FanHouse Garykubiak

The Texans signed kicker Kris Brown to a four year, $10 million dollar extension. This includes $2.5 million dollar guaranteed, making him one of the best paid kickers in the league.

This happens to refute linebacker DeMeco Ryans' recent contention that the Texans don't reward their own players. Ryans and the Texans are working on a long term deal, and Ryans is a little grumpy that TE Owen Daniels, CB Dunta Robinson and he don't have them worked out yet. Maybe they are next in line? After a kicker?

One question is whether Brown's accurate performance of the last two years is going to continue. As FootballGuys.com notes, Brown has improved in scoring performance every year as a Texan, especially so since his scoring opportunities improved after Gary Kubiak took over head coaching duties.

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

Longtime NFL reporter Rick Gosselin, like most writers, knows that readers like draft grades. He grades a draft, and then re-grades it after the season. He's a tough grader, and gives most teams average grades.

Surprisingly, this year the only team that received an A+ in his grades were the Houston Texans. He thought the picks made sense for the team, and I agree. I don't know how they will perform on the field, but the selections were good value and fit key needs.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

How many years were the Arizona Cardinals picked to finally have their breakout year? It seems like they were the dark horse pick to have a playoff run every offseason. But since they went to the Super Bowl last year, they can't be that sneaky hot team any more.

Maybe the Texans take over that spot. Their franchise has never had a winning season, and the last two 8-8 seasons have only resulted in higher expectations. Houston's offense ranks about the same as the Cardinal offense, their special teams is better and their defense worse. The Texans are trying to fix that bad defense by replacing a number of coaches on that side of the ball.

The Houston Texans lost three offensive lineman for the season due to injuries during what were supposed to be non-contact drills last May. Dan Stevenson and Jordan Black both suffered labrum tears in their respective shoulders, while Chukky Okobi injured his triceps.

Black is now employed by the Jaguars, Okobi has no team just yet, and Stevenson's career is jeopardy (though he's technically still on the Texans). According to ESPN, Stevenson plans to sue the Texans, while Black and Fred Weary -- a former Texans' lineman -- have signed affidavits supporting Stevenson's claims.

This afternoon, the Texans announced that Frank Bush would be promoted into the position of defensive coordinator. (interview above) This is not really a surprise, but for many it is a pretty curious decision.

Why promote a guy from within for a defense that has been one of the worst in the league for years? What in his performance justified him being the only guy interviewed for the job?

FanHouse readers who pay attention to such things may note that I have never been a big fan of Texans defensive coordinator Richard Smith. (massive understatement)

In a move that was long over due, Smith was fired today, along with defensive backs Coach, Jon Hoke and defensive line coach, Jethro Franklin.

According to Football Outsiders stats, the Texans defense under Smith's tenure was ranked as follows:

2006: 31st
2007: 30th
2008: 29th

So instead of waiting a few more decades to build a dominant defense, head coach Gary Kubiak finally pulled the plug.

The Houston Chronicle reported today that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub could possibly play in the Monday Night Football game. He's back practicing after suffering a knee injury from two low hits from Vikings DE Jared Allen.

Looking at the quotes from the Friday press conference in their entirety, I'm doubting that Schaub plays in that game. Gary Kubiak sees progress, but says that Schaub is "still a little bit limited."

That running back Steve Slaton says he feeling better is bigger news. With Ahman Green predictably finding his way onto IR, the Texans have to rely on Slaton because the two guys playing behind him are Ryan Moats, who wasn't in camp, and FB Cecil Sapp.

This likely means that the Texans are going to likely throw the ball more and pass protection from the RB spot might be an adventure. Unleash the Rosenchappa interception machine.

With the home destruction of the Texans by the Ravens last Sunday, and only three wins to their name this year, head coach Gary Kubiak has been catching some heat in the Houston media. The players don't want to hear it and can't be any stronger in their support of Kubiak.

Texans defensive coordinator, Richard Smith isn't getting similar support. Texans DB Dunta Robinson couldn't say enough positive things about Kubiak but when asked about the heat that Smith was getting he shrugged his shoulders and responded:

It is what it is. As players, we're going to go back and we're going to go out and work hard and practice hard and get the job done.

The Texans are usually very good about keeping their dirty laundry in-house, but when Robinson isn't supporting you publicly, that's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Though he did also say that the players aren't going to be throwing the coaches under the bus.

The Ravens-Texans game was relatively close at the half, with the Ravens leading 12-6. Then after the half, the Texans defense allowed the Ravens a 5:44 scoring drive, and then the Texan offense and defense lost their collective minds..

In a game where minimizing turnovers was seen as the key, Texans backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels, playing for an injured Matt Schaub, managed to throw four interceptions. As Steve Slaton fantasy owners might intuit, Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn't do Rosenfels any favors by having no patience with the run at all. He had 4 attempts. (Those same owners might be angry about a 58 yard TD to Slaton that was nullified by a touchy holding call away from the play).

The Ravens offense was able to move the ball at will, with both the run and the pass, and really were only stopped when they made mistakes or penalties. TE Todd Heap and RB Willis McGahee had huge games with two touchdowns for each. Rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco played for the most part, a very poised game.

The Texans defense continues to give up big plays where key players like Heap, have no one guarding them. It is a interesting scheme that Texans defensive coordinator Richard Smith runs.

And when I say "interesting," I mean, very enjoyable to the fans of opposing teams or those who have fantasy starters going against the Texan defense. Houston fans would find it interesting to give Smith the Homer Stokes' treatment (as seen at the end of this YouTube).

Vikings DE Jared Allen is sort of claiming that his two low hits that injured Texans quarterback Matt Schaub's MCL weren't cheap shots. A Houston camera man captured him talking to Schaub after the game:

You all right? I didn't mean to hit you. I didn't mean to hit your knee like that. I came back (inaudible) falling forward. I was slipping, and I was like (expletive). If it makes you feel better, (Chester) Pitts separated my shoulder.

Talking about it later he explained:

I was actually slipping. I was just going to try to wrap his legs up.

Of course, Allen "slipped" into Schaub's knee twice. Going helmet first, not using his arms both times. If you haven't seen it, check out the above video. Under the rules, defensive players are supposed to affirmatively avoid hitting quarterbacks low unless the QB is running.