2010 RECORD: 6-10-0
(3rd in AFC South)
HEAD COACH: Gary Kubiak
Offense: Quarterback Matt Schaub (4,370 yards passing in 2010 with 24 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions) is back for another season. Matt Leinart backs him up.
The two primary weapons in the Texans' offense are running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson.
Foster led the NFL with 1,616 rushing yards and scored 16 rushing touchdowns (18 total) a year ago and Johnson made 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. Foster also had 66 receptions for 604 yards.
Foster will be the man again in the backfield with Derrick Ward (315 yards rushing and four TD) backing him up. The fullback is James Casey as All-Pro Vonta Leach left for Baltimore.
Along with Johnson, the receivers include Kevin Walter (51, 621, five TD) and Jacoby Jones, who also had 51 receptions for 562 yards and three touchdowns. The tight ends are Owen Daniels (38,471, two TD) and Joel Dreessen (36, 518, four TD).
Up front are guards Wade Smioth and Mike Brisiel, center Chris Myers and tackles Duane Brown and Eric Winston.
Defense: The Houston defense, simply put, was awful in 2010.
Ranking dead last in the NFL against the pass, the Texans allowed 268 passing yards per game.
Ouch!
Overall, Houston ranked 30th in the league defensively, allowing 377 yards per game. Houston also allowed 427 points, which was 29th in the NFL.
To shore up the defense, Head Coach Gary Kubiak now has Wade Phillips as the Defensive Coordinator.
In addition, two rookies will be counted on to help the defense in 2011. Defensive End J.J. Watt (Wisconsin) and Outside Linebacker Brooks Reed (Arizona) are going to be counted on big time.
Along with Watt in the 3-4 scheme, Antonio Smith (End) and Nose Tackle Shaun Cody will be the men starting in the trenches.
The linebackers will be Mario Williams (8.5 QB sacks to lead the team) and Connor Barwin on the outside and inside backers Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans.
Reed will see playing time along with Mark Anderson (four sacks) and defensive lineman Earl Mitchell to provide depth.
The secondary, which picked off just 13 passes last season, will see changes heading into 2011 as Johnathon Joseph will team with Kareem Jackson on the corners. The safeties are Danieal Manning and Glover Quin.
Quin, along with reserve defensive backs Jason Allen and Troy Nolan, led the Texans with three interceptions.
An improved pass rush would do wonders to take pressure off the secondary as the Texans have to improve the sack numbers, which yielded just 30 quarterback take downs last season.
OUTLOOK: After a disappointing 6-10 finish a year ago, the Texans are itching to get back at it again in 2011.
Schaub and the Texans' offense put up decent numbers last season, but it wasn't enough because the defense was so bad.
In 2010, Houston ranked third overall on offense, gaining 387 yards per game while also finishing in the top ten in scoring with 390 points.
The defense will be the key in 2011 if Houston wants to finally get over the hump and make the post-season.
Playing in the AFC South gives the Texans a chance to do something this season because it isn't exactly the strongest division in football.
The Colts showed come chinks in the armor last year and Tennessee is coming off a down year as well while Jacksonville is a mystery team that finished 8-8 last season.
The Texans can do some good things in 2011, however, they play a very difficult schedule, especially in the first six games of the season.
Look for a 9-7 finish this year, which would equal their best ever record posted two years ago. A post-season appearance totally hinges on how well the rebuilt defense performs.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Indianapolis
Week 2- at Miami
Week 3- at New Orleans
Week 4- vs. Pittsburgh
Week 5- vs. Oakland
Week 6- at Baltimore
Week 7- at Tennessee
Week 8- vs. Jacksonville
Week 9- vs. Cleveland
Week 10- at Tampa Bay
Week 11- BYE WEEK
Week 12- at Jacksonville
Week 13- vs. Atlanta
Week 14- at Cincinnati
Week 15- vs. Carolina
Week 16- at Indianapolis
Week 17- vs. Tennessee
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