04-03-2008, 02:03 AM
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 | The Voice Of Reason | |
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 State Of The Team - Houston Texans Preview
State of the Team Houston Texans
Another year removed from the Mario Williams/Reggie Bush ordeal and the Texans find the opinion of who got the better deal of many draftniks swaying towards their direction. Houston knows that consistency is hard to achieve when dealing with the amount injuries they dealt with.
Coaching Changes
Houston made a few changes in the coaching ranks. Ray Rhodes was reunited with Kubiak and brought in as assistant defensive backs coach. Kubiak is also reunited with another experienced coach in Assistant Head Coach Alex Gibbs. This hiring shows me that the Texans are recommitting to the run game. Gibbs brings a wealth of coaching and administrative experience to the Texans. In his most recent coaching position, he served as the assistant head coach/offensive line, as well as consultant, with the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06. In 2004 the Falcons led the NFL in rushing for the first time in team history. They rushed for a team-record 2,672 yards, third highest rushing yards total in the NFL since 1990. Gibbs worked with Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who served as the offensive coordinator in Denver, from 1995-03. During their time together, the Broncos led the NFL in rushing with 20,150 yards. Denver finished second in total offense with 54,167 yards during their nine seasons together.
2008 Team Needs
DB Obviously with Dunta Robinson out until at least mid season, Cornerback is a need. They did sign Nick Ferguson who will help the depth of the secondary and have had discussions with Andre Dyson. However, a skill player is desperately needed who can cover and play the run. Will Demps and Glenn Earl are returning to a defense that had major coverage problems. Jacque Reeves is nothing more than a nickel CB who might be starting for Houston
OLB DeMeco Ryans is a monster inside, but are thin outside and need a replacement on the strong side for recently departed Danny Clark. Morlen Greenwood is not a solution.
OT No matter what the Texans do in the off-season or the draft, that Franchise OT seems to elude them. Someone who can protect Schaub and zone block would fill out this line and carry the offense to the next level.
RB The Texans are high on young RB Chris Taylor but he missed the entire 2007 season with injury and cannot be counted on as the answer. Ahman Green hasnt played a full season in 5 years and Ron Dayne is a scrub. Dont tell me they signed Chris Brown either.
Possible Free Agent Solutions
After starting Free Agency rather slow, they started coming on lately. As stated above they signed Nick Ferguson from the Broncos. They added some depth players to the secondary in Dexter Wynn, Jason Simmons and Roc Alexander to go with the aforementioned Reeves, but no difference makers there. It seemed that for each player signed, they would lose one. They sign Kevin Bentley and lose Clark and Anderson. They sign Ferguson and Reeves and lose Hutchins and Boulware. The Texans did what they could to fix some problems through FA, but will look to the draft to build their team into a winner.
Possible Draft Solutions:
The Texans currently hold the Following picks
18th (1st round)
(2nd round) No second round pick This belongs to Atlanta
79th (3rd round)
In addition they have a 4th (114), 5th (143), & a 7th (205)
In the 1st round, Houston solves their running back woes by taking the best overall back in the draft, Jonathan Stewart. He is the most physically talented back in the draft. He does everything well, including willingness to play through pain. He can run, catch, block has great vision and balance combined with elusiveness that you cannot teach. He can run north/south or east/west. He has patience and can shed tacklers or carry them for extra yards.
With the 3rd round selection, the Texans select Dre Moore. He has all the talents to be a dominating force in the NFL. He can chase down rushers with his speed, break blocks with his strength and use his big body to power through just about anybody. During his senior season, Moore led Maryland with six sacks and added on 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception. As a junior, he tallied 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 47 tackles. He is a monster inside which leads him to not get down on blocks. He has plenty of room to grow as he hasnt been playing organized football long and would be a great pick in this round and could be a dominating tackle for years to come.
Conclusion:
Kubiak certainly has this team moving upward. He is building through the draft and putting together a core of players that have Texans fans excited for the first time in their history. A playoff run is definitely not out of the possibility and the Kubiak is just getting comfortable down in Texas.
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