Article: "Houston Texans: The New Cardinals?"

[marv800]

I found this somewhat interesting if not amusing:

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/02/23/h...ona-cardinals/

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

How many years were the Arizona Cardinals picked to finally have their breakout year? It seems like they were the dark horse pick to have a playoff run every offseason. But since they went to the Super Bowl last year, they can't be that sneaky hot team any more.

Maybe the Texans take over that spot. Their franchise has never had a winning season, and the last two 8-8 seasons have only resulted in higher expectations. Houston's offense ranks about the same as the Cardinal offense, their special teams is better and their defense worse. The Texans are trying to fix that bad defense by replacing a number of coaches on that side of the ball.

Coach Gary Kubiak was able to make big improvements on offense right away when he was hired after a disastrous 2005 season, but the defense -- among the worst in the league over the last four years (and they still ended up 8-8 for two of those years???!) -- has been more of a challenge. Schemes and coaching aside, at some point they just need more playmakers on that side of the ball.

The Texans want to build through the draft, but part of the issue with the defense is all the experiments with personnel and the youth of most of the unit's players. They need more leadership, identity, and smart play on defense, and that is hard to fix quickly with the draft.

It probably doesn't help that their most vocal leader Dunta Robinson wants a really high-dollar long-term contract, isn't happy with the team right now, and is coming off serious leg injuries. They want to keep such leadership but the price might be something that ends up hurting the team.

Free Agents of Note: David Anderson (RFA), Rashad Butler (RFA), Earl Cochran (RFA), Owen Daniels (RFA), Stanley McGlover (RFA), CC Brown (UFA), Nick Ferguson (UFA), man of size Scott Jackson (UFA), Bryan Pittman (UFA), Cecil Sapp (UFA), Chris White (UFA), Eugene Wilson (UFA), Dunta Robinson (UFA -- franchised). Entire Texans free agent list here.

Draft Picks: 1 (15), 2 (14), 3 (13), 4 (12), 5 (16), 6 (15), 7 (14).

Needs

1. A Pass Rush. The Texans need a bookend pass-rusher across from Mario Williams. Williams gets his sacks, but the pass rush is him and Mr. Nobody. They actually need run-stopping defensive tackles but may need to hope on further development of Amobi Okoye and Frank Okam.

2. Linebacker. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans needs some help. It has been a revolving door at linebacker other than him, and the Texans have finally rid themselves of the financial and on-field liability that was Morlon Greenwood. Kubiak said recently that he values Ryans being in the middle but that would not stop the Texans from picking an athletic linebacker from the draft who is projected for the middle.

3. BPA Defense. Actually, the Texans could take best player available at just about any defensive position and get an upgrade. Some key quality free agents would help with the youth of the defense and help develop the young players they have. The best players on defense are young and have had few experienced, quality mentors to show them how it is done. Ultimately, part of the difficulty of evaluating needs is figuring out how much of what was seen on the field was player-related and how much was the musical chairs of players and defensive game planning.

4. Running Back. The Texans were extremely fortunate that rookie Steve Slaton was able to hold up down the stretch because the Ahman Green-less depth chart by that time of the season was very thin. I think the Texans will want to get a number of running backs to replenish the roster. I see Kubiak looking at a number of experienced backs through free agency and also drafting a back. The Texans offense had a taste of what their running game could be with a quality back and an offensive line that stayed together for a season, and I think they want to add to that.

[gtexan02]

Pretty spot on.

[marv800]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Pretty spot on.

They seriously underestimate the potency of our offense.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by marv800

They seriously underestimate the potency of our offense.

The article above was written by Stephanie Stradley (TexansChick) of this message board.

[marv800]

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

The article above was written by Stephanie Stradley (TexansChick) of this message board.

Well why would she sell us short like that? We are clearly in a position to dominate our division with Indy aging, Jax faltering, and the Oilers imploding internally.

The Texans need to just DECIDE TO WIN.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by marv800

Well why would she sell us short like that? We are clearly in a position to dominate our division with Indy aging, Jax faltering, and the Oilers imploding internally.

The Texans need to just DECIDE TO WIN.

Why do you think she underestimates our offense? She equates us to Arizona, which is more than fair

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by marv800

Well why would she sell us short like that? We are clearly in a position to dominate our division with Indy aging, Jax faltering, and the Oilers imploding internally.

The Texans need to just DECIDE TO WIN.

I'm sure she will be on here shortly to answer that herself.

[4Texans]

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

I'm sure she will be on here shortly to answer that herself.

Beat me to it.......

[Errant Hothy]

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

I'm sure she will be on here shortly to answer that herself.

If it comes to a fight, I've got 20 on Steph.

[DBCooper]

Originally Posted by marv800

Well why would she sell us short like that? We are clearly in a position to dominate our division with Indy aging, Jax faltering, and the Oilers imploding internally.

The Texans need to just DECIDE TO WIN.

Maybe because she has good football instincts?

And please never call the Possums the Oilers again.

[Errant Hothy]

Originally Posted by DBCooper

Maybe because she has good football instincts?

And please never call the Possums the Oilers again.

Please tell me he didn't do that?

[GlassHalfFull]

Interesting slightly related side note from yesterday. I can't remember how we got on this topic, but Eric Winston was telling me yesterday how much deeper the Texans are now than when he first got there. He said he didn't realize just how thin they were, until they got some depth the past two years.

[PHAROAH]

Pretty accurate it all depends on what we do in free agency.

[Sal Rosenberg]

Who is availe in the draft that is a run stopping DT?Is Peria Jerry a run stopping DT?Who cares!Draft him .

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by Sal Rosenberg

Who is availe in the draft that is a run stopping DT?Is Peria Jerry a run stopping DT?Who cares!Draft him .

LOL, yea we both like this guy! I've even read a scouting report that thinks he would actually be best if he were to slim down, get in better shape and play 4-3 DE. This really got me thinking.

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

The article above was written by Stephanie Stradley (TexansChick) of this message board.

I was like, "yay, finally someone has a great touch on the Texans on the internet!!" Low and behold it was TC. Well, I guess she's still the only one.

[gtexan02]

DT is such a hard position to fill. I read online that there are more busts in first round DTs than any other position.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Sal Rosenberg

Who is availe in the draft that is a run stopping DT?Is Peria Jerry a run stopping DT?Who cares!Draft him .

Both NT from Boston College BJ Raji a bulldozer DT that not only takes on more than one blocker but collapses pocket and drives pocket back into QB. His roster mate Ron Brace same basic build with 2 QB sacks last season is projected in 2nd round. Raji will probably go top 12 but he is my guy if there @ 15

[Thorn]

The article pretty much sums it up. Our offense and special teams are good enough to chase a wild card spot, but our defense just isn't there yet and needs serious help. In one form or another, most of us have been saying that for a while now.

[IlliniJen]

Originally Posted by marv800

Well why would she sell us short like that? We are clearly in a position to dominate our division with Indy aging, Jax faltering, and the Oilers imploding internally.

The Texans need to just DECIDE TO WIN.

We are only in a position to win in our division if our defense GREATLY improves, red zone visits are converted into points, they cut down on TOs, the players are properly prepared for gameday and coaching decisions improve during the game.

Those are a lot of "ifs" to hang a hope to "dominate" our division on. We need to be a more complete team if we want to dominate anything. And in this AFC, I don't know if a Cardinals-esque record gets us into the playoffs.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by IlliniJen

We are only in a position to win in our division if our defense GREATLY improves, red zone visits are converted into points, they cut down on TOs, the players are properly prepared for gameday and coaching decisions improve during the game.

Those are a lot of "ifs" to hang a hope to "dominate" our division on. We need to be a more complete team if we want to dominate anything. And in this AFC, I don't know if a Cardinals-esque record gets us into the playoffs.

Very well put. The good news is we can address stopping the run and scoring more in the red zone in the draft. Turn overs? Now that might take a while to resolve. As Meatloaf sang "2 outta 3 ain't bad"