LAST SEASON: None
PROJECTION: 4th in AFC South

	You're not in Fresno anymore.

STRONG SIDE

QB: David Carr, a.k.a. The Franchise, was drafted for his charisma, stability, ability -- and sky-high promise. His right arm is Houston's future, but for the present he'll need his feet even more. This year's not about numbers; it's about schooling. The faster Carr learns, the quicker the payoff down the road. In the preseason, he proved he can make all the throws, with touch on deep passes, accuracy on short throws over the middle and zip on timing patterns to the sidelines. But with this tattered OL, it's more important for now that he's fast enough to outrun DEs. And that Kent Graham and Mike Quinn are quality backups.

WEAK SIDE

OL: GM Charley Casserly wanted to build around his O-line. Instead he's rebuilding it. LT Tony Boselli's bum left shoulder will keep him out indefinitely. RT Ryan Young is out eight weeks with a bad groin. Rookie Chester Pitts and Jimmy Herndon (four starts in four years) fill in. C Steve McKinney, an ex-Colt, anchors an O-line that'll face a blizzard of blitzes. Young Mr. Carr will spend his maiden year scrambling for his $46.5M life.

AFC South

1. Colts

2. Titans

3. Jaguars

4. Texans

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

RB: James Allen (career 3.8 yards per rush) lost his job in Chicago last season to Michigan rookie Anthony Thomas. He'll eventually lose out this year to Ohio State rook Jonathan Wells, a poor man's Eddie George. No matter. Neither provides the threat Carr needs to keep D's from teeing off on him.

WR: Former Packer Corey Bradford got big FA money based on speed and potential, not his 31 catches last season. Second-round pick Jabar Gaffney gets deep, but he's dropped a lot of balls in preseason. At 5'7'', ex-Raven Jermaine Lewis (4 receptions in 2001) is too small to be The Man.

D-LINE: Pro Bowl DT Gary Walker (22.5 sacks since 1999) was to anchor Houston's 3-4, but he's still rehabbing an off-season groin injury. That leaves 315-pound DT Jerry DeLoach (15 career games, 1 sack) and DE Seth Payne (8.5 sacks in five years) as the top rushers. Get well soon, Gary.

LB: The Texans' best group on D, which is like saying 1040EZ is the best tax form: not good, just less bad. Jamie Sharper brings attitude from Baltimore, and Kailee Wong is a 250-pound playmaker built for the OLB spot in the 3-4. But the D-line is so bad that both will be worn to a nub by midseason.

DB: Former Jet Aaron Glenn is a Pro Bowler who, despite being just 5'9'', can cover anyone. Marcus Coleman is bigger (6'2'', 210) but not as consistent. Neither should expect much support from safeties Kevin Williams, who hasn't played since 2000, and six-year vet Matt Stevens, a career backup.

ST: No kicker was worse in the clutch last year than ex-Steeler Kris Brown, who led the NFL with 14 missed FGs. Houston's best chance for good field position is Pro Bowl-caliber returner Jermaine Lewis.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.