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Gary Kubiak is a capable quarterback developer.

Much of Matt Schaub’s success is thanks to Kubiak’s mentoring. Say what you will about Sage Rosenfels, but he was a more valuable quarterback when the Texans dealt him away than when they got him. Rex Grossman’s year in Houston allowed him to revive his career as a backup and move on to Washington.

Dan Orlovsky, however, has been a dud. We hear from Kubiak about what a good camp he’s had and how a couple really bad decisions in preseason games aren’t enough to wash it away. But the fact is, as with the vast majority of teams, if the starter goes down the Texans are in trouble.

Enter Matt Leinart.

He won't cure anything now for the Texans -- he needs rebuilding. But Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp can work with Leinart behind the scenes and try to "fix" him. I think it starts with a combination of confidence and realization of the work that needs to be done, and I think they can do good work in those departments.

Seems to me it's not a particularly risky investment and could have a lot of upside. He surely didn't get big dollars. If they can turn him around, they’ll have a guy to bump Orlovsky down, or off, the depth chart.

If not, they'll have lost only a little money and time.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Could Dan Orlovsky prove a capable fill-in if Matt Schaub misses time?

Lost in Peyton Manning's fourth MVP season was the fact that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback didn’t even lead the AFC South in passing yardage. Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans actually led the NFL in that category, with 4,770 yards.

That number came about in part because of the Texans' run struggles, but it's still quite impressive.

Schaub played all 16 games last season, throwing all but nine of the team’s 592 quarterback passes. His backup, Rex Grossman, hit it off with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and followed Shanahan to Washington this offseason. That puts Orlovsky back in line to back up Schaub.

We’ll get a much better sense in training camp, but Orlovsky was shaky last summer. Several teams had coveted the former Detroit Lions veteran before he joined the Texans as a free agent. Grossman’s arrival and subsequent preseason performance bumped Orlovsky to No. 3.

But Texans coach Gary Kubiak is more at ease with Orlovsky as the backup now.

“Obviously, I’m more comfortable,” Kubiak told Houston media this week. “He’s a better player right now than he was last year. It’s a really big camp coming up for him, training camp and stuff. Dan’s had some chances in this league, and he’s got all of the tools that Matt has. The question is for him, ‘Does he continue to progress and get better?’”

Kubiak didn’t view Grossman’s move to No. 2 as a demotion for Orlovsky last summer, and said he really liked the way Orlovsky handled it.

“Really, what happened was that there were great expectations for him, and it wasn’t happening as fast,” Kubiak said. “I really, personally -- and I told Dan this, so it’s nothing new to him -- I really just thought it was about his standard in how he prepares and how he plays and how he practices. We’ve got one here for the quarterback. Our quarterback is going to play good. It just wasn’t happening at the same pace it should have.

“So we felt more comfortable with Rex, who had played in a lot of football games. Dan could have done one of two things. He could have sulked; he didn’t. He worked all year. He helped Matt, and he’s a better player because of it. I’m proud of the way he went about his business, and now it’s time for him to take off.”

That said, he offered no guarantee that Orlovsky is the No. 2. He’ll have to show them he’s ready and make sure they aren’t tempted by someone else who may end up on the market.

“It’s time to work, and what he has to do is he’s got to earn the respect from everybody,” Kubiak said. “If Matt is not practicing a day, he has to continue to have this football team practicing well. They’ve got to know if something happens to Matt, we still win. That’s your job as a backup quarterback.”

After a year as a well paid No. 3, it looks like it’s time for Dan Orlovsky to prove he’s capable of stepping in for Matt Schaub.

Adam Schefter reports that last year’s Texans No. 2 quarterback, unrestricted free agent Rex Grossman, has reunited with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washington.

That means Orlovsky is the backup unless the Texans make a move. Chris Simms would seem a possibility if they wanted a third quarterback with some experience. But Orlovsky got three years at $8.5 million last year in a deal that had second- and third-tier quarterbacks around the country doing cartwheels.

It’s time for him to give the team the confidence he was worth it.

Schaub did well to stay healthy last year, and need to do so again. He probably has graduated to the ranks of irreplaceable.

Houston Texans

Potential unrestricted free agents: CB Dunta Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, RB Chris Brown, DT Jeff Zgonina, G Chester Pitts, S Brian Russell, S Nick Ferguson, LS Bryan Pittman, LB Chaun Thompson, QB Rex Grossman, LB Khary Campbell, G Tutan Reyes, T Ephraim Salaam, P Matt Turk.

Potential restricted free agents: DL Tim Bulman, S John Busing, OT Rashad Butler, TE Owen Daniels, RB Ryan Moats, S Bernard Pollard, LB DeMeco Ryans, G Chris White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: I don’t think the Texans will jump out and make any monumental moves. But by deciding not to tag Robinson they created another hole and saved themselves big dollars. With needs at corner, running back, free safety, interior offensive line and defensive tackle they may have more than they can address in one draft. That means they could jump out for one significant free agent – like they did last year with defensive lineman Antonio Smith -- and maybe another less expensive one or two.

Indianapolis Colts

Potential unrestricted free agents: MLB Gary Brackett, K Matt Stover.

Potential restricted free agents: WR Hank Baskett, S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, OL Dan Federkeil, CB Aaron Francisco, LB Tyjuan Hagler, CB Marlin Jackson, CB Tim Jennings, DT Antonio Johnson, OT Charlie Johnson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DT Dan Muir, CBPR T.J. Rushing.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: Brackett is priority one and the team has indicated a plan to pay him as an upper-echelon guy. The restricted list includes a lot of key guys who will remain big factors next year. Indy is not a team that looks to bring in many outsiders for big roles and it won’t start now. Bill Polian’s said the Colts will sit back and see how things unfold in the new capless landscape.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Reggie Hayward, G Kynan Forney.

Potential restricted free agents: DT Atiyyah Ellison, LB Clint Ingram, DL Greg Peterson.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Jaguars are draft-reliant, but will also shop for bargains in free agency, hoping to plug a couple holes with high-character guys with upside who fit what they are doing. As for a big splash, it’s unlikely based on their recent busts with big-name free agents like Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence and the direction they’ve moved since.

Tennessee Titans

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, C Kevin Mawae, LB Keith Bulluck, TE Alge Crumpler, CB Nick Harper, CB Rod Hood, DE Jevon Kearse, S Kevin Kaesviharn.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball, DT Tony Brown, TE Bo Scaife, LB Stephen Tulloch, DT Kevin Vickerson, RB LenDale White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Titans will undergo a youth movement, especially on defense where Vanden Bosch and Bulluck, who’s recovering from ACL repair, are going to be allowed to walk. Mawae been told his only chance to return is as a backup at a backup price. Brown, Scaife and Tulloch are important guys they’ll want to retain. Beyond that, expect mostly bargain shopping.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let's assess his chances of landing in the AFC South.

Houston: Ideally you'd like a backup whose strength matches the starter's. That would be difficult with Tebow in Matt Schaub's offense. The team signed Dan Orlovsky to a pricey backup contract last year, then installed Rex Grossman as the No. 2 when he outplayed Orlovsky in camp. If they are especially active in free agency and whittle down their needs list, maybe they take a late flier on him. But with the crowd at quarterback, versatile Rice tight end James Casey selected in the fifth round last year and a reasonably long list of other priorities, Tebow does not seem like a fit.

Draft probability: Super low.

Indianapolis: A lot of analysts have used the Colts as an example of the sort of team Tebow needs to wind up with. In a stable, winning organization with no quarterback uncertainty, he would have the time to develop and find out whether he's a signal-caller or another niche. That's nice, but the Colts made the rare move of drafting a guy they hope to develop last year in Curtis Painter and then carried three quarterbacks until backup Jim Sorgi got hurt. Dallas Clark is one of the league's top-flight tight ends, and they already have great options out of the slot with Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez.

Draft probability: Low.

Jacksonville: The Jaguars drafted a quarterback with a slow wind-up at No. 7 overall in 2003 and Byron Leftwich has been gone a couple of years already. Tons of people automatically put Tebow in Jacksonville because he's a local guy who would be a huge story. But the Jaguars are not going to let their marketing people make their picks. They've swung and missed at a lot of Florida guys. They don't have a second-round pick because they traded it last year for a third-rounder (Derek Cox). They spent a sixth-rounder on quarterback-turned-tight end Zach Miller in 2009 and second-year GM Gene Smith needs another talented class that can contribute right away. All strikes against Tebow in my eyes. If he is to land in Jacksonville, it would have to be in the fourth round or later.

Draft probability: Low.

Tennessee: The Titans could well be in the market for a young backup to develop into an insurance policy behind Vince Young, but because they're dealing with a starter who's not a traditional pocket passer, I'd sure hope they'd think about a traditional pocket passer. If Tebow is to become some sort of H-back , perhaps he'd fit. But right now the Titans are expected to have Bo Scaife, Jared Cook and Craig Stevens around, with the possibility of Alge Crumpler too. The Titans have a lot of roster replenishing to do and lack a second-rounder from the trade that brought them Cook.

Draft probability: Low.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 14:

The Jaguars won’t come out and say so, and a high-pressure game isn’t new to them, but Sunday against Miami is a must win if they’re making the playoffs. If Jacksonville beats Miami and can win at Cleveland on the final Sunday of the season, losses to Indianapolis and at New England in between may be survivable. That would put them at 9-7 with an 8-4 AFC record. Maurice Jones-Drew has slowed a bit but did well when the Jags needed him to milk the clock late last week. He’ll need to be in playoff form for Jacksonville to win a game crucial to their playoff hopes. Tony Sparano hasn’t lost in December yet.

A perfect record is not the Colts’ goal, but clinching the best possible playoff situation is priority one. A win over Denver at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday does that, and securing home-field advantage through the playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season would be a remarkable feat. It would also mean the Colts set a new record with 22 consecutive regular-season wins and post their fourth 13-win season since Peyton Manning joined the team in 1998. From 1953-97, the Colts won 13 games in a season once -- in 1968 when they went 13-1 before losing to the Jets in Super Bowl III.

Weekly Chris Johnson update: With four games left, the Titans running back needs to average 123 yards a game to reach 2,000 yards rushing and needs 149 yards a game to get to Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105. Greetings, St. Louis run defense, which is yielding 146 yards a game. Looks like a perfect marriage to put us in position for another update next week, don’t you think?

Matt Schaub will play against Seattle with his left, non-throwing shoulder strapped up. The wrong kind of hit from the Seahawks defense could mean we see Rex Grossman. The Texans have been good at winning late in the season after playoff dreams dwindle. Do they keep that up and does it help Gary Kubiak’s job security? At the season’s start, how many people had these two teams -- both 5-7 -- as locks for the playoffs? I thought Seattle would bounce back and make it, wasn’t as sure about Houston.

Jacksonville plays who the league tells it to, when the league tells it to. But the Jaguars have built their record with seven wins over teams that don’t have a single winning record and currently have a .345 winning percentage (skewed by St. Louis). Meanwhile, they’ve lost to the only two winning teams they’ve faced -- Indianapolis and Arizona. The five teams that have beaten the Jags have a .583 winning percentage (skewed by Indy). Now Jacksonville can determine if the 6-6 Dolphins are a winning or losing team come Sunday night.

The suggestion, from Marc in parts unknown: For Further Review: People are talking about it less than I thought, so maybe this is a good Further Review subject: The first Texans offensive play when Schaub had his shoulder dislocated. The fact that the O-Line was overwhelmed by Jacksonville so quickly and decisively makes this a good play to look at even without the starting quarterback having his shoulder pop out in the bargain. It also represented a turning point in the game, since the next 15 minutes or so involved Rex Grossman making so many mistakes that I almost put my fist through the TV.

The situation: With 10:44 on the first quarter clock and the Jaguars up 3-0, the Texans face first-and-10 from their own 20-yard line.

Houston has Matt Schaub under center, with Vonta Leach and Chris Brown behind him in an I formation, a tight end on the right side of the line and one receiver on each side.

Jacksonville is in its base 4-3 with the linebackers bunched from hash mark to hash mark and less than four yards off the ball.

What I saw unfold after the snap: Left tackle Duane Brown lunges and winds up on the ground and Quentin Groves circles around him.

Right tackle Eric Winston also goes low in trying to block Derrick Harvey, who hurdles him.

The two ends are roughly as deep into the backfield as Schaub is when his back foot hits as he finishes his drop.

Groves gets two hands on him but slips off Schaub’s hips but as Schaub tries to move up in the pocket, Harvey finishes him off from behind for a one-yard sack. Schaub’s left shoulder pops out as a result of the way he lands.

Result: Schaub has to leave the game, and in relief Rex Grossman completes three of nine passes, throws a pick and posts a 5.6 passer rating. The Jaguars lead 17-0 by the time Schaub is able to return to the field in the middle of the second quarter.

Ultimate outcome: The Jaguars’ 23-18 win gets them to 7-5 and keeps them in control of the final AFC playoff spot while Houston is all but eliminated as it falls to 5-7. Harvey’s first sack of the season proves big. The fact that he and Groves were able to combine on a key pass pressure on their first snap of the game bodes well for a team that’s struggled with pass pressure.

Rex Grossman is in at quarterback for the Texans in Jacksonville after Matt Schaub suffered a left shoulder injury on a sack by Derrick Harvey.

For all of the Texans' troubles this season, one issue coming into the year had not surfaced for them: Schaub’s health.

But now what’s left of their playoff hopes may rest with Grossman, who was expected to be the third quarterback behind Schaub and Dan Orlovsky when he signed, but worked his way ahead of Orlovsky with his preseason performance.

Now we’ll see what the former Bear has left. Jacksonville has to be pleased it’s not facing Schaub any longer.

[UPDATE: Schaub returned in the second quarter.]

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The quarterback news so far Wednesday from Tennessee isn’t about who will start Sunday in Jacksonville.

It’s that John David Booty, who tried out for Houston on Tuesday, became a member of the Titans’ practice squad.

The Titans are practicing right now. As they sort out first-team reps in a week when owner Bud Adams has reportedly instructed coach Jeff Fisher to start Young ahead of Kerry Collins, odds are they felt they needed scout-team assistance.

Fisher started the season with three quarterbacks on the roster, but the Titans cut Patrick Ramsey after three games.

Houston was likely updating contingency plans when it had Booty in for a look with a large group featuring quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends.

With Rex Grossman as the backup to Matt Schaub and No. 3 Dan Orlovsky in the first year of a lucrative deal, it’s hard to imagine the Texans making any changes at the position.

The Titans had made room for Booty Tuesday by cutting running back Lance Ball from the practice squad.

The other players Houston looked at: receiver Dallas Baker, tight end Carson Butler, receiver Patrick Carter, former Titans receiver Chris Davis, quarterback Bobby Reid and tight end Dezmond Sherrod.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Matt Schaub took half the reps at Texans practice Tuesday, but the bigger quarterback news was about his backup.

Grossman

As much as the team likes Dan Orlovsky, and as much as it paid him, Gary Kubiak and his staff have made the prudent decision and given Rex Grossman the No. 2 job.

“Rex Grossman will be our No. 2 going into the game,” Kubiak told Houston reporters. “I talked to both those young men today. I think they both need to get ready to play. Obviously, Matt has hobbled, so they both have got to be ready to go. As I told Dan and Rex, I just said, 'I’m leaning towards Rex’s experience and the way he’s handled himself and handled the team the other night.' I’m kind of drawing from what I’ve seen him do in the past and I’m just very comfortable with him right now. So as we get started, Rex will be the two. ...

“It was very difficult for one of them and of course one of them is very happy. That’s just the nature of the business. I told Dan that I expect him to be ready to go. It doesn’t mean we are this way the entire season. You never know, but this is the way I feel like we should start and I expect Rex to handle it like a pro and step up. I expect Dan to handle it like a pro and get better every day out here.”

While Grossman played very well in the preseason finale against Tampa Bay, he showed during his term in Chicago that he can be very good or very bad. If he were to be called on to take over for Schaub, who hurt his ankle in the preseason finale, and was Bad Grossman, the turnover problems that have plagued the Texans could resurface.

But Good Grossman would give the team a chance, and the Texans are feeling pretty good about the odds of seeing him if they have to turn to the bench.

Posted by ESPN's Paul Kuharsky

Houston Texans

• Richard Justice welcomes Dunta Robinson back and says he makes everybody better.
• Rex Grossman is fired up that Gary Kubiak called the backup quarterback competition even, says John McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

• The Colts' success is usually built on a hot start and a roll as the hunted team, writes Phil Richards.
• Jim Caldwell is a meticulous note taker, says Phil Richards.
• Bob Kravitz has the Colts going 12-4 and not losing a division game.
• Five things the Colts must do to regain control of the division, from John Oehser.
• Oehser’s roster analysis.
• The Colts signed safety Aaron Francisco, claimed linebacker Glenn Cody and cut safety Matt Giordano, says Mike Chappell. I'm sad to see Giordano go so soon after he helped me out with this.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• GM Gene Smith decided to go with newcomer Cade Luke McCown as the lone backup quarterback, leading Michael C. Wright to wonder about what happens if David Garrard gets hurt in the opener.
• Maurice Jones-Drew is the face of the franchise, says Wright.
• The Jaguars’ ticket troubles are a national story, says Vito Stellino.
• Smith’s work as GM so far has been nothing if not bold, says Vic Ketchman of jaguars.com.
• The Mike Smith connection: Brian Williams, cut by Jacksonville, signs with Atlanta.
• A cutdown analysis from Jonathan Loesche.

Tennessee Titans

• LenDale White doesn’t regret stomping and would stomp again, he said in a discussion of the Terrible Towel controversy of 2008. Jim Wyatt and Terry McCormick both wrote it. Warped logic from White that he can buy whatever house he’s in. Unless he got a bonus I don’t know about, I’m pretty sure he couldn’t afford Heinz Field.
• Chris Hope doesn’t know what to expect in his first trip back to Pittsburgh, says Gary Estwick.
• Quinton Ganther’s injury was significant, says Wyatt.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Keith in North Carolina writes: Fantasy Question: Who had the edge for third WR in Indy? I drafted Garcon b/c he's a speedy edge player. But will Austion Collie have more of a fantasy impact as a Brandon Stokley type possession guy? Who would be better to have if Wayne or Gonzalez goes down?

Paul Kuharsky: I can't say. I think the Colts are going to use both, but my sense is Collie is really going to be in the slot. So Garcon will be more equipped to be outside in a two-receiver set.

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Matthew Roberts in Albuquerque, NM writes: Hey Paul - is there any reason why Jax wouldn't consider getting in on the Marshall sweepstakes? The receiver position has been a thorn in their sides for years. Will the draft picks they used on their offensive line this year and assuming Monroe and Britton won't be busts, they could have a pretty potent offense for years to come. On the flip side, he does seem like a prima donna and I'm sure they still have a bad taste in their mouths from Porter last year, but the latter was a stupid move. Marshall seems like he's going to be high caliber for a long time to come. Best Regards, Matt

Paul Kuharsky: You answer your own question. Part of the reason it's been a bad spot for them is because of the kind of guys they had. Having just cleaned out Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Jerry Porter, another -- if different and more talented -- problem child is not what they need to cure their ills.

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Lance in Spartnaburg, SC writes: Should I not get overly excited about Edison's performance on Thursday or did we get a gift late in the draft...there were a couple of really nice adjustments.

Paul Kuharsky: Yeah, remain calm.

Dominique Edison has been good and dependable. But the Titans have had other rookies fit that MO before who haven’t gotten a lot of chances or done well with the ones they got.

With Titans' receivers, it's best to always be cautiously optimistic at most. If this team is healthy, Justin Gage, Nate Washington, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, Bo Scaife and Chris Johnson -- in no particular order -- should all rank ahead of Edison as pass catchers. And I'd be careful being too high too soon on Britt too.

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Ryan in Brownstown, Jamaica writes: Is there any way that Sage can end up back in Houston?

Paul Kuharsky: Seems highly unlikely to me. And I'd think Minnesota would look to move Tarvaris Jackson, not Rosenfels, since the Vikings have now acquired two different quarterbacks they wanted to replace Jackson. But you might ask Kevin Seifer over at NFC North HQ.

Houston made a pretty good investment in Dan Orlovsky, I think he'll get a lot of time to break habits and learn what they want. And Rex Grossman is an up and down guy who's up right now.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Biggest surprise: Safety John Busing was a playmaker and a big hitter all preseason, and he came in at a position where the Texans added only a late draft pick, Troy Nolan, who’s on IR. Busing played in 27 games with the Bengals over the last three years, but the little-known undrafted player out of Miami (Ohio) has worked primarily as a special teamer and could be a key teams player for the Texans. Underdog receiver Glenn Martinez also stuck.

No-brainers: With Rex Grossman’s performance in the preseason finale, Dan Orlovsky’s shaky, up-and-down performance through camp and Matt Schaub’s capacity for getting dinged, the Texans are well-served to keep three quarterbacks. Grossman certainly ranks as one of their best 53 right now, and could be better suited to be the backup at the start while the team rebuilds Orlovsky.

What's next: They need veteran cornerback Dunta Robinson to sign his franchise tag and join the team, and if it means negotiating incentives that would free him from the possibility of a second tag next year, they should meet him partway on those. Also, while Antonio Smith will kick inside sometimes, the interior defensive line was not good in the preseason. The team has to at least consider whether the right outsider couldn't rank ahead of Frank Okam or DelJuan Robinson, though the team has invested a lot of time and energy in developing them. And how much does Jeff Zgonina, in his 16th year, have left?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky

Jim Irsay is seventh, Bob McNair sixth in the second installment of Mike Silver’s annual owner rankings.

Pete Prisco assesses the division and likes the Colts to win it.

Houston Texans

Rex Grossman sparkled in the Texans’ preseason finale, says John McClain.

Jerome Solomon believes Grossman should back up Matt Schaub.

Jacoby Jones had a big night after hearing speculation he could be in trouble, writes McClain.

Eugene Wilson’s agent doesn’t think $10,000 fine for Brett Favre’s crack back block was big enough, reports Mark Berman.

Indianapolis Colts

Dante Hughes was among the first Colts to be notified he was cut, reports Mike Chappell.

John Oehser takes one last stab at predicting the final 53 and says linebacker may be the toughest call.

What Deshawn Zombie learned in the preseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars face tough choices on the line at receiver and started cuts with long-time long snapper Joe Zelenka, says Michael C. Wright.

Zelenka was a rock of dependability, says Gene Frenette.

Wayne Weaver: “I want to be realistic -- we won't have a full stadium this year. We will not. This economy has just affected too many families.” Kevin Turner’s story.

How the practice squad works, for Vic Ketchman of jaguars.com.

Tennessee Titans

Jim Wyatt reports on a big share of the Titans' cuts.

Chris Henry is getting $420,000 whether he is on the team or not, reports Wyatt. If they let that be a factor for a guy who’s time is up they are making a mistake, opines Paul Kuharsky.

Casey Cramer handles the bad news, says Gary Estwick.

Mike Heimerdinger is safe, says Joe Biddle.

Kevin Dyson and Blaine Bishop preview the Pittsburgh game, from Titans Radio. (Audio.)

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The Texans are a patient team, and all indications from them have been they like Dan Orlovsky and believe he can develop into a solid system fit as Matt Schaub’s backup.

Grossman

But because their starter has a tendency to miss games -- cheap shots at the root of the problem or not -- their backup spot is extra important.

It’s why they need to keep three quarterbacks. Early on if they’ve got to fill in for Schaub, it sure looks like Rex Grossman (passer rating in a meaningless game in Tampa: 139.8) would be better equipped to play than Orlovsky. Grossman was assertive and confident in what I saw of the Texans preseason finale, his first work after a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason opener.

Orlovsky, who appears clumsy at times, is still clearly sorting things out, breaking old habits and purging himself of the Detroit experience. (Passer rating in Tampa: 52.4.) It’s understandable that he needs more time.

While he gets it, Grossman’s got to be part of the plan, I think.

A few other thoughts on the Texans’ finale, a 27-20 win over the Bucs, as they prepare to make cuts:

• Receiver Jacoby Jones had a big game and while they tried to light a fire with him by suggesting his roster spot was in jeopardy, I will be surprised if he’s cut.
• Safety John Busing had an interception and was a playmaker all preseason. I consider safety a huge position of concern and don’t believe the Texans have enough guys better than Busing to let him go.
• Is the turnover message still not getting through? Houston lost two fumbles and threw a pick against the Bucs. Silver lining: four take-aways.