(SportsRadio 610) - Teams cannot solely rebuild through a draft, and as good as the Texans appear to have drafted in the two years since Nick Caserio took over as general manager, production will be the deciding factor.
And that takes time.
The Texans have assembled their roster this season with a healthy mix of young and veteran talent. Some of those veterans figure to not only be mentors to younger players and also contribute in a big way.
Defensive end Jerry Hughes, 34, is looking like he can do exactly that.
Hughes spent the last nine seasons in Buffalo, helping create an identity for a Bills defense that was mired in mediocrity and turned it into a disruptive, tenacious defense that finished in the top 10 in turnover margin seven times.
Making his Texans debut Thursday night, he looked like he has plenty left in the tank and can fit right into a Lovie Smith defense that preaches disruption and takeaways.
“It honestly doesn’t matter when we’re out there on the field, it could be first quarter or the fourth quarter, guys are still flying around punching at the ball trying to force a turnover, trying to just make a play,” Hughes said. “When you’ve got guys that’s smart and that intuitive, to actually punch the ball, go after the actual ball carrier, it’s gonna be a fun defense to be a part of and I can’t wait.”
Hughes finished his night with three tackles and a pass deflection.
While he liked some things he was able to do, he said there’s also plenty to clean up.
"I had a couple drives, missed a sack early on, kind of got to make up for that," Hughes said. "I missed another TFL (tackle for loss) just on a zone read play. I’ve got to be better than that. Lovie called a great play, I’ve got to make him right in that category."
Hughes played 27 snaps Thursday night and will have many more opportunities to fluster an offense, but certainly showed enough against the 49ers.
"He understands what it takes to be a Super Bowl caliber team and not only that, but a Super Bowl caliber defense," Hughes said. "I think a lot of guys are paying attention to that so we can turn this ship around and get ready for the Colts."
It’s that sort of mentality that Hughes and other vets are trying to instill in not just the younger players on the roster, but every player in the locker room.
Hughes, Jonathan Greenard, Mario Addison and Maliek Collins now provide a wealth of experience and depth to an increasingly talented defensive line group.
Greenard led the Texans with eight sacks last season.
Collins played in 15 games for the Texans last season, recording 2.5 sacks and a career high nine tackles for loss as a starter.
Addison, who had seven in Buffalo last season, gives the Texans a much improved pass rush that finished near the bottom of the league last season.
Smith told some of the younger players on the roster early in the offseason to surround themselves with the likes of Addison and Hughes.
"It’s amazing how people will gravitate to certain players, so he stepped in that role right away," Smith said of Hughes. "And we have a lot of that on the offensive side of the football too."
One of the players in particular that seems to be benefiting from that veteran presence is rookie Kurt Hinish.
He impressed during camp and continued to do so in the preseason, recording three tackles for loss including a sack against the 49ers. Hinish gives the Texans a complimentary back up option to nose tackle Roy Lopez, a second-year player who started 15 games last year as a rookie.
Hughes deflected the credit when asked about players he’s been able to help thus far.
“It’s a credit to those guys in the front office getting the right group of men in this building,” Hughes said. "Guys who are passionate about football, who don’t mind putting in extra work to watch their iPads or reviewing any kind of game plan or notes. Whatever their position coaches are saying, they’re taking those notes and taking those necessary steps to be great and when you're doing that at a young level, it’s just going to help elevate your career so I’m excited."
Hughes and the rest of the 52 players that make the active roster when cut downs are made final next Tuesday should all be excited.
The culture is shifting on Kirby and it’s been a long time coming.
While the road is long, there is belief and buy-in in the locker room and that is a credit to leaders like Hughes and the culture they have created.
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Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.