Houston Texans Looking To Make First Playoffs

Despite the hundred-degree weather, Houston can be an optimistic place
in the summer.

Before the realities of the season set in, bars and talk radio buzz
with lofty expectations for the city’s young football franchise. The
pre-season hope, upon which so many ticket sales are based, is usually
dashed in short order. By mid-season, fan loyalty is usually stretched
so thin, only true believers remain. Of course, this season will be
different.

No, seriously, this season will be different. Or at least it should be.

The Texans are coming off the first 8-8 season in franchise history
feeding the expectations of many in the Bayou City. While the team has
yet to make a playoff appearance, chatter on fans’ blogs would have
you thinking the Texans had already clinched the AFC south, a division
which includes the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.

“It’s not just Houston fans that are predicting a playoff birth at
this current juncture,” writes one fan on Battle Red Blog. “After a
solid draft, the Texans are a trendy pick to contend for a wild card
spot or even the AFC South title.”

Trendy, perhaps, but are the Texans a viable contender to win the AFC South?

For an organization whose success has been marginal to date, the
pressure to make the playoffs is partly due to the Texans success with
draft picks in recent years. Or luck with draft picks, depending on
your perspective.

First round picks such as David Carr and Mario Williams have been
busts compared to the production (and value) of later round picks such
as Steve Slaton and Owen Daniels. There is a difference between those
selections, primarily general manager Rick Smith who took
over in 2006.

Texan fans are really hoping is that General Manager Rick Smith can
keep up the stellar job he’s been doing. Widely recognized as the
architect of the new Texan roster, including the acquisition of
current QB Matt Schaub from Atlanta, Smith is the youngest general
manager in league. Age hasn’t prevented industry respect; he won the
Tanker Young award in 2008 for excellence as an NFL executive.

Along with head coach Gary Kubiak, Smith and the Texans have started
piecing together a team worth considering come playoff time. So
elated are some fans by Smith and Kubiak’s work they’ve come to
describe the duo as one entity or, I kid you not, Smithiak. (It was
only a matter of time before the tabloid-celebrity world infected
football anyway.)

With a quarterback completing 66 percent of his passes and
offensive weapons Slaton, Daniel and Andre Johnson taking the ball to
the goal line, the Texans need some serious help on defense in the
2009 season. The top pick in the 2006 draft, Mario Williams, made his
first Pro Bowl as a starter this year but added tools on defense have
been lacking. Last year the Texans ranked 22nd in total yards allowed
last season and were 23rd against the run.

The Texans used their first round pick in the 2009 draft to take
explosive USC linebacker Brian Cushing, who should finally give the
team a stable foundation in their linebacker corp. In total, the Texans have added ten defensive players to their roster. (Five of the team’s eight draft picks and another five signed during free agency.)

Of course, making the playoffs and winning championships means playing longer seasons and the Texans are woefully untested past 16 games. Team stars Schaub and Williams have never seen playoff action. In fact, only one of the Texans' eleven offensive starters has ever been to the playoffs.

With an untested, untried roster being headed by a young head coach still figuring out his job, the Texans have a lot of questions going into the 2009 season. Still, fans in Houston seem undaunted by the challenges facing their team. Though expectations may vary depending on the fan and alcohol consumption, many have the simple hope of watching a game in January. This might finally be the year.