31-year old Andre’ Davis would probably return kickoffs if the season started today but he’ll have to hold off Jacoby Jones and rookie Trindon Holliday to keep the job.  Davis played in 14 games for the Texans last season and he returned 33 kickoffs for 782 yards (23.7 avg).  He has now played in 104 games in his NFL career and he has returned 205 kickoffs for 4,821 yards (23.5 avg) with 4 TD returns.  Davis is fast and he gets up the field usually running north and south.

26-year old Jacoby Jones is super fast with a lot of moves in the open field.  He played in 14 games for the Texans last season and he returned 24 kickoffs for 638 yards (26.6 avg) with 1 TD return.  Jones has now played in 44 games in his NFL career and he has returned 41 kickoffs for 996 yards (24.3 avg) with 1 TD return.  The Texans though want to limit how much they use Jones on special teams this year because he’s going to be the #3 WR.

That could be where rookie 6th round pick Trindon Holliday comes in.  He has sprinters speed as he can go the distance on any return.  But he’s only 5′5″, 159 pounds so it’s up in the air as to whether he can handle the beating he will take in the NFL.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A

The Houston Texans really need this unit to improve it’s play in 2010.  It all starts at LT with Duane Brown who has yet to live up to his potential.  He is a good athlete but he’s not a good pass protector yet which gets Matt Schaub hit more than he should.  Brown needs to improve in that area of his game, pronto!  LG Kasey Studdard is a tad fiesty especially in the running game.  Chris Myers will start at center and he’s a good fit in the zone blocking scheme as he can hit moving targets.  Antoine Caldwell will likely beat out Matt Brisiel to start at RG in 2010.  Caldwell is a smart player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.  LT Eric Winston is the best all around player on the Texans’ line as he is a good run and pass blocker.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS O-LINE in 2010:  C

48-year old head coach Gary Kubiak got his team really close to making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season.  The Texans finished up 9-7 (56.3%) in 2009.  In four years in charge of the Texans, Kubiak is 31-33 (48.4%) during the regular season.  The Texans will need the defense to step up in 2010 just like the offense did in 2009.  The AFC South is a very tough division but it would be upsetting if the Texans didn’t make the playoffs in 2010.

33-year old kickers Josh Brown and Neil Rackers are going to duke it out during training camp and the pre-season for the placekicker job in 2010.  Brown was awful last season for the Texans.  He played in all 16 games for the Texans last season connecting on only 21 of 33 field goals (65.6%).  He also made 43 of 44 extra points last season as he finished up with 106 points.  Brown has now played in 176 games in his NFL career and he has made 252 of 326 field goals (77.3%).  He has also made 347 of 354 extra points as he has scored 1,103 points in his NFL career.  Despite playing with the Texans for a while he does not appear to have an edge over Rackers heading into training camp.

Neil Rackers played in 14 games for the Cardinals last season and he was very accurate.  Rackers made 16 of 17 field goals (94.1%) and 37 of 38 extra points good for 85 points.  Rackers has now played in 148 games in his NFL career and he has made 205 of 262 field goals (78.2%).  He has also connected on 290 of 295 extra points so he has scored 905 points in his NFL career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS KICKERS in 2010:  C+

29-year old Andre Johnson is probably the best WR in the NFL right now.  He’s got it all as he is big and fast and he sports an outstanding set of hands.  Johnson played in 16 games (all starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 101 passes for 1,569 yards (15.5 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He has now played in 102 games (all starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 587 passes for 7,948 yards (13.5 avg) with 42 TD grabs.  Johnson has also carried the ball 20 times for 36 yards (1.8 ypc) in his NFL career.  He has been to 4 Pro Bowls in his career and I’m pretty sure that he will make it 5 in 2010.

28-year old Andrew Walter is the Texans’ possession receiver.  He’s a poor man’s Wes Welker as he’s quick, tough and he has good hands.  Walter played in 14 games (all starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 53 passes for 611 yards (11.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 26 yards (6.5 ypc) last season.  Walter has now played in 105 games (49 starts) in his 7 years in the NFL and he has caught 225 passes for 2,766 yards (12.3 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 13 times for 82 yards (6.3 ypc) in his career. 

26-year old Jacoby Jones is the reason the Texans are going to attack more down the field as he will be the Texans’ #3 WR in 2010.  Jones is lightning fast as he can literally run right past defensive backs to get down the field.  Jones played in 14 games (1 start) for the Texans last year and he caught 27 passes for 437 yards (16.2 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 22 yards (7.3 ypc) last season.  Jones has now played in 44 games (4 starts) in his three years with the Texans and he has caught 45 passes for 667 yards (14.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 7 times for 16 yards (2.3 ypc) in his career to date.  The Texans plan on having Jones concentrate more on offense than special teams in 2010.

31-year old Andre’ Davis will look to rebound after an off year as a WR.  Davis played in 14 games (1 start) for the Texans last season and he caught 6 passes for 59 yards (9.8 avg).  He has now played in 104 games (33 starts) in his 8 years in the NFL and he has caught 156 passes for 2,470 yards (15.8 avg) with 17 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 9 times for 32 yards (3.6 ypc) in his NFL career to date. 

27-year old David Anderson played the best ball of his career last season for the Texans but he’s more of a possession type.  He played in 16 games (8 starts) for the Texans last year and he caught 38 passes for 370 yards (9.7 avg).  Anderson has now played in 49 games (9 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has caught 70 passes for 769 yards (11.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Rookie 7th round pick Dorin Dickerson will be converted from TE to WR for the Texans.  He has nice size at 6′2″, 230 pounds so he would give the Texans a nice, big target.  But they will likely bring him along very slowly.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS WRs in 2010:  A