April 25, 2008

A veteran NFL assistant recently told PFW that the play of safeties, more so than other positions, can be more easily judged on the basis of statistics, with interceptions among the primary indicators of performance. In this category, the Texans’ safeties have fallen short in recent seasons. C.C. Brown was the only Houston safety to intercept a pass last season, and he intercepted just one. In 2006, Brown and two other Houston safeties intercepted one pass apiece. It should be noted that S Will Demps, who worked his way into the lineup last season, was a pleasant surprise in pass coverage; he didn’t intercept a pass, but he knocked away four throws and was voted a Pro Bowl alternate. Demps and Brown are the favorites to start, with Glenn Earl — who’s shown promise at times but has also struggled to stay healthy — leading the cast of challengers. Whatever the starting lineup, more big plays are needed from this position group.