Pro Football Focus is running a new feature ranking the defensive lines. It sure does seem like we've had a lot of rankings over the last month or so, doesn't it? Anyway, the Texans, anchored by Amobi Okoye and Shaun Cody, place 26th thanks to their horrendous run stopping:
↵↵↵Dr. Jekyll, meet Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde, meet Dr. Jekyll. If the Texans could find a happy medium with this defensive line they might be in a stronger position. You can see the sense behind this unit: They're set up to stop the Colts. But unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for them when they play anyone else. The weakness of this line's run defense (only Mario Williams and Tim Bulman graded positively for '09 season) creates problems for the rest of the squad. Improving the run defense is one of the key areas for the Texans to sort before they make that next step to the playoffs.
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Of course, this is based on last years ratings. Not that the Texans defensive line has been much improved in the offseason. You get the sense the Texans are going for broke with the pass-rush up front and letting the Pollard-Ryans-Cushing triumvirate clean up the chaff. Personally, I'd rather just see the Texans actually get a real nose tackle. But we've all been through that argument several times before.
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