HOU Projections  •  HOU Depth Chart  •  HOU Stats  •  Latest HOU News

All team reports
AFC	BAL	BUF	CIN	CLE	DEN	HOU	IND	JAX	KC	MIA	NE	NYJ	OAK	PIT	SD	TEN
NFC	ARI	ATL	CAR	CHI	DAL	DET	GB	MIN	NO	NYG	PHI	SEA	SF	STL	TB	WAS

2007 Team Report: Houston Texans

Quarterbacks

Starter: Matt Schaub
Backup(s): Sage Rosenfels

Starting QB: The Texans finally cut the cord with former first-overall draft choice David Carr and handed the keys to the offense to Matt Schaub, who backed up Michael Vick over the past few seasons. Schaub has only played sparingly in the NFL but has had some flashes of greatness over that time. He has thrown five touchdown passes on 91 passing attempts over the past two seasons with only two interceptions. He has averaged 7.73 YPA over that span and has the size and pocket presence that teams crave in the NFL. Still he has only 161 career pass attempts and needs to prove he can be an everyday starter in the NFL.

Backup QB: Sage Rosenfels is a good player to have coming off of the bench. He has starting experience, is young enough to continue improving, and had a good 2006 season coming off the bench for the Texans. He has a 7.27 YPA over the last two seasons and has tossed an impressive seven touchdowns in his last 100 passing attempts.

Running Backs

Starter: Ahman Green
Backup(s): Ron Dayne, Samkon Gado
Fullback(s): Vonta Leach, Jon Abbate, Jameel Cook

Starting RB: The Texans were floundering at the running back position last season after ignoring Reggie Bush in the draft, having Domanick Williams (formerly Domanick Davis) unable to play all season and going with multiple players in the backfield. They chose to address that this offseason with the free agent acquisition of Ahman Green. Green is entering his 10th season in the league but should still have another season or two as a good option for the Texans. He has rushed for 1,000 yards in six of the past seven seasons and missed the mark in the seventh year because of injury. Green is explosive through the hole, has excellent vision, and can elude defenders with his quickness, yet also overpower them if they attempt to fill the hole. He is also a great receiver and has 40+ receptions in six of the last seven years, as well. He has missed parts of each of the last three seasons though and durability is a question mark.

Backup RBs: Veteran running back Ron Dayne had some good moments for the Texans last season. He ran for 612 yards and scored five touchdowns in limited action and could see some time this season helping to keep Green fresh. While Dayne has never reached the potential he was thought to have coming out of college, he is a decent option at the running back position if called upon. Samkon Gado, another former Packers RB, earned the RB3 role by outplaying Wali Lundy and rookie Darius Walker.

Fullback: Vonta Leach was picked up from Green Bay last season, and he caught 6 passes including a touchdown grab. Leach has really good size for a fullback and at 246 pounds can pack a wallop at the line of scrimmage. He is part of a three way battle at fullback with thumper Jon Abbate and veteran blocker Jameel Cook.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter
Backups: Jacoby Jones [R], Jerome Mathis, Andre Davis

Starting WRs: Andre Johnson finally emerged as a legitimate No. 1 receiver in 2006. He had 103 receptions on the season, which was 24 more catches than his previous best. The bad news is he only averaged 11.1 yards per reception, had just five touchdown receptions and only finished as the 18th-best fantasy receiver. He has caught just 17 touchdown passes in his first four seasons. Eric Moulds was released during the offseason and it appears the WR2 job will come down to 5th year pro Kevin Walter or rookie Jacoby Jones, with Walter having the advantage at the close of training camp. Walter has only 47 receptions and a single touchdown in his first four pro seasons with a career yards per reception of just 9.7. He has great size but has trouble getting separation from defenders.

Backup WRs: Jacoby Jones' strong play has been encouraging for a team that entered training camp with questionable WR depth. Jones seems assured of a role as both a returner and in multi-receiver sets; and could ultimately start opposite Andre Johnson. Veteran Andre Davis will provide experience; something that Keenan McCardell couldn't do as he failed in his bid to make the team.

Tight Ends

Starters: Owen Daniels
Backups: Jeb Putzier, Mark Bruener

Owen Daniels had a very fine rookie campaign last year, finishing as the 14th-best fantasy tight end. Daniels has good size at 6'3" and 250 pounds and does a good job of using his large frame to shield defenders away from the ball. He is clearly the go-to tight end out of this group. Both Jeb Putzier and Mark Bruener are good veteran players that will see action throughout the year in certain situations. Putzier is a better receiver than Bruener and would likely get the No. 1 tight end role if something were to happen to Daniels.

Place Kicker

Kris Brown : In 2005, Brown scored 102 points, his highest total since joining the Texans. Last year he dropped down to 82 points, slightly below his average of 84.4 points while playing for Houston. That placed the Texans at 30th in the league in kicker scoring. Brown went 19 of 25 (76.0%) on field goals, his third consecutive year below 77%. Last year was also the first in his eight year NFL career that he failed to make any 50+ yards field goals. His kickoffs have steadily improved throughout his career. He had a 64.9 yard average and 10 touchbacks in 2006. CAMP UPDATE: Kicker Kris Brown typically misses one out of every four kicks, but he was perfect in the preseason game against Chicago from 20, 29, 37, and 42 yards. H ewent 4-of-4 on field goals for the second straight game, making kicks of 25, 25, 38, and 40 yards in the game at Arizona.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Jerome Mathis; Dexter Wynn; Jacoby Jones; Andre Davis

When healthy, super fast WR Jerome Mathis is one of the best kickoff returners in the league. He missed four games as rookie due to hamstring problems, and missed most of last year following surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. His hamstrings again were an issue during OTAs this year. If his injury issues continue, he could be out of work. DB Dexter Wynn handled the majority of the returns last year (30 returns, 22.3 avg.). The Wildcard is second round draft pick WR Jacoby Jones from Lane College. He doesn't have as much football experience as most, but he's big and fast, and scored twice as a senior. RB Wali Lundy failed to impress on his limited opportunities last year (4 returns, 16.8 avg.). FA acquisition WR Andre Davis led the Browns in KRs in 2003, and led the NFL in KR average (36.0) in 2005 with the Patriots, albeit on only three returns. CAMP UPDATE: In the opening preseason game, starting kickoff returner WR Jerome Mathis had a 78 yard return. The only threat to his KR job is possibly WR Bethel Johnson, who had a 30 yard return against the Cardinals.

Punt Returners: Jacoby Jones; Dexter Wynn; Dunta Robinson; Jerome Mathis

Dexter Wynn started last year with the Eagles (13 returns, 10.1 avg.) and finished with the Texans (12 returns, 11.6 avg.). Averaging over 10 yards for two different teams should not be overlooked. Again don't discount Jacoby Jones from the picture. He also scored once on a punt return as a senior. Jerome Mathis handled some punt returns his rookie year (12 returns, 5.7 avg.), but kickoff returns are definitely his strength. CB Dunta Robinson hasn't returned punts since his senior year at South Carolina, but has been practiced in that role periodically for the Texans. CAMP UPDATE: The big play of the Arizona game came on a punt return. Rookie WR Jacoby Jones showed promise the week before and this week he delivered, with an 80 yard punt return touch down. He's also climbing the WR depth chart, challenging for the number two spot, making him a potential dual threat. The forgotten man on returns is now DB Dexter Wynn. He had a five yard punt return against Arizona. He could end up being one of the more talented backup returners in the league this year.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Ephraim Salaam, LG Chester Pitts, C Mike Flanagan, RG Fred Weary, RT Eric Winston
Key Backups: Charles Spencer, Jordan Black, Steve McKinney

Promising second-year player Charles Spencer is still fighting a knee injury that could derail his career before it gets going. That leaves the left tackle position to either Ephraim Salaam or Jordan Black. Both have been NFL starters, but neither is an optimal solution at this point. The right tackle position looks better thanks to Eric Winston. Winston started seven games as a rookie a year ago and had some really good moments. Chester Pitts has been a starter in Houston for five seasons and is a mauler in the rushing attack. Fred Weary started 12 games a year ago and played well. At center, Mike Flanagan hopes to recapture the form that made him one of the better centers while he was in Green Bay. Overall, this unit isn't without talent but may struggle in pass protection.

Team Defense

The Houston Texans progressed slightly from a pitiful league-worst 2-14 in 2005 to 6-10 last year under first year coach Gary Kubiak, who spent the previous 11 years as Denver's offensive coordinator. Under Kubiak and Defensive Coordinator Richard Smith, they went from 31st in the NFL on defense in 2006 to 24th last year. They were also 20th against the run. Most of the starters remain from last year. Last year's first overall pick in the NFL draft, DE Mario Williams, was a disappointment to some, although few in the Houston front office will agree. They'll need Williams to step up big time if they hope to make their mark. MLB DeMeco Ryans was the one with the biggest impact last year, as the rookie played sensationally and ended up as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was second in the league with 155 total tackles, the most by a rookie in the last 20 years. They drafted DT Amobi Okoye, who should step up right away and start. Okoye plays well against the run but he also excels as a pass rusher, an area in which the team needs help. The team plays a 4-3 defense.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Mario Williams, DE Anthony Weaver, DT Amobi Okoye, DT Anthony Maddox
Backups: DT Travis Johnson, DE N.D. Kalu, DT Jeff Zgonina

Starting DL: Last year's first overall pick in the draft was defensive end Mario Williams. Williams has freakish size and athleticism but did not make the immediate impact many had hoped for. His speed makes him a pass-rushing threat and his size and tackling ability make him solid against the run. Far too often last year, Williams struggled against tight ends and offensive tackles in situations when he should have dominated. To correct his failings, the Texans are lining Williams up on the right side exclusively, rather than moving him around which created hesitation on his part. Across from Williams is DE Anthony Weaver. Weaver's first year as a Texan was moderately successful. His most natural position is at DT, but he remains a solid performer. However, he had a career-low one sack. The new kid on the block is DT Amobi Okoye. Okoye has the potential to be a dominant force in the middle, an area of need for Houston. He plays well against the run but also excels rushing the passer. Although he's only 19 years old, he should be prepared both mentally and physically to start opening day. DT Anthony Maddox played sparingly for the Jaguars his first two years in the league, but proved to be a solid contributor, specifically against the run, last year as a Texan.

Backup DL: DE N.D. Kalu will backup Anthony Weaver's spot. Kalu has had some effectiveness and at the very least provides depth and pass rushing ability to an otherwise inexperienced line. Travis Johnson seemed more natural in the 4-3 defense than he did in the 3-4, but a calf injury limited Johnson to just nine games a season ago. He'll have to play better and more motivated to reclaim his starting role. DT Jeff Zgonina is 37 years old and will be playing for his seventh different team, but brings obvious much needed experience to the unit.

Linebackers

Starters: MLB DeMeco Ryans, WLB Morlon Greenwood, SLB Charlie Anderson
Backups: Danny Clark, Shawn Barber, Zach Diles

Starting LBs: The big story for this unit was the play of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year MLB DeMeco Ryans. Ryans shined from the opening snap and is already the leader of the entire defense. He makes tackles all over the field but also showed he can get to the QB. The scary part for opposing teams is that he appears to be improving. Morlon Greenwood is a solid, albeit unspectacular, LB. He has three consecutive seasons with 100+ tackles, two with Houston, and he has the speed and quickness to cover sideline to sideline. The move back to a 4-3 defense was a natural fit for Greenwood. He's a student of the game and works hard to stay on top. Charlie Anderson appears to have unseated Shantee Orr at the strongside linebacker spot. Anderson is a big hitter who has displayed solid range and the team believes he has high upside. He has played mostly on special teams but has shown enough promise that the team is giving him close looks as the starter this year.

Backup LBs: LB Shantee Orr has battled to win the starting job the last two seasons, but failed to do so this year. He's a versatile player with excellent speed and the instincts necessary to make plays. But, he seemed more natural in the 3-4 alignment. The Texans added LBs Danny Clark and Shawn Barber in the offseason. Clark will be the backup for Ryans in the middle, but he can play on the outside as well. He brings good speed to the unit and plays equally well against both the pass and run. Clark is talented enough that he had 110+ tackles in each of his two seasons with the Raiders. Shawn Barber will compete for the strongside job. Barber's a veteran who turned 32 in January. He played mostly on passing downs last year with the Eagles and he brings much needed depth to their linebacking corps. Barber can also play both inside and outside.

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB Dunta Robinson, SS Jason Simmons, CB Demarcus Faggins, FS C.C. Brown
Backups: S Michael Boulware, CB Jamar Fletcher, CB/S Von Hutchins, CB Fred Bennett

Starting DBs: C.C. Brown will start at free safety. Brown is a hard hitter who excels against the run. He has a strong work ethic and has progressed nicely in his two NFL seasons. His coverage skills need a bit more seasoning but the team is pleased with Brown, who can also play strong safety if need be. In fact, Brown is more natural on the strong side, but the team needs have mandated moving him to the other side. Jason Simmons will get the first crack at replacing the injured Glenn Earl, who was put on IR in mid August. Simmons is a nine-year NFL veteran and will be entering his sixth year as a Texan. At corner, Dunta Robinson is one of the game's better and matches up against opposing number one receivers. He's had 80+ tackles in each of his three seasons and attacks the run with gusto. CB Demarcus Faggins will have to work hard to hold off Jamar Fletcher as the corner opposite Robinson. He has proven he can step in and start when necessary and even make some plays, but he does not have the talent to be an effective full-time starter.

Backup DBs: The Texans, worried about the safety position, acquired Michael Boulware from Seattle on September 1st. Bouldware, a converted college linebacker, was a multiple year starter in Seattle before being displaced by Brian Russell this year. Boulware has regressed badly after looking like an ascendant player and future star to begin his career. CB Jamar Fletcher was signed to play as the nickel back but he'll also challenge Faggins for the starting role. Fletcher is a well-traveled veteran. Von Hutchins can play both corner and safety. The Texans have liked what they've seen from him, although he needs work defending the run. The team drafted CB Fred Bennett in the fourth round and he'll compete for the nickel job. He's got tremendous speed but needs to improve against the run.

Last modified: 2007-09-02 17:21:41