The secondary was a huge concern last year, but team officials feel like they have a future shut-down corner in this year’s first-round draft pick Dunta Robinson. And with a little shuffling of talent, they appear to be much better than last year. Sustaining a consistent pass rush is going to be a big key for the success of the secondary, but with a healthier squad and some key additions, it appears they will be significantly improved in that area this year.
Quarterback
David Carr has shown flashes of ability throughout his first two seasons in the league, but entering his third year with an improved line and plenty of weapons, the pressure is on him to take his game to the next level. He has a strong arm, he’s confident, and he’s a tough guy who leads by example. He’s taken a lot of hits over the course of his short career, but he continues to show poise in the pocket and he appears to be set for a break-out season.
The strong-armed Tony Banks is second on the depth chart and is capable of taking over for the short term. However, he tends to make poor decisions under pressure and is not the answer if Carr should be lost for a significant period of time. Second-year QB Dave Ragone, who has tremendous size and arm strength, could challenge Banks very soon for the No. 2 spot.
Running Backs
The Texans have a lot of potential at running back with two talented youngsters to lean on in Domanick Davis and Tony Hollings. Davis emerged as a solid all-around back as a rookie, displaying effectiveness as a runner, receiver, and a blocker. But there are concerns about his durability and whether he can hold up for an entire season as the feature back.. Hollings is very inexperienced as a running back and he is coming off a knee injury that shortened his college career, but he should receive more carries this year to help keep Davis fresh later as the season rolls on.
Jonathan Wells will likely be the primary backup behind Davis and Hollings, but he lacks explosiveness and will probably never be anything more than a backup. Moran Norris will return as the starter at fullback, and he is a solid blocker, but he is a one-dimensional player who adds little as a runner or receiver.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Second-year wide receiver Andre Johnson has the potential to be one of the more dangerous receivers in the league. His combination of speed and strength will create a lot of matchup problems for opposing secondaries. Corey Bradford, who will likely start the season as the No. 2 receiver, provides this unit with experience and a vertical threat. And third-year receiver Jabar Gaffney appears set for a breakout season after a strong preseason. He is probably the best route runner on the team, rarely drops a pass, and isn’t afraid to go across the middle as a slot receiver.
The problem with this unit is that there is very little depth behind the top three. Derick Armstrong has flashed potential, but neither he nor Sloan Thomas is much more than a special teams player at this point. Billy Miller provides another receiving weapon at the tight end position, but he is a one-dimensional player who does not possess good blocking skills. Mark Bruener will be a nice addition in two-tight end sets and his blocking skills will make him an asset in short-yardage situations and he will probably see some action in obvious running situations.
Offensive Line
The Texans continue to improve their offensive line with the addition of right tackle Todd Wade and the utilization of a new zone-blocking scheme. Wade is a physical run blocker who lacks the athleticism to stay with the league’s best edge rushers, but he is an immediate upgrade at the position. Zack Wiegert offers a veteran presence next to Wade at right guard, and despite the fact that his skills appear to be slipping, he still has the power to move the pile. Center Steve McKinney is an athletic player who does a good job of sustaining his blocks and getting out to the second level.
Seth Wand is penciled in as the starter at the critical left tackle position, and while he possesses good size and range, he is very inexperienced. With Wand emerging as the starter at tackle, Chester Pitts will move to left guard where he is a better fit, and Milford Brown will become the backup. And with guys like Brown, Todd Washington, and Fred Weary on the bench, this unit appears to have some pretty good depth.
