Kubiak Looks to Plug Remaining Holes On Roster

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Barwin, a former tight end, converted to defensive end for the Bearcats last season. He displays excellent footwork and provides the Texans with the type of pass rushing skills Kubiak desperately needs. Barwin can play both sides and go outside to rush the passer.

With several critical elements in place, the Texans may potentially have the greatest season in franchise history. Unlike previous years, Kubiak will head into training camp with an explosive offense and a young, talent core of defensive players.

During the offseason, Kubiak and Smith put their heads together to figure out how to elevate the team to the next level. Overall, they realize the team must add a run stuffing nose tackle, a pass rushing DE, an impact free safety, a strong outside linebacker and a backup, goal-line running back for Slaton.

Smith got his pass rusher by signing DE Antonio Smith to a five-year, $35 million contract. The former Arizona Cardinal defensive lineman had eight tackles and a sack in the Super Bowl and makes an ideal counterpart opposite Williams. Plus, Smith will be reunited with Bush, who was an assistant with the Cardinals prior to joining Houston’s staff.

Although things look promising, the Texans still need to address some present holes in the roster. As training camp approaches, Houston will keep their options open by watching the free agent market, paying attention to final cuts and developing the skills of in-house players.

It’s no secret that Kubiak has an escalating amount of frustration toward DT Travis Johnson, the team’s 2005 first-round (16th overall) draft pick. His lackluster work ethic combined with several on-field issues and injury history caused Kubiak and Smith to sign DT Shawn Cody as an unrestricted free agent.

Last season with the Detroit Lions, Cody finished with a career-high 37 tackles. Overall, the Texans chose not to draft a defensive tackle, meaning they have high expectations for Okoye and possibly Cody to anchor the team’s interior portion.   

Houston’s pass defense ranked 17th and only intercepted 12 passes in 2008. After missing out on drafting former LSU safety LaRon Landry in 2007, Houston has been trying to find a prototypical free safety to fill a tremendous void. However, the only free safety worthy of being a first round pick this year would have been USC junior Taylor Mays.

Mays announced his intent to return to USC for his senior year, leaving University of Missouri’s William Moore as the top-rated safety in the draft. At 6-1, 230 pounds, Moore has the size and speed to be a playmaker in the NFL, but ultimately rated as a second-round pick at best.

Since the Texans elected not to pursue high-priced free agent Roy Williams, who was waived by the Dallas Cowboys on March 5, the All-Pro safety eventually signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite some outside pressure, Houston stood their ground by not going after the former University of Oklahoma standout, due to his overall ineffectiveness in pass coverage with the Cowboys.

Kubiak’s defense needs a safety capable of handling the pass, especially with perennial QB Peyton Manning in the division. With a bleak free agent market at safety, Houston re-signed Eugene Wilson to a three-year deal.

Basically, the Texans will continue to keep their options open for a backup running back to compliment Slaton. The Ahman Green experiment never worked out, so Kubiak will either stay in-house with Chris Brown, Ryan Moats, or give undrafted free agent Arian Foster or Jeremiah Johnson a fair shake to earn a roster spot.

Out of the potential in-house candidates, Brown is the biggest at 6-3, 220 pounds. Unfortunately, the former University of Colorado standout has a lengthy history of injuries during his six-year NFL career and can't be counted on to stay healthy over the course of the regular season.

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