By Shawn Clarke Sep 11, 2007, 21:57 GMT
- So far, so good for Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.
The new signal-caller in Houston completed 16 of his 22 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's convincing 20-3 season-opening rout of the Kansas City Chiefs at Reliant Stadium. Schaub, who was picked off once, was traded to Houston in the offseason after spending three years as a backup with Atlanta.
Schaub was pegged as Houston's quarterback for the future after the club broke ties with David Carr, who was the franchise's initial first-round draft pick in 2002. The Texans' new man under center proved whatever doubters he had wrong and earned the respect of his teammates with his ability to run the offense with ease on Sunday.
'When you have (an inexperienced) quarterback like that, it helps if he's not panicking,' Pro Bowl wideout Andre Johnson said. 'If Matt was in the huddle panicking, you'd have to try to calm him down. You don't want that.'
Johnson ended with 142 yards on seven receptions, including a 77-yard touchdown late in the second quarter that staked Houston to a 10-0 advantage. He and Schaub are certainly clicking despite the NFL being in its infant stages of the season.
Along with Schaub, the Texans introduced a new running back as well on Sunday in veteran ball carrier Ahman Green. Green signed with Houston as a free agent in March and recorded 73 yards on 16 carries.
Green, a former standout in Green Bay, is perhaps the best running back to ever don a Texans jersey and gives head coach Gary Kubiak more weapons on the offensive side of the ball. His running ability helped open up the passing game in Sunday's victory.
'We knew (the Chiefs) were going to start throwing the blitz at us, because they knew they had to make a play for them to get the ball,' Green confided. 'From our standpoint, it was just trying to establish the run, and with the big pass play to Andre we did that, because they bit on the play-fake, play action.'
With Schaub's arm and the strong legs of Green, the Chiefs were confused for the majority of the afternoon. Houston racked up 315 yards of offense to just 219 yards for Kansas City, thanks to a stingy Texans defense led by second- year defensive end Mario Williams.
Williams, last year's No. 1 overall pick, ended with five tackles -- two of which were sacks -- and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Often criticized last year for being selected first, Williams harassed Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard and contributed to the effort of holding heralded Kansas City running back Larry Johnson to 43 yards on 10 rushes.
'Our mind set was there,' Williams said after the game. 'When we came out, the whole defense came out together walking. That's how we approached the whole (game) is that we're going to be together coming out here tonight, and that's what we did. But when you look at it, my soldiers, the line, the linebackers, the DB's - the credit is on them. They played so well.'
Granted Larry Johnson did not play a snap in the preseason and the former Penn State standout appeared sluggish at times on Sunday. But maybe that was because of star defenders Williams and linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who recorded a team-high eight tackles, were a two-man wrecking crew.
Texans rookie defensive tackle Amobi Okoye got a taste of regular-season action in the NFL on Sunday. Okoye became the youngest player in the league since 1967 to start a game after making his debut at 20 years and 91 days old.
On a down note for the upstart Texans, starting strong safety Jason Simmons left the game at the end of the second quarter with a torn left patellar tendon. Simmons had one tackle and one pass defensed against Kansas City.
His injury will open more time for safety Michael Boulware, acquired by Houston from Seattle just prior to the start of the season. But any kind of secondary loss is not a good sign for Houston, especially with Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers next on the schedule.
ROBINSON SHINES DESPITE ROBBERY
Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson was held at gunpoint and tied up in his home the Friday before the game and later had to pick out the intruder in a police lineup.
Robinson had one of Houston's four takeaways in Sunday's win over the Chiefs, as he recorded an interception. He said after the game he couldn't let the off-field incident affect his game and focus.
'This game is how I earn a living,' he said. 'It's how I put food on my table.'
The South Carolina product helped contain Larry Johnson by not allowing him to bounce outside. Robinson credited the angles the defense took and adjustments made were the key in keeping Johnson and the Kansas City offense grounded.
'Early in the game, we had some missed tackles,' Robinson said. 'We got that corrected and started swarming to the ball. The key to containing Johnson is to keep him from bouncing outside. He's so good at that. We came from every angle and after that first series, we were able to wrap him up.'
UP NEXT: CAROLINA, HERE WE COME
Houston will carry its momentum on the road this week to Carolina for a showdown with the Panthers. Carolina posted a 27-13 road victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Carolina posted 387 yards of offense in Week 1, so Houston's defense is in for another challenge. The Panthers don't have a Larry Johnson-type back, but use a pair of ball carriers in DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams. Houston's main concern, however, is wide receiver Smith, who torched the Rams for 118 yards and a score on seven catches.
Houston, though, won the only previous meeting against Carolina with a 14-10 triumph at Reliant Stadium during the 2003 season. Kubiak will take on Carolina for the first time as a head coach.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Your Talkback on this Story