Kubiak, Smith visit combine for closer look at players

INDIANAPOLIS - Coach Gary Kubiak could sit in his office at Reliant Stadium and practically feel as if he's attending the NFL scouting combine. The NFL Network broadcasts nearly every workout and announces the results throughout the four-day affair.

There is one important element of the combine television cannot give Kubiak, though. That's why he will join general manager Rick Smith at the Indiana Convention Center today. Over the next week, the Texans will look closely at the 300 athletes assembled there and gain important information from informal conversations with the players.

The Texans will have formal interviews with 60 of the players they pre-selected. Among Kubiak, Smith, the scouts and the assistant coaches, the Texans will talk to every athlete at the combine and closely monitor how each player conducts himself during the week.

"You already know how they are as players — you've watched them play," Kubiak said. "The workout shows you about their preparation, but I just think watching them handle themselves throughout the whole process and interacting with them throughout the week, you learn even more about them. You learn about their personality. You learn how important football is to them. You learn what they want to get out of the next level."

The Texans will be looking at players at every position, but some of their biggest areas of need heading into the draft and free agency include offensive tackle, running back, a true pass-rushing defensive end, a playmaking wide receiver and a free safety.

After weeks of looking ahead to the free-agent market, Kubiak is just beginning to prepare for the draft. Smith and his scouts have spent the past week giving the coaches a crash course on the prospects they will meet at the combine.

"It's exciting," Smith said of his first combine as a GM. "It's one thing to be a part of the process for the number of years I was and not having the final say. But now sitting in position to have the final say, there's an increased responsibility."

There will be less attention surrounding the Texans this season, but not less work. A year ago, they headed into the draft with the No. 1 overall pick. This year, they have the eighth pick in the first round, the seventh pick in the second round and the ninth pick in the third.

While some clarity surrounding the draft should come in the next few days, the Texans will be shifting much of their focus back to free agency next week. The Texans have yet to re-sign or release any of their players. Free agency officially begins March 2, and the Texans are slated to be between $10 million and $13 million under the salary cap.

"The biggest thing with free agency is trying to be competitive," Kubiak said. "We have some tremendous financial issues to deal with for our football team to become competitive in free agency. We'll deal with that when we come back. March 1 is a big deadline for our football team."