2008 Houston Texans AFC South Preview

The 2008 edition of the Houston Texans should be an exciting thing to watch. Starter Matt Shaub has a year of starting experience under his belt, and could be poised to have a more dramatic impact in 2008. Andre Johnson (when healthy) is one of the top premiere wide receivers in the game, and they have a great pass rusher in Mario Williams. The Texans took a lot of heat when they picked Williams over Reggie Bush, but few would question the pick now.

KEY ADDITIONS:


1) Chris Brown - Brown will enter the 2008 as a backup to Ahman Green. Green has durability concerns, as he only rushed for 260 yards last season. Brown leaves Tennessee as a durable, quality back who will get more than his share of carries in Houston. With Ron Dayne departing via free agency, look for Brown to come off the bench to give Green a breather frequently.

2) Nick Ferguson - Ferguson comes to the Texans from Denver, and will look to push Will Demps for playing time. He had 53 tackles and one forced fumble last year, and could also look to contribute on special teams.

KEY LOSSES:

1) Danny Clark - Clark leaves the Texans for the "glamour" of New York (Giants). An underrated player his whole career, Clark had wonderful years in Oakland in 2004 and 2005 recording 130 and 113 tackles respectively. While he only had 43 tackles last year, Clark has the ability to perform at a high level. He can also be a solid contributor on special teams. Look for him to have a great season in New York.

2) Michael Boulware - Boulware departs for Minnesota after a disappointing year. Boulware showed great potential in Seattle, but never lived up to his expectations in Houston. The former second round pick gets another chance with the Vikings, and maybe playing along side and learning from Darren Sharper will help him reach his full potential.

Key Weaknesses:

Despite the addition of Chris Brown to the backfield, the Texans are still at a disadvantage in their running game. Ahman Green is not the back he was in Green Bay, and Chris Brown has spent his career in a running back by committee approach. The Texans need to find a long term solution at running back to be successful in the future.

Key Strengths: