FanHouse RayRhodes

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: In Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, the Texans have two quarterbacks who could start in this QB starved league. Schaub needs to show he can hold up over a full season, and have better decision making in the red zone. Even so, he could end up having a breakout season assuming he and his supporting cast stay relatively healthy. Heat Index: 7

Running Backs: The Texans have been busy fixing so many other parts of their team that they have had little interest in drafting running back with a high pick. The running back group consists of Ahman Green (old and oft injured), Chris Brown (oft injured), Chris Taylor (inexperienced and coming off of injury), Darius Walker (inexperienced), Steve Slaton (3rd round pick rookie and more of a third down back). Coach Gary Kubiak won't want to have to rely on a young player because of concerns about blitz pickup. The best hope for this group is if offensive line guru Alex Gibbs shows some magic in his run blocking teaching that makes this group look good. Heat Index: 4

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans are "close to hiring longtime NFL defensive specialist Ray Rhodes as an assistant coach." The report suggests that he will be hired to fill the position vacated by Martin Bayless whose contract as assistant defensive backs coach was not renewed.

When offensive line guru Alex Gibbs was hired as Texans assistant head coach, I thought that was a perfect fit for the team. But I wondered if they were going to give the inexperienced defensive staff some help. Well, it appears as though they are guruing the way on up the Texans defensive side of the ball, which has been a statistical albatross and often unpleasant to watch.