Step Up

by marroncito on Sep 3, 2008 6:28 PM CDT in News

Most teams that make deep playoff runs (and those that win the Super Bowl) usually have one or more players that go way beyond who they are on paper. Recent examples we could cite are Eli Manning and Justin Tuck.

Eli was a decent-to-good quarterback during most of the season. As the Giants approached the playoffs, Eli's play continued to improve. He was a great-to-elite QB during the run up to and including the Super Bowl.

The Patriots were probably equipped to handle the elite pass rush of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. What made the Giants' pass rush unstoppable was the great-to-elite play of Justin Tuck. He was largely unknown to anyone outside of Giants fans before the playoffs began, but Tuck becoming a great pass rusher tipped the scales in New York's favor.

The phenomenon isn't limited to last year's champs, either. A year before, the emergence of Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders as great-to-elite players made the Colts the Super Bowl champions.

The Texans have a solid nucleus of young stars. Guys like Andre Johnson, Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans are all Pro Bowl caliber players.

Who else is there on the roster that, if they raised their game to the good, great or even elite range, would completely change the makeup of the team and move the Texans from a darkhorse playoff shot to a legitimate Super Bowl contender?

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HEYYY!! Welcome Back!

Long time no see. I’m going with Amobi. If he raises his game to the elite level, the pass rush becomes a strength, the run defense becomes solid and all of a sudden the linebackers are free to wreak havoc and the DB’s start looking like all-pros. On the offensive side it’s more about who can stay healthy, not necessarily improve their game.

by ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBuck on Sep 3, 2008 7:02 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

Okoye is the one guy who could really bump our defense up from last season’s low 20s-rank to top ten or so. Unfortunately, I think he needs one more year before he really takes the next step. A guy like Earl Cochran could probably impact us dramatically too, but I just don’t really envision him ever getting there.

On the offensive side of the ball, I don’t think any one player is going to make it happen for us, but if we got improvement across the board from Duane Brown, Chester Pitts, and Chris Myers, our running game could really see a boost. I put special emphasis on Chester Pitts though. In the span of two seasons, he has gone from one of our strong-points to nearly a liability on the offensive line. And with Studdard and Brisiel getting some playing time this year, he might find himself becoming the odd man out if he doesn’t take a leap forward this year.

by Nashmeister on Sep 3, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely Agreed, Amobi can be our Justin Tuck

Although he is a DT rather than a DE, Amobi is poised to make the prototypical 2nd year quantum leap in performance level, just like Mario did last season. If he provides the kind of pressure up the middle that is so disruptive to pocket passers like Manning, Big Ben and Brady then our secondary will be fine, and our defense will be good enough to keep us in every game.

Duane Brown has already shown he can handle LT and be our cornerstone for years to come. If another rookie, Steve Slayton, can also step up and be a big time player the texans can have a really nice season.

by oiler-texan diehard on Sep 3, 2008 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, I think the obvious answer is...

Steve Slaton. If he is the second coming of AP, or even 85% of AP, that offense would be unstoppable.

On defense, I’ll echo Amobi.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 3, 2008 7:50 PM CDT reply actions

I'll Go With

The Schaub. If he stays healthy and plays like we think he can play, the passing game will cover a lot of growing pains in the running game. For that matter, the running game can be downright mediocre on its own accord; it’ll look infinitely more effective if the opposition is limited to a three or four man rush.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Sep 3, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

I'll Take The RBs

To put us in the top 1/3 for rushing the ball

And I’ll take Buhlman for 5 sacks

by kozanack on Sep 3, 2008 8:28 PM CDT reply actions

I gotta hope

that our linebackers blitz more than last year.

So I’ll go with Diles. If he’s a manimal getting 7-9 sacks on stunts/blitzes on third down early in some drives, we’re a much better team.

Its gonna take a philosophical change on the defensive play calling, however.

Healthy and Turnover free 2008-09, and we win 11!

by texanphil on Sep 3, 2008 8:50 PM CDT reply actions

I'll go in a different direction

IF Dunta comes back and performs the way he did pre-injury, then I think Fred Bennet is the key. Imagine having 2 shut-down corners; imagine what it could do for our pass rush if QB’s have to hold on to the ball a second longer or are forced to leave the pocket.

I think that would be the step up defensively that could take us to the next level. BTW, I’m eyeing this to start in week 11 against the baby horses. That would be nice.

by BigTexBD on Sep 3, 2008 8:51 PM CDT reply actions

I'll go with two

On offense: Steve Slaton
On defense: Amobi Okoye

by tehGrindCrusher on Sep 4, 2008 7:53 AM CDT reply actions

Very Nice Post!

I think Steve Staton is our stealth player. Remember how D. Davis/Williams took everyone by surprise? I predict a very solid season for Slaton 1000-1500 yards.!

GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!

by Texanmaniac on Sep 4, 2008 10:20 AM CDT reply actions

on offense.
I say schaub and Kevin Walter step it to the next level.
Ahman just does what he used to do when healthy

by trex76 on Sep 4, 2008 12:18 PM CDT reply actions

So, everyone's taking the easy picks...

D: Big Frank
- Amobi won’t have to make a quantum leap this year if there is someone else on the line who actually shows up. (Fugg you TJ)

O: ’Dre
- Imagine 2 Pro Bowl, deep-threat receivers….in which case, we run up the score like Belichick when he plays Tecmo Bowl.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stros!

by Shake on Sep 4, 2008 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

No easy picks here

How about these?

If Fred Bennett steps his game up to a Pro Bowl caliber level, our secondary could start to shape up quickly when Dunta returns. And with Earl Cochran stepping up his game, applying pressure from the opposite end and getting 6-9 sacks this year, opposing quarterbacks won’t have as much time to pick us apart.

And how’s about Wes Wel…I mean David Anderson getting more involved?

by Leein3D on Sep 4, 2008 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions