Defense

[Meloy]

I do think offense will improve, but I think if the Dline starters stay healthy, Dunte does even ok @ right c/b (FS Coleman should help him) and we get any kind of pressure from the linebackers, we can at least keep the game close. I look for a very interesting year.

[El Tejano]

I think this is finally the year where our offense can look to the D and say "if you stop them we'll score."

[TheTim5125]

The defense is much improved.... playoffs are a definate possibility if we stay healthy.

[dredge]

I worry about the health of the D-line. I'm probably just gun shy after last year. It seemed like after every play, there was a Texan lineman rolling around on the ground in pain. I often wondered if it had anything to do with our conditioning. I hope we stay healthy, but I really wonder if Walker can stay healthy. Groin injuries always concern me.

[El Tejano]

The D line is Key.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Bottle-O-Bud

Somebody better fugure out how to bring pressure to the QB ASAP! QBs are just standing around and tearing us apart. I think it all starts from the NT position. Seth Payne just play that position differently from Deloach/Martin. He moves around creating more holes and confusion while Deloach and Martin just bullrush straight through the middle.

Exactly ! We for the most part have been void of a pass rush in all of our preseason games, whether our starters were in there or not. I seem to recall that rook Babin made one sack in the Cowboys game, but for the most part he's been handled rather easily by the opposition. Some point to Payne's return as a big boost, but it's a lot to hope that he's just gonna pick up where he left off last year in the NO game. Best case scenario is that he regains form by mid-season. And the Walker injury is troublsome.
We have talent, but we're very vulnerable because were so thin and inexperienced.

[OzzO]

2 new guys on the D-line and 2 others coming back off injury, how early was expecations on getting to the opposing QB, especially when they face a tenured opposing offensive line?

Per the depth chart on the main page, we're 3 deep in the majority of positions - though I will agree there's some inexperience (which is what was seen in the second half of the Denver game).

Keep the faith, start of year 3 - we're still growing.

[DominatorDavis]

It is my belief that the Texans are going to make a considerable effort in selecting high quality defensive linemen in next years draft. It does not do us a great deal of good in 04' but this is again a long term building process. We'll know if both Walker and Payne will be healthy at that point next year. Even if they are - we need some good young guys to fill in for Walker and Payne's eventual retirement's. Plus it will create a competitive situation for the D line which has almost not existed for the team in these first 3 years.

If Walker and Payne are out - both Sears and Deloach are in. If that is the case I think we will see better production out of both of those guys - Sears especially. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[BradK10]

i feel we would have taken D line this year but this draft was extremely thin on quality D linemen, as apposed to last year when we took AJ

I'm glad we got AJ though.

[fball]

Since were talking about defense, they really sucked against denver, I mean there qb's had all day to throw the ball, there was no pass rush, the run defense was a little better, but what is it going to take to get some pass rush, because without it our d-backs will suffer!

[TheOgre]

I wonder how much of our blitz package we have shown in preseason. It seems to me the coaches have gone more vanilla in preseason than other teams.

[blockhead83]

Ok, so we're only three games into the preseason and Payne hasn't returned yet. I'm still worried about our D simply because I've seen very little penetration even when we call heavy blitzes. If we fail to produce a pass rush, I think our defense will turn out a similar performance to last season. Our pass defense will look horrible when the opposing QB has all day to throw the ball, period. That said, I'm not going to draw too many conclusions until mid-season when our DLine hopefully has had some time to adjust, and Dunta, Babin, and Coleman are more comfortable with their roles. I don't see Payne returning to pre-injury form this year, but I'd love to see him do just that. I still think his return will reap rewards for our pass rush.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by fball

the run defense was a little better,

The run D was actually pretty good while the first team was in (or those of the first team that played) allowing just 3.3 ypc. Last week the first teamers allowed 2.9 ypc.

[Meloy]

Thanks for feed back! Seems we all agree that D line will be improved with Payne & Walker back & now Smith. There is a serious drop off with back ups & a high pick may be used in 2005 to address this. (Although Corey Bradford is a free agent after this season & we might go that way. I do like what I see in Derek Armstrong). 300+lb players are good but that's a lot of fajitas on ankles,knees, hamstrings etc. Having four opponents banging our 3 is also an issue but I do LOVE the 3-4.

What are your thoughts on Safety positions? I think Coleman will do well, but I see him GONE in 05 unless he negotiates a cut like Walker did. I'm unsure if McCree would be the answer even tho he is 27 and may improve. Draft picks like Glenn Earl & Jammal Lord are still question marks.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Meloy

What are your thoughts on Safety positions? I think Coleman will do well, but I see him GONE in 05 unless he negotiates a cut like Walker did.

Marcus us an UFA after this year so it isn't an issue of taking a cut, it is an issue of signing a contract that will probably be his last in the NFL that will reflect his value as a FS (hopefully a good one) vs. his value as a CB on the open market.