Despite record, Kubiak likes way young D is developing

HOUSTON -- Gary Kubiak certainly didn't envision his first season as a head coach getting off to such a rocky start.

At the season's halfway mark, the Houston Texans have won just two games and carry the NFL's longest road losing streak.

But it's not all bad news as Kubiak sees improvement in his team every day. The biggest reason for optimism, he says, is the progress of his young defense.

"We're heading in the direction of having an excellent football team from a defensive standpoint," he said. "And with our youth I think we're only going to get better."

Houston's defense includes two rookies and five other starters with three years of experience or less. The defense had some growing pains early and was giving up the most yards in the league through the first three games.

It's still ranked near the bottom in yards allowed, but has held opponents to less than 300 yards in four of the last five games.

"At first we were not good at all and it was a little nerve-racking there," Kubiak said. "But I think they're starting to come together."

Leading the way are rookies Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick, and second-rounder DeMeco Ryans. Ryans leads the Texans with 73 tackles and Williams is Houston's sack leader with 4½.

Williams, who has been bothered by a sore arch on his right foot, showed flashes against the Giants of the type of player the Texans expected when they drafted him first overall. He sacked Eli Manning once and was in his face a few other times.

"He had a period in there in the second quarter where he played as good as I've seen him play all year," Kubiak said. "Mario continues to make progress and he's shown signs that he can be a very dominant player at times and we've just got to get it where it's all the time."

The Texans also have two rookies starting on offense in tight end Owen Daniels and running back Wali Lundy. Daniels leads the team in touchdowns with five and Lundy is Houston's rushing leader with 309 yards and a score.

Even with the rookies' contributions on offense, Kubiak laments the loss of left tackle Charles Spencer, who broke his leg in Week 2. Spencer started the first two games and Houston was hoping he would turn into a mainstay at the position that has caused the Texans grief since their inception.

"If you asked me what the biggest disappointment is I would tell you that it's the fact that Spencer doesn't have 500 plays under his belt at left tackle," he said. "I think he's going to be a great player. As we move toward our future that was a key, key loss. I'm hoping he makes it back."

Despite the loss of Spencer, quarterback David Carr hasn't been taken down nearly as often as in past seasons. He is completing more than 70 percent of his passes and rebounded after last week's benching for a good game against New York.

In the second half of the season, Kubiak hopes the running game will evolve to the point that it will help Andre Johnson get free to make some bigger plays. Johnson leads the league in receiving yards (752) and receptions (65) and has already eclipsed his receiving yardage from last year's injury-plagued season.