HOUSTON TEXANS 2009 PREVIEW
HOUSTON TEXANS 2009 PREVIEW
By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com
“Houston Texans” will be the answer to the most frequently asked NFL question this summer. This is the team that everyone will pick to break out in 2009. This is “The Sleeper”. You’re going to hear about this team during all those sponsored television segments where football experts dilute their credibility by issuing opinionated 15-second soundbits. Here’s an example of what’s to come:
The Houston Texans are this year’s sleeper team because…
**They rebounded from an 0-4 start and went 8-4 last year.
**Quarterback Matt Schaub is entering his third season in Gary Kubiak’s system. If he can stay healthy, he can be a star. (Some experts might also add something along the lines of “Schaub must take care of the football.”)
**Running back Steve Slaton led all rookies with 1,282 yards rushing last season and should be even better considering he’s a perfect fit for this zone-blocking system. (Yes, and he’s a factor in the passing game, too.)
**Receiver Andre Johnson is unstoppable. (Good point.)
**This young offensive line, headlined by second-year left tackle Duane Brown, is getting better. (In reality, Brown is probably the only true youngster up front, but the general idea is that this line is ascending.)
**The defense will be better. Mario Williams is a beast and DeMeco Ryans is a stud. (Analysts love to bunch these two fourth-year stars together. Indeed, Williams is arguably the best defensive end in the NFL. But Ryans is coming off a down year. He’ll benefit from improved players around him, but since few television analysts have enough time––or, in some cases, knowledge––to breakdown such intricate details, we’ll save this part for later, after this introduction’s metaphor peters out).
On top of these obvious points, you’ll also hear some of the lazier talking heads (who survive with interns and assistants feeding them rudimentary information) mention how “Houston will emerge because Gary Kubiak, with two years left on his contract, is fighting to keep his job.” (As if Kubiak hasn’t been giving it his all during these past three seasons.) Or some will mention how the Texans will break out because “owner Bob McNair and GM Rick Smith are no longer running an expansion team; Houston has had two 8-8 seasons and it’s just their year!”
Empty as these soundbits are, they’re not unfounded. Of course, not all Texans analysis will be cheap. Those who really know the game––like a Peter King or a Brian Baldinger, for example––will point out that Houston replenished its defensive coaching staff after the unit ranked 27th in points allowed last year. Coordinator Richard Smith was fired and replaced in-house by senior defensive assistant Frank Bush. Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin was let go, as was secondary coach Jon Hoke. In their respective places are prickly Bill Kollar and instructive David Gibbs. These changes should reinforce a young defense that, thanks to natural maturation and a few key additions––like end Antonio Smith and first-round strongside linebacker Brian Cushing––has gotten better at all three levels,.
But by no means does being the NFL’s Sleeper Team ensure progress. Just ask last year’s Cleveland Browns. Or 2007’s San Francisco 49ers. Or every year’s Jacksonville Jaguars. As obvious as Houston’s breakout potential is in 2009, their Achilles heal is equally as glaring: depth.
The Texans have terrible depth. If Schaub goes down, there’s no Sage Rosenfels to fill in (and keep games close until a fourth quarter meltdown). Diminutive Steve Slaton is backed by fragile Chris Brown, making the run game shallow enough for “No Diving” signs. Andre Johnson isn’t the only viable receiver on the roster––Kevin Walter is a good No. 2 and Owen Daniels is a praiseworthy tight end––but the former Hurricane is the only one worth double-teaming. If Johnson’s gone, so is the passing game. The front five is equally as thin, and the defense, which has ranked 21st or lower in each of the last four years, isn’t much better.
This says nothing for the fact that Houston must deal with the rock-steady Colts and defending AFC South champion Titans. Yes, the Texans have gotten better. But just staying healthy isn’t enough. Plus, its borderline impossible. Thus, in order to shake their mediocrity and actually be the breakout team of 2009, the Texans must make a quantum leap. While a great deal of this responsibility rests with the defense, plenty of it falls on the son of an unemployed Super Bowl head coach and the former backup of a convicted dogfighter.
Click here to continue reading, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/houston-texans-2009-preview/
Click here for quick-hitting Texans analysis, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/houston-texans-09-quick-hits/
By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com
“Houston Texans” will be the answer to the most frequently asked NFL question this summer. This is the team that everyone will pick to break out in 2009. This is “The Sleeper”. You’re going to hear about this team during all those sponsored television segments where football experts dilute their credibility by issuing opinionated 15-second soundbits. Here’s an example of what’s to come:
The Houston Texans are this year’s sleeper team because…
**They rebounded from an 0-4 start and went 8-4 last year.
**Quarterback Matt Schaub is entering his third season in Gary Kubiak’s system. If he can stay healthy, he can be a star. (Some experts might also add something along the lines of “Schaub must take care of the football.”)
**Running back Steve Slaton led all rookies with 1,282 yards rushing last season and should be even better considering he’s a perfect fit for this zone-blocking system. (Yes, and he’s a factor in the passing game, too.)
**Receiver Andre Johnson is unstoppable. (Good point.)
**This young offensive line, headlined by second-year left tackle Duane Brown, is getting better. (In reality, Brown is probably the only true youngster up front, but the general idea is that this line is ascending.)
**The defense will be better. Mario Williams is a beast and DeMeco Ryans is a stud. (Analysts love to bunch these two fourth-year stars together. Indeed, Williams is arguably the best defensive end in the NFL. But Ryans is coming off a down year. He’ll benefit from improved players around him, but since few television analysts have enough time––or, in some cases, knowledge––to breakdown such intricate details, we’ll save this part for later, after this introduction’s metaphor peters out).
On top of these obvious points, you’ll also hear some of the lazier talking heads (who survive with interns and assistants feeding them rudimentary information) mention how “Houston will emerge because Gary Kubiak, with two years left on his contract, is fighting to keep his job.” (As if Kubiak hasn’t been giving it his all during these past three seasons.) Or some will mention how the Texans will break out because “owner Bob McNair and GM Rick Smith are no longer running an expansion team; Houston has had two 8-8 seasons and it’s just their year!”
Empty as these soundbits are, they’re not unfounded. Of course, not all Texans analysis will be cheap. Those who really know the game––like a Peter King or a Brian Baldinger, for example––will point out that Houston replenished its defensive coaching staff after the unit ranked 27th in points allowed last year. Coordinator Richard Smith was fired and replaced in-house by senior defensive assistant Frank Bush. Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin was let go, as was secondary coach Jon Hoke. In their respective places are prickly Bill Kollar and instructive David Gibbs. These changes should reinforce a young defense that, thanks to natural maturation and a few key additions––like end Antonio Smith and first-round strongside linebacker Brian Cushing––has gotten better at all three levels,.
But by no means does being the NFL’s Sleeper Team ensure progress. Just ask last year’s Cleveland Browns. Or 2007’s San Francisco 49ers. Or every year’s Jacksonville Jaguars. As obvious as Houston’s breakout potential is in 2009, their Achilles heal is equally as glaring: depth.
The Texans have terrible depth. If Schaub goes down, there’s no Sage Rosenfels to fill in (and keep games close until a fourth quarter meltdown). Diminutive Steve Slaton is backed by fragile Chris Brown, making the run game shallow enough for “No Diving” signs. Andre Johnson isn’t the only viable receiver on the roster––Kevin Walter is a good No. 2 and Owen Daniels is a praiseworthy tight end––but the former Hurricane is the only one worth double-teaming. If Johnson’s gone, so is the passing game. The front five is equally as thin, and the defense, which has ranked 21st or lower in each of the last four years, isn’t much better.
This says nothing for the fact that Houston must deal with the rock-steady Colts and defending AFC South champion Titans. Yes, the Texans have gotten better. But just staying healthy isn’t enough. Plus, its borderline impossible. Thus, in order to shake their mediocrity and actually be the breakout team of 2009, the Texans must make a quantum leap. While a great deal of this responsibility rests with the defense, plenty of it falls on the son of an unemployed Super Bowl head coach and the former backup of a convicted dogfighter.
Click here to continue reading, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/houston-texans-2009-preview/
Click here for quick-hitting Texans analysis, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/houston-texans-09-quick-hits/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home