Houston Texans: 10 Most Important Players for 2011 Season
2011 will be the most important season in the history of the Houston Texans. That sounds like hyperbole, but if you assess all that is stake this upcoming year, it is not exaggeration.
Another .500 or worse season will surely mean another firing of a head coach and subsequent hiring of a replacement. That would mean two coaching regimes with zero playoff appearances for the city of Houston.
The difference between 2011, if it is the last for Gary Kubiak, and 2005 is that most people didn’t see the 2-14 collapse coming for Dom Capers’ final season. The 4-12, 5-11, and 7-9 seasons that preceded 2005 suggested progression that did not indicate the worst record in the NFL.
This will not be the case for 2011. Not only is it all but certain that a failure for the Texans to make the postseason again will mean another rebuilding effort, but to make the stakes higher the Texans are implementing a completely new defensive scheme that must succeed in its first year.
In times like these, success or failure of a team is determined by that team’s core players. While all 33 starters will play a role, a handful of players will have to either improve or maintain their level of performance to finally obtain the franchise’s first playoff appearance.
So who are those players that so much is resting on for the Texans? I decided to lay out my best guess at the 10 Texans whose play will determine the fate of the team and likely of the coaching staff.
This list is likely incomplete given that players will likely (and hopefully) be added through free agency. It is also important to note that while a lot hinges on the defense in its first year in the 3-4 scheme, the offense must maintain their proficiency for the Texans to have a chance at the postseason.
Here is my list of the ten most important players for the Houston Texans in 2011. If you have any thoughts of your own, let me know in the comments or on twitter (@JakeBRB).
10. Brian Cushing
1 of 10
After a defensive rookie of the year season in 2009, Brian Cushing took a major step back in 2010. He missed the first four games of the season due to suspension, and once he came back he was bounced between SLB and MLB. He seemed to have lost the instinct that always put him in the right place in his rookie campaign.
Cushing will play on the inside, but as Chris Watkins noted, his position is a vital one in Wade Phillips’ 3-4. He will be given the opportunity to do what he does best; use his athleticism and tenacity to attack the ball, no matter who is carrying it.
There is the potential for 100+ tackles and 5+ sacks for Cushing in 2011.
9. Glover Quin
2 of 10
Much has been made of the potential move of Quin to free safety, and secondary coach Vance Joseph’s comments after the drafting of two cornerbacks makes it sound certain that the move will take place. The CB position will lose its best player from 2010, but free safety is a chronic weak point of the Texans.
Quin has the skill set to thrive at FS. He is a willing and able tackler, and has the football IQ to be the quarterback of the defense. He also showed necessary ball skills in a three interception game last season.
The Texans will have two new starting safeties in 2011. Quin has to be successful for the pressure schemes of Phillips to work.
8. J.J. Watt
3 of 10
First round draft picks have to contribute in year one to be considered successful. Watt will be no exception. At the very least, Watt will play on a rotational basis at five-technique and on third downs. As the season progresses though, I would be surprised to see Watt claim one of the starting positions.
Watt may not be the most dynamic pass rusher at this point in his career, but he is already a dominant run defender. Pressure on opposing quarterbacks might grab headlines, but run defense makes that pressure possible.
I expect Watt to at the very least to be solid in year one. It also wouldn’t surprise me if Wade is able to harness Watt’s work ethic and athleticism and make him into a decent pass rusher as well.
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7. Arian Foster
4 of 10
Surprised that the reigning NFL rushing leader isn’t higher on the list? Texans fans and fantasy football players take note; Foster will not repeat the success of 2010. Ben Tate will share the load after missing his rookie season, and opposing teams will make stopping Foster a priority thus opening up passing opportunities.
Having said that though, Foster’s success was no fluke and more is to come. His ability to run in the zone scheme is unparalleled in my opinion because of his vision and patience. Foster will still run with a chip on his shoulder as he knows another Pro Bowl performance will mean a big pay day.
While 1,600 yards might be too lofty to repeat, I would be shocked to see Foster get less than 1,000 rushing yards barring injury.
6. Owen Daniels
5 of 10
The Texans decisions to re-sign Daniels and to not draft a deep threat wide receiver were both eyebrow raising, but I believe that both decisions were related. Daniels showed last season that once he was healthy, the offense was a different animal with him in it.
Daniels is rare at the tight end position because of his ability in Kubiak’s West Coast Offense to stretch the field vertically. He benefits greatly from deep safeties’ attention to the best wide receiver in the game and is the Texans’ best option for the middle zone of the field.
Daniels must remain healthy for the Texans to not pay for the lack of another deep threat at receiver. If he can though, he could be a top three TE in the NFL.
5. Earl Mitchell
6 of 10
Educated Texans fans believed that Phillips assertion that Mitchell and Shaun Cody would suffice as nose tackles was misdirection. After not drafting a NT and a lack of starting quality players at the position available in free agency, it appears that it might be legit.
I believe Cody was signed as a veteran backup, but Mitchell is the player that Phillips has his eye on to anchor his defensive line. Mitchell flashed potential as a rookie in 2010, but he will be asked to play an entirely new position with new responsibilities.
While I don’t feel comfortable with a transition player at such an important position, I believe that Wade has earned the benefit of the doubt because of his smart decisions with defensive personnel and the draft.
4. Connor Barwin
7 of 10
Barwin might not get the media attention that others on the defense do, but he will be integral to the success of the team. He is coming off a dislocated ankle injury that robbed all but a half game in 2010, but if healthy his athleticism is more than adequate for Barwin to be a dominant outside linebacker.
I have been bullish on Barwin since his selection by the Texans. Even though he is making the transition to OLB, he commonly rushed standing up in 2009 and leading up to the 2010 season. I don’t think he’ll be as much of a project as some people think.
If Barwin’s ankle is healthy, I believe he could benefit from the attention paid to number 90 to the tune of double digit sacks.
3. Mario Williams
8 of 10
Williams has been the center of national media scrutiny of late because of the question of whether he’ll play five-technique or outside linebacker. In Wade Phillips’ defense, it’s all semantics. All you need to know is that Williams will rush the passer at least 95% of the time from either the three-point stance or standing up.
Williams will rush from all over the front seven, as Phillips attempts to create mismatches. If anyone knows what Williams can do, its linebackers coach Reggie Herring who was Williams’ defensive coordinator in college.
While Williams’ performance is integral, the one-on-one matchups he will create elsewhere in the front seven are just as important.
2. Matt Schaub
9 of 10
Schaub is the best quarterback in the NFL that isn’t considered “elite”. His statistics in the last two years, the first healthy seasons in a Texans uniform, have among the best in the league. What is lacking though is the winning record with the quintessential come from behind victories that QB’s are known for.
Schaub has taken more ownership of the team, as shown by his organization of offseason workouts despite the lockout. What Schaub needs most, however, is to not feel that he has to produce 35 points every week to win.
Schaub will benefit from not having to throw the Texans to victory every Sunday because of a better defense, and will shake the notion that he is not clutch.
1. Andre Johnson
10 of 10
It may surprise you to have a receiver ranked more important than the quarterback throwing him the ball, but Andre Johnson is rare in that regard. At the end of last year when Johnson’s ankle did not allow him to play, it was obvious how much the offense revolves around Dre.
Texans fans have become spoiled in that they expect 100 receptions and 1500 yards every year without realizing how amazing that feat is. If Johnson can stay healthy this year though, the offense will maintain at least an above average level no matter who is running the ball or receiving it besides him.
A Texans offense without Johnson is a scary thought. Let’s hope for the Texans and their playoff chances, that we won’t have to see that become a reality for the second straight season.
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