Unheralded Pollard becomes spark plug for Texans

HOUSTON – Bernard Pollard(notes) dabbed at the beads of sweat trickling down his face with a fresh towel.

Another training camp practice had just ended, and as the rest of the Houston Texans scurried to escape the heat, Pollard remained behind. After such a promising start with Houston last year, the strong safety didn't mind lingering a little while longer in the humidity to discuss what might happen next.

"I'll see what I can give you," said Pollard, smiling.

The Texans already have a sense.

After being released by the Kansas City Chiefs just prior to the start of the 2009 season, Pollard landed in Houston, bolstering a position that had been a weakness. He missed the first three games of the season, when Houston surrendered an average of 28.7 points and 436.3 yards in a 1-2 start. But in the 13 games Pollard started, the Texans allowed just an average of 19 points and 199.1 yards. They were also 8-5, winners of their last four.

With one of the league's most potent offenses already in place, Houston is poised to advance to the postseason for the first time in franchise history – if the defense resembles the unit that took the field for the final three months or so of the season.

The unit with Pollard.

"Just the fact that we started the season off without him last year and there was kind of a hole at the safety position," linebacker Brian Cushing(notes) said. "It was kind of tough playing without him."

Of course, the Texans will be without Cushing, whose four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance was upheld last week, in arguably the toughest quarter stretch of the season. Houston opens at home against the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts, travels to face the Washington Redskins, hosts an intra-state clash with the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant and then heads to Oakland to play the Raiders.

When the New York Giants visit in Week 5, Cushing is expected to ease right back into the starting lineup and presumably where he left off last year, when he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year – an honor tainted after the news of Cushing's positive test surfaced in May, leading to a revote of the award.

"I've got to have a great preseason," Cushing said. "I've got to prepare myself for when I'm back and I'm going to train harder than ever and I've got to top last year. That's my biggest concern – and helping these guys win as best as possible."

Clearly, he feels a burden. According to fellow linebacker DeMeco Ryans(notes), he shouldn't.

"The next man in, the next man up," Ryans said. "Just like when someone is injured – the next man has to step up. The expectations don't fall short. It's the same expectations for whoever steps in for Brian."

Whether it's a veteran such as Danny Clark(notes) (currently out with a sprained knee) or Kevin Bentley(notes), or younger players like Xavier Adibi(notes) (also injured) or rookie Darryl Sharpton(notes), the mission doesn't change.

"With Cush being out, it's a big thing for us," Pollard said. "He's a great player, a tremendous piece to the puzzle. He will be missed, but I think the guy who fills his shoes has to play really good ball. We hold everybody accountable, whoever is filling in."

Pollard should know. He's a prime example.

Expendable in Kansas City, Pollard became invaluable in Houston. Despite missing those first three games, Pollard tied Cushing for the team lead with four interceptions, victimizing the Colts twice in a 20-17 road loss to Indianapolis in Week 9. His 102 tackles ranked third on the team.

Immediately, he not only provided a stabilizing presence in the secondary, but his personality was a source of energy.

"You know once he came up, not only was it good on a physical standpoint, it was more of the attitude he brought, too," Cushing said.

Oh, attitude. The very quality that reportedly led to his exit with the Chiefs is now being celebrated, presenting an edge to a defense that was in dire need. Early in training camp, that edge was on display – quarterback Matt Schaub(notes), All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) and the rest of the offense was getting the best of the defense, and Pollard, growing more and more agitated with each snap, had seen enough as he left the field.

Turning toward a couple of defensive backs nearby, he barked, "Wake up, man! Wake up!"

Pollards tackles the Saints' Reggie Bush(notes) on Saturday night.
(John David Mercer/US Presswire)

A somewhat similar sentiment was expressed over the weekend by head coach Gary Kubiak, who wasn't thrilled by the Texans' woeful performance in a 38-20 exhibition loss to New Orleans in which the Saints rushed for 198 yards. That was quite a contrast for a defense that held its final four regular-season opponents last season to less than 100 rushing yards each.

"If you don't stop the run in this league, you're going to be on the field for a long time and it makes it difficult," said Kubiak, going into his fifth year with the Texans. "To me, that was the biggest regression [Saturday night]."

It was disappointing to Kubiak because the Texans have talent. Guys like Cushing, the 15th overall choice in the 2009 NFL draft, aren't readily available on the street or elsewhere. The same could be said for Ryans, who has started every game for Houston since 2006 and rewarded with a six-year deal worth $48 million in March; defensive end Mario Williams(notes), a two-time Pro Bowler and the No. 1 selection in '06; defensive tackle Amobi Okoye(notes), the 10th player nabbed in the 2007 draft who has underperformed thus far in his career; and rookie cornerback Kareem Jackson(notes), the team's top draft pick this year and projected starter from the time he was chosen.

Which makes it interesting that Pollard, after being kicked to the curb last September, has become indispensable to what might be one of the NFL's breakout teams in 2010.

Even if he doesn't see it that way.

"It's not about one guy," Pollard said. "The great thing about this game is you can have 11 guys to go in after one goal, chasing one thing and that's that pigskin. … With this defense, we're nasty. I think you saw that [in the first preseason game against Arizona]. That was just a taste."

He dabbed at more sweat before continuing. He was still smiling.

"Nobody is going to give us respect, so we have to take it," Pollard said. "We have to command what we want. We have to go out there and take it, and that's what we'll do."