(Brent T. Wallace-Sept 7, 2009)
With his return to the practice field on Sunday, Dunta Robinson has finally given the Texans something to talk about, other than beer (the team has agreed to stop selling 16-ounce beer for last years’ 20-ounce price. Houston fans might not understand the nickel defense, but don’t nickel-and-dime them on their suds).
After the defense was covered in cleat marks by the Lions and Vikings, Robinson will surely be a welcome sight to defensive coordinator Frank Bush. The All-Pro cornerback held out for the entire preseason after general manager reneged on a deal to not place the franchise tag on him after contract negotiations reached an impasse. Brice McCain, a rookie 6th-round draft choice from Utah, would have started in his first regular season NFL game had D-Rob not reported.
In other developments on the defensive side of the ball, the team has kept veteran Jeff Zgonina, who performed well in the preseason, to help fill in the gap left by the trading of former number one draft Travis Johnson to San Diego last week. Zgonina had two sacks in last week’s loss to the Vikings.
The biggest roster surprises on the offensive side of the ball came with the team’s decision to keep a third quarterback and a sixth receiver, Rex Grossman and Glenn Martinez, respectively. Grossman played so well in the team’s win at Tampa on Friday that head coach Gary Kubiak has said that Grossman and Dan Orlovsky are almost even for the backup spot to starter Matt Schaub. And being that Schaub has yet to play an entire season, one or both of the backups should see the field at some point.
The team now prepares for Sunday’s opener against Matt Sanchez and the New York Jets at Reliant Stadium. With a rookie quarterback at the reins for the Jets, look for New York to try and pound the Texans’ defense with a steady diet of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.
