Texans all-time team built on high-powered offense, stifling defense
Texans all-time team built on high-powered offense, stifling defense
The NFL’s second team in Houston has only been around since 2002, but the Texans have featured several top defensive stars. However, the offense is catching up, with the tandem of Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins leading the charge. Here is a look at the best roster from the league’s newest franchise.
Coach: Gary Kubiak spent the better part of eight seasons in Houston, compiling a 61-64 record. Kubiak led the Texans to back-to-back AFC South championships in 2011-12. They had a 2-2 playoff record in those years, losing in the Division round both times. Kubiak was fired after the team bottomed out in 2013. Current head coach Bill O’Brien has led Houston to a 42-38 record and three playoff appearances in five seasons, posing a 1-3 record during that time. Dom Capers was the team’s first head coach, compiling an 18-46 record in four years. Capers could not repeat the success he had in Carolina, as the Texans finished last in the division three times.
Quarterback: Matt Schaub spent seven seasons as Houston’s starter, leading the team to its first two playoff berths and making two Pro Bowls. He threw for more than 4,000 yards three times, including a franchise record 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2009. His 23,221 yards and 124 scoring passes both ranks first in team history. David Carr, the franchise’s first leader, was sacked 249 times in five seasons, including a record 76 in the team’s 2002 expansion season. Carr threw for career highs with 3,531 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2004, and he was also a member of the NFL’s All-Rookie Team in 2002. After a highly publicized rookie season ended with a torn ACL (but also with a spot on the All-Rookie Team), Watson led the Texans to the playoffs and made the Pro Bowl last season. His 2018 totals of 4,165 yards and 26 touchdowns leave fans expecting more in the future. He is also a dual threat, rushing for 551 yards and five scores last season.
Running Back: Arian Foster is the team’s all-time leading rusher, amassing 6,472 yards and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2010 when he led the NFL with 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 15 rushing scores led the league in 2012. Foster is also fifth with 249 receptions and 2,278 receiving yards. Domanick Davis ran for 1,000 yards in his first two seasons and had 971 yards through 11 games in 2005 before tearing his ACL. He changed his last name to Williams the following year but never played another down in the NFL. He was an All-Rookie Team member in 2003 and had his best stats the following season with 1,188 yards and 13 touchdowns. Current back Lamar Miller is third in franchise history with 2,934 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 1,073 yards in 2016 and made the Pro Bowl last season. Ben Tate’s 2011 rookie season was his best, with 942 yards and four scoring runs. Steve Slaton ran for 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns in his 2008 rookie year. Alfred Blue has never been the team’s feature back, but he has rushed for 2,407 yards in five seasons.
Fullback: Although he was mainly a blocker, Vonta Leach was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2010, his final season in Houston. James Casey was a good pass catcher out of the backfield. He had 330 receiving yards and three touchdowns and also caught four passes in the playoffs, in 2012.
Wide Receiver: Andre Johnson tops the all-time franchise lists with 1,012 receptions, 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. The 2003 All-Rookie Team member had more than 100 receptions five times. He also went over 1,100 yards seven times and had 1,500 or more three times. DeAndre Hopkin, s is a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. His totals of 528 catches, 7,437 yards, and 47 touchdowns are all second in team history. Hopkins caught more than 100 passes twice and went over 1,000 yards receiving four times. Although he led the NFL with 13 touchdowns in 2017, his best season was last year, when he caught 115 passes for 1,572 yards and 11 scores. Kevin Walter is fourth on the Texans’ all-time lists with 326 receptions, 4,083 yards, and 24 touchdowns. His best season was 2008 when he amassed 899 yards and eight scores. Jabar Gaffney had 171 catches for 2,009 yards in four seasons. Corey Bradford led the team with 697 receiving yards in the 2002 inaugural season, and he finished with 1,992 yards and 18 touchdowns in four years. Jacoby Jones had 1,741 receiving yards in five seasons. Will Fuller has 1,561 yards and 13 scores in three seasons, but he will not play in 2019 after tearing his ACL.
Tight End: Owen Daniels made two Pro Bowls during his eight seasons in Houston. His totals of 385 receptions, 4,617 yards and 29 touchdowns all rank third in team history. The 2006 All-Rookie Team member had more than 600 yards receiving four times. Current tight end Ryan Griffin is in the top 10 in franchise history with 136 receptions and 1,491 yards. Joel Dreessen is more of a blocker, but he had 1,323 yards in five years.
Tackle: Through the team’s history, Houston’s offensive line has been suspect. The one exception to that has been left tackle, Duane Brown. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a 2012 All-Pro, who started 133 games in eight-plus seasons before being traded to Seattle. Eric Winston started 87 games over six seasons at right tackle, including all 16 every year from 2007-11. Derek Newton started 68 games in six seasons before tearing both patellar tendons in 2016. Ephraim Salaam played in 48 games over four seasons.
Guard: Wade Smith started all 64 Texans games in four seasons. He played in the team’s first two playoff appearances and made the Pro Bowl in 2012. Chester Pitts started at left tackle during the team’s first two seasons before moving to left guard. He started all 16 games in each of his first seven seasons before injuring his knee in 2009. Mike Brisiel spent five seasons in Houston, his last being the team’s first playoff season in 2011. Zach Wiegert was a four-year starter, mostly at right guard. Fred Weary, an original Texan, started three years on the right side. Brandon Brooks played 50 games over four seasons.
Center: Chris Myers started all of the team’s 112 games during his seven seasons in Houston, and he made the Pro Bowl twice. Steve McKinney started the team’s first 64 games and 73 overall in six seasons.
Defensive End: J.J. Watt has become the franchise’s most recognized player on and off the field. His humanitarian work after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 helped him earn the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Despite missing parts of two seasons due to injury, Watt has 92 sacks, topping the franchise list by a wide margin. The total includes five seasons with double-digit sack totals, including two seasons with 20½, and he also led the league twice. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. On the other end is Mario Williams, a two-time Pro Bowler. His 53 sacks rank second in team history, and he had two seasons with double-figure sack totals. Antonio Smith went to the Pro Bowl in the team’s first playoff season in 2011. He has 27½ sacks, which rank fifth in team history. Gary Walker had 6½ sacks and went to the Pro Bowl in Houston’s 2002 inaugural season.
Nose Tackle: Amobi Okoye was a four-year starter who had 11 sacks from 2007-10. Seth Payne, an original Texan, amassed nine sacks in five years, including four in 2005. Shaun Cody was a four-year starter who played in four playoff games.
Outside Linebacker: Whitney Mercilus has 42½ sacks in seven seasons, which ranks third on the team’s all-time list. On the right side, Jadeveon Clowney is dominant when healthy. The top overall pick in the 2014 Draft, Clowney has 29 sacks and has made the Pro Bowl the past three seasons. Brooks Reed had six sacks in his 2011 rookie season, helping the Texans make the playoffs for the first time. An original starter, Kailee Wong totaled 15 sacks over five seasons. Morlon Greenwood was a four-year starter in Houston, amassing more than 100 tackles three times. Connor Barwin had 19 sacks in four seasons, including 11½ in 2011.
Inside Linebacker: Brian Cushing is the team’s all-time leading tackler with 674, but his tenure in Houston was marred by injury and a PED suspension. He was a Pro Bowler and the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 after posting 133 tackles, four sacks, and four interceptions. DeMeco Ryans was the 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league with 125 solo tackles. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who totaled 636 tackles in six seasons. Current linebacker Bernardrick McKinney had 387 tackles in four seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2018. Jamie Sharper had 436 tackles in three seasons, including a league-leading 164 in 2003. Jay Foreman, Sharper’s teammate on those early Texans teams, totaled 355 tackles in three seasons.
Cornerback: The team’s two current starters, Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph, are tied for the most in team history with 16 interceptions. Joseph was a Pro Bowler in both of the team’s first two playoff years (2011-12). He had 431 tackles in eight seasons and returned four interceptions for scores. Jackson, a nine-year starter, had three touchdowns and has made 559 tackles, which is third in team history. Dunta Robinson was named to the All-Rookie Team after posting six interceptions in 2004, and he had 13 picks in six years. Expansion Draft selection Aaron Glenn went to the Pro Bowl in the team’s inaugural season after picking off five passes and returning two for scores. Demarcus Faggins played in 82 games and had five interceptions in seven seasons.
Safety: Glover Quin is the starter on the strong side. He had 316 tackles and five interceptions in four years. Glenn’s longtime Jets teammate, Marcus Coleman, split time between free safety and right cornerback. He had 11 interceptions in four years, including seven in 2003. Current free safety Andre Hal has 12 interceptions in five seasons. Quintin Demps picked off nine passes in five years, including six in 2016. C.C. Brown had 254 tackles in four years. Danieal Manning had four interceptions in four seasons, and he played in Houston’s first two playoff appearances.
Kicker: An original Texan, Kris Brown is by far the franchise leader in points with 767, and he has four seasons with 100 or more points.
Punter: Shane Lechler was a seven-time Pro Bowler in Oakland before coming to Houston. He led the league with 4,507 yards in 2017, and he averaged 47.6 yards per punt over five seasons. Chad Stanley had a 41-yard per punt average over five seasons. The original Texan led the league in punts in the team’s first two seasons (2002-03).
Returners: Andre’ Davis, J.J. Moses and Jerome Mathis all have more than 2,000 kick return yards, and Davis and Mathis each have returned three for touchdowns. Jacoby Jones is the team’s all-time leader with 1,820 punt return yards, and he also returned three for scores. Moses and Keyshawn Martin are dangerous on both kickoffs and punts.
Special Teams: Long snapper Jon Weeks has played in all 144 games over nine seasons, which ranks second behind Andre Johnson’s 169. He was a Pro Bowler in 2015.
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-By: Kevin Rakas