Shaun Alexander fans know Gary Kubiak is no Dom Capers (thank god)
May 21, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Barbaro is dead, Batman, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Gary Kubiak, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Offensive (punch)Line, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment
At some point prior to the preseason games, I plan on doing a 2007 preview, both in terms of the Texans schedule and of the NFL as a whole. I want to get a better handle on some of the teams as they go through real camp and not merely OTAs, though, so I am holding off for the time being.
“So what,” you say?
Well, the guys at Seahawks Huddle have already done one for the Texans. (How’s THAT for a nice segue? Oh yeah, baby… you know you like the way I lead a story. I’ll shut up now.)
I have to say, I agree with many of their premises, including the idea that Jacoby Jones was a very good pick and that Manchild might wind up being even better than anticipated.
They also suggest that the Texans might finally be poised to turn the corner and–possibly, if the fumbles bounce just right–turn in their first non-losing season. This is pretty much what the guys at Battle Red Blog and I have been saying ad nauseum. Still, it’s nice to see the same conclusion from someone who has no reason to be biased toward the machine that is Kubiak’s Texans.
Speaking of non-biased analysis, KC Joyner offered this nugget in his latest ESPN chat (Insider only):
With the addition of Schaub and with the other moves Houston made, I like their chances a lot. I’m not sold on their secondary** and banking on Ahman Green is a bit risky, but I could see Houston putting up 7-8 wins this year, maybe 9 if things bounce right for them.
People outside the US also seem more knowledgeable than the random Screaming Heads on your television, at least when it comes to the Texans. From the same chat:
Randy (Greenich, England): You know what… I am sick and tired of the media claiming the same old excuse that the Texans have no line. The truth is that the media has no clue because they don’t even pay attention to the Texans. The Texans have drafted numerous linemen over the past few years and last year they were pretty solid although banged up. David Carr was the problem because he has ZERO pocket presence. Can you please be one media person who can actually look at their off-season and see a little hope? Shaub, Green, nice draft, good value free agents and a solid young core defense should be better than 4th worst. What do you say?
KC Joyner: Randy, I agree with you on Houston being an up and coming team. I see 6-8 wins out of them this year, including another win against Indy.
Sure, no one in his right mind is talking Super Bowl. (PLAYOFFS?!?) Still, it’s nice to be entering a season where a winning record is a realistic possibility. It’s even nicer to be hearing the same thing from people who are on the outside looking in.
And, with that, I’ll stop kicking Barbaro. For a little while.
*Who is?
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May 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Super Mario, Manchild and DeMeco are going to dominate this season. We are finally going to see Mario’s true potential and our defense is going to start winning games for us.
s.
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May 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I predict that Super Mario will crack double digits in sacks. Manchild will make a huge difference, though probably with more limited numbers (one of those Warren-Sapp-in-Tampa season, where he makes the whole line better). DeMeco is just a monster. Monsters are fun to watch.