Houston Texans 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
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Houston Texans 2009 NFL Record: 9-7 Home: 4-4 Away: 5-3
Houston Texans 2010 Preview
It’s Year 9 for the Texans, and it’s time to make a bold move – namely, making the playoffs for the first time. Houston took a step in the right direction last year with a 9-7 record, its first winning season. That was enough to keep Gary Kubiak employed for another year, but fans’ and ownership’s patience with mediocrity is wearing thin. Of the 12 NFL and AFL expansion teams since 1960, only Atlanta and New Orleans took more than eight years to reach the postseason for the first time. To make the playoffs, the Texans must overcome the bad starts of the last two years (0-4 in 2008 and 2-3 last year). It won’t be easy. Besides its tough division opponents, Houston plays the NFC East – not exactly a day at the beach – along with the more manageable AFC West and the defensive-minded Jets and Ravens.
2010 Houston Texans Quarterbacks
Matt Schaub proved last year that he could not only stay healthy for an entire season, but that he is poised to move up a level among NFL quarterbacks, just a step below the Peyton Mannings and Drew Breeses of the league. Schaub made it to the Pro Bowl and has improved every year with the Texans. He threw for a career-high 4,770 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Schaub, who turns 29 in June, is entering the prime of his career, physically as well as being a team leader. No one questions his work ethic or maturity, and he has the ability and Sluarts to take the Texans to the playoffs. Rex Grossman, last year’s backup, signed as a free agent with Washington, elevating Dan Orlovsky to the No.2 role. Former USC star John David Booty, who spent last season in Minnesota, was signed to be the No.3 quarterback.
2010 Houston Texans Running Backs
Kubiak has yet to find a dependable back who can give him, 25 carries per week and bust an occasional big play, but he is hoping rookie Ben Tate, the team’s second-round pick from Auburn, will be that guy. Tate is tough and fast and could emerge as the No. 1 back over Steve Slaton and Co. After an outstanding rookie season, Slaton slumped last year and fumbled too often. Slaton, who has plenty of speed, led the team in rushing with a mere 437 yards, although he did finish third on the Texans in receptions (44 for 417 yards). Slaton had the longest run of any Texan last year, a meager 32 yards. Ryan Moats and Arian Foster had their chances and showed flashes, but neither was consistent enough to win the starting job. Moats is just 5’8″ but has big-playability. Foster can run pretty well and catch the ball but still must demonstrate he is great at something. When the Texans use a fullback, veteran Vonta Leach is a bull-like 6’0″, 265-pounder who blocks as well as anyone in the league and can catch the ball when need be.
2010 Houston Texans Receivers
Schaub has developed an almost Manning-to-Marvin Harrison relationship with Andre Johnson. Everyone knows the ball is going to Johnson, but nobody can stop him. He manages to get open even when double-teamed, and he led the league in receiving yards last year while exceeding 100 catches for the third time in four years. No.2 receiver Kevin Walter is underrated but still must improve to take a little heat offJohnson. Little David Anderson, aWes Welker type at 5′ 10″, 197, is a dependable No.3 wideout. He’s fearless going across the middle and catches the ball in the clutch. Talented Jacoby Jones and veteran Andre Davis are the backups. Tight end Owen Daniels, known luore for his receiving than blocking, is returning from a torn ACL that ended his season after eight games. His expected return would ease some of the pressure on Johnson.
2010 Houston Texans Offensive Line
This area could be the key to Houston’s season, at least offensively. The play the Texans get from their guards will probably define the success of the line. Left guard Chester Pitts started the first 114 games for Houston before suffering a torn right MCL in the second game last year, elevating Kasey Studdard to starter, a job he figures to resume· this season (especially with Pitts no longer around). Right guard Mike Brisiel also went down, eventually moving rookie Antoine Caldwell into the starting job. With Brisiel battling his way back and free agent addition Wade Smith around, there will be plenty of competition at guard this fall. Smith also can play center or even tackle, if needed. Center Chris Myers is merely an OK player who needs good people around him. People were surprised when the Texans drafted Duane Brown in the first round in 2008, but he has started every game the last two years at left tackle and continues to improve. Eric Winston, entering his fifth year, is a solid right tackle.
| 2010 Houston Texans Schedule | 2010 AFC South Preview | 2010 AFC Conference Preview Houston Texans Sportsbooks |
2010 Houston Texans Defense
No matter whom the Texans draft or sign, it doesn’t seem like they can turn the defensive line into anything special. They once had three first-round draft picks on the line and two of them, All-Pro end Mario Williams and tackle Amobi Okoye, are still around. Last year they brought in Antonio Smith to complement Williams at the other end and signed tackle Shaun Cody to replace Travis Johnson, the other former No. 1 pick. Neither player turned heads. Williams is a fine pass-rusher; he racked up nine sacks and made his third Pro Bowl last year. He still needs to develop a bull rush to complement his outside speed, and he’s not great against the run. He rarely draws a double team, which doesn’t make his teammates better. At 23, Okoye is still young, but he should be more accomplished entering his fourth season in the league. There is good depth with tough Tim Bulman, DelJuan Robinson, rookie Earl Mitchell (third-round pick out of Arizona) and second-year pro Connor Barwin, a speed guy con1ing off the edge who the Texans hope soon will be a pass-rushing star.
The linbackers is an area of the defense doesn’t need help. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans started off as the NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and is coming off his second Pro Bowl appearance. Ryans is one of the game’s most underrated players. He is extremely smart and quick and rarely has a bad game. He also was an able tutor to Brian Cushing, who was named the league’s top defensive rookie three years after Ryans. The rookie Pro Bowler showed his versatility with five sacks and four interceptions, but he’ll miss the first four games while serving a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Zac Diles recovered from a broken leg in 2008 to win the weak-side linebacker job. There isn’t much depth beyond third-year man Xavier Adibi, who could contribute on the weaw side, but that shouldn’t be a factor as long as the three starters remain healthy. No subs are needed because they play the pass as well as the run.
The secondary is still an area of concern, especially with star cornerback Dunta Robinson signing with Atlanta, and it’s likely the starting corners will be young. Glover Quin and Brice McCain received significant playing time last year as rookies, and the team’s first-round pick this year, Kareem Jackson of Alabama, will join in the battle for the starting jobs. They will compete with veterans Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett. Houston found an excellent strong safety early last season when it brought in Bernard Pollard from Kansas City. Pollard is a hitter who quickly became the leader of the secondary. The Texans definitely need to upgrade beyond Pollard at safety, where the team has been playing musical chairs for too many years. Eugene Wilson, who can play either safety, was one of only three players on the Texans with more than one interception last year. John Busing enters camp listed No.1 at free safety almost by default.
Houston Texans 2010 Season Prediction
A team that flirted with playoff contention last year addressed its most pressing needs at running back and in the secondary. Wrangling the AFC South title away from the Colts isn’t likely, but reaching the playoffs for the first time in franchise history is an attainable goal.
We predict that the Houston Texans will finish 2nd in the AFC South, with a record of 10-6.
Houston Texans Betting
AFC South Odds: 7-2 AFC Conference Odds: 14-1 Super Bowl Odds: 30-1
Houston Texans Five-Year Win Betting Trends
2005: 2 2006: 6 2007: 8 2008: 8 2009: 9
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