On Saturday, the Houston Texans showed us all why coaching staffs often receive too much of the blame for perennial failures on the gridiron.  In its infinite wisdom, the Houston camp selected defensive end Mario Williams, the undisputed top defensive player in the draft, over Reggie Bush, the undisputed top prospect since Barry Sanders.

            I won't pretend I know who made the decision, why it was made, or whether the new coaching staff had anything to say about it, but I will say that the front office should always be held responsible for draft picks, regardless of how much input the coaching staff may have.

            Considering Houston only won two games last season, and given Dominic Davis' history of nagging injuries, one might think the Texans would be salivating at the prospect of landing quite possibly one of the most talented football players in history, and one who could single-handedly win them at least two more games next year (and that's a conservative estimate).

            But defense wins championships, right?  Pittsburgh, New England, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay all did it with defense.  And look at the pathetic Chargers, Chiefs, and Colts: teams which have had vibrant offensive schemes for years and yet not managed to make it to the big game.  I can just see Houston's front office personnel, thinking how brilliant they are for passing up the temptation of Reggie Bush for the more "mature" defensive strategy; "we want to win Super Bowls, not just division titles," they say.

            But wait a minute.  The Texans only won two games last season.  They're a far cry from a .500 record, let alone a Super Bowl.  As much as you may want to knock the Colts for not winning the AFC title over the past six years, they have been among the NFL's best, consistently finishing atop their division and playing some very exciting playoff football again some of the best teams in the league.  It's hard not to call that successful.

            Furthermore, one outstanding defensive player, or even an entire draft crop of them, will not help Houston win more games next year to buy the new coaching staff some necessary time and patience.  Coaches are often scapegoats for buisness mistakes made by incompetent front office personnel (see Matt Millen, Detroit Lions GM).  Reggie Bush could help take some pressure off the coaches while they build the defense, while generating local excitement, fan support, and ticket sales.  

           Defense does win championships, but only as an entire unit, and that unit takes time to build.  Meanwhile, a player like Reggie is not only a great offensive asset for the future, but also a great public-relations distraction for right now, while a team like Houston is building a defense for him.  Quietly, without garnering much attention, the Texans could build a world-class defensive unit for a reasonable price without worrying about impatient fans or ownership.  Reggie Bush would steal the show.

            All that matters for Houston is winning more games each year to show improvement.  Reggie Bush would further that goal immediately, regardless of how many points the Texans allow.  Chances are they'll be able to take a stud defender next year anyway.  And as for winning division titles, I'm sure everyone in the Colts organization will tell you that's better than going 2-14, even if you lose in the playoffs every year.

            Yes, the Steelers won with defense, and without a so-called franchise running back.  But the Steelers also showed what a great defense could be built from draft picks after the first round.  And Jerome Bettis was the franchise running back.  It just took his whole career to win the Super Bowl!

            The Texans did not need to snub the greatest prospect in decades for the sake of defense.  They had the top pick in most every round, and Dominick Davis would not have been hard to trade if Reggie pushed him out of a starting job.  Instead, Houston's front office has basically dug a hole for the new coaching staff.  There's no way Mario Williams has the kind of impact next year that will actually result in the Texans giving up fewer points.  Reggie Bush could at least help them outscore some opponents.

            Now Houston is no better off (in terms of immediate winning capability) than they were at the end of last season.  Andr