'08 Preview: Postseason breakthrough for Texans?
The Houston Texans have finally been invited to play on "Monday Night Football." Now they're hoping an invitation to the playoffs comes next.
Houston is coming off the best season in franchise history. The Texans won eight games despite former Pro Bowlers Andre Johnson and Ahman Green getting injured. Quarterback Matt Schaub and three starters in the secondary also missed time because of injuries.
Regardless of what misfortunes hit the team this season, nothing less than a winning record will be accepted in Houston. But that won't be easy to accomplish. Three of the Texans' first four games are on the road, and four of their first five contests are against teams that reached the playoffs last season.
2008 TEAM PREVIEWS
AFC EAST: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
AFC NORTH: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
AFC SOUTH: HOU | IND | JAC | TEN
AFC WEST: DEN | KC | OAK | SD
NFC EAST: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC NORTH: CHI | DET | GB | MIN
NFC SOUTH: ATL | CAR | NO | TB
NFC WEST: ARI | SEA | SF | STL
The Texans say they are ready to finally take that next step. It will need to start in the AFC South, where Houston won just one game last season.
"Our goal is to become a playoff team, and we're going to have to be able to step to the plate against teams … week-in and week-out and play good football if we expect to do that," coach Gary Kubiak says.
Offense
The offense now has 28-year-old Kyle Shanahan as its coordinator, but little will change. The play-calling will continue to go through Kubiak, who wants to use a run-first offense. Injuries to Houston's running backs have thwarted that plan the past two seasons.
An improved offensive line and the addition of Alex Gibbs to the coaching staff should help the team make vast improvements, especially in the running game.
Defense
The focus of the defense will once again be the linemen. Mario Williams is coming off his best season, and Amobi Okoye is expected to make big strides from his rookie campaign.
With DeMeco Ryans anchoring the middle, the focus will be on just how well defensive coordinator Richard Smith and his assistants can develop a young secondary that will be void of its best player, Dunta Robinson, for at least half the season.
The book on: Mario Williams
A rival sizes up the Texans' defensive end:
"Mario was a different player last season. I don't know if it being his second year in the league was the difference or if it was because he was healthy, but whatever the reason, he was a different player. And a much better player.
"You could see on film he was more sure of himself, much more confident. I think they threw too much at him as a rookie, but last year he was able to handle it. When he moved from right to left end and back, he didn't look uncomfortable – the deer in the headlights look – like his first year. He had the reputation coming in, but he didn't play to his capability. I think he was overcoached, and they put too much on his plate …
"He's such an incredible physical specimen. He's tall. He's got long arms. He gets off the ball fast. He's developing a couple of moves, but he needs to perfect them. He should also develop a couple more. Sometimes he will let up on a play when he's beaten, especially on a bull rush or if the tackle takes him to the outside."
The bottom line
The Texans are getting closer to their ultimate goal of reaching the playoffs. Williams and Ryans lead an up-and-coming defense, and the offense should be vastly improved behind a better line and the return of Johnson and Green.
Houston's biggest issue in the offseason was the inability to improve the defensive line with another pass-rushing end, but the team added talent to the positions that were the thinnest. The Texans appear on track for their first winning season, though a strong AFC South group will likely keep them out of the playoffs for at least one more year.
SN prediction: 5-11, fourth in AFC South.
Megan Manfull covers the Texans for the Houston Chronicle and Sporting News.
