Training camp is finally here and FanHouse breaks down the most important position battles heading into the season, team by team.

Over Gary Kubiak's last two seasons, the Texans have tried to piece together a running game using players that no other team really wanted. They haven't had much of a choice given all the needs of the team and limited salary cap money. Once again this year, the Texans have a group of running backs that few other teams would covet, but they are hoping to get away with it with offensive line guru Alex Gibbs joining the team.

I follow the Texans closer than what is probably mentally advisable, and I have little idea who is going to be the Texans leading rusher this upcoming year. Last year, it was Ron Dayne. Really. The ugliest looking 4.0 YPC average in the league. I know it won't be Ron Dayne this year, unless some how everybody gets hurt and Dayne gets re-signed. (apologies for any mental distress and/or gastrointestinal upset that this last paragraph might have caused).

Texans GM Rick Smith believes that running back will be "one of the most competitive positions in camp," and who am I to disagree? Here's a breakdown of the leading candidates for the running back committee and the pros and cons of them seeing playing time:

Ahman Green: Eleven (!) year veteran who was acquired last year for Mike Sherman's running game. Received a "bone bruise" in first game of last season against Kansas City. He repeatedly tried to play last season but couldn't finish games because of a stabbing sensation in his knee. Eventually he was put on IR.

Pros: Green is the best running back on the roster...wait for it, wait for it....when healthy. Even running with a hurt knee, you could see his vision and blocking ability. Pravda The team reports that Green, after resting the knee, is now running without pain.

Cons: Kubiak is sick of not having a running back each week he can count on being ready and finishing games. If Green doesn't have a dependable camp, Kubiak may end up cutting him to make room for other running backs who won't take up a game day roster spot and then can't play. Keith Weiland from InTheBullseye.com has a good discussion of the salary cap implications of this.

Chris Brown: Oft injured free agent running back, formerly of the Titans.

Pros: Only back on the roster with experience but not too much experience. Nice size for a Bronco-style back and had nice success running in the same zone blocking system in college at Colorado.

Cons: Oft injured free agent running back.

Steve Slaton: Smallish third-round pick from West Virginia. Acquired as a playmaking third-down type back.

Pros: In Kubiak's time with the Texans, he has not been shy playing his draft picks. Slaton excelled running in a zone blocking system at West Virginia and averaged 5.8 yards a carry in college. A report I heard from OTAs is that his teammates started hollering given Slaton's speed after hitting the hole.

Cons: He's an untested rookie. Can he hold on to the ball and block? Kubiak won't play running backs who fumble or can't protect the quarterback, no matter their playmaking possibilities.

Chris Taylor: Third year player who was acquired by the Texans as an undrafted free agent from Indiana. Went on the IR during training camp last year due to a knee injury.

Pros: Kubiak speaks highly of Taylor. The coach makes a big point of saying how he doesn't care how a player was acquired if they can play. He has also worked out as a fullback (not really his position at all), and provides at least a bit of emergency roster flexibility that a smaller back wouldn't be able to do.

Cons: Inexperience and injury history. Kubiak got burnt with relying too much on inexperienced running backs in the beginning of the 2006 season.

Darius Walker: Second year undrafted free agent from Notre Dame. Started last season on practice squad. Looked promising in limited action late last season.

Pros: Out of the Texans group of running backs, he is the healthiest of the bunch.

Cons: May lose out in a numbers game.

Conclusion: I believe that the Texans running game will be improved this year with the addition of Alex Gibbs working with the offense. Kubiak is desperate to get a consistent running game going. However, I also believe that any time you pretty much have a wide open camp competition for an unsettled but key part of your team, that is usually not a good sign for the upcoming year.

Pre-camp, I am guessing that the Texans lineup will be Green, Brown, Slaton, unless either Green or Brown have issues, and then Taylor takes their place. They might keep Taylor and only carry one fullback on the roster.

Related Reading:

John McClain's NFL Blog discusses camp battles. He says he won't be surprised if the Texans will average 125 running yards a game.

Matt Campbell of DGDB&D has an interesting discussion of the running back situation in his work for NearNorthwestHouston.com.