HOUSTON TEXANS
Comparatively Speaking, Williams Has a Lot to Prove
The Houston Texans passed on Reggie Bush to take defensive end Mario Williams, above. Now they are left with some questions in the backfield.
(By David J. Phillip -- Associated Press)
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No other NFL team this season -- and perhaps in history -- will be judged more on who it doesn't have than who it does. The Texans passed on drafting Reggie Bush with the first overall pick in April's draft, instead selecting defensive end Mario Williams. Now that pick looks foolish considering the status of Domanick Davis, who has been slow to recover from a knee injury that ended his season last year.
Rookie Wali Lundy (Virginia) enters the season as the featured running back, although the team did sign Ron Dayne on Monday to add a veteran presence in the backfield. Davis ran for 1,031 yards as a rookie in 2003, then had 1,188 yards the following season, including 13 rushing touchdowns. Last season, he played 11 games before the injury, gaining 976 yards. So Lundy's ascension is somewhat puzzling.
Now, the future of the Texans largely depends on Williams. He should provide a boost for a defense that gave up 220 yards passing and a league-worst 26.9 points per game. But even if he becomes one of the best defensive ends in the league, he still will be compared to Bush, who has the potential to become one of the most exciting players in the game.
The pick put more pressure on the Texans to compete, something they haven't done since their inaugural season in 2002. Their best finish was 7-9 in 2004. They have gone 18-46 since their inception, and poor David Carr has spent most of the time on his back.
The Texans are sticking with Carr this season, and new coach Gary Kubiak has a stellar track record coaching young quarterbacks.
