The Texans have improved steadily each season under the leadership of a
patient owner in Bob McNair and a patient coach in Dom Capers. This offseason they again rejected short-term success for what they believe will be long-term gain when they released four defensive starters from a unit that finished 23rd overall a year ago and lacked a significant pass rush in the search for more youth.

They might take a step back from last year's 7-9 finish if everything doesn't jell quickly, but they were never going to get where McNair wants to see them — in the Super Bowl — without upgrading a defense that needed more speed at linebacker and improvement in the secondary and with a nonexistent pass rush.

How quickly Capers can get this re-worked unit to play together and be more effective pressuring opposing quarterbacks is unknown. The Texans will be trying to do it with free agent Morlon Greenwood replacing Jamie Sharper at one inside position and former outside linebacker Kailee Wong, who has played three positions in three years, shifting inside to work next to him in place of Jay Foreman. The Texans will be replacing the team’s leading tacklers of the past three years. Those moves leave holdover Jason Babin at one outside linebacker spot and Antwan Peek newly installed as a full-time starter at the other. Peek may be the key to how well this unit plays. He is arguably the team's best pass rusher, but in his first two seasons was unable to handle the rigors and adjustments of playing full-time. Capers loves his athleticism and speed however and is giving him his chance in the hope he is ready to become a playmaker. If Capers' gamble pays off, the Texans will be significantly improved on defense.

The defensive line remains intact despite the lack of a pass rush. That weakness contributed mightily in creating a defense that gave up the most points in the league (339) and finished 24th in pass defense. The one addition is No. 1 pick Travis Johnson, a big defensive tackle who
will replace Robaire Smith on passing downs when they go to two linemen. Johnson probably will see some action on first and second down at defensive end as well. Smith, nose tackle Seth Payne and former All-Pro Gary Walker will continue as starters with Johnson used in spot situations and as a designated interior rusher on passing downs.

The other major defensive change was a trade that landed Houston disgruntled Raiders cornerback Philip Buchanon. Buchanon replaces 33-year-old Aaron Glenn and brings tremendous speed to the position. The Raiders were high on him early in his career but grew weary of his inconsistency. Capers feels if he can get that under control he will have two good young corners in Buchanon and Dunta Robinson, who played well as a rookie despite statistical evidence to the contrary. The Texans allowed 32 touchdown passes a year ago, topped only by the Packers’ 33. Although the secondary had some responsibility for that, the lack of pressure on the quarterback was the main reason. Now the pressure is on youngsters Babin, Peek and Johnson to increase that pressure after putting up a league low 24 sacks last season, 12 below the NFL average.

With all the weapons on offense, if the defense can cut down the touchdown passes and increase the sacks the Texans could make things interesting in the AFC South.

HOT SEAT: Chris Palmer. The Texans' offensive coordinator has direct responsibility for solving what has been a consistent problem since the club's inception. Quarterback David Carr was sacked 49 times last season, most of any starting quarterback. That upped his three-year total to a back-numbing 140. The bright side is he was dropped a record 76 times his rookie year so things are going in the right direction, but if they could return to the 2003 level (15) the passing game would be more effective and Carr would be more likely to stay in one piece. Palmer will try new blocking schemes and quicker developing pass routes to get Carr to unload the ball quicker. Despite other improvements, Palmer's future in Houston, as well as Houston's future in the AFC South, may hang on solving this problem.

OVERHEARD: The Texans' coaching staff believes that despite his struggles last season as a rookie, Jason Babin will soon blossom into a productive pass rusher and all-around effective outside linebacker. Babin was making the transformation from mid-major college defensive end to playing standing up and he was inconsistent and often lost in pass coverage. But Capers expected those growth problems and still believes within three seasons Babin will make a sound transition and the team will benefit from his speed and athleticism. Capers is willing to put up with the growing pains in exchange for a player he feels could become the anchor of his defense by 2006.

OUTLOOK: The Texans have improved steadily each season and may be ready to post their first winning season. But they've yet to beat division-rival Indianapolis in three years and will struggle to do that again this year even though they could battle the Jaguars for second
place in the division.

PREDICTION: Third.

NFL TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS Click for the latest on your favorite teams (teams listed in predicted order of finish) AFC EAST Patriots Bills Jets Dolphins NFC EAST Eagles Cowboys Giants Redskins AFC NORTH Steelers Bengals Ravens Browns NFC NORTH Vikings Lions Bears Packers AFC SOUTH Colts Jaguars Texans Titans NFC SOUTH Panthers Falcons Saints Bucs AFC WEST Chiefs Broncos Chargers Raiders NFC WEST Rams Seahawks Cardinals 49ers

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Colts, Chargers on collision course PFT: Childress reportedly blasted Favre after game Trash Talk: Favre is starting to show his age PFT: Steelers reportedly will sign WR Galloway Celizic: Eli for MVP? It’s not as crazy as it sounds PFT: Quinn done for year, but what about 2010? PFT: Holmgren's priorities — fire Mangini, silence Brown   PFT: Aikman suggests getting rid of helmets Fiancee cries, talks at funeral of Bengals' Henry PFT: Shula: ’72 Dolphins aren’t ‘grumpy old guys’ NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: