The Texans must be grateful for the bye week. They have lost five of their last seven, are severely injury-depleted with a shallow roster, and have suffered another embarrassing home loss to the Titans, followed by an an even more embarrassing loss to the Chargers the next week. They barely beat the winless Dolphins with a last-minute Kris Brown field goal and were beaten by the Vick-less Falcons. They started the season on 2-0 high but lost the services of their best player, wide receiver Andre Johnson, after week two and haven’t looked the same since. They’ve got the other guy they passed over for Mario Williams coming in next week, so you know they’ll playing for more than a paycheck as the Saints roll into Reliant Sunday, Nov. 18. I’ll be there. Hope the Texans decide to show up, too.
Here’s a look at the Texans’ performance thus far …
Quarterback: Matt Schaub isn’t the cause of the Texans’ problems. But he hasn’t been the solution, either. His numbers are somewhat mediocre – 85.0 QB rating, five TDs, sevens INTs, 12 sacks – and suffered the cheapest of cheap shots from San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence that left Schaub concussed and shell-shocked. Florence was fined $15,000 for the helmet-to-helmet blow. Not the illustrious beginning to his starting career that was hoped for. I like Sage Rosenfels as the No. 2, but he’s not a No. 1 QB and never will be. Here’s hoping Schaub has fully recovered. At least David Carr was finally run out of town. That’s something to feel good about.
Running back: Ahman Green is old. Ron Dayne is old. Dayne leads the Texans with 348 yards thus far with Green having carried the ball only 70 times. A healthy productive Green appears too much to ask for for Christmas this year. Green’s knee looks to be a problem all year. Running back is a position that definitely has to be addressed in the draft next year, if not sooner. That and the offensive line. Enough with drafting defensive linemen in the first round. No. 3 back Adimchinobi Echemandu looks to see plenty of action due to the success he’s had in limited play. And that’s all we’ve got. Where’s Jonathan Wells when you need him?
Offensive line: When the Texans lost center Steve McKinney in week three, they also lost their ability to run the ball and protect the passer. With second-year tackle Charles Spencer missing the entire ’07 campaign, the Texans are once again ineffective up front. Houston is doomed to mediocrity until they field a solid offensive line. Seems obvious, but ….
Wide receiver: Andre Johnson was having another All-Pro season, but this lasted all of two weeks. The Texans need their most talented player on the field. Rookie sensation and punt-return wizard Jacoby Jones has also been sidelined for part of the year due to injury. Kevin Walter has performed admirably filling in, and André Davis has proven to be a deep threat, but they are hampered without No. 80. Johnson looks to start against the Saints. Raise a beer; make a toast.
Tight end: Owen Daniels is experiencing a sophomore slump. He’s come down with a somewhat problematic case of droppedballitis and has yet to reach the end zone this year. I’m glad I didn’t draft Daniels in my fantasy league. He’ll recover though … at some point.
Special teams: What looked to be a strength has been average at best. Jerome Mathis is gone for the season and Jacoby Jones has been limited by injury thereby destroying their promising return game. Anybody who watches ESPN has seen punter Matt Turk embarrassingly over-run a poorly snapped punt in the end zone against San Diego. He’s better than sad sackChad Stanley, but come on, fall on the flippin’ ball. Kris Brown is a solid kicker, and his position is one area in which the Texans are stable.
Defensive line: I like our d-line, and I should. It’s full of first-round picks. Coach Gary Kubiak has got Travis Johnson finally playing up to his potential, and Mario Williams has shown flashes of the dominating lineman he very well could turn in to, but the real jewel here is rookie Amobi Okoye. Barely old enough to shave, he’s been able to get to the quarterback with a team-high five sacks. This kid is gonna be something.
Linebackers: Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans is amazing. If we keep finding gold in the draft like Ryans, there may be hope for the Texans yet. Morlon Greenwood and Danny Clark ain’t too shabby, either.
Cornerbacks: Will the nightmare please end? The Texans lost their best defensive back in franchise history, Dunta Robinson, for the season in last week’s win over Oakland. A secondary already weakened by the season-long absence of Glenn Earl is now thoroughly devastated. Look for “Petey” Faggins to be exploited mercilessly.
Well … I guess there’s always next year.
This article appears in November 9 • 2007.