| Christopher Reina. 13th February, 2009 - 2:01 pm
 Record: 8-8
Trench Counter: 0.0 (20th)
Point differential per game: -1.8 (21st)
Payroll: $108.4M (22nd)
Cost Per Win: $13.5M (16th)
Passing offense: 266.7 (4th)
Rushing offense: 115.4 (13th)
Passing defense: 214.0 (17th)
Rushing defense: 122.6 (23rd)
Turnover differential: -0.6 (29th)
Strength of schedule: 8th
If their season were a song: Kids - MGMT
Game-by-Game (Score, Trench Counter)
Week 1: at PIT, 17-38 Loss, -11.5
Week 2: BYE
Week 3: at TEN, 12-31 Loss, -0.1
Week 4: at JAX, 27-30 Loss, -1.6
Week 5: IND, 27-31 Loss, 3.1
Week 6: MIA, 29-28 Win, -4.5
Week 7: DET, 28-21 Win, 0.5
Week 8: CIN, 35-6 Win, 18.4
Week 9: at MIN, 21-28 Loss, -10.4
Week 10: BAL, 13-41 Loss, -14.3
Week 11: at IND, 27-33 Loss, 3.7
Week 12: at CLE, 16-6 Win, 9.7
Week 13: JAX, 30-17 Win, 7.5
Week 14: at GB, 24-21 Win, 0.5
Week 15: TEN, 13-12 Win, 2.0
Week 16: at OAK, 16-27 Loss, -4.9
Week 17: CHI, 31-24 Win, 1.4
Season Summary
The Texans were ranked third in total yards, but like the Saints, Broncos and Patriots (1st, 2nd and 5th respectively), they all missed out on the playoffs. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton can become a nice big three that will consistently score points.
But Napoleon once said that 'A leader is a dealer in hope' and Gary Kubiak should have a lot of currency in that department. The Texans were playing excellent football at the end of the season and I think they have an excellent chance of making the playoffs in 2009.
Reina Value and FIC Rank
Quarterbacks
- Matt Schaub (19th, 650, -16%)
Schaub may be the NFL's best quarterback that would be difficult for most NFL fans to spot in a lineup. He had an 87.2 passer rating in 2007 during his first season in Houston and a 92.7 rating in 2008. The biggest hurdle Schaub has faced while with the Texans is staying on the field as he's battled shoulder and knee injuries that have left him on the sidelines. If he stays healthy in 2009, he could easily be one of the NFL's five or six best quarterbacks.
- Sage Rosenfels (34th, 294, +40%)
Rosenfels was again an above average backup quarterback, but was more Gary Cherone than Sammy Hagar in 2008. His passer rating dropped, but that was largely due to a 41 pass performance playing from behind against Baltimore. The devil was in the record, as Houston was 2-4 in his six games.
Running Backs
- Steve Slaton (3rd, 721 [468 rushing, 253 receiving], +1,310%)
Slaton didn't have to spend much time serving chai for Ahman Green and phone walahs, as the third round rookie rushed for 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns in addition to 50 catches for 377 yards. Along with Matt Forte and Chris Johnson, Slaton had a stellar rookie season and is vastly superior to the Texans' back of yesteryear like Jonathan Wells, Domanick Williams and Ron Dayne.
- Ahman Green (70th, 138 [111 rushing 27 receiving], -79%)
Green hasn't been able to stay healthy since leaving Green Bay, appearing in just 14 games over the past two seasons. He rushed 74 times for 294 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide Receivers
- Andre Johnson (1st, 1017, +38%)
Andre Johnson had all the characteristics of a human being, but he was anything but during the 2008 season. Johnson's 115 catches for 1,575 yards has to be one of the most under-appreciated single season performances in recent memory. He didn't score touchdowns like Randy Moss did in 2008 and the Texans have unfortunately been obscurity's answer to the NFL.
- Kevin Walter (26th, 589, +136%)
Walter has caught at least 60 balls for 800 yards in each of the past two seasons. He had 899 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008 and is an ideal receiver to pair with Johnson.
- David Anderson (89th, 163, +118%)
Anderson caught just 19 balls, but had 241 yards and two touchdowns as Houston's third option in the receiving unit.
- Jacoby Jones (101st, 46, +44%)
Jones returned two punts for touchdowns, but was unable to make any real improvements as a receiver, largely because of his fumble problems.
Tight End
- Owen Daniels (4th, 547, +560%)
Daniels had 862 yards and 70 receptions, which followed-up a 768 yard, 63 reception year in 2007. He is one of the best all-around tight ends in the NFL and was one of the many excellent steals in the fourth round of the 2006 draft along with Brandon Marshall, Leon Washington, Stephen Gostkowski, Will Blackmon, Demetrius Williams and Elvis Dumervil.
Defensive Summary
Richard Smith's defense was a migraine of a mess and it quickly cost him his job. Mario Williams had 12 of Houston's 25 sacks and didn't receive much help from Amobi Okoye. DeMeco Ryans decreased his production in both tackles and sacks for the second consecutive season.
Biggest draft needs
The Texans' offense will score points regardless of whether they improve their line or not, so I fully expect them to address their secondary, mainly strong safety and cornerback. That secondary is the main thing separating an 8-8 team from a 10-6 playoff team and the immediate help that a talent like Vontae Davis or Louis Delmas would bring could very well put them into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Previous Audits
32. Detroit Lions
31. St. Louis Rams
30. Oakland Raiders
29. Cleveland Browns
28. Seattle Seahawks
27. Cincinnati Bengals
26. Kansas City Chiefs
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Buffalo Bills
23. Denver Broncos
22. San Francisco 49ers
21. Dallas Cowboys |
