With Texans QB Matt Schaub cleared to resume football activities following his season-ending Lisfranc injury sustained in Week 10 last season, it seems like an appropriate time to examine how the Texans will keep their QB out of harm’s way in 2012.

In Chris Myers and Duane Brown, Schaub has one of the better centers and blind-side protectors in the game, and the Texans think 31-year-old OLG Wade Smith will hold up just fine sandwiched between Houston’s two best linemen. But what the Texans do to replace ORG Mike Brisiel (Raiders) and ORT Eric Winston (Chiefs) remains one of the biggest stories to follow in Houston’s training camp.

Penciled in at right guard and right tackle are veterans Antoine Caldwell and Rashad Butler, respectively. We hear the Texans have the utmost confidence in Butler, a long, natural pass protector who fared well when filling in for Brown at left tackle for four games in ’10. Derek Newton, the club’s seventh-round pick in ’11, has made great progress this offseason and will compete with Butler for Winston’s vacated post, though it would be considered an upset if Newton beats out Butler.