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Just like the San Francisco 49ers, the Jets’ Week Five opponent, the Houston Texans, are a team on the rise.
Last year, they made the playoffs even though they lost their first two quarterbacks – starter Matt Schaub to a broken foot in Week Two (Albert Haynesworth fell on it, that will do it), and then Matt Leinart to a shoulder injury in Week 11.
They still managed to get into the playoffs with rookie T.J. Yates.
It shows you have how much talent they have on this team, because they were able to overcome the loss of their first two quarterbacks, and still make the playoffs.
This gives them a lot of confidence in 2012 with Schaub back in the fold.
And let’s not forget, on top of the quarterback injuries, the team’s top receiver, Andre Johnson, one of the game’s best players, missed nine regular season games last year with a hamstring pull. He’s now healthy.
So with Schaub and Johnson back (if they can both stay healthy), the sky is the limit for this team.
The team’s star tailback, Arian Foster, was rewarded with a five-year, $43.5 million deal. I interviewed Texans’ right guard Wade Smith on Sirius last weekend, and he said Foster is really good at making the first man miss. He also said that even though Foster went undrafted because he ran a poor 40, he almost never gets caught from behind.
Speaking of Smith and the offensive line, there were some changes up-front this off-season.
The Texans line was in-tact each of the last two years, and was one of the best units in the league, but they moved on from two starters after the year. They released long-time right tackle Eric Winston, and right guard Mike Brisiel signed with the Oakland Raiders. But the Texans planned well for these possible departures.
Antoine Caldwell, their third round pick out of Alabama in 2009, is ready to roll at right guard, and Rashad Butler will take over at right tackle. Butler has been groomed for this job in Houston for the last couple of years, and one advantage he has over Winston is he has much longer arms, which is so important at tackle.
Aside from the All-World Johnson, the Texans have a ton of other weapons in the passing game.
Kevin Walter is a rock-sold #2 receiver, who does a nice job of taking advantage of the double-teams Johnson draws.
The Texans moved on from the somewhat inconsistent Jacoby Jones as their #3 receiver, and are going young at that spot with either Florida Atlantic’s Lestar Jean, who was a star of last year’s camp before getting hurt, or potential third round steal DeVier Posey, whose brother, Julian, plays for the Jets.
Posey was suspended his last year at Ohio State for one of those infractions that got Jim Tressel fired, but he’s a top-shelf talent, with a nice size-speed ratio.
Another young receiver to keep an eye on is fourth rounder Keshawn Martin out of Michigan State, who should be a good slot receiver with his quickness and toughness, and will also help in the return game.
And let’s not forget one of the game’s better receiving tight ends, Owen Daniels, and a fullback with soft hands in James Casey.
This two-game stretch the Jets have at home against San Francisco and Houston is definitely going to test their mettle. These are two terrific football teams.
We will get into the Houston Texans’ defense on Thursday. The Jets’ offensive tackles are going to have their hands full.
July 11, 2012
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