Texans

3/16/10 Houston, TX - Ever since Power Bowl III the Texans have been sitting in a type of limbo that can't last forever. The limbo I am referring to is that of almost having "the" team but not quite there. This past year they again made it to the playoffs second round only to lose to the Denver Broncos.

Owner Andrew Fisher has done well to keep this team competitive despite aging stars and continuous league expansion. With each expansion it becomes harder for any team to continue with the success that Houston has come to enjoy. So where to the Texans go from here?

While middle linebacker Ray Lewis is still the obvious

leader of this team, he isn't getting any younger. Fisher was smart in picking up David Harris, a promising mold of the older phenom. In all the defense looks pretty solid. With Harris coming in for Lewis and Darrelle Revis (the best corner in the league) nothing is going to change the fact that this is a defensive team. So what is that these Texans are missing? Your answer obviously lies on the offensive side of the ball. A once great running game anchored by Ahman Green has fallen on tough times. Steve Slaton was supposed to be the next latest and greatest thing, but he's had just as many disappointing moments as he has brilliant ones. Team officials have all but publicly stated they are in need of a better H-back. So who in this draft would be good for this team as a compliment to Slaton if not the starter himself?

The two top rated rookies coming into the draft will most likely be gone when Houston comes to take their pick. If either Clemson's C.J. Spiller or Fresno State's Ryan Mathews are available, look for the Texans to grab one. If not they may wait until the second round to take one of the many talented backs that will be available for their second pick. Toby Gerhart from Stanford would be a solid pick up even at 27th pick for this Texans team. He's a big back that could play every down. He can take hits and can block with the best of them. There has been a lot of talk as to whether this guy is an NFL running back, but let's not forget that he did better this past year in college than all running backs other than the Heisman award winner Mark Ingram from Alabama. Yes Gerhart would be a perfect fit for this Houston

team.

If the Texans do choose to wait until the next round for their feature back they may want to look at picking up a tight end. Stephen Spach is the only tight end on the roster after the team lost Owen Daniels in the expansion draft. Spach is a decent tight end but more for runnign situations when he can block. Unfortunatly this draft is kind of low on quality tight ends. I'm not sure if any of the one's that will be available are worth of a first round pick. Reason number 2 that the Texans should take a running back in the first round. Either way they go, Houston should keep an eye on trying to pick up Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham or Arizona's Rob Gronkowski. Both are quality tight ends that will do well in passing situations.

Just by evaluating the Texans needs and what picks would be available to fit those needs, Houston's best bet would be to trade away their first round pick for another second and a fourth round pick. This would allow the team to pick one more rookie while sliding back to a spot where they could still get who they wanted in the second round, basically a free 4th round pick.

In April we'll find out and in January we'll see if the decisions pay off for the Texans to make their second Power Bowl appearance.