Carr transforming into Texans’ leader

LEARNINGTOBETHEMAN — As Houston Texans quarterback David Carr (above) enters his fourth season, he has transformed into the team’s leader on the field, as well as the face of the franchise. HOUSTON (AP) — As the first draft pick of the Houston Texans, David Carr immediately became the face of the team, the guy most responsible for whatever success they did or didn’t have.

He knew that and was ready to accept the challenge. He wasn’t, however, ready to be the team’s leader — and he refused to be pushed into the role.

But now, as he prepares for his fourth season wizened by his first three, Carr is willing to proclaim the Texans as his team.

“It’s not something that you can just take, it’s something you’ve got to earn,” Carr said. “You show you can play and then you feel like you can open your mouth a little bit more and say some things. I feel like going into my fourth year, I understand what it takes to win a football game.

“So when I do open my mouth, guys listen.”

Although being the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft gave Carr some leverage, he wasn’t ready to use it as a rookie in a locker room filled with veterans. Besides, he wouldn’t have had to speak up had Tony Boselli been healthy.

Boselli, an offensive lineman, was the club’s top pick in the expansion draft and would’ve been the veteran anchor. But he was injured and ended up retiring without playing a down in Houston. Still, he was around long enough to try encouraging Carr to take over.

“I didn’t really want to say anything because half the time I didn’t know if I was right when I did open my mouth,” Carr said. “Then the next part was I didn’t know if they would actually listen if I did say something.”

Forty-four games later, Carr knows what he’s talking about now.

He’s taken Houston from four wins to five to seven, a steady climb that has raised playoff hopes for this season. The rise also has helped Carr feel as comfortable his fourth year in Houston as he did as a fifth-year senior at Fresno State.

“I just have the feeling I always wanted to have,” he said. “I feel like if this feeling could have happened in month three of my first year, it would have been great. But obviously it’s something that has to take some time.”

Carr began asserting himself in the first team meeting before minicamp. He stood up and addressed the offense, giving words of encouragement and laying out his expectations.

At training camp, he leads the team stretching exercises before workouts and is often seen taking players aside to lend advice or give encouragement.

“He’s the quarterback, so he’s always been the leader and always will be the leader,” said offensive guard Chester Pitts, also entering his fourth season. “But this year he really stepped up and showed that he really wants it and is taking it now.”

Carr thinks he’s a more effective leader because he sat back and absorbed things. He also thinks teammates know him well enough to understand that when he says something, they should listen.

“I’m never going to be a guy that’s in your face,” he said. “I’m not just going to open my mouth to feed my own ego or just bark at guys. I’m going to do it for a reason — to try to get our team better.”

Regardless of how cool and confident Carr feels, none of it will matter if the line can’t do a better job of keeping him on his feet.

Carr was sacked a league-high 49 times last season. He’s been taken down 140 times in his career, including an NFL-record 76 times in 2002.

Coach Dom Capers feels like the line has improved even though it’s virtually unchanged. He is toying with the idea of starting offseason acquisition Victor Riley at left tackle over incumbent Seth Wand.

Here’s another sign of Carr’s leadership: He is the line’s biggest fan.

Despite the sacks, Carr improved his numbers drastically in 2004.

His quarterback rating was 83.5, up from 69.5 in 2003. He also was more accurate, leading to a career-best 16 touchdown passes, seven more than the previous year. It also was the first time he had more TDs than interceptions.

“There are some great athletes out here, so why should we be average when we do our jobs that we get paid to do?” Carr said. “We’ve got to go out and try to win some games.”

AP Photo