HOUSTON(AP) Gary Kubiak was certain Kevin Walter would be a success from the moment he arrived in Houston.

Walter was signed soon after Kubiak was hired as Texans coach in 2006 and Kubiak raved about him from Day 1, even though Walter had less than 300 yards receiving in his first three NFL seasons combined.

His impact was minimal his first year in Houston, but he lived up to the promise Kubiak saw last year with 800 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Not surprisingly, Kubiak believes Walter can do much more.

``He's a special worker,'' Kubiak said. ``He's a great kid and he's managed to take his skill and expertise to a new level. Nothing would surprise me. He's a very accountable kid.''

Walter is looking to make another jump this season.

``Oh yeah, I'm already trying to be better,'' he said. ``Last year is last year. I'm looking for bigger and better things this year. I'm competing my butt off and I'm working hard each day and I'm looking for better things than last year.''

The offense had long struggled without a legitimate receiving threat to play opposite star Andre Johnson. Walter finally became that player last year. Unfortunately, Johnson got hurt just as Walter got going.

Walter and Andre' Davis picked up the slack with Johnson out for seven games in 2007. Walter is excited about the possibilities for the offense with Johnson healthy and quarterback Matt Schaub having a year of experience as a starter.

``This is the second year with Matt (Schaub) and obviously our chemistry is good on the field,'' Walter said. ``He's gotten back and he's really gotten stronger and he's 100 percent and Andre (Johnson) is 100 percent. We got an awful lot weapons out there ... so we'll be even better.''

If you ask Kubiak how he knew Walter would be a success, he'll give you a laundry list of reasons. Perhaps the biggest is that the 26-year-old reminds Kubiak of someone he coached for years in Denver.

``He reminds me of a kid who played for me a long time, Ed McCaffrey,'' Kubiak said. ``He reminds me of him a great deal. What happens to guys like that, who people say is like this or like that, they find a way to make up for it. Kevin, in his career, has become such a technician at what he does, that if he's like a tenth of a second (slower) here or there speedwise, he'll find a way to make it up.''

Walter has a long way to go before his statistics can be compared to the 7,422 yards receiving and 55 touchdowns McCaffrey amassed in 13 NFL seasons. But if Kubiak's instincts continue to be correct, he could be on the way to making a name for himself in the NFL.

``You have to let them know you believe in them,'' Kubiak said. ``And it just wasn't me, it was our whole team. Everybody was feeling the type of player he was.''

Entering his third season in Kubiak's offense, Walter said he feels much more confident and he hopes that translates to more success on the field.

``We got a lot of playmakers,'' he said. ``This year we're executing better and we're playing faster. I think everyone feels more comfortable, and if you're more comfortable you can go out there and play (better).''