Aaron Halterman

Like any good team or athlete who has completed a year of good showing, they can’t enter the next without speculation. The good news for the Texans: They’re still the team to beat in their division. I won’t qualify the argument much more than that, for the season won’t go without its problems. But support for this claim abounds, and the Texans ended up on this side of the offseason with a lot to talk about. Looking at the state of the AFC...  

Gone are the days of being called “the best team never to make the postseason.” The 2011 campaign was particularly special for the Houston Texans franchise in more ways than one. Most memorably, the team finished in first place in the AFC South ...  

Expectations for the Houston Texans are high. In a weak AFC South the Texans look to repeat as AFC South champs. The assumption is that if T.J. Yates can get them to their first playoff victory in franchise history, think of what will happen when Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are in the lineup. This assumption makes two errors. First, no one should expect Schaub and Johnson to be on the field ...  

It's May 14, and that means it's time for end of the year awards for the 2012 Houston Texans!No. It's not.It couldn't be less time for those awards.What's the point in giving out fake awards nearly four months before the season starts? It's a great way to establish expectations for the year. I'm a big believer in creating reasonable targets and seeing if players are able to hit them.Here's what I expect out of key Texans in 2012: The Howard...  

Over the past few weeks, I've been ranking the teams in the AFC South based on the overall strength of each unit.Here's the full list of those rankings:QuarterbacksRunning BacksWide ReceiversOffensive LineTight EndsPass-RushersRun DefenseSecondarySpecial TeamsNow that I've ranked the position groupings, I'm going to give each team a score based on their ranking. I'll add their rankings together, and the lowest score has the best roster.Is it a...  

I love advanced football statistics. Often fans and analysts use "the eye test" as a way of justifying their own unfounded biases. Stats don't replace a solid understanding of the game, but they tend to root out falsehoods. DVOA can apply to teams ...  

HOUSTON (AP) — Looking for another pass rusher and more linebacker depth, the Houston Texans selected Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus with the 26th overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night. The 6-foot-3, 261-pound Mercilus is an...  

1. Houston Texans: Wade Phillips did some great things with this defense a year ago. But he’s not the only member of the Texans’ organization who deserves credit for an incredibly improved defense from 2010 to 2011. Houston’s front office ...  

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans lost defensive end Mario Williams and Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans in free agency. Surely they will look to the draft for some help on defense? Not so fast. Houston used six of its eight draft picks on...  

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was sold on Whitney Mercilus' one spectacular season at Illinois. The 6-foot-3, 261-pound Mercilus promises there are more where that came from. Houston used the 26th pick in the...  

Citing the mad-scientist-like abilities of offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, receiver Nate Washington predicted that the Titans will be more pass-oriented than in the recent past. "Coach Palmer has been in the lab all offseason,” Washington ...  

A bum ankle ended Wali Lundy's NFL dreams, but his voice is helping him pursue another dream. Lundy, a football standout at Holy Cross and Florence high schools who went on to play with the Houston Texans, is making a name for himself in music. The 28-year ...  

Houston Texans The Texans are no longer in the market for a veteran quarterback after agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with John Beck. Chris Burke of SI.com analyzes what kind of contribution the Texans can expect from rookie receiver DeVier Posey. Indianapolis Colts Last weekend the Colts welcomed about 40 rookies, including the team’s 10 draft picks, for a three-day orientation that ...  

Houston has a glaring need at dime cornerback behind Jonathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, and Brandon Harris on the depth chart due the loss of dime cornerback Jason Allen.  Shilo Keo is a backup strong safety.  Houston would love to find a sure ...  

The Houston Texans have the best secondary in the AFC South, or at least they did in 2011. It's difficult to separate out secondary play from defensive line play, because the most important important component to any good pass defense is an elite pass rush.  

The Titans would be thrilled to get Perry here, as he could be the dominant pass-rusher they desperately need. 26. Houston Texans-Stephen Hill WR, Georgia Tech Kendall Wright was off the board, and Hill is a good option for the Texans. He could develop ...  

The Houston Texans clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history when they overcame a plethora of injuries and held off the Tennessee Titans in the final month of the 2011 NFL season. The Titans and Texans are expected to compete once again for the AFC South divisional crown in 2012 as the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts are rebuilding with first-year head coaches and young quarterbacks.  

Wade Phillips managed to dial up more heat on opposing quarterbacks ... are a mess at pass-rusher thanks in part to injuries to former first-round pick Derrick Morgan. They signed Kamerion Wimbley to bolster the line, but missing out on Mario Williams ...  

The Houston Texans have the best offensive line in the AFC South.Well, they did before they cut Eric Winston.Offensive line play is notoriously difficult to measure. Running backs get credit for rushing yards, even though that likely has more to do with the line. Linemen get the blame for sacks even though they likely have more to do with the quarterback.The South is particularly difficult bunch to grade thanks in part to lines with real...  

The New England Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Houston Texans, when healthy, might have been the AFC's best team in 2011. But the Texans suffered a lot of big injuries, the most damaging being the Lisfranc injury quarterback Matt ...  

The determining factor of how effective the Texans' rushing attack will be is if Antoine Caldwell and Rashad Butler are able to step up and make the Texans forget about Winston and Brisiel. There is reason for optimism, as Caldwell filled in for the ...  

The Houston Texans have yet to sign anyone in free agency. Oh, they've lost a few players. They've re-signed a couple of guys. But they haven't added anyone. Houston fans aren't all that happy these days, and they've been testy when it was suggested that ...  

Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin was a solid value selection in the second ... Coples could be used in a similar fashion as how the Houston Texans played J.J. Watt a year ago. Rex Ryan will have his work cut out for him getting Coples' motor ...  

It could have been worse, sure. Peyton Manning could have signed with the Tennessee Titans and shaken the Houston Texans' new hold over the AFC South. Manning could be flinging passes for Bud Adams and tormenting the Texans anew two times a season.  

Sidelion ReportThe Lions will host the Texans or the Colts on ThanksgivingSidelion ReportIn a report about the upcoming 2012 NFL schedule, ProFootballTalk.com mentioned that the Lions will host an AFC opponent on Thanksgiving. The only AFC opponents the Lions play at home this year are the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts, ...  

Welcome to the Devil's Advocate. Each week I'll look at an issue from both sides, arguing both ends against the middle. Today's topic is: the best defense in the AFC South. Remember, there is another side to this (and most every) debate. The Houston Texans ...  

Reading the coverage ... What to expect from the cornerbacks drafted into the AFC South, from Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report. Houston Texans Moving on from Neil Rackers, the Texans signed veteran kicker Shayne Graham to compete with draft pick Randy Bullock, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. He’s been with four teams the past two seasons and clearly the hope would be that the rookie ...  

The Eagles made a bold move to improve their maligned linebacker unit by acquiring two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next month's draft. Ryans, 27, is the Texans' all-time leading tackler with...  

The Chiefs signed veteran right tackle Eric Winston to a four-year deal expected to be worth up to $22 million at a position general manager Scott Pioli said at the outset of the offseason that the team needed to upgrade. Winston, who was released by the Houston Texans in a...  

NFL Team Report - Philadelphia Eagles - INSIDE SLANT Eagles get their middle linebacker/Headline> The Eagles made a bold move to improve their maligned linebacker unit by acquiring two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans in exchange for a...  

According to a www.houstontexans.com report, the cheerleaders of the 2011 AFC South Division champion Houston Texans will be holding auditions for their 2012 roster on April 14 at the Methodist Training Center in Houston TX. The HTC are so popular that they racked up over 18,000...  

The 2012 cheerleader auditions for the AFC South champion Houston Texans are rapidly approaching, and Texans cheering veteran Sarah is using Twitter to provide helpful tips to the ladies who hope to make it onto the roster . Sarah, a rookie in 2011, says that each day until the...  

The NFL Draft is less than a week away and NFL teams are figuring out exactly which players look good in hopes of improving their roster for the 2012 season. The Houston Texans have the 26th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and will be looking mostly at helping their trio of offensive superstars get better as they attempt to defend their AFC South title.  

After OLB Mario Williams left Houston to sign the richest defensive contract in NFL history this offseason with the Bills, the Texans knew they needed a third pass-rushing outside linebacker for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ pressure-filled scheme. With the 26th pick in the first round, the Texans filled their need with the selection of former Illinois DE-OLB Whitney Mercilus.  

New Texans ILB Bradie James has more experience in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ system than any of his new teammates. James spent four productive seasons under Phillips in Dallas, making 112 tackles per season. Nonetheless, James, whose production dipped considerably in 2011, was not brought in by Houston to compete for the starting job vacated by DeMeco Ryans, we hear. Instead, that spot is Darryl Sharpton’s to lose.  

Whitney is a great name for a diva, not so much a football player. Not that anyone tells that to the Houston Texans first-round draft pick of the same name. For Whitney, the Illinois defensive end taken No. 26 on Thursday night, has a surname that's as menacing as his first name is gentle. Whitney Mercilus. That's pronounced the way you think: MER-sil-us. There are dozens of jokes to be had here but, rest assured, Chris Berman said them...  

Mother's Day is around the corner, and for most guys, this is a tough holiday to figure out what present to buy for your mom. The good news is, if she is a Houston Texans fan, there are plenty of good choices for you. Here are five of the best gifts you can get your mom to help her show her love for the Texans.  

Texans owner Bob McNair contemplated a complete house-cleaning, if only briefly, a year ago. On Monday, he promised coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith would soon be handsomely rewarded for guiding the franchise to the AFC South title and first ever playoff appearance in 2011.  

The Texans have added a veteran quarterback to their depth chart, agreeing to terms with QB John Beck, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Terms and conditions have not been announced.  

Texans WR Andre Johnson will miss the team’s OTAs after undergoing knee surgery. The news was first reported by PFW’s Texans correspondent, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.  

HOUSTON (AP) Houston Texans owner Bob McNair says civic leaders should orchestrate efforts in trying to land the Super Bowl, and that the team should have little involvement.  

HOUSTON -- The Texans begin their OTAs next week, and coach Gary Kubiak will have to keep a close eye on quarterback Matt Schaub to make sure he doesn't try to do too much.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans have selected Purdue offensive lineman Nick Mondek in the sixth round of the NFL draft, adding another player in their area of need.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans added more depth to their offensive line on Saturday, taking Georgia center Ben Jones with their first fourth-round pick.  

After not finding a willing trading partner during the draft, the Texans have opted to release WR Jacoby Jones, the team announced Tuesday.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans addressed another team need in the fourth round, selecting Michigan State receiver Keshawn Martin.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent linebacker Bradie James and re-signed linebacker Tim Dobbins.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans added another pass rusher in the fourth round, taking Nebraska defensive end Jared Crick.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans have filled another need, picking offensive lineman Brandon Brooks out of Miami, Ohio.  

The Texans signed veteran PK Shayne Graham, who will compete with the team’s fifth-round pick, Randy Bullock.  

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans are eager to return to practice after losing several key players.  

The Texans re-signed free-agent S Quintin Demps, the team announced Thursday.  

Wideout was considered a position of need and the Texans addressed it in the third round.  

Case Keenum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans.  

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans have waived receiver Jacoby Jones after five seasons.  

Update: The Texans signed Beck to a one-year contract, the Houston Chronicle reports.