It amazes me that people talk about the NFC East as the best division in football.
The Colts and Jags would both run away with the NFC East. The Titans would be the second-best team behind the Cowboys.
Think about that. Three teams in the NFC East made the playoffs last year, yet two teams in the AFC South are arguably better than anyone in that division.
Now imagine being the Houston Texans. You’re stuck in the same division as two of the favorites to come out of the AFC. Three teams in your division made the playoffs last year.
You finished a respectable 8-8 last season. Had you not been in the AFC South, you may have been a playoff team. After all, you were 1-5 against your division, 7-3 against everyone else.
It sucks to be an up-and-coming team in the AFC South.
But they are just that—an up-and-coming team. They are one of those teams in the mix to win that final wild-card spot in the AFC, competing with the likes of the Titans, Browns, and Jets (among others).
Like every potential playoff team, a lot rests on the shoulders of the quarterback.
Matt Schaub is a good NFL quarterback. The problem is, he appears to be made of glass. Sage Rosenfels is a decent backup, but this team needs Matt Schaub to stay healthy.
The quarterback position becomes even more important when you take into account the fact that they have absolutely no running game. Chris Brown was brought in to compete with the aging Ahman Green for the starting job, but his career may be over. His season is definitely over, as he’s been put on IR.
Ahman Green is old. The scouting report says, “Runs like an old guy.” Third-round pick Steve Slaton is probably going to share carries with Green, and hopefully he’s good enough to win the starting job.
Andre Johnson is one of the best receivers in the NFL. When he was healthy last season, the Texans’ offense was completely different. He, like his quarterback, needs to stay healthy this season.
Kevin Walter blossomed last season, and he will benefit from playing opposite Johnson. Andre Davis and Jacoby Jones are both solid third/fourth wide receivers.
The tight end, Owen Daniels, is a decent weapon in the passing game as well.
Duane Brown was drafted to play left tackle, and he’s going to begin his first season as a starter. Given the importance of keeping Schaub healthy, this may or may not be a good thing.
Chester Pitts is a solid guard. Chris Myers was brought in because he knows the zone-blocking system Gary Kubiak wants to employ. Eric Winston is a solid—but not spectacular—right tackle. Right guard may be an issue. Michael Brisiel is currently listed as the starter, and he’s basically an unknown quantity.
The offense is going to live and die with the passing game, unless Slaton can develop as a productive NFL running back sooner than later.
The defense is built around recent draft picks, which is the best way to build a defense (assuming your front office drafts well).
The defensive line is above average.
Mario Williams is tremendous. He’s a monster. It’s amazing everyone thought Reggie Bush was a better draft pick coming out of college.
7 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago
Amen, tell me about it Sean; it's rough. Great Article.
As for Kevin Walter, he's the next Ed McCaffery
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Pretty good break down, the Texans running game really is the biggest issue for this team. The line is improving, and Schaub or Rosenfels can get it done well enough if they can just run the ball.
But "The Colts and Jags would both run away with the NFC East. The Titans would be the second best team behind the Cowboys."
Really? The 'Boys did beat the Colts the last time they played(unfortunately) and there is really NO WAY of accurately predicting what the Skins, Giants and Eagles are really going to do this year. Too many unanswered questions for each team to say how good or bad any of them will be. Each has the potential to as good as ANY team in the LEAGUE.
To make that statement MUST mean you KNOW something everyone else doesn't. Or, maybe not.
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
Just my assessment of the two divisions. The Cowboys are pretty good, but I don't think they're better than either the Colts or the Jags.
Maybe I over-valued the Titans a bit...but they'd at least be competitive with the Giants, Eagles, and Redskins...it'd be a toss-up.
I'm going to hit most of the NFC East in the next few days...so I'll try to explain myself better then.
I do tend to give the benefit of the doubt to AFC teams when compared to NFC teams...because (in my opinion, of course) the AFC is the better conference right now.
Thanks for the compliment. I'll let you know when I get my Redskins preview done...
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Can't wait.
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Andrew Mason 10 months ago
Great article. I think if Johnson plays 16 games the Texans will finish ahead of the Titans and go 9-7.
Record with Johnson last year:6-3
Without:2-5
You talk about being valuable to your team I don't think you can get more valuable than that. Unless your Tom Brady Or Peyton Manning of course.
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Bob Fletcher 10 months ago
Good article! I enjoyed your breakdown but you kind of left Chris Taylor out of the mix and Jacques Reeves will just get picked apart. In actuality, I really like this article and sorry, I am a little picky.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Great work Sean. I hear you on the NFC East.
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