Opponent: The Houston Texans
Last year: 8-8, third place in the AFC South.
Head coach: Gary Kubiak in his fourth season. Texans record under Kubiak is 22-26.
Last appearance in playoffs:Â Never. Texans were born in 2002 and have not earned a post-season berth.
Starting Quarterback: Matt Schaub, sixth-year QB out of Virginia who came over from Atlanta in a 2007 trade. Last year he threw for 3,043 yards with 15 TDs and 10 INTs.
Offensive Threat: That’s WR Andre Johnson, one of the best in the NFL. The seven-year vet out of the University of Miami caught 115 passes last year for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns. At 6-3, 228 pounds, Johnson is a prototype NFL receiver.
Defensive Threat: DE Mario Williams, the fourth-year pro out of North Carolina State. The Texans took heat for grabbing Williams rather than Reggie Bush or Vince Young in that ’06 NFL Draft. Last year, Williams had 12 sacks.
Draft Picks: Grabbed Southern Cal LB Brian Cushing with their first-round pick last April. Cushing is out now with a knee injury, but expected back in several weeks. In the second round they grabbed Cincinnati DE Connor Barwin and found big center Antoine Caldwell out of Alabama in the third round.
Familiar Names: Battling for a job at FB is former Chiefs LB-FB Boomer Grigsby. “Boomer has done some good things,” said Kubiak. “He has proved to us that he fits what we do and now it’s time for him to go prove it on the field.” … On Kubiak’s coaching staff are the father and son team of Alex and David Gibbs, who both coached with the Chiefs. Alex carries the title assistant head coach/offense, while David is the team’s defensive backs coach, a role he filled for the previous three seasons with the Chiefs.
Other familiar names to NFL fans on the Texans roster are CB Deltha O’neal, QB Rex Grossman and LB Cato June.
Matt Schaub alot like Cassell. Except I think Cassell will be more durable. Anyway a backup guy that showed some signs of success and an organization took a chance on him being a franchise guy so far is panned out for them to an extent. Schuab has proved he can play but his health has kept the Texans at .500 level. 8 and 8 or 7 and 9. Either way the Brandon boys are going to be tested going up against the best receiver in the league Andre Johnson.
Offensively the Chiefs will be challenged as well going up against a very tough Texans defense. Should be a good game.
The Key is, as fans…everyone must realize that this may take awhile for everyone to get comfortable with the new system on both sides of the ball…new coaches…this is finally a rebuild that we can be proud of, its not that they will get rid of everyone, but they are rebuilding…and there will be some growing pains.
The fans need to fire up the D, and keep from booing the offense…Trent didnt deserve it year one, neither will Cassel…but I hope that he can make it work…Either way…the fan base must support the team…otherwise we turn into fair weather fans…and we arent fair weather fans…
Go Chiefs.the backups show some life(maybe 25 guys I have in mind), pass rush is evident…succop hits a couple…Lawrence shows return ability…a reciever steps up…I would love to see hali/mcbride look comfortable.
more than anything, I’d like to see a team that plays together, regardless of preseason or regular season.
agreed on cassel with schaub comparison…Cassel has more running ability though…he will surprise a lot of fans with his mobility.
“former Chiefs LB-FB Boomer Grigsby”
- isn’t related to Bill…or Otis; no, neither ever played for KC though both are men of color.
“Matt Schaub”
- isn’t related to Charles Schwab but if he was via investment CS daughter routine traffic stop become tenuous new Ms. Schwab-Schaub (liberated mistaken inebriated)-
“NO- I HAVEN’T been!”
‘Ma’am can you step out of your vehicle & say it three times in a row – FAST?’
Boomer sucks and always has sucked.
Ca$$el $uck$ even more…
heh heh heh!