Why the Houston Texans scare me

by Steve O' on Feb 15, 2009 2:54 PM MST

Everyone in Broncoland now knows what time it is. Bowlen grabbed his team back, gone is Bronco football as we know it. So by all accounts, we are rebuilding. We haven't admitted that in decades so excuse me if it makes me nervous. Here are a few things that are making me a bit uneasy so please jump in with the comments and tell me what you think.

I don't believe that one all defensive draft is going to matter that much. Let's look at the Houston Texans. They have a great coach in Kubiak. They had the 3rd ranked offense in the NFL in 2008. More important to note and the part that scares me is they have used 5 straight first round draft picks on defense from 2004 -2007. That isn't even metioning DeMeco Ryans and other 2nd and 3rd round defensive picks. And one of those picks was the #1 overall player available.

2004	10th overall	Dunta Robinson	Cornerback	South Carolina
2004	27th overall (from Tennessee)	Jason Babin	Defensive end	Western Michigan
2005	16th overall (from New Orleans)	Travis Johnson	Defensive tackle	Florida State
2006	1st overall	Mario Williams	Defensive end	North Carolina State
2007	10th overall (from Atlanta)	Amobi Okoye	Defensive tackle	Louisville

How long does it take to build a defense? This team should be in the playoffs with all the first round talent on defense. They finished the 2008 season ranked 22nd in the NFL and ranked 27th in total points allowed. The most important stat was the record, 8-8. The same as our no talent defense.

If the Texans, who have drafted defense with 5 out of their last 6 first round picks, don't have a dominating defense yet, how are we going to be saved by the 2009 draft, which by many experts account has better offensive talent high in this draft than it does defensive talent?

I am not saying it can't be done but the ability to find gems in the draft was trusted with the Goodman's and the ability to coach no names guys into good players was trusted with Shanahan and they were both fired.

So what is a realistic outlook for the next 4 years? Your thoughts are always welcome and appreciated.

Poll

What is a realistic outlook for the Broncos over the next 4 years?

Could be bad, 4-12 and 6-10 seasons are possible while we rebuild

7 votes

Should be ok, 8-8 and 9-7 seasons but not a playoff team

36 votes

Much improved, 10 wins or higher with playoff appearances

74 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

Hey Steve O....good post

But I think it is a little simplistic in its view.
There is a lot more to the draft than the first round picks……as we saw from our draft last year when we saw not only our picks from 1st – 7th work out but also some GREAT sontributions from UFA’s like WW and Josh Bell.
Also, some of the choices by the Texans have been suspect: Babin and Johnson have not been good and jury is still out on Okoye, with not much progress made.
I think the Texans are more proof of what happens when you MISS on your first round picks and dont supplement it with smart FA pick ups and good solid picks in other rounds.
Thats what our new regime will have to be wary of.
Thanks Steve O!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Feb 15, 2009 3:04 PM MST reply actions

Thanks Boydy...

"I am not trying to start anything I am just saying that i think if you take Knowshon and draft D later you guys will be hella good next year" ...IamtheGreatest - The smartest Chiefs fan I ever had the priviledge of reading!

by Steve O' on Feb 15, 2009 3:19 PM MST up reply actions

Very good points

Just drafting 1st round defensive players is no guarentee of a great defense, you really need to be successful in in most of your picks and signing free agents.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Feb 17, 2009 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

Kool aid drinkers!

For the Win!!! I thought I was going to be in the minority on the poll….

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 15, 2009 4:35 PM MST reply actions

I went 9-7...

But thats NOW.
I want to see what we do with the D and who we bring in.
If we do something on defense we could be a 10 or 11 win team.

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Feb 15, 2009 4:50 PM MST up reply actions

I don't know why I said 10+ wins

The Broncos just hurt me so good, I guess.. :)

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 15, 2009 7:25 PM MST up reply actions

I know why...

Because their already solid offense should actually get better and if the defense can get to an even mediocre level, that should be enough to get them into the Real season.

aka MN Bronco

by pubkeeper on Feb 16, 2009 7:06 AM MST up reply actions

Agreed...

Thats what we thought last year, but apparently DJ and Nate were playing better than Larsen and WW…..oh wait, NO Slowik this year.
You might be right!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Feb 16, 2009 7:09 AM MST up reply actions

Steve who said that they drafted world beaters over the last couple of years

Besides Mario Willams the rest are no names !

by broncosfaninphilly on Feb 15, 2009 4:43 PM MST reply actions

Amobi and Dunta were very highly regarded

leading up to the draft. But I think you are right, the majority of people outside of Houston have probably forgot about them…

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 15, 2009 7:24 PM MST up reply actions

Dunta

is a free agent, right? When he gets his contract signed, we’ll see who has forgotten about him ;D

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by A.J. Haefele on Feb 16, 2009 9:03 AM MST up reply actions

Hey Steve

I’m thinking that It is a bit premature for any of us to get our “shorts” tangled in our “short hairs.” I personally am just waiting to see what transpires here in the next “whatever”, and then it will be a time to either pannick or fire off the fire works! Thanx 4 the post on the subject. Always appreciate your point of view.

It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.

by metalman5050 on Feb 15, 2009 4:57 PM MST reply actions

Thanks Metalman,

I am not the doom and gloom type but all of our “safety blankets”, ie Shanny and the Goodman’s are gone. It isn’t hard to imagine a couple of rough years while the rebuilding plan takes form.

There are plenty of fine options and I trust Bowlen knows that he has brought in the right people to help us win. I guess under Shanny I got used the fact that the Broncos never sucked.

I have faith in the Orange and Blue!

by Steve O' on Feb 15, 2009 5:15 PM MST up reply actions

I hated the fact that Mike got fired, but...

After I had a chance to think about it, I saw what Pat was up to, at least, I think that I may have a clue. I like the idea, unlike HT’s opinion, that Pat is going to “controll things.” Pat is not, a normal owner. I believe that he is well educated in the “world” of football at this point, and that he will not be like the Idiots in Oakland or Dallas. With that said………..Go Pat. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.

by metalman5050 on Feb 15, 2009 5:26 PM MST up reply actions

Actually, the more I think about it....

The more optimistic I am. Lets face it, the Broncos were not getting better. 24-24 over the last three seasons may not be sucking, but it sure ain’t great either. The better the offense got the worse the defense got and Shanny seemed to be clueless about fixing the D. On top of that, from what we’ve heard the front office was a dysfunctional mess, rife with favoritism and nepotism. The team was mired in mediocrity living off the glory of the past.

Bowlin has taken decisive action to address the coaching. Bowlin has made it clear there will be NO dysfunction in the front office. those who can’t work together will be gone. We may or may not be better in 2009 but I’m certain we will be significantly better in 2010 and beyond.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Feb 15, 2009 6:43 PM MST up reply actions

QB

Jay Cutler. Texans don’t have a QB like Cutler and play in a tougher division. I believe.

The only difference between insanity and genius is perception.

by Markus2112 on Feb 15, 2009 5:41 PM MST reply actions

i think that does have a lot to do with it.

Furthermore, their run game has been lacking talent, at least until this year. I think even more than the players you have, their strengths have to fit your scheme.

by uclabruin34 on Feb 15, 2009 5:52 PM MST up reply actions

their running game

still needs to upgrade too… I really dig Slaton, and I am happy the Texans got him, but he needs help back there! Maybe Moreno will fall to #17 or wherever the Texans are picking…

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 15, 2009 7:27 PM MST up reply actions

Exactly what I was thinking

Comparing to Houston isn’t good at all…they are doing great considering their talent at QB (or lack thereof) and their division opponents. They have it pretty rough compared to us.

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Feb 16, 2009 10:59 AM MST up reply actions

Texans do not equal Broncos!

There is a very different context you need to consider, Steve. Houston was an expansion team that blew its most important choice (David Carr), and making a mistake on a franchise QB creates a hole that takes a long time to dig out of. Denver quite clearly did the opposite with Cutler. Kubes walked into a disaster of a franchise, which is far from what McD has at his disposal. He’s got plenty of offensive tools and an established franchise. Big difference.

by Douglas A. Lee on Feb 15, 2009 5:53 PM MST reply actions

Great point...thanks NYC.

by Steve O' on Feb 15, 2009 5:54 PM MST up reply actions

However the point SteveO' makes about the average defense is still valid

That is a lot of picks on the D side, without much production.

by hedgehog2000 on Feb 15, 2009 6:55 PM MST up reply actions

Carr wasn't great

but lets not forget how many sacks the man took. Even Manning or Brady would have been early flame outs with such a pathetic O line. Good for the Texans that that situation has improved, but too bad for Carr it came so late.

Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne

by broncosmontana on Feb 16, 2009 8:39 AM MST up reply actions

It's hard to throw

With clods of turf dripping down off your helmet. Good point, BM – Big Ben looked kind of mediocre until the Steeler’s O line firmed up a little last season. Peyton Manning can get rattled with too many sacks and hurries in a game.

Part of the modern NFL is playing young guys, often juniors, right out of college. Even the seniors are very young. A bad line, a bad coach or a bad scheme can ruin a good player.

Hillis in '09

by Doc Bear on Feb 16, 2009 10:36 AM MST up reply actions

Thank God...

…for the Broncos O line!

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for my eyes to behold the sun.

Ecclesiastes

by bradley on Feb 16, 2009 10:38 AM MST up reply actions

+1000000000000000000000000

we can’t possiblybe too grateful for that!

Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne

by broncosmontana on Feb 16, 2009 10:50 AM MST up reply actions

That's what I thought

but I later came to the conclusion that part of the reason he got sacked so much was he couldn’t read the field fast enough and
held the ball too long. That was one of the knocks against him. Sacks aren’t always the line’s fault.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 17, 2009 7:21 PM MST up reply actions

Gary Kubiak...

was a great Offensive Coordinator. The jury is still out on him as Head Coach.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Feb 15, 2009 6:29 PM MST reply actions

Agreed

by Douglas A. Lee on Feb 15, 2009 6:30 PM MST up reply actions

Until they win a SB

the same is said about any HC, but I will say this… he has certainly improved their O line!

Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne

by broncosmontana on Feb 16, 2009 11:18 AM MST up reply actions

Coaching isn't necessarily picking personnel

Kubes hasn’t shown the he can do that yet. Shanny had a lot of dry holes until the Goodman’s took over. I hope that the fight over personnel that led to the Goodmans parting ways isn’t that McD is missing something. Kubes and Shanahan completed each other – neither has shown since they parted.

Hillis in '09

by Doc Bear on Feb 15, 2009 7:07 PM MST reply actions

+100 Broncobear

This is the salient point, I believe. If anyone has more drive or ambition than I do (which seems like damn near all you guys! lol), I’d love to see a breakdown of this century’s 1st rounders broken down by busts, decent contributors, and game breakers, and see how the Texans and Broncos relate.

Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne

by broncosmontana on Feb 16, 2009 8:44 AM MST up reply actions

Makes you wonder how much control Kubes has vs. Rick Smith

Funny to think that Smith could now have been the GM here if he and Kubes hadn’t defected a few years ago.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?STORY_ID=5119

Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne

by broncosmontana on Feb 16, 2009 11:22 AM MST up reply actions

It also helps to be an expansion team and draft at least middle of the pack every year

Good point though

by phantom818 on Feb 15, 2009 8:39 PM MST reply actions

Great post....

We can build an average defense in a relatively short amount of time…with our top ranked offense, playoffs baby.

Next year could be ugly, but 2010 should be playoffs for sure….or McD will be looking for work.

Is there such a thing as a Playstation 3 Anonymous? I can't seem to stop thinking about or playing COD 4 and COD 5. I hear this is quite normal for a teenager, but I haven't been a teenager since Bill Clinton was frolicking with interns.

by Tim Lynch on Feb 16, 2009 10:16 AM MST reply actions

I think

Denver is in a better position that Houston. The 2 major areas Denver needs to improve in is points scored and points allowed. With crap on the defensive side except for 2 guys, the defense can only get better. Now you have showed all the good players on defense that Houston has gotten and are marginally better than Denver on that side of the ball. IMO Denver can only go up with regards to the defense. I honestly dont think it can get much worse (I hope I am correct on that assesment). I dont care about yards allowed only about points allowed. Once they can do that I can see this team winning 11 games per. Thats how I voted. Next season 8-8 or better is a real good possibilty. I think a better pass rush and run defense will help Denver get into the middle of the pack defensively. If they can do that 10 wins isnt out of the question. But I dont expect them to become a top 10 defense until the D-line gets much better.

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Feb 16, 2009 3:55 PM MST reply actions