Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is organizing team workouts at Rice University. Monday should have marked the first day of official offseason workouts for NFL clubs, but the lockout has altered the league schedule. "We decided to get together as a group," Schaub told The Houston Chronicle. "Just trying to stay up with the program, run and throw and just continue working out."

The Texans aren't hiding their draft needs, with coach Gary Kubiak talking a lot about the team's defense. "We have to improve our defense," Kubiak said. "You have no chance to be successful if you can only win one way. We can win a game 34-31, but we've got to get our team in position to win 10-7 if we have to. "Look at Green Bay; they could beat you by scoring 30 or 35. But they can beat you 9-0. When you show up on game day, you don't know if it's going to be an offensive day, a defensive day or a special-teams day, but if you don't have the ability to win in all three of those areas you're not going to be very consistent. "That's got to be something in our players' minds." The Houston Chronicle writes that their two most pressing needs are another outside linebacker who can rush the passer and a cornerback.

Former NFL wide receiver Drew Hill, a two-time Pro Bowler who was a key part of the Houston Oilers' famed "Run and Shoot" offense of the 1980s, died at an Atlanta hospital late Friday after suffering two massive strokes, according to his agent, and reported by ESPN.com. Piedmont Hospital spokesman Jim Taylor on Saturday confirmed the 54-year-old Hill's death. Hill fell ill on a golf course on Thursday and died late Friday after suffering the strokes, said his agent, Jay Mathis of Next Level Management.

Texans defensive coordinator won't change the basic role of defensive end Mario Williams. "I think Mario fits in well with what we're going to do," Phillips said. "He's a five-technique, an outside rush guy. That's what he is. I don't see any difference for him. He's going to be outside all the time." Williams, who will be in the last year of his contract, will be asked to constantly pressure quarterbacks. Phillips has no plans for Williams to stand up. While watching film of Williams and seeing the few times he did rush from a standing position, Phillips noticed he took a false step when the ball was snapped. "When they did stand him up, he took that false step every time, and that made him late on his rush," Phillips said. "You don't want him late on the rush. That's just fundamentals, something you have to work on. That's what happens when you have a player who's not used to standing up stand up. "I don't think you need to stand Mario up. He comes off the ball so well with his hand on the ground I don't know that you'd ever want to stand him up."

The Texans and tight end Owen Daniels have agreed to a four-year, $22 million contract, according to two sources. Coming off a torn ACL injury in 2009, Daniels had 38 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns last season. In five NFL seasons, Daniels has 245 receptions for 2,972 yards and 17 touchdowns.