnson (11 tackles), to try to provide a presence up front. The backups at tackle are both solid, with 15-year-vet Jeff Zgonina (33 tackles with Miami) boasting a wealth of experience and Anthony Maddox (37 tackles, 2 sacks) seeking to make more of an impact after endearing himself to Kubiak with strong play last year.

LB: The Texans' best defensive player in 2006 was middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who burst onto the scene as a rookie and stopped every ball carrier in front of him. Ryans will be lining up next to a new man on the strong side, as former Raider and Saint Danny Clark (29 tackles with New Orleans) won a starting job in training camp after outplaying holdover Charlie Anderson (16 tackles). Weak side backer Morlon Greenwood (109 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) hasn't quite lived up to his previous billing in two seasons in Houston, but remains the team's best option at that spot. There is not a great deal of depth behind the starters, with Anderson, almost-spent veteran Shawn Barber (49 tackles with Philadelphia), and seventh-round draft choice Zach Diles (Kansas State) all one injury away from filling a starting job.

DB: Apart from the offensive line, the Houston secondary has consistently been the weakest part of the Texans' roster. The unit lacks playmakers and isn't especially competent in coverage, yet most of the usual suspects will remain for the 2007 season. Cornerbacks Dunta Robinson (82 tackles, 2 INT) and Demarcus Faggins (29 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) were both starters a year ago, and will remain in the lineup despite combining for just four picks a year ago. C.C. Brown (76 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is back in his familiar free safety spot, and fellow holdover Jason Simmons (47 tackles, 1 INT) has been earmarked for a starting job on the strong side now that Glenn Earl is out for the year with a foot problem. Jamar Fletcher (37 tackles, 3 INT), who started a couple of games in Detroit in 2006 after coming over from San Diego, looks like the nickel back though veteran Tyrone Poole (15 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT with Oakland) will challenge him. Rookies Fred Bennett (South Carolina) and Brandon Harrison (Stanford) will make their initial contribution on special teams, as will former Colts d-back Von Hutchins (5 tackles). Holdover corners Dexter McCleon (28 tackles, 1 INT) and Dexter Wynn (8 tackles) look like prime candidates for the chopping block.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Kris Brown (19-25 FG) is not considered one of the best in the league at his position, but has been able to keep his job by not missing many big kicks. Incumbent punter Chad Stanley (41.6 avg.) is not likely to be as lucky, as it appeared that former Ram, Dolphin, Jet and Redskin Matt Turk (43.5 avg. with St. Louis) would seize his job as the end of the preseason neared. Long snapper Bryan Pittman's spot on the team is safe. If Jerome Mathis and rookie Jacoby Jones are both healthy, the Texans could have one of the most dangerous return games in the league. Mathis (27.4 kickoff return avg.) appeared in just two contests last year due to a foot problem, but had two kickoff returns for touchdowns as a rookie in 2005. Jones made headlines with two punt returns for touchdowns during the 2007 preseason.

PROGNOSIS: Matt Schaub should be an upgrade over David Carr at the quarterback position, though it is foolhardy to think that any player in his first season as an NFL starter, learning a brand new offense, will necessarily thrive. Schaub doesn't have great weapons around him apart from Andre Johnson, and the offensive line remains a bottom-tier unit. Defensively, this club is pretty average as well, with a couple of good young playmakers in the front seven but not a whole lot of help in the secondary. The Texans will be generally well- coached and won't represent an easy out for anyone on their schedule, but this does not figure to be any better than a .500 team earmarked for a spot somewhere behind Indianapolis and Jacksonville in the AFC South.

WagerOnFootball.com - Houston Texans Predictions

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