A lot of people wonder if these games matter. Well, if you're trying to make an NFL team as a player ..... you darned tootin' they matter. But, if you're a veteran and concerned about getting injured odds are you're voting against playing these games.

Still the fact is ..... NFL teams need pre-season games to not only shake out the roster before the regular season ..... but also to get their regulars used to the "high speed" action that comes when the 1st teamers on one team takes on the 1st teamers of the other. As much as coaches try to simulate those conditions in practice it's never the same. Still, while many veterans only begrudgingly admit pre-season games are important, Texans running back Ahman Green takes a different view. It's very important for guys. And even though I'm not in much, I'm taking every play like I'm playing all four quarters, so I can mentally get myself ready."

This game will be a significant test for many players on the Texans' roster. New quarterback Matt Schaub, of course, wants to show well in his first pre-season start with his new team. He wants to prove he can run this offense better than the guy before him that wore the #8 jersey, David Carr. Jerome Mathis wants to prove to his coaches that he deserves to be on this team and can perform well at both receiver and kick returner. Punter Chad Stanley is in the competition of his life with free agent Matt Turk. Turk is an impressive physical speciman ....and watching the two in practice .... Turk clearly has the stronger leg. His only problem has been consistancy ...which is Stanley's forte'. This will be a fun battle to watch for fans .... not so fun for the punters involved. Defensively I'm really not worried about the Texans' 1st round pick from this year, Amobe Okoye, I'm impressed with the surge he gets in the middle during practice .... and I believe he'll be a force this year. The defensive guy I'm going to watch closely is #90 Mario Williams. This guy is an incredibly gifted athlete .....but he has yet to prove on the playing field that he can live up to his billing ..when he was picked number-one overall in the draft.

Those are just some of the things I'll be looking for Saturday night. I'm really looking forward to contest ..... because it means that football season is actually here!!

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