Schaub, Johnson energized

Quarterback Matt Schaub jogged on the field free of the knee brace he wore the final month of last season.
The shoulder surgery he underwent last offseason was a distant memory as he participated in the first day of Texans organized team activities Monday.

For the past three months, Schaub, 27, has avoided the training room and enjoyed a “normal” offseason.

“It was wonderful, since I didn’t have to worry about coming in the training room every morning,” Schaub said. “I got to spend a lot more time with my wife and travel, and I got to play golf early in this offseason. So that was fun.”
It’s back to business for the third-year starter, though. He returns rested, healthy and confident, and it only helps that his 10 fellow starters from 2008 also return to help build on a season in which the Texans finished third in the NFL in total offense.

“He’s very comfortable,” All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson said. “I think everyone is comfortable. (I see) a lot of confidence. We feel very good about what we have here. We’re just excited about the season, especially about what we did last season.

“The biggest thing we know we have to do now is become more consistent as a football team. Just eliminate the turnovers. And those are the things we have to work on. I’m sure guys will put a lot of pressure on themselves. We’re just out here working to become great.”

Schaub plans to rely often on Johnson, who had a career-best 1,575 receiving yards last season and eight touchdowns. Last offseason, Johnson had injury problems of his own. He had to have an arthroscopic procedure on his knee midway through the offseason and missed the preseason.

This year, Johnson, 27, and Schaub hope to stay healthy together so they can get off to a faster start than they did a year ago when the team opened with four losses.

“Those two guys have been pretty darn good when they’ve both been on the field and at the top of their games,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “A good offseason for them is important. At our meeting this morning, the theme was kind of about the players who are here and taking their games to another level and then the new guys making all of us better. Those two guys need to take their games to the next level, and if we’re able to keep them out here for 14 days, they’ll do that.”

Schaub posted career numbers last season, passing for 3,043 yards. He threw 15 touchdown passes and rushed for two but threw 10 interceptions.

Schaub and Johnson welcome the challenge of building on what they began last year. And they are focused on taking the franchise to the next level — together.

“Andre starts everything off,” Schaub said. “Everything is going to go through him. Then we’re going to work Kevin (Walter) and Owen (Daniels) and Steve (Slaton) in there. If we can just keep moving forward, we’re going to be good.”

(chron.com)