HOUSTON TEXANS
2009 RECORD: 9-7-0
(2nd in AFC South)
HEAD COACH: Gary Kubiak
Key Additions: TE Michael Gaines (FA/Cleveland), K Neil Rackers (FA/Arizona)
Key Losses: CB Dunta Robinson (FA/Atlanta), RB Chris Brown (FA), QB Rex Grossman (FA/Washington)
Offense: The Texans can score points and have a great passing attack, which is led by quarterback Matt Schaub, who led the NFL in 2009 with 4,770 passing yards. In addition, Schaub threw 29 touchdown passes and had just 15 interceptions.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson had 101 catches for 1,569 yards and also caught nine touchdowns.
Kevin Walter (53 catches, 611 yards and two TD) and tight end Owen Daniels (40 catches for 519 yards and five TD) are the other primary targets for Schaub. Daniels is looking to bounce back after suffering a knee injury that cost him half of the '09 season.
The running game needs to get back on track, as it averaged just 92 yards per game, which ranked 30th in the NFL.
Steve Slaton was banged up and limited to 437 yards on the ground while scoring just three touchdowns.
Ryan Moats gained 390 yards in a backup role and will continue to do so along with rookie Ben Tate (Auburn) in 2010.
The offensive line suffered injuries last season and this year will look to improve the running game for Houston, which should please Head Coach Gary Kubiak.
The center is Chris Myers, the guards are Antoine Caldwell and Kasey Studdard and the tackles are Eric Winston and Duane Brown.
Defense: The Texans improved defensively in 2009 and the run defense allowed 107 yards per game while the pass defense gave up 218 yards a game.
The team isn't real savvy on getting turnovers, evidenced by just 14 interceptions and that can be attributed to lack of a real pass rush. The Texans had only 30 sacks a year ago.
Defensive End Mario Williams led the team with nine quarterback sacks and teams with fellow end Antonio Smith and DTs Amobi Okoye and Shaun Cody up front in Houston's 4-3 scheme.
Brian Cushing and Zac Diles are the outside linebackers and DeMeco Ryan is in the middle.
Strong safety Bernard Pollard led the team, along with Cushing, with four picks and is back for another season. The free safety is Eugene Wilson and the corners will be Glover Quin and rookie Kareem Jackson, the team's top draft pick from defending collegiate national champion Alabama.
OUTLOOK: The Texans led the NFL is passing in '09, averaging 291 yards per game and Schaub continues to get better each season.
The running game will need to improve so teams cannot load up and get after Schaub, knowing the Texans run attack was down last year.
The schedule facing the Texans is a rough one, they open with Indianapolis, then face Dallas early on and have back-to-back games in the middle of the season with the Colts and San Diego.
Facing the Colts and Tennessee Titans twice will prove a challenge as well. And don't forget about Jacksonville, which swept Houston last year.
The Texans are looking for the first playoff appearance in team history and if the defense can notch it up a bit against the pass and get more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, that may just happen.
After finishing with a winning record (9-7) for the first time in team history, Houston feels the playoffs are there and would also like to challenge Indy for the AFC South division title.
It should be an interesting season in Houston and with the right amount of breaks, the team could finally break through and get to the post-season. They definitely are a team on the rise, only not this year. An 8-8 finish is most likely the case for the Texans in the 2010 season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Indianapolis
Week 2- at Washington
Week 3- vs. Dallas
Week 4- at Oakland
Week 5- vs. NY Giants
Week 6- vs. Kansas City
Week 7- Bye Week
Week 8- at Indianapolis
Week 9- vs. San Diego
Week 10- at Jacksonville
Week 11- at NY Jets
Week 12- vs. Tennessee
Week 13- at Philadelphia
Week 14- vs. Baltimore
Week 15- at Tennessee
Week 16- at Denver
Week 17- vs. Jacksonville
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