What I think the Texans are thinking

<p><em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky</em></p> <p>What I think they're thinking in Houston Texans headquarters this afternoon...</p> <p>We have a lot to like, particularly our key offensive skill personnel in Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton. But after a second 8-8, nothing less than a playoff berth in 2009 will be satisfactory, and that will be no easy task with the Titans and Colts poised to stay good.</p> <p>Which means we can't spend a lot of time thinking about what we like, thinking with a smile about those skill guys or Mario Williams. We have to think about what we don't like.</p> <p>Yes, the defense played a lot better down the stretch as we won five of our last six. But part of it was because we decided we didn't care about taking more risks, because what did it matter if we rolled the dice and lost?</p> <p>We need to carry more of that mentality into games that matter, but to do so we need some significant upgrades in personnel. That means defensive line help for Williams and a healthy Amobi Okoye. That means a revamped secondary with safeties we can rely on.</p> <p>That means we have to play in September and October like we've played recently in December, so we can find out what meaningful games in December actually feel like.</p>

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