The joint was flat.Given the setup -- the Texans' preseason opener, Monday Night Football, and at le...

1. Ex-Longhorn Ogbonnaya turns in big day with Texans
The joint was flat.
Given the setup -- the Texans' preseason opener, Monday Night Football, and at least one legitimate
Super Bowl contender on the field -- it was hard to fathom. Yet Reliant Stadium, with an announced
attendance of 70,511, was stale, devoid of any buzz.
Unfortunately, the actual play was equally listless.
Matt Schaub, who has completed 65 percent of his passes during his seven years in the NFL,
overthrew a wide-open Owen Daniels on the second drive. A rookie named Greg McElroy was under
center for the Jets to start the second quarter in relief of GQ cover boy Mark Sanchez.

2. Energy was lacking Monday, so Chris Ogbonnaya did what any resourceful free-agent running back
from the University of Texas trying to impress his hometown team's coaching staff might do: He
created some.
Not an inordinate amount, mind you. Maybe not even enough to guarantee a spot in a decidedly
crowded position. But a jolt nonetheless that provided a lift in the Texans' 20-16 victory and left him
(still) in lofty standing with Gary Kubiak.
"Hopefully I can do enough to make a statement," Ogbonnaya said.
The numbers won't overwhelm -- 17 rushes for 37 yards, one touchdown; six receptions for 67 yards,
one touchdown -- but his 1-yard scoring plunge with 1:56 left accounted for the final margin.
And isn't that what the preseason is about? Players on the fringe seizing an opportunity dangling out
there? Capitalizing on promise? Few others were able to do the same -- rookie free-agent wide
receiver Lestar Jean (two receptions for 53 yards) flashed some of the athleticism the coaches have
raved about late in the fourth quarter, setting up Ogbonnaya's heroics with a 28-yard reception -- so
credit must be given where it's due.
"He was a warrior," Schaub said. "There weren't many other guys to go in and play his position, so
he really just strapped it on and played hard all night. He made some big plays for us in the pass
game as well as the run game. ... He played really big tonight."
Ogbonnaya carried a total of 140 times at UT. At halftime, he had 12, one more than he had in 11/2
seasons with St. Louis. Down to two healthy running backs after Derrick Ward -- starting in place of
Arian Foster, who was nursing a strained hamstring -- left in the first quarter with a head injury,
Ogbonnaya was forced to shoulder the load.
"Some guys go down, somebody has to step up," Ogbonnaya said. "That's my job right now."
So there was Ogbonnaya, resembling Foster on an 8-yard gain to the left side late in the second
quarter, making the first Jet miss on a nifty spin move. There weren't many running lanes -- outside

3. of that dash and a 15-yard scamper just before the two-minute warning in the first half, most of his
runs were for a yard or no gain.
But, like Foster, he was proficient in the passing game, working magic with backup quarterback
Matt Leinart on play action. In the second quarter, he rumbled 29 yards on one catch and 4 yards for
a touchdown (his first) on the ensuing drive, giving the Texans a 10-3 lead.
Given an opportunity, he pounced.
"I go to practice every day with that mindset -- do something to make this team and help make this
team better," said Ogbonnaya, who played Monday in front of his father, sister and girlfriend.
Understand, he's not Foster -- even though he mimicked the 2010 rushing champ's touchdown bow
celebration following his score, drawing laughter from Foster. There might not be another story like
that. Ogbonnaya's tale is compelling enough -- in part, two of his brothers died in 2002 and the
Strake Jesuit graduate played fullback/third-down back in Austin -but his most likely scenario is to
stick on the practice squad here or maybe on an active roster elsewhere.
He's a long shot, but he's also what makes the preseason fascinating.
Boring? Maybe. But fascinating nonetheless.
jeffrey.martin@chron.com
www.twitter.com/JayMart

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