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AFC South
Training Camp Preview
Many questions are unanswered as Training Camp opens this week for the Houston Texans. Starting jobs are open just about everywhere one looks, on both Offense and Defense.
OFFENSE: Gary Kubiak is the new Head Coach, he and his staff are bringing the Denver zone blocking scheme to Houston. Ex-Packer HC Mike Sherman will be the Asst HC and OL coach. The most important questions concern the QB, OL and RB.
Word around town has it that in the off-season Kubiak has already refined QB David Carr's technique, plus Carr is reportedly throwing with more velocity. In addition, that one on one tutoring is reported to have made Carr more comfortable going through his progressions and reads, to the point where he has thrown to his 3rd or 4th option on plays in OTA's-something he rarely did during a game last year.
As far as the OL is cocerned, the zone blocking scheme has been embraced by the players, but there have been wholesale changes along the OL as a result. Chester Pitts moves from LT to LG, Steve McKinney from LG to RG, Seth Wand is the new LT, Zach Weigert moves from OG to RT, and UFA Mike Flanagan is the new OC! Rookie OT Charles Spencer and Eric Winston are waiting in the wings to take over the OT positions.
RB Domnick Davis had offseason knee surgery for arthritic condition, but has not yet practiced with the team. Reportedly his knee swells after cutting. In addition, RB V Morency has a case of plantar faciatis. Therefore, to provided depth the Texans signed Antwain Smith (ex- Cougar) and drafted Wali Lundy (VaTech).
WR Eric Moulds was acquired in the offseason, as was TE Jeb Putzier. Both will be upgrades at their positions.
DEFENSE:
The Texans drafted DE Mario Williams no 1 overall in the NFL draft-they need him to be a pass rushing force off one end. The DL is going to a 4-3 from a 3-4 so personnel here have changed a bit too. DE Anthony Weaver was signed as a FA-he wont provide a lot of sacks but he will be a solid run defender who gets the odd sack here and there. The DT are Robarie Smith and Travis Johnson, with Seth Payne a likely replacement for one of them by the time TC ends. Jason Babin and ND Kalu are backup DE's.
The LB situation is extremely fluid. Sam Cowart was signed in offseason to be the MLB. Kailee Wong is recovering from knee surgery. Demeco Ryans was drafte in rd 2 to provide depth here. Shantee Orr and Marlon Greenwood are returning starters with Wali Lanier, DeShon Polk and Antwan Peek providing depth. This is one of the most talented, deepest positions on this team!
The defensive secondary has only one change in the depth chart going into TC-that is with Philip Bucanon at starting RCB. D Faggins will challenge him in TC. Michael Stone was FA who was signed off NE roster to challenge E Glenn at SS; C Brown starts at FS.
EFS Slant:
Watch the TC results to see how the OL plays, which LB comes to the forefront and become starters from a long list of players, and see how D Carr interacts with his WR and TE. IF the OL can keep Carr upright he could have his best season yet-but history tells us that is not a given. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is how many games can Dom Davis start and finish? Will his knee be good for the entire season or part of the season?...
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