How the Arizona Cardinals match-up with: the Houston Texans (Week 5)

Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans 

Week 4 - BYE Week
Week 5 - @Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium
Sunday, Oct. 11, 4:15 PM ET, CBS

All-time series: Houston 1 - Arizona 0
Last 10 games: Houston 1 - Arizona 0

Interesting Stat: The year Houston beat Arizona, it was one of only two games they won that year.

Quarterback
Texans - Matt Schaub has yet to play an entire season due to injuries and if he can't stay healthy, the Texans are in big trouble at this position.  Behind Schaub is unproven Dan Orlovsky and the schyzophrenic Rex Grossman, both of whom throw as many interceptions as touchdowns.  That all said, Schaub has shown promise and if he does stay on the field, he's finally got a run game behind him to do some real offensive damage.
Cardinals - Warner is incredible playing at home, with an 105.5 passer rating and a completion percentage over 70%.  I expect this game to be no different.  Look for a heavy dose of the deep ball to Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston.
Edge: Cardinals, as I'll take Warner over Schaub all day long.

Running Back
Texans - This should be an area of strength for the Texans this year.  Steve Slaton proved last season that he can be a featured back and Chris Brown may still have a couple good seasons in him.  Look for the two rookies, Arian Foster from Tennessee and Jeremiah Johnson from Oregon, to push for the back-up spot.  I won't be surprised at all if Foster relieves Slaton from time to time this season.
Cardinals - This position relies heavily on a couple of youngsters, Tim Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells, and as I've said multiple times already in past analyses, there are a lot of question marks here.  The run game shouldn't be as important in this game since Warner could throw for over 300 yards, but lack of balance is always a concern.
Edge: Texans, and if the Cardinals can't contain Slaton, it could be a long game.

Wide Receiver
Texans - Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald on the field at the same time - you're going to get tired of hearing that line the week of this game.  Even after Fitzgerald's near-perfect season last year, most pundits still have Johnson ranked as the better all-around receiver.  For my money, I'd have to say it's pretty darn even and this year (and this game) could be the tie-breaker.  As for the rest of the receiving corps, Kevin Walter is a solid number two and Andre Davis can produce when needed, so I'd say if Schaub is healthy and in the game, there will be fireworks.
Cardinals - As stated above, this will be one of the key story lines leading up to the game - Fitzgerald and Johnson.  I expect both teams to have a pretty nice passing day.  Unfortunately for the Texans, I think Arizona wins the gunslinging contest.  The difference lies at receiver number three - Steve Breaston is more reliable than Davis, in my mind.
Edge: Cardinals, as their 1-3 is better top to bottom.

Tight End
Texans - Though there's not a whole lot of depth at this position (they have six tight ends on their roster going into training camp, and two of them are rookie draft picks), their main man, Owen Daniels, had a phenomenal season last year and can probably be counted on for at least 700 yards.
Cardinals - Who knows...Maybe Shannon Sharpe will come out of retirement.
Edge: Texans, there isn't a team in the NFL that has it worse at this position than the Cardinals.

Offensive Line
Texans - This offensive line finished 3rd overall in offensive, 4th in passing, and 13th in rushing - Not bad and they should only get better.  The two anchors are left guard Chester Pitts and right tackle Eric Winston, who both are coming back for another season.  ESPN has draft pick Antoine Caldwell out of Alabama listed as center, but in fact, he can play both center and right guard.  Given the fact that Chris Myers (center) and Mike Brisiel (right guard) are the two weakest links, Caldwell could be starting at either position by the time this game rolls around.
Cardinals - The most important statistic here is that the five returning starters played every game together last year, including the post-season.  Given that amount of shared experience and the fact that they have a couple of rookies pushing to raise the competition level during training camp, this unit should be impressive this year.
Edge: Texans, simply because the Cardinals couldn't run the ball last season.

Defensive Line
Texans - Cardinals fans, the return of Antonio Smith....A really good defensive line got even better this offseason with the addition of Smith and Mario Williams is an animal off the edge, tallying 26 sacks over the last two seasons and making his first Pro Bowl.  The Cardinals probably won't beat the Texans running the ball, so the passing game will be a big part of Whisenhunt's plan, but don't get too discouraged if Williams and Smith get to Warner a few times...It's going to happen.  This will be a huge test for the Cardinals offensive line and the game will be decided by how well they can pass protect.  Just so I mention it, the Texans are very high on their second-round pick, Connor Barwin, who gives this line some nice added depth.
Cardinals - Berry and Dockett should make things difficult for Schaub all game, but Houston is no pushover at the line either, so this will be a battle in the trenches and a fun one to watch.  Both teams are fairly even (D-line vs. O-line) so this is definitely a match-up to keep an eye on all game.  If the Cardinals can keep Slaton at bay for the most part, and make Schaub and the Texans rely on their passing game, I have a feeling some turnovers are in the cards (get it? in the cards?).
Edge: Texans, because Williams and Smith are just too dangerous.

Linebacker
Texans - The Texans made a lot of noise at this position in the offseason, and rightly so, because it was probably their weakest unit last year.  They started by bringing in solid veteran Cato June from free-agency and then selected Brian Cushing from USC with the 16th pick of the draft.  Though some of the Houston media have questioned the Cushing pick and his ability at the NFL level, I think he brings an attitude and energy that this corps lacked the last year or two.  You have to applaud the Texans front-office for at least trying to answer their most pressing need and you can't deny that the backer position should be better this year, especially if Cushing can produce right away.
Cardinals - Linebacker is an interesting position for the Cardinals.  They haven't been a horrible group and Gerald Hayes is a monster in the middle of the field, yet I feel a little nervous about where this position is right now.  The Cardinals have made an attempt to sign a couple of impact rookies in Will Davis from Illinois and Cody Brown from Connecticut, but if both of these kids fizzle, there are going to be some major question marks.  Here's to hoping the Cardinals' player development is at it's best come training camp.
Edge: Draw, too many questions on both sides.

Secondary
Texans - Houston had a hard time pulling down interceptions last year (they had 12) and quarterbacks had a cumulative rating of over 92 against them, so to say they need to improve here is understating it.  Dunta Robinson should be a lock, but the rest gets pretty hazy.  In the draft, the Texans took Glover Quinn (CB) from New Mexico and Troy Nolan (S) from Arizona State to try and fix a problematic situation, but in my opinion it wasn't enough.  In a division with the likes of Peyton Manning or if you're playing a team with Kurt Warner at the helm, you better have some solid cover-corners.  The Texans are a much improved team this year, but if they fall short of expectations, expect the secondary (and linbackers) to come up in conversation as reasons why.
Cardinals - The offseason has brought with it a slew of possibilities at this position for the Cardinals and there are a lot of reasons to be excited about how this group will perform.  Bryant McFadden, a free-agent signing from the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, was one of their best acquisitions of the offseason and big things are expected from Greg Toler, a draft pick who is already being compared to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.  I expect this to be the Cardinals most-improved position.
Edge: Cardinals, and I predict two interceptions in this game alone.

Special Teams
Texans - Kris Brown and Matt Turk should be locks for field goals and punting, repectively, as they have been consistent to say the least.  Ryan Moats had to fill-in for the explosive Andre Davis a bit on kick returns last year, but the Texans expect good production from Davis this coming season and I agree.  As far as punt returns go, well, no problem here...Jacoby Jones was a threat on every punt last year and should be just as productive this year.  In opposition to the Cardinals, the Texans look poised for a great special teams unit.
Cardinals - Punting bad...field goals and returns good.  That's pretty much the size of it.  Who would of thought that one of the biggest worries going into a Cardinals season would be the punter?  Can't say I'm too unhappy about that.
Edge: Texans, absolutely - they have one of the best ST units in football.

Overall
Texans - Though on paper it looks like the Texans should take this game, you have to be pretty worried about the soft secondary and linebacking corps against what is one of the most prolific passing teams in the NFL.  If Mario Williams and Antonio Smith can get to Warner (which I admit, is a real possibility), the Texans have a chance in this game.  If, however, Warner has time to throw, the Texans are in big big trouble.  I expect the powerful Houston offense to put some points on the board, but I don't think they can outscore the Cardinals with a defense that still has some rebuilding to do.
Cardinals - Just as important as the running game is going to be in the last game against the Colts, so is the passing game here against the Texans.  If Warner gets the ball to the Big Three (Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston), the scoreboard won't get a break all game and Cardinals fans will get to see some explosive offensive power after a boring bye week.  If, however, Warner has one of those fumbling-attack games with Williams and Smith coming off the edges and he can't get comfortable, expect the Texans to come away with the win.  This should be a fun one to watch, with lots of scoring, but could be a heart-attack waiting to happen for Cardinal fandom.

Week 3 (pre-training camp) prediction: Cardinals 34 - Texans 31

Other weekly opponent breakdowns:
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers - Weeks 1 and 14
Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - Week 2
Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts - Week 3
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks - Weeks 6 and 10
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants - Week 7
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers - Week 8
Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears - Week 9
Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams - Weeks 11 and 16
Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans - Week 12

For more Houston Texans Analysis:
Houston Texans Examiner