Pro Football Weekly today talks about the 0-2 and 2-0 teams around the NFL, and for the 2-0 Texans, coach Gary Kubiak says that the way the team has picked up the new defense under Wade Phillips.
There’s no question that an improved defense has been a big reason why the Texans are 2-0, and Gary Kubiak has acknowledged this. “I think we’re surprised at how quick the process has taken place with no offseason with really (defensive coordinator) Wade (Phillips) just having those guys for seven or eight weeks,” Kubiak said.
“When you watch the work that’s taking place every day, the energy that we are playing with, how hard we’re playing, you know why you are getting much better results.”
A quick reminder: Kubiak’s Texans were 2-0 a year ago, and that defense was a big reason why the team missed the playoffs. As for this season, and as for that improved group, stopping the Colts (minus Peyton Manning3) and Dolphins (with, you know, who they have), that’s one thing. Stopping the Saints — Sunday’s chore in the Superdome — is quite another. This is the start of a four-game stretch (along with the Steelers, Raiders and Ravens) that will test this unit for real. We should know by the end of October if the Texans are a legitimate contender or not.