The week started with Cowboys fans all around the Lone Star State polluting the air with talk of how the Texans were going to get dismantled at the hands of the mighty new look Cowboys. Even a few reminding me of how stupid the Texans organization was for not taking Bush or Vince and that it will take years if ever for the Texans to ever be a formidable foe for their beloved Boys. While I personally reminded many of them that this was a presseason game and that you can only look seriously at the results when the  starters are in there, one rebuffed that it didn't matter if it were preseason or not, the "beat down will still look the same".  Well, when this game was in the books it was the Cowboys fans using the "it was only preseason" card.

 Sure, it's only preseason however in many people's minds the 3rd preseason game is the most important game of the preseason, many calling it the dress rehearsal of the real season. Generally the starters put in more time in the 3rd preseason game as was the case on Saturday night at Reliant and the coaches often use this game to gage where there team is really at.

 Well this one started out perfectly. On the first drive of the game the Texans D forced a quick 3 and out of that "great" Cowboys offense resulting in a 91 yard punt return for a TD from new Texans rookie and star Jacoby Jones. This would be Jones' second punt return for a TD this preseason, actually making it 2 weeks in a row. Jones is starting to make many Texans fans forget about what would have been with Reggie Bush.

 Matt Schaub continued to impress throughout this one continuing to look like a veteran QB with great pocket awareness and the real ability to read defenses. Schaub's most impressive drive came at the end of the half, with just over 2 minutes remaining as he drove the Texans down the field for 64 yards resulting in an impressive TD catch by the formentioned  Jacoby Jones. On that play Schaub was forced out of the pocket, however instead of giving up on the play and running out of bounds (which would have happened last year) Schaub kept his eyes down field until a play developed. This play alone gives all Texans fans hope for this upcoming season.

 Let us also not leave out the success of the running game. The Texans rushed for a total of 142 yards highlighted by an impressive 46 yard run by Ahman Green.

 On the defensive side of the ball things looked a bit up also. The defensive line finally got the pass rush going. The Texans sacked Romo twice and hurried him several other times. "It looked like we did some better things," Kubiak said. "We were more disruptive making their quarterback move around a little bit." DeMeco Ryans led the Texans with eight tackles and Mario Williams, had four tackles, a sack, and pressured Romo a couple of times.

 "It was good, but we didn't do as much as we wanted to," Williams said. "There were some times that we - that I - missed some opportunities. But we will get better at it and keep going." Williams said he did something different in this game, but wouldn't disclose what it was saying only it had to do with his approach. Whatever it was, he said it made him feel "a lot more comfortable." 

 With the Texans winning this preseason match 28-16 and looking impressively doing so, a Texans fan has to be a little (dare we say) optimistic about what is in store for us during the regular season. Even more impressively was the fact that the score was 21-13 when the starters started hitting the benches. Yes 21-13 is the only score I am interested in, since the starters are the true gage of the team. At this point since the offense and special teams are looking real good, one has to think that if the Texans defense can come together and play with some consistency, this team could be looking at it's first winning record of it's young existence. 

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No sooner than the last second ticks off in the Texans preseason opener we are already seeing some "less than flattering" headlines in regards to Matt Schaub. The AP has "Schaub unimpressive in debut", the Chronicle was also quick to pass judgement while praising David Carr for throwing 2 TD passes (which it was 1 by the way, they also failed to mention he gave up 2 sacks). While 3/5 for 25 yards isn't something to call "impressive", there were other intangibles that were. For those of us that actually saw the game and weren't just looking at the stat sheet before writing our opinion, Schaub was indeed impressive.

Granted, you have to go back almost 14 years since most of us Texans fans have had a quality NFL level QB to root for. That was Warren Moon of the then Houston Oilers, not counting Steve McNair since he didn't really come into his own until after the Oilers skipped town. Yes, it has been that long since someone with the look of a veteran was at the helm as the starter for a Houston franchise.

Yes, it's only 1 preseason game however Schaub indeed does have the look of a veteran and his teammates recognize that. "I'll tell you one thing, he'll stay in that pocket and throw that ball. That's something you have to love about the quarterback." - Andre Johnson. That is what impressed me most about Schaub on Saturday night. When pressured Schaub hung in there and made the plays. He didn't go into the fetal position or dart for the sidelines. He hung tough and put the ball on target. Unfortunately on one real impressive play Kevin Walter dropped what would have been a clutch 3rd down conversion. Had Kevin Walter held on Schaub's numbers would have looked a lot different and certain sportswriters would have had to write about something else.

In reality, Matt Schaub's only error was an overthrown ball to Kevin Walter that would have been a for sure TD. "I missed that touchdown to Kevin, but we'll get it straightened out," Schaub said. "It's hard not to get frustrated because you have to make plays like that. They're the difference in winning and losing.".

I think when it is all said and done most will be impressed with Matt Schaub. If he does struggle this season it will probably be due to lack of weapons. The talent level at wide receiver really drops off after Andre Johnson. However another bright spot Saturday night was rookie WR Jacoby Jones who had 4 grabs for 47 yards. Hopefully another receiver like Jones or even Kevin Walter can step it up and be a viable #2 receiver on this team, giving Schaub another weapon to impress. If so, people will have to write about other shortcomings of the Texans, not the QB position.

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