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In an article published Tuesday, the Associated Press suggested: "If the Houston Texans are to take the next big step forward in their third year of existence, two words are going to have to come out of David Carr's mouth more often: Go long."

The good news, according to Carr, is the franchise enters its third season with offensive coordinator Chris Palmer's playbook wide open.

"I think I'm just more comfortable with everything that's going on," Carr said. "I've been around this place so much and I know the guys. And there's a real good feeling when I go into the huddle that I know what I want to get done."

This is the first year Carr is likely to play with the same personnel in the spring, summer and fall. Barring injuries, the offense should be the same as last year -- other than free agent additions at right tackle (Todd Wade) and tight end (Mark Bruener).

Of course, Houston's offense will still start with the run. ... And well it should, given the return of a cohesive and talented offensive line, a pair of quality fullbacks, 1,000-yard rusher Domanick Davis and promising backup Tony Hollings.

But everybody involved seems to understand the need to go deep.

"I just feel like it's time to win some football games," Carr said. "I'm tired of being average; I'm tired of being called an expansion team. I just want to go out and compete for wins, championships, everything."

As the AP put it: "With Davis running, quick tight end Billy Miller confounding linebackers, and [Corey] Bradford and [Andre] Johnson able to outrun most defensive backs, there are many opportunities for an offense that hasn't done much in its first two seasons.

"The first year was a wash. Carr was sacked a record 76 times behind a makeshift offensive line, the running game never got going. Miller was the leading receiver and Bradford was stifled by double coverage."

However, this is a passing attack with tons of potential.

Among receivers with 20 or more catches (he had just 24), Bradford ranked fourth last year with a yards-per-catch average of 19.2. Nearly half of his catches went for more than 20 yards.

An offense where Bradford is more than just a decoy could do so much to open up chances for Davis to run and for Johnson to get more favorable coverage.

And if Bradford were to just catch three balls a game -- or twice his production of last year -- it could cause all sorts of problems for defensive coordinators already occupied by the other weapons.

But as ESPN insider John Clayton recently pointed out, the team's offensive success ultimately comes down to Carr.

According to Clayton: "Expansion teams always finish at the bottom of the stats during their first two seasons. The Texans are no different, finishing 32nd and 31st in offense the previous two years, respectively. The Texans revamped their blocking schemes to give them more thrust. Carr did his best in cutting down sacks from 76 to 15 last season.

"Now, he must work on getting his completion percentage into the 60s. It was 56.6 last year. He has to get his touchdown passes into the 20s. He had nine last season."

Carr believes he's ready to take that step.

"I've been around this place so much and I know the guys and there's a real good feeling when I go into the huddle that I know what I want to get done," he said.

Going deep definitely appears to be part of the plan. ...

Also of interest. ...

In an article published June 21, Pro Football Weekly reported that Davis and Hollings are earning praise for their preparation and development entering their second season, with Davis having added some needed muscle, according to position coach Chick Harris.

There is concern in some quarters that the 5-9, 216-pound Davis is not big and durable enough to be a full-time back, but Harris believes Davis has the stature and body type not unlike other backs in the league.

"I think any time you run the ball 20-25 times a game, you have a chance for injury," Harris said of Davis, who missed a pair of games in 2003. "I think what we have to do is monitor practice and what he does during the season so he can remain fresh throughout the season and cross our fingers on the injury factor."

PFW further noted that Hollings will spell Davis to start the season, but he has the physical skills to eventually challenge for a bigger role.

Hollings spent his rookie season working his way back into form after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at Georgia Tech in September 2002, but Harris reports the back is "more confident" about his knee because of offseason conditioning.

"Physically, he's stronger now, and he should kick into what type of player he's going to be this year," Harris said.

Hollings agrees.

"Right now I think I would be able to play a full game without my knee giving me any trouble," he told reporters early last month.

Team officials tested Hollings last preseason, giving him 41 carries. They backed off in the regular season and he finished with 38 carries for 102 yards.

"They were just wanting to bring me along slowly," he said. "It helped me out last year not playing as much."

Hollings said the biggest difference this year is he does not run with hesitation, worrying whether he is going to re-injure the knee. His burst around the corners has slowly returned and he doesn't feel discomfort after extensive workouts.

"I think my reaction time is getting down. I'm not worried about my knee. I think last year I was kind of timid and was thinking what I had to do. Now I just don't think about it. ..."

And finally. ...

According to Houston Chronicle staffer Carlton Thompson, Bennie Joppru, who missed his rookie season with an injured groin, figures to be a key member of the offense because it will regularly use three tight ends.

In case you missed it, Joppru suffered his injury during the first week of training camp and missed the entire preseason before undergoing surgery last August. A sports hernia also was discovered and required surgery.

After a rigorous rehab, Joppru has been cleared by team doctors and expects to be 100 percent by the July 30 start of training camp.

"I'm still definitely learning because I didn't get too much time last training camp," Joppru said. "It's a whole different thing than sitting in the classroom for a year and learning the plays rather than being out here running the plays."

Joppru was given a majority of the repetitions during recent mini-camps in an effort to catch up. Unlike a year ago when he entered camp in a competition with Miller for the starting job, Joppru is listed third on the depth chart behind Miller and Bruener.

"He's a young guy we're trying to get a lot of repetitions," head coach Dom Capers said. "He has to catch up, because he's basically a rookie."

Joppru said he has yet to experience any pain in the groin area, an encouraging sign as he gets ready to begin his 'first' season.

"I haven't felt any pain yet," he said. "Any time I've been scared to do something I've done it and haven't had any pain. I've been a little tentative with some things, but as soon as I do it I haven't had pain once. ..."

While it remains to be seen what role he ultimately chisels out, Joppru isn't without skills.

As Thompson put it: "Miller has the best hands among the tight ends, and Mark Bruener is the best blocker.

"But Joppru, though, might have the best combination of receiving and blocking ability."