Rush job is Texans' priority in '10

There's receiver Andre Johnson, a two-time All-Pro. And defensive end Mario Williams, who's played in the last two Pro Bowls. And linebacker Brian Cushing, last season's defensive rookie of the year. And quarterback Matt Schaub, the most valuable player of the last Pro Bowl.

The trick now is turning the individual achievements into team success.

Houston went 9-7 last year, its first winning record, but one victory short of the franchise's first trip to the playoffs. Heading into their ninth season, the Texans have their deepest, most talented roster and anything less than a postseason berth will qualify as another disappointment.

"The expectation for the organization is to win a championship," said coach Gary Kubiak, entering his fifth season. "That can't get done until we win the AFC South or make the playoffs, so we've got to stay focused on those two things and that will be our goal. But we've got to understand the work that has to come to accomplish those goals."

The Texans' offense ranked fourth last season (383 yards per game), carried mostly by the NFL's top passing attack (291 yards per game).

Schaub led the NFL in passing yards (4,770) and Johnson topped 1,500 receiving yards for the second straight season, the only receiver other than Jerry Rice to accomplish the feat. Schaub also ranked among the top seven in completion percentage (67.9), touchdown passes (29) and passer rating (98.6).

Now the Texans need to find a running game as a complement.

Houston ranked 30th in rushing (92.2 yards per game) in 2009, and that anemic ground attack cost the Texans late in games last season.

Kubiak hired Rick Dennison after offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left to join his father, Mike, in Washington. Dennison brings a reputation as a running-game guru after coaching either the offensive line or the entire offense in Denver from 2001 to '09. The Broncos ranked second in rushing over that span (135 yards per game).

Last season, Houston went through four running backs - Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats, Chris Brown and Arian Foster - and there was an ongoing competition for the starting role at training camp.

Foster emerged in the final two games in 2009, rushing for 218 yards, and he started the first two preseason games. Slaton, who missed the last five games of last season with a neck injury, is Foster's main challenger for the job if he can stop losing the ball. He fumbled seven times in 2009 and dropped another in Houston's first preseason game.

Second-year pro Jeremiah Johnson is also taking reps at tailback. Second-round draft pick Ben Tate was lost for the season when he suffered a broken ankle in the preseason opener.

"We've got a young group of backs who are going to have to play well and maybe play above and beyond the call of duty," Kubiak said. "There is a lot being expected of them."

Injuries along the offensive line contributed to the sputtering ground game in 2009. Guards Chester Pitts and Mike Brisiel sustained early, season-ending setbacks and coaches are evaluating several interior linemen to solidify the line.

"It's just a matter of consistency," Dennison said. "Everyone just needs to do their job, be accountable and understand what we're trying to do. That goes for the running backs, the line, everybody."

THE RUNDOWN: AFC SOUTH

Teams in predicted order of finish

INDIANAPOLIS: Consistently great - nothing new here

Fantasy football fans might disagree, but when it comes to reality football, there is no one better than QB Peyton Manning. In 12 seasons, only twice has Manning failed to hit the 4,000-yard mark - he reached 4,500 last year, second-best in his career - and never has he thrown fewer than 26 TDs. The Colts were ninth in total offense last year: first in passing, last in rushing. Then- rookie RB Donald Brown was expected to give the run game a lift, but his 3.6-yard average was a disappointment. The defense will come up with one or two shutdowns but for the most part is average (18th in the NFL 2009). Indy began the season 14-0 last year before resting starters and losing its last two regular-season games.

HOUSTON: Passing the test with flying colors

The Texans have the leading passer from 2009 (Matt Schaub, 4,770 yards) and the leading receiver (Andre Johnson, 1,569) and expect to maintain that level of excellence in the passing game. The running game ranked 30th in the league last year. Second-year RB Arian Foster is the new starter and is expected to give the run game a boost. In the preseason, he has averaged 6.1 yards a carry on 28 carries. In 2009, the Texans had a winning record (9-7) for the first time in their eight-year history. Their linebackers are great, led by 2009 defensive rookie of the year Brian Cushing, from USC.

TENNESSEE: All eyes on Chris Johnson

As the Colts are all Peyton Manning, the Titans are all Chris Johnson. RB Johnson last year became the sixth to rush for 2,000 yards. He thinks he can hit 2,500 this year. Probably not, but the success of this team depends heavily on the performance of the third-year back. QB Vince Young isn't reminding anyone of Manning, but the Titans won eight of their last 10 games in 2009 after Young took over. The defense was ranked 28th last season, and Tennessee was one of two teams to allow 4,000 yards through the air.

JACKSONVILLE: Someone's got to be last

The Jaguars have one of the league's most consistent RBs, Maurice Jones-Drew, who has been sidelined this preseason with a knee injury. The team has had to deny rumors that Jones-Drew had surgery. The quarterback, David Garrard, is in his fifth year as starter and has been mostly unspectacular. His main target is Mike Sims-Walker who had 63 catches for 869 yards in his breakout season last year. This is a .500 team in a very good division.

Myles Standish

THE TEAMS

The AFC South by order of 2009 finish

1. Indianapolis Colts 14-2

Beat Baltimore in divisional round, beat New York Jets in AFC championship, lost to New Orleans in Super Bowl

2. Houston Texans 9-7

Did not make playoffs

3. Tennessee Titans 8-8

Did not make playoffs

4. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9

Did not make playoffs