OFFSEASON MOVES YOU MISSED – TEXANS ADD QUINN GRAY

by Zac, Throwing Into Traffic

Say this with me: The Texans are not all that bad anymore, the AFC South is just really, really good. I know, it scares me too, but we’ll get through it together if we try. Yes, I know the Texans have yet to post a winning record, but let’s remember all the things that went wrong in last season’s disappointing 8-8 effort:

1. Star receiver Andre Johnson was injured for seven games. To highlight the importance of that fact, note that in the remaining nine games Johnson put up 851 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 14.2 yards a catch. If he stays healthy we’re comparing him to Reggie Wayne, except taller and three years younger.

2. Starting quarterback Matt Schaub missed five (and practically six) games thanks to injuries, four of which were courtesy of Albert Haynesworth going hulk smash on him (hey, anytime you walk away from that without cleat marks somewhere in your skull, you just call it a win and move on).

3. Star cornerback Dunta Robinson missed seven games when HIS HAMSTRING WAS RIPPED FROM HIS BONE, and if you think that hurt Robinson, you should see how it hurt the Texans. Seriously, Dexter Wynn saw minutes. That’s right, THE Dexter Wynn.

4. Starting running back Ahman Green missed 10 games thanks to injuries. I’m not sure whether the thing that went wrong here was the injury, or the fact that Ahman Green had a starter’s gig in the NFL, but something sure isn’t right with that whole sentence.

5. The team went up against a ridiculously stacked AFC South that sent three teams to the playoffs. Did we mention that in doing so they started DEXTER EFFING WYNN?

So, yeah, basically it was not a great season to be a moo cow. In fact, the only highlight of the season would be backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels putting together a not too shabby 4-1 record as a starter…which makes the team’s decision to bring in former Jacksonville backup Quinn Gray seem even more inspired. Gray, for those of you who don’t remember, led the Jaguars to a 2-1 record as a starter during a crucial stretch where David Garrard was out, and displayed surprising potential to at least be a more than competent backup, if not more. I mentioned this over on my site last week, but I talked more about for what Quinn’s move to the Texans could mean for him as a starter. What I neglected to discuss, and what might be even more important in the long run, is the fact that Quinn now opens the door to Sage Rosenfels being moved, and this in an offseason when proven, reliable quarterbacks are hard to find and several teams are searching.

On a young, talented team like the Texans, the draft picks that could come from such a trade may mean all the difference in the AFC South arms race, particularly in a draft where the middle rounds could be flush with wide receiver talent. Whether or not Quinn ever emerges as a legitimate possibility at quarterback is immaterial to the main question of whether or not Houston can capitalize on the flexibility he brings them with regard to filling needs for the near future. Say this with me: The Texans could be a legitimate threat in the AFC within the next two years. Now that’s downright bone-chilling.