AFC South Roundtable: The Houston Texans and their re-built defense
So, after my first AFC South Roundtable write-up was such a rousing success, especially among Houston Texans fans, I now present part two of State of the Texans:
Why have the Texans invested so much in their defense?
Simple question, simple answer: Because of Peyton Manning. In the AFC South, if you are a team other than the Colts and want to win the division, you must stop the Colts offense. You can't outscore it. Don't even try. New England is employing this philosophy in 2007, spending a lot of time acquiring numerous WRs while not overhauling their old linebacking corps and their pathetic secondary. It ain't gonna work.
You. Must. Stop. Peyton. Manning. And spell his name right, too.
For this reason, the Texans decided to shift their focus from building through offense to building through defense. For all the crap I've given the Texans and their often paranoid fans, I have to say the I agree with their decision to build through defense. I am also one of those crazy, zany, moonbat nutcases that thinks the Texans made the right decision passing on RB Reggie Bush and drafting DE Mario Williams in 2006.
Yes, I know. First I bash Matt Schaub and Texans fans for running David Carr out of Houston. Now, I'm saying Reggie Bush was not worth the #1 overall pick. Hey, since I've already got bounty hunters looking for me, I might as well go out guns blazin'.
I've made my opinions about Reggie Bush well known. Many Colts fans, including Stampede Blue's own sometime co-writer, MasterRWayne, strongly disagree with me re: Reggie Bush. Like I always say, disagreement and dissent are welcome and encouraged. If or when I'm wrong about something, I will admit it. I have no problem being wrong, unlike guys like ESPN's Bill Simmons, who are often so pathetically wrong and completely unapologetic about it I wonder how they stay employed. Simmons has pictures of some ABC Exec naked with a donkey, or something.
Anyway, passing on Bush and drafting Williams was indeed a smart move for the Texans. Reggie Bush is not a #1 primary back worth #1 overall pick primary back money. He is not even the primary back in New Orleans now. Deuce McAllister is. Bush might give you a highlight play, but the guy who carries the running game in New Orleans is McAllister. Only someone like LaDanian Thomlinson or Larry Johnson is worth the #1 overall pick. They carry their teams' running games. If you are going to rebuild your team, doing so with a part-time RB that is splitting carries is not the best idea. Also, Reggie Bush lied to Houston management about his involvement with some sketchy dealings while he was at USC, but that's another story.