Texans, Chiefs, to Get First Good Look at Schaub

Sep 7, 2007, 16:50 GMT

- For the first time since joining the NFL five years ago, the Houston Texans will have a new gunslinger under center. The Matt Schaub era officially begins this Sunday, when the Texans open a 2007 campaign brimming with optimism against the Kansas City Chiefs at Reliant Stadium.

Houston paid a steep price to acquire the fourth-year quarterback, sending a pair of second-round draft choices to the Atlanta Falcons and swapping 2007 first-round choices after deciding to sever ties with the often shell-shocked David Carr in March. Whether the Texans gambled wisely on a player with a mere two professional games of starting experience remains to be seen, although Schaub was impressive running second-year head coach Gary Kubiak's offense during the preseason.

The 26-year-old Schaub was one of two major offseason acquisitions for a Houston squad that showed marked improvement in Kubiak's first season at the helm. The Texans ended 2006 with back-to-back victories, including one over eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis, to finish with a 6-10 record that was miles ahead of their league-worst 2-14 mark of the previous year. Houston believes it can take another step forward this season with the addition of its new signal-caller and veteran running back Ahman Green, a six-time 1,000-yard rusher in Green Bay, to an offense that ranked just 28th in total yards a year ago.

Kansas City brings a more unsettled quarterback situation into its opener. Career journeyman Damon Huard, whose surprisingly capable play sparked the Chiefs to a wild-card berth in last year's AFC playoffs, will start out as the team's field general after fighting off youngster Brodie Croyle in the preseason. Huard figures to be on a short leash, however, as the organization has made it clear it considers Croyle the long-term solution at the position.

That brewing quarterback controversy was one of a number of disruptive scenarios regarding the franchise over the past few months. Superstar running back Larry Johnson staged a 25-day holdout over the summer in a successful attempt to secure a long-term contract, 12-time Pro Bowl guard Will Shields retired in April, and the front office had an acrimonious split with Trent Green that resulted in the longtime quarterback's stalled trade to Miami.

Whoever winds up taking the majority of snaps will surely be handing off a lot to Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards on a league-record 416 carries during Kansas City's 9-7 season in 2006. The Chiefs will likely once again be relying heavily on their now well-paid workhorse as they attempt to secure a winning record for the fourth time in five years.

SERIES HISTORY

Kansas City has a 2-1 edge in its all-time series against Houston, with both of its victories coming on the road. The Chiefs were 42-14 winners at Reliant Stadium in 2003, and routed Houston by a 45-17 count when they visited the city in 2005. The Texans' lone win in the series was a 24-21 upset at Arrowhead Stadium in 2004.

Kansas City is 4-0 in Houston since last losing there, to the Oilers, during the 1993 regular season.

Kansas City head coach Herm Edwards is 2-0 in his career against Houston, with both of the wins coming during his tenure with the Jets (2001-2005). Kubiak will be meeting both Edwards and the Chiefs for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL

It's no secret that Kansas City's offensive game plan will center around the considerable talents of Johnson, even though the All-Pro back has only been practicing for 2 1/2 weeks. The fifth-year pro had six games of 30 or more rush attempts last season and will be facing a Houston defense that ranked just 22nd against the run in 2006. Johnson's limited preseason workload could mean more work on Sunday for backup Michael Bennett (200 rushing yards, 9 receptions in '06), who performed well in limited duty a year ago.

Huard (1878 passing yards) went 5-3 in eight starts while Trent Green was sidelined with a concussion and compiled a tremendous 11-to-1 touchdown-to- interception ratio along with a 98.0 quarterback rating, a number bettered only by Peyton Manning last season. His main targets will once again be perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez (73 receptions, 5 TD) and savvy 34- year-old wideout Eddie Kennison (53 receptions, 5 TD), the clear headliners of a receiver group that was otherwise unremarkable last year. The selection of Dwayne Bowe in the first round of last April's draft should eventually bolster the pass-catching corps, but the LSU product will be brought along slowly after missing part of camp as a late signee.

Johnson will certainly miss the invaluable presence of Shields up front, and the offensive line has another concern at left tackle, where Damion McIntosh -- the team's most significant offseason signing on offense -- sat out the entire preseason with a knee sprain. Edwards expects Huard's blind-side protector to be in Sunday's lineup, but McIntosh draws a tough assignment in Mario Williams, last year's No. 1 overall pick who appears poised to improve on a mildly disappointing rookie campaign.

Houston's defense finished just 24th in the NFL in yards allowed in 2006 but possesses a number of promising young building blocks in Williams (47 tackles 4.5 sacks), standout middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans (155 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT), cornerback Dunta Robinson (82 tackles, 2 INT) and rookie tackle Amobi Okoye. Ryans' sensational debut season made the 23-year-old an overwhelming choice for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, while Robinson is on the verge of being mentioned among the league's elite cover men. The addition of Okoye, an exceptionally-quick 20-year-old and Houston's first-round pick in 2007, is expected to immediately improve last year's subpar team total of 28 sacks.

The Texans' biggest worry on defense probably lies at the back end of the secondary, where strong safety Glenn Earl will miss the entire season with a foot injury and both free safety C.C. Brown (76 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Earl's replacement, Jason Simmons (47 tackles, 1 INT), both got dinged up in the preseason. Michael Boulware (39 tackles, 2 INT), a starter on Seattle's 2005 NFC championship squad, was acquired in a trade last week to provide help.

WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL

Although Schaub (208 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) isn't a proven commodity, Michael Vick's former understudy should be at least a slight upgrade over the erratic Carr at quarterback due to his poise and decision making. Ahman Green (1059 rushing yards, 5 TD, 46 receptions) is clearly an improvement over last year's mediocre running back tandem of Ron Dayne (612 rushing yards, 5 TD) and Wali Lundy, provided the 30-year-old can stay healthy. The two newcomers give Kubiak two potential playmakers on an offense that had no legitimate weapons other than star wide receiver Andre Johnson (103 receptions, 5 TD) last season.

Johnson led the NFL in catches and compiled a career-best 1,147 receiving yards, but the second team All-Pro will constantly draw double teams unless Houston can develop a reliable second option in the pass game. Kevin Walter (17 receptions) currently tops the depth chart at the other wideout, but the fifth-year pro is hardly a game-breaker. However, rookie Jacoby Jones, Houston's third-round choice in April's draft, showed the potential to be one during an eye-opening preseason and could quickly supplant Walter as the No. 2 receiver. Owen Daniels (34 receptions, 5 TD) is coming off a good rookie season as the top tight end.

The Texans' offensive line allowed 42 sacks last season, a significant dropoff from the unacceptable 68 the unit yielded in 2005 but still a rather high total. Projected starting left tackle Charles Spencer will miss at least the first six games as he recovers from a broken leg, with journeyman Ephraim Salaam expected to take over.

Edwards' teams traditionally are solid on the defensive side of the ball, and the charismatic head coach believes his team can better a middle-of-the-pack finish in that area with the offseason signings of linebackers Donnie Edwards (Chargers) and Napoleon Harris (Vikings) and defensive tackle Alfonso Boone (Bears). Donnie Edwards (141 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT) and middle man Harris (59 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT) will team with athletic strongside starter Derrick Johnson (75 tackles, 4.5 sacks) to potentially form one of the top linebacking trios in the league, while veteran cornerbacks Ty Law (65 tackles, 4 INT) and Patrick Surtain (66 tackles, 1 INT) have gone to a combined seven Pro Bowls.

The Chiefs will be minus their top pass rusher for Sunday's contest, as end Jared Allen (77 tackles, 7.5 sacks) starts a NFL-issued two-game suspension for an offseason DUI arrest. Jimmy Wilkerson (24 tackles) will start in his absence opposite second-year standout Tamba Hali (58 tackles, 8 sacks).

FANTASY FOCUS

Larry Johnson is always a must-play for his owners, but keep in mind that he carried the ball only three times during the preseason. On the other hand, this game will be a rare occasion in which the powerful back comes in rested and fresh. Gonzalez should also be a top play at tight end this week, especially considering the Texans' uncertainty at strong safety.

Ahman Green owners may want to watch this game closely, as there's a chance he'll lose goal-line touches in favor of the beefy Dayne, a very good short- yardage runner. Also keep an eye on Jones, an excellent sleeper choice who could make a strong fantasy impact down the road and may still be available on the waiver wire in some leagues.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

One usually shouldn't put too much stock in preseason results, but the Chiefs' lousy play during the exhibition season could be a telling sign of impending trouble. Kansas City failed to score more than 12 points in any of its four games, and in the one contest in which the starters saw a significant amount of time, the Chiefs were throttled by New Orleans, 30-7. Add in the fact that Herm Edwards teams have notoriously been slow starters during his six-year coaching tenure, and combine that trend with rookie kicker Justin Medlock's shaky preseason performances, and it's hard to expect a sudden turnaround. Houston has been eagerly anticipating this opportunity to build on last year's encouraging finish and will do just enough to get an important season off to a good start.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texans 17, Chiefs 14

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