5 Reasons Texans Finally Take Down Colts

The Houston Texans have been on the cusp of success for many years now. From 2008's 8-8 record and 2009's first franchise winning record at 9-7, the Texans have proved that they are serious contenders in the very difficult AFC South. 

However, they must overcome the looming power that is the Indianapolis Colts, led by four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning and his fleet of Colts have torched the Texans, going 16-2 against them over the past nine seasons. 

The Texans beat the Colts in the first week of the 2010 season, in what many thought would be a sign of changing tides. Unfortunately for the Texans, they stumbled to a 6-10 record overall last season, disappointing many of the Texan faithful who thought it was their time to shine. 

With the hiring of Wade Phillips to shore up a very shoddy defensive unit, a very solid 2011 draft class with many refined defensive gems and the continuous development of All-Pro leaders Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, the Texans are on the verge of becoming a team to watch as the NFL preseason hits its stride. 

Considering the Texans open with the Colts in Week 1, we are all going to find out quickly whether the Texans have what it will take to dethrone the divisional bullies at home in Houston. 

Here are five reasons that the Texans are going to overcome the Colts not just once, but twice this season, and what key players they are going to use in their run to the AFC South title. 

Reason No. 1: Wade Phillips' Improved Defense Stifles Manning & Co.

The biggest offseason pickup for the Houston Texans was a 64-year-old gentleman who most would consider out of shape. Previously, he was like millions of other Americans: unemployed. Yes, Wade Phillips might appear to be an everyday type of guy, but his mastery of defensive tactics separates him from any other coach who switched teams this summer. 

Wade Phillips has transformed the Texans' traditional 4-3 defense to a 3-4 split that will try to embody more of the athleticism and versatility of the Texans' young bucks. From moving Mario Williams to linebacker to dealing with Brian Cushing's injury, the Texans are in the middle of a major face lift. 

However, it seems the changes have already made an impact. The defense, and especially the secondary led by new coach Vance Joseph from San Francisco, played significantly better in the first preseason game against the New York Jets. The defensive squad allowed just 16 points and, although they allowed 310 total yards, they recorded seven sacks. 

The Texans added free agent cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph, previously with Cincinnati, and Danieal Manning, who was a rock in the Chicago secondary. 

The Texans were burned in the pass game against Peyton Manning. Not only did the Texans allow 267.5 yards passing per game and 33 touchdown passes last season, but Manning torched them for almost 700 yards and five touchdowns in only two games.

Manning's career numbers are spectacular against the Texans, who must keep the four-time MVP and his corps of wide receivers under control if they want to overtake them for supremacy in the AFC South. 

Reason No. 2: Solid 2011 Draft Provides Punch to Defensive Corps

The Texans got defensive in their 2011 draft, selecting six defensive position players in their eight overall selections. J.J. Watt, pictured here, was the 11th overall selection and the Texans first-round pick. Watt, out of Wisconsin, is an electrifying defensive end who has a quick move off the line. 

Watt already recorded a sack in his first professional game last night, and looked like he will be a major contributor to Wade Phillips' new defensive scheme. Watt is a high-energy performer and brings more youth to a defensive line that features veterans Shaun Cody and Antonio Smith. 

The second pick by the Texans was outside linebacker Brooks Reed out of Arizona. Reed was a solid performers for the Wildcats, but not a standout by any means. Reed had a great performance at the Senior Bowl, which significantly boosted his stock, but expecting Reed to be a standout immediately is a stretch. He has the potential to be an excellent complement in a talented group of linebackers, but Connor Barwin will continue to be the starter on the strong outside. 

In the middle part of the draft, the Texans nabbed cornerbacks Brandon Harris out of Miami and Roc Carmichael from Virginia Tech. Harris, the Texans' second-round pick was a three-year award winner at Miami and was a 2009 first-team and 2010 second-team All-ACC pick. Carmichael was a fourth-round selection and a favorite of head coach and defensive whiz Frank Beamer. 

Shiloh Keo, a safety out of Idaho, was picked in the fifth round and will spend most of 2011 learning and progressing on his path to contributing in the secondary. Keo was a standout for Idaho, so perhaps he will raise his game to the high level of the speed of the NFL. Keo will provide depth and a burst of fresh air when substituting for third-year safety Glover Quin. 

Cheta Ozougwu was the 2011 draft's Mr. Irrelevant, but the Outside Linebacker from Rice University looks to be anything but that. Cheta was a two-year starter at Rice, performing well but nothing spectacular. Cheta is a little on the slow side, but he might be able to work on his quickness while learning from All-Pro linebackers like DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing. 

Reason No. 3: Andre Johnson, the Best WR in the Game

Andre Johnson is working on his resume of becoming the best wide receiver in the NFL and perhaps the best athlete in the league. He has led the NFL in receiving twice, in 2008 and 2009, when he had 1,575 and 1,569 receiving yards, respectively.

With an improved Texans defense under Wade Phillips and a revamped offensive line following the pickup of highly-touted rookie Darius Morris from Temple, Johnson could have the help he needs coming back from an injury-plagued season.

Johnson only played in 13 games last season and still had 1,200-plus yards receiving—and he was banged up for a fair amount of the year. With 50 touchdown receptions in his eight-year career, it is a safe bet that Johnson will be good for at least six or seven touchdown grabs this season. 

Johnson had 106 yards and a touchdown grab against the Colts in the Texans' Week 7 loss to Indianapolis, and has taken advantage of the Colts' secondary for years now. He has recorded over 100 receiving yards against the Colts four times in past few seasons, and has scored at least once every season against the Colts since 2005. 

The Colts have two solid cornerbacks in Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers, but Johnson demands double coverage and has created mismatches. At 6'3" and 220 pounds, Johnson creates mismatches against every team, but he has dominated the Colts.

Many times, Johnson's sheer presence draws Colts' safety Antoine Bethea over and leaves the middle of the field open for WR Kevin Walter or TE Owen Daniels. For Johnson's goal of becoming a 1600-yard receiver to be reached, he is going to have to go to work against the Colts' secondary from Week 1. 

Reason No. 4: Matt Schaub Builds on Past 2 Seasons, Becomes Best AFC QB

Matt Schaub, coming off another standout season in which he was fourth in the NFL in passing, is the key to the Texans offensive hopes this season. For the Texans to overcome the Colts, they are going to need a quarterback performance that surpasses that of rival Peyton Manning.

Manning has torched the Texans over the years, but Schaub has failed to dominate against the Colts defense. Schaub threw for 4,370 yards last season, but actually declining in his completion percentage and his overall passer rating. His touchdown numbers were down slightly, so this season Schaub is going to need to step up his game to unprecedented levels. 

Schaub only threw for 107 yards in last year's surprise victory over the Colts, so luck was a major factor in Schaub's game that Sunday. Schaub has only gone for more than 300 yards against the Colts once in his career, so he has something to prove against the Colts secondary. 

Schaub has good career stats as the Texans QB, but if he can take his game to the next level he might be the first QB in Texans history to start a playoff game. 

Reason No. 5: Foster, Slaton and Whole Slew of Talented RBs That Will Outrun Colts

The Texans are lucky to be in the position they are in. All of their drafted running backs have blossomed into standout young players, led by Pro-Bowler Arian Foster, pictured here. Foster, in his first full season, took the ball and carried the Texans' ground game to new levels. 

Foster had 1616 yards last season, pummelling his way to 16 rushing touchdowns. Averaging 100 yards and a touchdown per game made head coach Gary Kubiak drool at the prospect of the future. Foster is an unbelievable talent, surpassing Domanick Davis in fans' hearts already. Davis, who was a Texans' staple for many years, is long forgotten now with Foster and speedster Steve Slaton. 

Slaton made his hay with West Virginia in that wide-open option offense. Slaton is a shifty back that can come in and make his presence known in the backfield, but doesn't often. He is the primary kick returner, so he rarely sees hand-offs and draw plays. However, his talent is there and he can make a difference at any time. 

Ben Tate, recovering from injury, was a 2010 draft selection, but did not see any game action due to a broken ankle and ligaments in training camp last year. Tate is similar to third-down running back Derrick Ward, a physical runner that can mow over defenders. Tate has more potential than Ward, who is a short-yard back only but useful in his role. 

If Tate can come in and make an impact on the running back corps, the Texans might have the best backfield combinations in the NFL, and might actually be able to deceive the Colts' sturdy front line enough to slyly take the power in the division from them.