Fear Not, Texans Fans: Your Days to Dominate Are Coming

I am not writing this article because I am a fan of the Houston Texans. For that matter, I am not a fan of any team in the AFC South. 

While reading comments about an article someone else wrote about Matt Schaub, I considered the Texans for the first time and what their team is becoming.

As a Steelers fan, I am beginning to see that the Texans are being built the same way the Steelers are—and that is a good thing for the people in Houston.

Houston does not go out and sign every free agent available like the Redskins and Jets. They build their team through the draft and fill their roster with quality people.

Defense

If the other team doesn't score, then the worst thing you can do is tie! That's a comment I make to the Pop Warner football teams I have coached. 

I know it is not possible to shut everyone out, but the fewer points the defense allows, the less "great" the offense has to be.

The Texans seem to have taken this philosophy by making the defense the top priority.

Since 2004, the Texans have selected seven players in the first round of the draft. Of those seven, six of them are defensive players: two defensive tackles, two defensive ends, a cornerback, and a linebacker. The core of your defense is young, athletic, and improving.

In 2005, the Texans ranked 31st in total defense. The Texans then drafted Mario Williams in the first round and linebacker DeMeco Ryans in the second. The defense improved to 24th.

Last year, the Texans finished 22nd, and in the draft they selected one of the best linebackers, Brian Cushing from USC.

This defense is now stacked with first-round talent. Expect Houston to finish in the top 15 this year and start working their way up the defensive rankings.

Offense

If you look at last year's Super Bowl winner, you will see that if you have a great defense, you don't need a great offense. 

What you need to be able to do is to control the clock. That comes in the running game.

Coming out of college, people said Steve Slaton was a poor man's Reggie Bush. So far, Slaton has proved to be a better back than Bush is. As he progresses, he will be even better.

The Texans traded for Matt Schaub, and he has already done better than the Texans' first pick in franchise history, David Carr. Schaub has led the Texans to back-to-back 8-8 records.

In order for the running game to be successful, the defense has to respect the team's ability to pass. A team needs a field stretcher to keep eight men out of the box. 

The Texans have that with Andre Johnson. Other than Larry Fitzgerald, Johnson is the best receiver playing in the NFL today.

More than just receptions, Johnson keeps the safeties honest, not allowing them to stand at the line before the snap.

Owen Daniels is growing to be one of the best young tight ends in the league. With 167 receptions for nearly 2,000 yards, Daniels is a weapon and a great security blanket for Schaub. Daniels went to the Pro Bowl after last season.

Special Teams

Many games in the NFL are won by less than a touchdown. If you are going to win the close games, you need a reliable kicker, and the Texans have one.

Last month, the Texans signed kicker Kris Brown to a long-term contract extension to stay with the team. 

I was glad to see him leave the Steelers because he had such a hard time kicking into the Heinz Field winds, but he is automatic in a dome.

That is perfect for his situation in Houston.

The Opposition

The Indianapolis Colts have dominated the division since it became the AFC South. Only the Tennessee Titans last year have been able to wrestle the crown away from them.

With Peyton Manning nearing the end of his career, and last year's Titans being just a flash in the pan, I look for the Texans to take over that top spot within the next two seasons.

With the young core of this team, I expect them to hang on for a while once they get there.