Houston
Texans

Texans Team Report

Updated: February 11, 2012 02:12 EST

For the first time, the Texans enter free agency and the draft without needing a starter on either side of the ball.

Although they finished 10-6 in regular season and won the first playoff game in history before being eliminated at Baltimore, they need an infusion of young talent to be developed.

The Texans are more likely to add depth through the draft. They won't be able to spend in free agency as they did last year when they signed two defensive starters, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and free safety Danieal Manning.

The Texans spent about $20 million more than the $120 million cap, so they have to cut back to be under the new cap before the March 13 deadline.

What the Texans need most on offense is for quarterback Matt Schaub to make a successful comeback from season-ending surgery on the Lisfranc joint in his right foot.

Schaub has been rehabbing religiously. After the season, he said he would be ready for OTAs in May. This week, those who have watched him carefully say he's ahead of schedule.

With Schaub and backup Matt Leinart on injured reserve, the Texans had to rely on rookie T.J. Yates as their starter. The general feeling is if Schaub hadn't been injured, the Texans might have advanced as far as the AFC Championship Game.

When it comes to contracts of offensive players, the Texans need to sign two starters, center Chris Myers and right guard Mike Brisiel, both of whom will be unrestricted.

They also want to re-sign backup tight end Joel Dreessen, who caught six touchdown passes.

Kicker Neil Rackers, who set a franchise record with 135 points, is expected to sign another contract with the Texans.

General manager Rick Smith is hoping to sign running back Arian Foster to an extension. He'll be a restricted free agent. Foster says he wants to stay. The Texans say they want him back.

The most important free agent, the team's top priority, is outside linebacker/defensive end Mario Williams. If he signs a new long-term deal, he'll have to give them what amounts to a hometown discount. If Williams hits the open market, the Texans won't be able to pay him as much as some teams that have $25 million to $35 million available under the salary cap.

While Smith sorts out his cap issues, he's also preparing for the draft. They have the 26th pick in the first round.

On offense, the Texans need a wide receiver. The starters, Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, will turn 31 before the season begins.

Jacoby Jones has been the third receiver, but he caught only 31 passes, became public enemy No. 1 to fans after botching a punt in the playoff loss to Baltimore and might be better off with a new team.

The Texans are expected to draft a receiver in the first round but no later than the second. If they lose Mario Williams, outside linebacker becomes a priority in the draft.

The other offensive position that should be addressed among the top three or four picks is interior offensive line.

Among the more difficult decisions facing any team this spring is the Houston Texans' conundrum with defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Club officials suggest they have vacillated about the future of the former first overall selection (2006), and how to handle the situation. The best thing, of course, would be a contract extension but, at least so far, there doesn't seem to be much progress in that regard.

Absent an extension, there are all kinds of complications. Houston would have until March 5 to designate Williams as a franchise player, but the tag would probably cost the Texans a one-year tender of more than $20 million, since Williams' salary is higher than the franchise number and would command a 20 percent bump over its 2011 level.

A pure 4-3 defensive end, Williams seemed to handle to conversion to standup 3-4 rush linebacker pretty well under coordinator Wade Phillips, posting 5.5 sacks before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season after only five games. Before the injury, Williams, who had 43.5 sacks the previous four seasons in a 4-3, was on his way to another double-digit sack campaign.

But there is some suspicion that Williams prefers to play end in a 4-3. And, led by Connor Barwin and rookie Brooks Reed, the Texans generated a solid outside pass rush even after Williams was injured. The bet in NFL circles still is that the Texans, who made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in '11 and finally look to have a defense that complements their explosive offense, will strike a long-term extension with Super Mario.

If they don't, though, they will face a knotty decision about what to do with a still-young defender (27) some consider the best player in unrestricted free agency.

--The Houston Texans hired Karl Dorrell as their quarterbacks coach. Dorrell spent the past four seasons in Miami, including the past three as the Dolphins' quarterbacks coach.

Prior to that, he was the head coach at UCLA, compiling a 35-27 record in five seasons.

He has ties to Texans coach Gary Kubiak, as both were on Mike Shanahan's staff in Denver from 2000-02.

--The Texans don't have to re-sign running back Arian Foster. He's got one more year left on his contract. He'll be a restricted free agent. They can tender him at the max and match any offer sheet he signs with another team.

"He's a huge part of what we do running the football and in the pass game, also," quarterback Matt Schaub said. "You can see what type of damage he can do there. He's a big part of what we do, and we've got to have him around and out there for our team."

--DE J.J. Watt, who had an outstanding season, a tremendous two playoff games and made the All-Rookie Team, capitalized on a job he had in college. Before he walked on at Wisconsin, Watt worked at a Pizza Hut. He told customers and co-workers of his dream of playing at Wisconsin, and most laughed at him. He got the last laugh, of course. When he tells his story, he always mentions working at Pizza Hut. Well, guess who he endorsed during the Super Bowl? You guessed it: Pizza Hut.

--During the lockout, receiver Andre Johnson and outside linebacker Mario Williams were among the players to return to school to work on their degrees. They were hoping to graduate this summer. Because of the offseason program, though, it'll take them until the summer of 2013 to graduate.

--K Neil Rackers wants to return to the Texans. He'll be a free agent in March. He spent the last two seasons with the Texans, including setting a team record with 135 points last season. He kicked 32-of-38 field goals.

"I want to be a Texan," he said. "Great organization, great teammates, obviously a great ball club. We can't control what happens. The business side of it is what it is. If the Texans want me, and I'm back here, I would love that."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We had that taste of what it's like to play in January (playoffs), and I think everyone liked the taste. Now we want more. We're hungry. We're going to have a great offseason. We're going to make sure we're right back here next year. Guys are anxious and excited to move forward." - QB Matt Schaub on reaching the second round this season and hoping to advance farther next season.

The team's top priority in the offseason will be signing outside linebacker/defensive end Mario Williams to a new contract. If they fail to, it's because they're salary cap has been hamstrung because of previous deals.

The top priority on the coaching staff was signing a quarterbacks coach to replace Greg Knapp. He left after two seasons to become the new offensive coordinator at Oakland, where he'll be receive $1.6 million this year.

Coach Gary Kubiak replaced Knapp with Karl Dorrell, who spent the last four years with the Miami Dolphins, the first three coaching receivers and last season coaching defensive backs.

Kubiak and Dorrell worked on Denver's staff for three years (2000-02) under Mike Shanahan. Kubiak was the offensive coordinator and Dorrell the receivers coach. Dorrell left to coach at UCLA for five years before being fired and hired by the Dolphins.

Kubiak also must find an assistant offensive line coach to work under John Benton. Frank Pollack, the assistant line coach the last five years, followed Knapp to Oakland, where he'll be the offensive line coach under Dennis Allen.

MEDICAL WATCH

--QB Matt Schaub (Lisfranc bone in right foot) underwent season-ending surgery. He's out of his cast, out of his boot and is ahead of schedule.

--QB Matt Leinart (broken left collarbone) is progressing on time.

--OT Rashad Butler underwent elbow surgery in September and missed the season. He's fully recovered.

--SS Dominique Barber underwent foot surgery in September and should be ready by the OTAs in May.

--P Brett Hartmann had surgery in December to repair an anterior cruciate ligament in his non-kicking knee. He's hoping to be ready for the start of the season.

--LB Darryl Sharpton missed the last 2 1/2 months after undergoing surgery to repair a quad injury in his right knee. He's hoping to be ready for training camp.