Editor's note: With offseason work across the league coming to an end, the focus shifts to the steamy summer workouts ahead. The countdown to training camp has begun. To get you fully primed for the preseason and beyond, Sporting News provides in-depth looks at all 32 teams leading into camps. Today: Houston Texans. Wednesday: Tennessee Titans.
After winning the AFC South for the first time and defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round before losing to the Baltimore Ravens, the Texans’ goal is to win the Super Bowl.
Big things are expected from behemoth lineman J.J. Watt. (AP Photo)
Quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson missed a combined 15 games last season because of injuries. Both are healthy entering what the Texans believe is their most important camp â€" one they hope will lay the foundation for what will lead to a first Super Bowl appearance.
Owner Bob McNair likes reading and hearing Texans and Super Bowl contender in the same sentence.
“I think it’s great,†McNair said. “As far as I was concerned, we were a Super Bowl contender last year. But we aren’t in this to contend; we’re in it to win. You know what our goal is: It’s not to be in the Super Bowl; it’s to win the Super Bowl. I haven’t been more excited about a season. We’ve got a very good team, and we just have to keep building and getting better.â€
What’s new: Offense
There are two new starters in the offensive line, both on the right side. Tackle Eric Winston and guard Mike Brisiel were lost because of the salary cap. They’ve been replaced by tackle Rashad Butler and guard Antoine Caldwell, both of whom have starting experience. Both also enter the last year of their contracts, which could lead to big paydays in the offseason.
Butler played well in four starts at left tackle in 2010. Caldwell has a lot of talent but has been plagued by injuries. Butler is being pushed by second-year tackle Derek Newton. If Caldwell falters or is injured, rookie guard Brandon Brooks could be waiting to take his job.
What’s new: Defense
The Texans finished second in defense in Wade Phillips’ first season as coordinator. They switched schemes from a 4-3 to a 3-4, and they did it without an offseason program. This season, they believe they could be even better under Phillips, despite a tougher schedule that includes games against Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford.
The only new starter on defense is inside linebacker Bradie James. He wasn’t invited back by the Dallas Cowboys. James, 31, has been reunited with Phillips, a former Cowboys coach. James replaces DeMeco Ryans, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Darryl Sharpton, who rotated with Ryans before tearing a quad muscle, would have challenged James, but he’s still not 100 percent.
Camp goals
1. Find backup wide receivers. Starters Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter will be 31 when camp begins. Not one of their next three receivers has a catch in the NFL. Lestar Jean, a pleasant surprise in last year’s camp and preseason, spent his rookie year on injured reserve. He played with the first team during OTAs and minicamp while Johnson was rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery. DeVier Posey (third round) and Keshawn Martin (fourth) are rookies. Don’t be surprised if the Texans add a veteran free agent.
2. Develop a backup tight end. Kubiak loves to play two tight ends. The Texans lost Joel Dreessen, who had 28 catches and six touchdowns, in free agency. He was considered as a second starter. James Casey, the starting fullback, will replace Dreessen. Casey has the best hands on the team. Kubiak wants to get him the ball. He’s in the last year of his contract. If Casey is injured, coaches think three-year veteran Garrett Graham is ready to step up.
3. Rebuild special teams. The Texans will have a new kicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner. Randy Bullock, a fifth-round pick, was drafted to replace Neil Rackers (135 points). Bullock is a Houston native who played at Texas A&M, so there’s even more pressure on him to succeed. Punter Donnie Jones was signed as a free agent to replace late-season fill-in Matt Turk. Last year’s No. 1 punter, Brett Hartmann, tore a knee ligament and probably will start on the physically unable to perform list. When he’s healthy, he faces a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Coaches hope rookie receiver Keshawn Martin can replace Jacoby Jones as the punt returner. Running back Justin Forsett, signed as a free agent, could win the competition to become kick returner. Don’t rule out receiver Trindon Holliday in that role.
Breakout player
If defensive end J.J. Watt picks up where he left off last season, he should go from the All-Rookie Team to be perennial Pro Bowl selection. Watt, a starter from Day 1, had 3½ sacks and a touchdown in two playoff games. He’s the ideal 3-4 defensive end who moves inside in passing situations. At 6-6, 300 pounds, he has a knack for batting down passes.
“Last year I wanted to be a contributor who helped us win games,†Watt said. “Now, I want to be dominant and establish myself as a top-tier defensive end. I did some good things at the end of the season, but I want to put a whole year together. I want to come out of the gate and show everybody what I’m about and show everybody what this defense is about.â€
Bottom line
The Texans should win what appears to be an easy AFC South for the second season in a row. They have the talent to be a Super Bowl contender, but a tougher schedule, including four of five nationally televised games on the road. It could leave them in the 10-6, 11-5 range. That won’t be good enough for the Texans to earn homefield advantage.
They have Pro Bowl players on offense and defense. They’re a confident team after last season’s success. It’s difficult to imagine anything but catastrophic injuries keeping them out of a second consecutive playoff appearance. Fans will be disappointed with anything short of an AFC Championship Game appearance.
Prediction: First, AFC South
John McClain covers the Texans for the Houston Chronicle and Sporting News.
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NFC camp outlook: | Atlanta Falcons | New Orleans Saints | Carolina Panthers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Minnesota Vikings | Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Washington Redskins | Dallas Cowboys | Philadelphia Eagles | New York Giants
AFC camp outlook: Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers | Baltimore Ravens | Miami Dolphins | New York Jets | Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
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