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Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Image 2 of 13 Q: How much better can the Texans be in 2015? As important as the quarterback solution is, this is an equally difficult answer. The Texans have star defensive end J.J. Watt, Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, a strong defense and an at times dynamic offense that randomly broke through in 2014. They’re well-disciplined, well-coached and spent all season staying in games. They also lack speed, are thin at skill positions and haven’t drafted well in two consecutive years. If the organization doesn’t find a QB who can singlehandedly change and win games, it’s easy to see the 2015 team being average, at best. The Texans’ schedule will be tougher. Opponents will have a year’s worth of O’Brien game tape. Age (Andre Johnson, Foster) and reality (the potential decline of linebacker Brian Cushing) may bring an overachieving 2014 team back to earth. The Texans need to be as aggressive as possible during free agency, draft well for the first time in three years and refuse to settle for 9-7. The NFL is set up for teams to go 8-8 every year. The Texans have never been anything close to great. To take the next step, they can’t fall backward during O’Brien’s second season. less Q: How much better can the Texans be in 2015? As important as the quarterback solution is, this is an equally difficult answer. The Texans have star defensive end J.J. Watt, ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 13 Q: Has Johnson played his last game as a Texan? No way. Maybe. Check back in a few months. It’s easy to accept Johnson as the greatest, longest-tenured Texan: 12 seasons, 1,012 catches, a career’s worth of riveting football memories. It’s also easy to gloss over the fact that Johnson’s often been at odds with a franchise that’s never lived up to his or fans’ expectations. In one year, Johnson said the Texans might not be the place for him anymore, dreamed about visiting an island to get away from Houston, acknowledged he understood he might need to take a pay cut in 2015 and said he hopes to play 15 years – all in blue and red – and retire as a Texan. That’s a lot of drama for a humble, low-key, team-first receiver. Even with the NFL salary cap expected to rise to about $140 million, Johnson’s $16.1 million figure at age 34 and in Year 13 is simply too high. If both sides are reasonable, Johnson will remain in Houston and be the lifetime Texan that McNair teased years ago. If one side mistakes vanity for pride, Johnson’s final game as a Texan will have been Sunday against lowly Jacksonville, when he proved he’s still a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout -- even with a No. 4 QB throwing the ball. less Q: Has Johnson played his last game as a Texan? No way. Maybe. Check back in a few months. It’s easy to accept Johnson as the greatest, longest-tenured Texan: 12 seasons, ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 13 Q: Is Clowney a bust? No. Maybe. To be determined. Clowney’s rookie season was a waste. The South Carolina defensive end didn’t learn how to play linebacker and the sight of the 6-5, 266-pounder trying to run backward while figuring out how to cover a tight end in real time didn’t exactly scream once-in-a-generation talent. The Texans’ two-gap, 3-4 defense doesn’t fit Clowney’s best asset: He’s a pass-rusher, pure and simple. Then there’s this: He played in just four games in 2014, recording five tackles and no sacks. And this: He struggled with injuries all season (sports hernia, concussion, knee) and ended his washout year with microfracture surgery. O’Brien stood by Clowney all year. Now, Clowney will have to stand up for himself. He was blessed with unreal natural talent. He also can be a goofball and has been criticized by everyone from Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier to Twitter haters. Clowney needs luck and good health during his comeback. He also needs to prove that he truly loves football and wants to spend the next decade living up to his hype. less Q: Is Clowney a bust? No. Maybe. To be determined. Clowney’s rookie season was a waste. The South Carolina defensive end didn’t learn how to play linebacker and the sight ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 13 Image 6 of 13 Q: Who’s finger is on the power switch at NRG Stadium? Cal McNair, Bob’s son and Texans chief operating officer, immediately shot down a report last weekend about Smith losing his GM role. O’Brien went 9-7 in his first year, entered the season with juice and has only gained power in Year One. From the outside in, the Texans have mostly run a smooth, clean organization since their 2002 inception. They’ve also never been a real Super Bowl contender and completely cleaned house just a year ago. The Texans don’t have to shake things up again to take a step forward next year. But a franchise that has often been too complacent for its own good may need a few more tweaks before it can take the leap toward being an annual contender. less Q: Who’s finger is on the power switch at NRG Stadium? Cal McNair, Bob’s son and Texans chief operating officer, immediately shot down a report last weekend about Smith ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 7 of 13 Q: Is the great Cushing gone? Maybe. Hopefully not. Check back next year. Cushing was one of the premier linebackers in the NFL from 2009-11. That was three years ago. The six-year veteran entered 2014 coming off back-to-back season-ending knee surgeries. He was never dominant and rarely himself, missing two games while recording 72 tackles and one sack. In 2011, Cushing collected 114 tackles and four sacks. The fact that Cushing was consistently taken off the field during passing situations on third down said everything about his 2014 decline. But how much of Cushing’s fall can be attributed to a “healing” year and how much is proof that he’s actually lost it? The Texans’ medical staff and front office must determine what’s left football-wise of the No. 15 overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft. If Cushing can return to form, he’s a major asset and pairs with Watt as the heart and soul of the team’s 3-4 defense. If Cushing has actually lost it, a six-year, $55.6 million contract extension signed September 2013 – a deal that followed his first knee surgery and featured $21 million in guaranteed money – will become one of the worst contracts in franchise history. less Q: Is the great Cushing gone? Maybe. Hopefully not. Check back next year. Cushing was one of the premier linebackers in the NFL from 2009-11. That was three years ago. The ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 13 Q: When will the real O’Brien offense arrive? When a real quarterback does. Last summer, the promise of a streamlined, multifaceted offense rivaled Clowney-hype as the dominant storyline during training camp. When the real games began, the Texans were often more conservative than the frustratingly conservative Gary Kubiak toward the end of his tenure. But O’Brien’s offense opened up under Mallett and Keenum – Wildcat, anyone? – and briefly blossomed during Fitzpatrick’s second go-around. Given a year to finesse and fine-tune, the Texans’ attack should be sleeker and more thrilling in 2015. But it will take a game-smart, efficient yet dangerous QB to turn O’Brien’s system into the Texans’ version of something close to his New England magic. less Q: When will the real O’Brien offense arrive? When a real quarterback does. Last summer, the promise of a streamlined, multifaceted offense rivaled Clowney-hype as the ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 9 of 13 Q: Is this the best Foster will be? The former undrafted rookie has made the Pro Bowl four times in six seasons and, when healthy, rivaled Dallas’ DeMarco Murray as the best running back in the league this season. The key: when healthy. Foster, 28, missed three games due to injury and barely made an impact in two others. While runners get pounded weekly and Foster long ago proved he’s willing to play through pain, this marks back-to-back seasons he’s been fragile at critical times. Rookie Alfred Blue was a sixth-round steal but didn’t prove he’s a No. 1 back. The Texans need Foster for a full season in 2015 if they’re going to improve on 9-7 in Year Two. less Q: Is this the best Foster will be? The former undrafted rookie has made the Pro Bowl four times in six seasons and, when healthy, rivaled Dallas’ DeMarco Murray as the best ... more Photo: Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery Image 10 of 13 Image 11 of 13 Q: When will the Texans use their tight ends again? What are tight ends? For all of the good the Texans accomplished in 2014, it’s still unthinkable that Garrett Graham only caught 18 balls and the team’s tight ends combined for just 32 catches. Foster had 38. Sigh. The Patriots lived off tight ends during O’Brien’s tenure in New England. The Texans figuring out how to use their ends -- and a drive-changing slot receiver -- in 2015 would be almost as welcome of sight as Keenum going 2-0 as a starter this year. less Q: When will the Texans use their tight ends again? What are tight ends? For all of the good the Texans accomplished in 2014, it’s still unthinkable that Garrett Graham only ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 12 of 13 Q: Will O’Brien smile more in Year Two? Hopefully not. The first-year coach was advertised as Bill Belichick 2.0. He broke the mold during training camp and only became more impressive and intriguing as the weeks mounted. O’Brien can be funny, witty and highly sarcastic when he’s in the mood. He also can growl, scream and stare down anything wasting time in his path when he’s feeling feisty. The Texans needed an overhaul. O’Brien washed out NRG Stadium, then immediately made his team look and feel tougher. O’Brien is real. He’s himself. He got this far by alternately frowning and grinning. He shouldn’t change now, just because he’s reached 9-7. less Q: Will O’Brien smile more in Year Two? Hopefully not. The first-year coach was advertised as Bill Belichick 2.0. He broke the mold during training camp and only became more ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 13 of 13 Ex-Texans coach Gary Kubiak set to interview with NY Jets 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

Gary Kubiak helped keep the Texans out of the 2014 playoffs. Now the ex-Texans coach has another shot at a big-time gig.

Kubiak, Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, is set to interview for the New York Jets’ coaching job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Houston-born Kubiak held a 61-64 record during eight seasons leading the Texans. The team reached 12-4 in 2012 and totaled two playoff victories during his tenure. An NFL-worst 2-14 mark in 2013 ended his run.

The Ravens ranked eighth out of 32 teams in the league in average points (25.6) and rushing yards (126.2) this season, while finishing 12th in total yards (364.9) and 13th in passing (238.7).

Baltimore, which finished 10-6, travels to Pittsburgh on Saturday for an AFC wild-card game.

The Ravens knocked the Texans out of the playoffs by rallying to beat Cleveland last Sunday.