ESPN: Offseason Overview - Houston Texans

I checked on the 23rd of June here to see if it had been posted, and it hasn't. But if it has, oh, well.....read it again!

2002 RECORD: 4-12
TEAM RANK (NFL): Defense (16th); Offense (32nd)

ADDITIONS:
Free agents -- OL Zach Wiegert (Jaguars), LB Patrick Chukwurah (Vikings), OL Todd Washington (Bucs), LB Shannon Taylor (Ravens), LB Charlie Clemons (Saints), RB Stacey Mack (Jaguars), TE Justin Swift (49ers), OT Greg Randall (Patriots).

Draft picks -- 1. WR Andre Johnson (Miami); 2. TE Bennie Joppru (Michigan); 3a. DE Antwan Peek (Cincinnati); 3b. QB Dave Ragone (Louisville); 4. RB Domanick Davis (LSU); 6a. QB Drew Henson (Michigan); 6b. DT Keith Wright (Missouri); 7a. S Curry Burns (Louisville); 7b. C Chance Pearce (Texas A&M).

SUBTRACTIONS:
WR Jermaine Lewis (Jaguars), LB Jeff Posey (Bills), RT Ryan Young (Cowboys), OL Cameron Spikes (Cardinals), FS Kevin Williams (released), G DeMingo Graham (49ers), TE Rod Rutledge (released).

David Carr was sacked (76 times) more last year than any quarterback in NFL history. But instead of acquiring great talent at wide receiver and running back, the Texans selected two quarterbacks in this year's NFL draft. Go figure.

In all fairness, Houston did devote some attention to its areas of need. Yet, the greatest concern for this second-year franchise will be the development of a few returning players.

For one, how will Carr respond after spending his rookie campaign as a tackling dummy? Will he finally get protection from tackle Tony Boselli, Houston's first pick in the expansion draft but a no-show last year because of lingering injuries? And are Stacey Mack and Corey Bradford potential stars or nothing more than role players?

What they've added?

Houston did not devote a lot of money into older and pricey free agents last year. It stuck with that approach this offseason, targeting mostly second-tier and role players.

The most high-profile addition was wide receiver Andre Johnson, taken third in the draft. Johnson, along with free-agent running back Mack, should help lessen the burden for Carr. However, there's no secret that first-year receivers rarely post breakout seasons, so Houston should expect modest returns from the former Miami standout in 2003.

In one of the more surprising moves of the draft, Houston selected former Michigan quarterback Drew Henson after previously taking Louisville's Dave Ragone. While drafting the baseball player could be viewed as a shot worth taking should he later decide to resume his football career, the pick was a curious one considering Houston took only one lineman (tackle Seth Wand) in the draft's first six rounds. However, the Texans clearly determined they would be better off addressing their offensive line needs with veterans.

Versatile linemen Zach Wiegert and Todd Washington were signed as free agents and tackle Greg Randall was acquired in a trade from New England. Wiegert and Randall are projected to start at right guard and right tackle, respectively, but Boselli is the wild card.

If Tony is healthy, it gives us a lot of options. If he's not, our options are kind of limited," offensive line coach Tony Marciano told the Houston Chronicle.

The Texans did little tinkering with their defense, which kept them in games most of last year. They lost linebacker Jeff Posey, but will plug newcomers Charlie Clemons and Patrick Chukwurah into the right outside slot.

What they're missing

Right now, the offensive line is a mess. In terms of personnel, the Texans have talent, but only center Steve McKinney knows for certain where he'll play. Until Boselli begins regular workouts, the Texans can't solidify a plan up front.

In the backfield, newcomer Mack is projected to be the leading man. While he's averaged an impressive nine rushing touchdowns the past two seasons, he still has to prove he's an every-down back through the course of a season. The most carries he's had in a year was 213 in 2001.

Another offensive concern is wide receiver. Johnson has the nice, big body (6-2, 230 pounds) quarterbacks and coordinators like. However, no rookie wideout has had a 1,000-yard season since Randy Moss did it in 1998, so the onus is on Bradford and 2002 draftee Jabar Gaffney to increase their production.

Defensively, the Texans were solid especially in the secondary (ranked 10th against the pass 196.3 ypg), so no significant changes were made outside of Posey being replaced.

What it all means?

Dom Capers was hired as head coach in large part because of his success in the mid-1990s with the expansion Panthers. That said, no one should expect Houston to reach the conference title game as Carolina did in its second season.

The Texans have some potentially good young players in Carr, Johnson and Gaffney, but the team will be hard-pressed to drastically improve on its 13.3 ppg last year (ranked 32nd).

ESPN John Clayton's Editorial:

Will the offseason additions of Johnson and Mack help or is Carr in for another long year?

Is there anything more grueling than a rookie quarterback trying to survive his first year? Unfortunately, offenses of expansion teams don't jump from worst to first in the second year. But the Texans' numbers aren't really as bad as you might expect, and this fosters hopes. Normally, an expansion team can expect a 15- to 20-play gap between offensive plays and defensive plays. The Texans only had a seven-play gap -- 59 offensive plays vs. 66 defensive. Quarterback David Carr may not have a 1,300-yard runner to help him through his second year, but his numbers should improve. What he must hope for is that his 76-sack total falls into the 40s. That should allow his completion percentage to go from 52.5 to around 58. That's short of the 61 or 62 percent needed to be an elite quarterback, but this is only his sophomore year. Having Andre Johnson on the other side of Corey Bradford and Jabbar Gaffney should allow the Texans to line up in more three-receiver sets and challenge a defense. Carr showed his toughness last year and didn't miss a play despite being the most-sacked quarterback in NFL history. He needs a hot runner whether that be Stacey Mack or James Allen. The Texans need only to advance into the high 20s on offense to get to around the six-win mark. That would show a lot of progress. That puts the Texans in a position to get a running back next year to complete the three-year buildup of the offense.

And the ESPN fantasy focus:

Unlike their inaugural season, the Texans have a viable fantasy draft pick at running back this year. Stacey Mack has the best combo of size and running skills over James Allen and Jonathan Wells to handle the full-time duties. Mack was effective when he was featured in 2001 as a Jaguar. He started 10 games in place of the injured Fred Taylor and rushed for 877 yards with a respectable 4.1-yard average. He's also shown the ability to find the end zone, scoring 19 times in the past two seasons. Houston has retooled its poor offensive line and is hoping Boselli is healthy enough to play. Draft Mack as a No. 3 back and he'll be an attractive substitute in favorable matchups during the season.

-- Roger Rotter, ESPN.com Fantasy editor