49-year old head coach Gary Kubiak is on the hot seat for the Texans in 2011.  The Texans brought in Wade Phillips as the new defensive coordinator and he has had a lot more success than Kubiak as an NFL head coach.  So Kubiak’s replacement is on the staff if he doesn’t get the Texans to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.  The Texas were 6-10 last year.  The Texans are 37-43 (46.3%) in Kubiak’s first five years in charge.  Expectations are high in Houston in 2011, so Kubiak needs to step up and lead his troops.

The Houston Texans are absolutely loaded at RB for the 2011 season.  It all starts with 24-year old Arian Foster who really broke out last year.  He played in 16 games (13 starts) for the Texans last year and he carried the ball 327 times for 1,616 yards (4.9 ypc) with 16 TD runs.  He also caught 66 passes for 604 yards (9.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs last year.  Foster led the NFL in both rushing yards (1,616) and TD runs (16) last year and he will be looking for a repeat in 2011.  Foster has now played in 22 games (14 starts) in his first two years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 381 times for 1,873 yards (4.9 ypc) with 19 TD carries.  He has also caught 74 passes for 697 yards (9.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his NFL career so far.  Not bad numbers for an undrafted rookie.

30-year old Derrick Ward will be Foster’s caddy once again in 2011.  Ward played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Texans last year and he carried the ball 50 times for 315 yards (6.3 ypc) with 4 TD carries.  He also caught 7 passes for 61 yards (8.7 avg) last year.  Ward could take over for Foster if he needs a break.  Ward has now played in 81 games (9 starts) in his first 7 years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 506 times for 2,474 yards (4.9 ypc) with 10 TD runs.  He has also caught 96 passes for 787 yards (8.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

25-year old Steve Slaton finds himself #3 on the depth chart at RB for the Texans in 2011.  Slaton played in 12 games (1 start) for the Texans last year and he carried the ball 19 times for 93 yards (4.9 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 11 yards (3.7 avg) last year.  Slaton has a 1,000+ yard rusher in his rookie season (2008) but he has fallen out of favor in Houston.  Slaton has now played in 39 games (26 starts) in his first three years in Houston and he has carried the ball 418 times for 1,812 yards (4.3 ypc) with 12 TD runs.  He has also caught 97 passes for 805 yards (8.3 avg) with 5 TD grabs so far in his career.

22-year old Ben Tate is back after missing his rookie season due to injury.  He was a second round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Auburn.  He is 5’11″, 219 pounds and he is a good all-around back when healthy.  Tate could be a wild card for the Texans in 2011 if he can stay in one piece. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS RBS IN 2011:  A+

30-year old Matt Schaub was incredible last season.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Texans last year and he completed 365 of 574 passes (63.6%) for 4,370 yards with 24 TD passes and 12 INTs (92.0 QB Rating).  Schaub also carried the ball 22 times for 28 yards (1.3 ypc) for the Texans last year.  This could be the year that Schaub starts getting the recognition he deserves, especially if Wade Phillips fixes the defense so the Texans can start winning a lot of games.  Schaub has now played in 92 games (56 starts) in his first seven years in the NFL and he has completed 1,288 of 1,987 passes (64.8%) for 15,457 yards with 83 TD passes and 52 INTs (91.5 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 142 times for 328 yards (2.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his NFL career.  Schaub is only 25-31 (44.6%) as a starting QB in the NFL but that record is not his fault as the defense has been pretty terrible for the Texans.

28-year old lefty throwing Matt Leinart will be Schaub’s caddy in 2011.  He didn’t get into any games for the Texans last year.  Leinart has now played in 29 games (17 starts) in his first five years in the NFL and he has completed 340 of 595 passes (57.1%) for 3,893 yards with 14 TD passes and 20 INTs (70.8 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 46 times for 90 yards (2.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs so far in his NFL career.  Leinart is 7-10 (41.2%) as a starting QB in the NFL.  I think he would play pretty well for the Texans if Matt Schaub gets injured.

24-year old rookie Tyler Yates will be a developmental #3 QB for the Texans.  He played in a pro style offense at North Carolina, so he should be able to get up to speed pretty quickly.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS QBS IN 2011:  A

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

27-year old Owen Daniels is the key at TE for the Texans.  He has really turned into one of Matt Schaub’s favorite targets in the passing game.  He played in 8 games (all starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 40 passes for 519 yards (13.0 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Daniels has now played in 54 games (52 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has caught 207 passes for 2,501 yards (12.1 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  The Texans need Daniels to stay healthy all year long as he is still recovering from surgery that caused him to miss half of last season.

27-year old Joel Dreessen stepped up last season when Daniels went down to injury.  He played in 16 games (11 starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 26 passes for 320 yards (12.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Dreessen has now played in 59 games (14 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 46 passes for 493 yards (10.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs. 

25-year old James Casey didn’t do much as a rookie last season for the Texans.  He played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Texans last season and he only caught 6 passes for 64 yards (10.7 avg).  Casey will need to pick up his play if he wants to get on the field much in 2010.

Rookie Garrett Graham is a big target at 6’3″, 250 pounds out of Wisconsin.  The Texans picked him in the 4th round so he will get every opportunity to show what he can do in the pre-season and training camp.  He will have to likely help out on special teams before he earns P.T. at TE.

25-year old Anthony Hill was a rookie last season and he didn’t show much.  Hill played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 1 pass for 9 yards.  He will have to step it up if he wants to keep getting paid to play football.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS TEs in 2010:  A

28-year old Vonta Leach and 29-year old Justin Griffith will handle fullback for the Texans in 2010.  Leach, at 6’0″, 246 pounds, is the classic fullback.  He is a good blocker in the running game and he’s a solid receiver out of the backfield.  Leach played in 16 games (4 starts) for the Texans last season and he caught 20 passes for 155 yards (7.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He did not carry the ball last year.  Leach has now played in 82 games (38 starts) in his NFL career in which he has carried the ball 3 times for 3 yards (1.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also has caught 68 passes for 446 yards (6.6 avg) with 4 TD grabs in his career.  Griffin is smaller than Leach (5’11″, 232 pounds) but he is a bigger threat with the ball in his hands as he’s like having a second tailback in the backfield when he is in the game.  Griffin played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Seahawks last season in which he carried the ball 19 times for 118 yards (6.2 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 4 passes for 6 yards (1.5 avg).  Griffith has now played in 96 games (73 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 94 times for 413 yards (4.4 ypc) with 1 run.  He has also caught 141 passes for 989 yards (7.0 avg) with 12 TD grabs in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TEXANS FBs in 2010:  B