Houston Texans Inside Slant

Under first-year coordinator Frank Bush, the Texans enter the Seattle game ranked 16th in defense, allowing 333.3 yards a game. They are 22nd against the run, surrendering 118.9 yards a game. They are 14th against the pass, giving up 214.3 yards a game.

The defensive improvement over the last nine games has been remarkable.

After a 1-2 start, the Texans were last in defense (436.7 yards) and last against the run (205). They were on a pace to allow more yards and more yards rushing than any defense in NFL history.

Bush was getting blasted by fans and media who insisted he was in over his head. Bush preached patience. Coach Gary Kubiak supported Bush. That patience and support paid off.

The defensive turnaround began in the fourth game. The Texans defeated Oakland, and the defense allowed 165 yards, including 45 rushing. It has been improving almost every week, other than the 20-17 loss the Titans, who rushed for 228 yards.

Over their last nine games, the Texans have allowed 298.8 yards, including 90.2 rushing and 208.6 passing.

In the second and third games of the season -- a victory at Tennessee and a home loss to Jacksonville -- the Texans allowed four long touchdown plays of 57, 91 and 69 yards to running back Chris Henry and 61 yards to running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

If you subtract those four plays, the Texans would be allowing 310.1 yards rather than 333.3.

Despite the improvement, there's one thing this defense can't do -- score touchdowns. They have one touchdown on a return by the defense.

If the Texans are going to break their four-game losing streak against the Seahawks, the defense will have to play a significant role.



--Last season, when Steve Slaton was a third-round pick from West Virginia, the Texans thought they'd solved their problem at running back. He was impressive from the start and finished with 1,282 yards rushing and a 4.8-yard average per carry.

Slaton had 1,659 yards from scrimmage, and he scored 10 touchdowns. He was effective as a runner and receiver.

Talk about a sophomore slump, Slaton's second season has been a disaster. He was never able to get untracked as a runner, going back as far as preseason, before the Texans lost starting guards Chester Pitts and Mike Brisiel. After the injuries, the running game was horrible, and Slaton was at the forefront.

Slaton fumbled seven times, losing five, in the first eight games. He was removed from the starting lineup for a game and pulled from others. Coach Gary Kubiak told him if he couldn't hold the ball, he wouldn't play.

At the time, though, Slaton was productive as a receiver, catching a league-best four touchdown passes for a running back.

Slaton began to feel numbness in his shoulder and neck. It would come and go. He played three games when the numbness went away. He didn't fumble. When the numbness extended to his thumb last week, he was kept out of a 23-18 loss at Jacksonville.

On Tuesday, Slaton went to Dallas to see Dr. Drew Dossett, a nerve and spine specialist whose clients include the Cowboys and Rangers. After being evaluated by Dossett, Slaton was placed on injured reserve, ending a disappointing season with four games left.

"He has a nerve issue," Kubiak said. "It's the neck. They think it'll heal on its own over four to six weeks. He'll be reevaluated at that point. If it doesn't (heal), then there could be another option (surgery), but this isn't career threatening.

"Steve's going to be fine. He'll play and play well. They just said right now he doesn't need to be taking any hits over the next month."

Slaton's season ends with him rushing for 436 yards and three touchdowns and catching 44 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns.

Slaton's place in the lineup will be taken by Chris Brown, who has 249 yards rushing. Ryan Moats (261) will come off the bench, and rookie Arian Foster will get some carries for the first time this season, Kubiak said, when the Texans host Seattle on Sunday.

Chris Henry, a former second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans, has been moved from the practice squad to the regular roster.

SERIES HISTORY: 2nd regular-season meeting. Seahawks lead series 1-0. Seattle won 42-10 at home in 2005.