Texans 2005 Preview

If this needs to be in the offseason thread, please move.

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The Texans came within one win in 2004 of reaching the .500 mark for the first time in their three-season existence. The franchise has improved its record in each season, so they are poised to break the .500 mark in 2005 and might even contend for their first playoff berth.

In order to take the next step, the Texans need to shore up their pass defense during the offseason. Only one team surrendered more passing scores than Houston last season, despite the addition of first-round stud cornerback Dunta Robinson. If Capers can get better play out of the rest of their secondary, which might be as simple as improving the pass-rush up front, there's no reason to rule the Texans out of postseason speculation.

Of course, quarterback David Carr has to continue his progression. After stalling out at nine touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons, Carr finally broke into double-digit scoring by throwing 16 scoring strikes last year. Playing in an offense that can be more conservative than John Ashcroft doesn't help Carr's fantasy value, but that could change if the team finds him another weapon to go along with Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Needs: The Texans must find a cornerback to replace the ancient (at least by cornerback standards) Aaron Glenn. Marcus Coleman made the switch from cornerback to free safety last season and performed well before he suffered an injury in December that forced him to miss the last four games of the season.

Contrarily, rookie Glenn Earl did not set the world on fire with his performance at strong safety, as he recorded just 44 tackles in 12 games. The former fourth-round pick could still develop into a solid player, but it's possible that Glenn will follow Coleman's lead by moving from cornerback to safety, where he could at least push the second-year Earl for playing time.

Whether it's via the draft or free agency, the Texans would be wise to upgrade their offensive line. Carr was sacked 49 times last season and has been sacked 140 times over the last three years, which brings back memories of the commercial ESPN produced on the line's follies.

On the flip side, the Texans' defensive line didn't fair any better in 2004, as the entire defense recorded just 24 sacks. As maligned as the defensive backs have been, the front three isn't exactly making their lives any easier.

After registering 29 sacks in four seasons, defensive tackle Gary Walker has only recorded a half-sack in his last 19 games. Fellow starting tackles Seth Payne and Robaire Smith combined for just four sacks last year, so no one from this unit should feel any sense of job security heading into 2005.

Salary Cap Situation: The Texans are roughly $2.5 million over the salary cap. Team officials shouldn't have any trouble getting under that mark, but they don't have enough room to be serious players in free agency.

Unrestricted Free Agents: QB Tony Banks, WR Corey Bradford, FB Moran Norris, T Marcus Spears, DE Corey Sears, DT Seth Payne, DT Junior Ioane, LB Marcus Bell, LB DaShon Polk, CB Jason Bell, CB Jason Simmons, CB Kenny Wright, FS Marlon McCree.

Restricted Free Agents: RB Jonathan Wells, RB Jason Anderson, RB Jarrod Baxter, WR J.J. Moses, TE Matt Murphy, G Milford Brown, LB Troy Evans, CB Demarcus Faggins, LS Bryan Pittman.

The Draft: The Texans would like to upgrade their offensive line via the draft. However, we do not expect this to happen in the first round, as there are only a few rookie linemen who are considered first-round candidates. The Texans might have a shot at offensive tackle Alex Barron (Florida State), but they could just as easily go wide receiver or defense with the No. 13 overall pick.

The Texans have finally figured out that Corey Bradford is not the answer at wide receiver. Whether they still believe the solution to their No. 2 wideout shortage is fourth-year player Jabar Gaffney remains to be seen.

Barring a move into the top-10 on draft day, the Texans should have their pick between receivers Troy Williamson (South Carolina) and Roddy White (UAB). Williamson is as fast as any receiver in the draft, whereas the 6-3 White is considered a nice mix of size and speed. Mark Clayton (Oklahoma) is also a possibility if the Texans trade down, which has not been rumored.

Despite the temptation to pick a receiver to play opposite Johnson, the Texans are just as likely to select a cornerback to compliment Robinson, who was chosen in the first round last year. If the Texans can find a solid right cornerback, the linebackers would be free to blitz even more than they have in recent years.

Cornerback: Adam Jones (West Virginia) won't be around by the time the Titans pick, which leaves Antrell Rolle (Miami), Carlos Rogers (Auburn), and Brandon Browner (Oregon State) as the other first-round options. Browner is the dark horse here, as he is currently rated lower than the other three corners, but his stock will rise at the combines if he shows he has speed to go along with his 6-3 frame.

Injury Watch: Dominick Davis was bothered by injuries at various times last season, even missing one game due to an ailment. He finished the year healthy and strong, rushing for an average of 121 yards over the last four weeks of the season. He also reached paydirt in each of the last six games. Davis has only missed three games over the last two years, but he's been hampered by injuries so many times that he might scare away a few nervous fantasy owners… The Texans have high hopes for tight end Bennie Joppru. The only problem – and it's a big one – is that an injured groin has caused the 2003 second-round pick to miss the last two seasons… Safety Marcus Coleman will be back after suffering a shoulder injury in December that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Linebacker Jay Foreman is also expected to make a full recovery from December ankle surgery.