Houston: Close To Solving the (Playoffs) Problem

When one hears "Houston Texans," phrases such as easy win, cakewalk, and pushover often come to mind.

And though it is true the young franchise has never made the playoffs, the Texans are slowly making a name for themselves as a respectable opponent.

Led by star quarterback Matt Schaub and All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson, Houston recently completed its third consecutive winning season with a 9-7 record. Had the Bengals defeated the Jets in week 17, the Texans would have slid into the final Wild-Card slot and landed their first playoff berth.

But that's another component in a long list of "what-ifs" for Houston.

What if Kris Brown could have connected with game-tying field goals in Indianapolis and against Tennessee? What if they hadn't squandered a 17-point lead at home against the Colts? What if Schaub hadn't missed a significant portion in a heartbreaking 23-18 loss at Jacksonville?

Those are just four division games that the Texans let slide through their fingers. Say the Texans win one of those four contests. They are 10-6 and in the playoffs. But again, that's a "what-if?"

Don't fear Texan fans, next year is the year your squad breaks through. I'm not bold enough to predict a division title with the Colts and the Titans (you know they'll be back to 2008 form) in the same division, but i think a 10-6 or 11-5 record is plausible. The AFC South is similar to the NFC East in that three teams are consistently in the thick of the playoff hunt.

For Houston to finally get into the playoffs next season, however, they'll need to dramatically improve in one area: consistency.

The talent is in place for this team to be a force. Schaub led the NFL with 4,770 passing yards, Johnson topped all receivers with 1,569 yards, and there is a load of talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye are two of the league's most talented young defensive linemen. The linebacking core features two Pro-Bowlers in DeMeco Ryans and Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing. Cornerback Dunta Robinson is also one the most underrated defensive backs in the AFC.

The weakness in the defensive unit is clearly the safety position, but with a solid number of defensive backs in this year's draft, that need can be addressed. With a strong talent at the safety position, Houston would be much less susceptible to the big play that often plagues them.

Other necessities include bolstering the offensive line and finding some consistency at running back. Steve Slaton appeared to be the answer with 1,282 yards rushing during his rookie campaign, but he developed a fumble problem early in the season and lost his starting position to the Chris Brown, Ryan Moats, and Arian Foster.

Each back earned a shot as a starter, but only Foster showed flashes of being able to handle the load of a premier back. I assume Slaton will be the starter come September, but expect head coach Gary Kubiak to keep a tight leash on him and for Foster to share much of the workload as well.

If the Texans can find a running game and perform more consistently defensively, expect them to make a run in the deeply-talented AFC. Schaub has shown he can put a team on his shoulders if needed, Johnson stretches the field, and the defense has the talent to be elite.

The pieces of the puzzle are there, but next year is when the Texans finally put them together.