(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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RB Ahman Green (Unsigned)RB Ron Dayne (Unsigned)
LB Morlon Greenwood (Unsigned)
S Will Demps (Unsigned)
2009 NFL Draft:
1-15. Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
2-46. Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati
3-77. Antoine Caldwell, C/G, Alabama
4-112. Glover Quin, CB, New Mexico
4-122. Anthony Hill, TE, N.C. State
5-152. James Casey, TE, Rice
6-188. Brice McCain, CB, Utah
7-223. Troy Nolan, SS, Arizona State
2-46. Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati
3-77. Antoine Caldwell, C/G, Alabama
4-112. Glover Quin, CB, New Mexico
4-122. Anthony Hill, TE, N.C. State
5-152. James Casey, TE, Rice
6-188. Brice McCain, CB, Utah
7-223. Troy Nolan, SS, Arizona State
2009 Outlook
Houston's 2009 outlook looks bright if they are able to keep Matt Schaub healthy for a full 16-game season, something he has yet to do as a starting quarterback for the Texans.
Coach Gary Kubiak and Schaub will each have a wide array of weapons at their disposal on offense beginning of course with arguably the best wide receiver in football right now Andre Johnson.
Coach Gary Kubiak and Schaub will each have a wide array of weapons at their disposal on offense beginning of course with arguably the best wide receiver in football right now Andre Johnson.
Like Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, Johnson has a frightening combination of size, speed and strength and is just an overall terror to defend for opposing defenses. His presence greatly helps his counterparts lining up alongside him, namely Kevin Walter and tight end Owen Daniels.
With Johnson constantly drawing double coverage, Walter or Daniels almost always face single coverage with a defender and are more than talented enough to make defenses pay in their own right, proven by each players strong outings a season ago.
The rushing attack also came into its own a season ago behind the aforementioned great rookie season from third-round pick Steve Slaton. Slaton brought an entirely new element to the Texans offense, with his all-purpose yardage and threat to make a big play with every touch of the ball. The depth behind Slaton could become a concern though should Slaton go down with an injury as behind Slaton are two very injury prone backups in Chris Brown and Ryan Moats.
On the Texans offensive line, the bookend tackle combination of Duane Brown and Eric Winston did a good job for the most part in the Alex Gibbs zone-blocking scheme, and this should be another solid unit in 2009 should they avoid injuries.
Defensively, it all starts and ends with playmakers Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans. Williams, as mentioned earlier, led the Texans with 12 sacks in 2008 and after being a very controversial 1st overall pick back in 2005, has really come into his own as one of the games elite defensive players.
The rushing attack also came into its own a season ago behind the aforementioned great rookie season from third-round pick Steve Slaton. Slaton brought an entirely new element to the Texans offense, with his all-purpose yardage and threat to make a big play with every touch of the ball. The depth behind Slaton could become a concern though should Slaton go down with an injury as behind Slaton are two very injury prone backups in Chris Brown and Ryan Moats.
On the Texans offensive line, the bookend tackle combination of Duane Brown and Eric Winston did a good job for the most part in the Alex Gibbs zone-blocking scheme, and this should be another solid unit in 2009 should they avoid injuries.
Defensively, it all starts and ends with playmakers Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans. Williams, as mentioned earlier, led the Texans with 12 sacks in 2008 and after being a very controversial 1st overall pick back in 2005, has really come into his own as one of the games elite defensive players.
Super Mario will have some new teammates on the defensive line with him as Antonio Smith comes to Houston after playing with the NFC Champion Cardinals a year ago, and Shaun Cody comes to Houston after playing with the winless Lions.
Ryans on the other hand is one of the more underrated players in all of football, despite winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006. Ryans has been a tackling machine in his three seasons as a Texan, averaging 131 tackles a season playing the MLB position.
Ryans on the other hand is one of the more underrated players in all of football, despite winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006. Ryans has been a tackling machine in his three seasons as a Texan, averaging 131 tackles a season playing the MLB position.
He will be paired with first round pick Brian Cushing out of Southern Cal and former Indianapolis Colt and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cato June. The Texans linebacking corps should be one of the best in the division, and could very well be one of the best in the league by seasons end.
In Houston's secondary, underrated corner Dunta Robinson will return for another season, but is currently holding out as the Texans franchise player. When he returns in 2009 he will be paired with Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett.
In Houston's secondary, underrated corner Dunta Robinson will return for another season, but is currently holding out as the Texans franchise player. When he returns in 2009 he will be paired with Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett.
Safeties Nick Ferguson and Eugene Wilson will resume their starting roles as well.
2009 Schedule
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