In an article published July 25, the Sports Xchange advised readers that the Texans will unveil a new look on offense this season. Other than some tweaks on the offensive line, the unit returns intact. The biggest difference will be a new wide-open designed to highlight speed and power.

The Texans still plan to use a balanced attack, mixing in the running of Domanick Davis and what should be a tremendous big-play combo in David Carr and Andre Johnson. But coaches would like to introduce more of a ball-control scheme designed to run time off the clock and keep opponents off the field.

"We're going to move the chains," Carr said. "The thing that we've lacked in the last year...is the fact that we've been, at times, explosive, and at times, non-existent. That's not a way to win football games. Because when your team needs you, when your defense needs you to make a first down, you have to be able to hang your hat on something."

Carr told that the Xchange, that if executed correctly, the plan is to throw the ball in the first half and be able to get first downs late in the game to control the clock. The Texans rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of their final nine games last season.

"Throwing the ball down the field and making big plays is great in the first quarter and second quarter, but in crunch time when you have to make first downs, that's when you win football games."

The Texans have two primary weapons. Johnson set team records with 79 receptions and 1,142 to earn a Pro Bowl spot last. Davis has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. The receiving corps also has deep threats in Corey Bradford, Derick Armstrong and rookie Jerome Mathis.

But as the Xchange suggested, Davis is arguably the most vital cog in the offensive machine with his ability to eat up yardage and be a dependable receiving threat out of the backfield.

He's also quite a scoring threat. ... After finishing with 14 touchdowns last season, Davis has scored in nine consecutive games. The NFL record is 18 games in a row by Baltimore's Lenny Moore (1963-65). O.J. Simpson had 14 (1975), the most since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

His current streak is second to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, who has scored in 13 consecutive games.

Davis also rushed for at least 100 yards in four of the last six games. If he can stay healthy and continue that pace, he'll crack the 2,000-yard barrier -- a goal he had set for last season.

If his coaches let him.

"We hope Domanick will pick up where he left off, but I don't know if he'll get 2,000," offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said earlier this week. "We'd like for him to get 1,300 to 1,600 yards. In this league, you have to pace your backs, or they'll wind up getting hurt."

With Davis, incoming rookie Vernand Morency and Tony Hollings -- Jonathan Wells is spending more time at fullback -- the Texans have talent and depth at running back. But they need Davis to be healthy and they'll want to see Morency and Hollings as much as possible in pre-season action.

"Everyone knows about Domanick," Palmer said. "I'm eager to see Morency go against other teams, and I want to see how much Hollings has grown. They've looked good so far, but until you start playing against other people, you never know for sure."

The good news?

Team officials know enough about Davis to sign him to the multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract extension he's wanted. According to reports out of Houston earlier this week, Davis, who earns the $380,000 league minimum for a third-year player, is expected to sign the extension soon.

Since money talks, it's safe to assume the Texans believe that Davis, one of just 13 players in the last 20 years to rush for at least 1,000 yards in their first two seasons, is a unique talent worthy a significant raise.

Now if they'd only realize the importance of putting the ball in his hands 25 times each week in an effort to make him enough of a threat to keep opposing defenses honest. In addition to making Fantasy owners very happy, they would also make it harder for opponents to keep Johnson in check.

It's safe to assume that opposing defensive coordinators will target the star receiver when they devise game plans. But in anticipation of that strategy, coaches are moving Johnson around in offensive formations to try to keep defenses from loading the coverage against him.

"Andre's a special player," Palmer told Houston Chronicle staffer John McClain this week. "God doesn't bless many with the kind of ability he has.

"You might have to go another couple of decades before you find another receiver with his combination of size, speed, strength and attitude. I've coached a lot of great receivers, and Andre's already the best of them all."

McClain reminded readers that this is Palmer's 16th season in the NFL, and he coached Drew Hill, Haywood Jeffires, Ernest Givins and Curtis Duncan with the Oilers. After he moved to New England, he coached Terry Glenn and Troy Brown early in their careers. As Jacksonville's offensive coordinator, Palmer's starting receivers were Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

"That makes me feel great, but it's something I can't let go to my head," Johnson said about Palmer's compliment. "It's great to be recognized with receivers of that caliber. Those guys played a lot of years. This is only my third season, so I can't compare myself to them until my career's over."

As McClain suggested, his reputation will continue to grow if his third season resembles his second.

"The sky's the limit as far as what he can do," receivers coach Kippy Brown said. "Not only does he have the size, strength and speed, but he also has the demeanor to be one of the best ever."

The 6-3, 219-pounder is only 24, so he has a long way to be mentioned with the greatest receivers in NFL history, but he is off to a terrific start. At this point in his career, Johnson has more catches (145) than Jerry Rice (135) at the same point, more yards (2,118) than Cris Carter (1,191) and more touchdowns (10) than Tim Brown (eight).

"One of the many things I like about Andre is that he won't back down from anyone," Brown said. "He can't be intimidated. He wants the ball but not in a selfish way. In clutch situations, he gets hungry for the ball."

As a result, Johnson has developed a special relationship with Carr.

"We've got a good rapport on the field, and we're good friends off the field," Carr said. "Playing with Andre is like having that favorite blanket when you were a kid. It's very comforting knowing I can count on him."

As opponents focus on Johnson, it'll be up to Carr to find ways to get him the ball.

"Defensive coordinators have to say we're not going to let Andre Johnson beat us," said head coach Dom Capers, a former defensive coordinator. "But great receivers like Andre still find ways to make plays.

"He's influenced a lot of games. Since we want to make big plays in the passing game, I imagine he'll influence a lot more."

Carr is taking shorter drops and getting rid of the ball quicker in an effort to avoid sacks, but the Texans still will use five- and seven-step drops and throw the ball long.

"I like the way the coaches are letting me move around," Johnson said. "We're still going to make big plays in the passing game. ..."

I couldn't agree more -- in large part because I'm also a firm believer in Johnson's theory that "a lot of people underestimate me because of my size. They see a guy who is 6-3 and 220 pounds and they don't think I can run, but I run with the best of them."

He'll get no arguments here.

Speed is king in the NFL and Johnson has been clocked as low as 4.34 in the 40-yard dash.

The only thing that trumps "fast" is "big and fast." If Carr and the rest of the offense can match his development, the sky is the limit for Johnson, who currently holds the title of my favorite size/speed freak. ...

In a few other Texans-related notes of interest. ...

No. 2 receiver Jabar Gaffney's recovery from shoulder surgery is important to the success of an offense that must take pressure off Johnson. "I hope to be ready by the first preseason game so I can get into a groove," Gaffney said Thursday. "I'm ready to get to work, take some licks on it and make sure I'm 100 percent."

There won't be any rush to get him those licks.

Gaffney, who had 41 catches and established career bests with 632 yards and a 15.4-yard average per catch. He's been relegated to limited action since two-a-days began last week. ...

Meanwhile, Bradford's numbers have steadily decreased ever since Johnson joined the Texans. Entering into this year, it even looked like Bradford would get moved behind Gaffney on the depth chart.

But Bradford, 29, is trying to hold on to his spot by putting together his best offseason in four years. According to the Sporting News, he doesn't have the upside of the younger Gaffney, but Bradford has been reliable for the Texans and a strong year from him would also work in Johnson's favor.

And don't count out the newcomer. ... Mathis' time of 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash was the fastest player at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 meters before suffering a hamstring injury.

And so far, he's impressed his teammates with his blazing speed.

"It kind of hurts a little bit," cornerback Dunta Robinson said. "To see a guy that could be faster than you, it makes you mad.

"He's probably the fastest receiver I've ever had to cover. So I think he's going to help us a lot this season. You hear about a lot of guys who run fast in the combine, but you really don't see it on the football field. But with him, he ran fast in the combine and he shows it on the football field. ..."

As fast as he is, it still might take Mathis some time to move ahead of Bradford and Armstrong, who many consider the most improved player on the roster.

According to TSN, Armstrong doesn't have top speed, but he plays fast and has terrific hands. He's a long shot to win a starting job, but he'll certainly get more opportunities than last season when he caught just 29 passes.