Vegas: 2010 Texans over/under win total set at 8

[Arky]

The projected win totals are in for 2010 and your Houston Texans have been predicted to win 8 games. Seems a little light to me..... I've got 'em at a solid 9 so far and am leaning towards 10 at this point.... I really wanted to go 11 but not with Cushing out for 4 games....

The guy who wrote this particular article singled out the Texans as a hot pick and they are (but he's a lot more optimistic than I):

Houston Texans Over/Under total of 8 wins in the 2010-2011 NFL season.

The Houston Texans are solid on both sides of the ball and could replace the Indianapolis Colts as the most prolific passing team in the NFL for the 2010-2011 season. An Over/Under total of eight wins, is a gift of epic proportions and the public will hit this number hard early. If this number has not gone to nine or nine and a half yet, place a bet ASAP. Houston will win a minimum of 10 and may hit my early prediction in April which was 13 wins.

Unofficial early predictions?

[Joe Joe]

I see a trip to Vegas in my future.

[painekiller]

I am thinking that maybe high. IMO the interior OL is not a playoff OL. The DTs are middle of the road, the defense cannot stop a team on 3rd and long. We do not have veteran leadership on this team and it shows.

I can see 6-10 just as easily as 9-7.

[Bigtinylittle]

I could easily go nine or ten if Schaub stays healthy, but I am very nervous about our backup QB's. When we had Rosencopter, I don't think the dropoff was drastic, but now I'm not so sure. But maybe the preseason will reassure me about Orlovsky. Kubiak has said that he expects major improvements in Orlovsky this year, but he often just says things just for effect. Should be a very interesting preseason at a lot of positions.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I am thinking that maybe high. IMO the interior OL is not a playoff OL.

The Texans OL is not playoffs because the Texans have never made the playoffs, but damn did they come close last year.

The Texans were bad at getting stuffed early in the season on runs, but the RBs did horrible when the blocking was there. I'm happy the Texans got Tate as he doesn't look as slow to the hole as the Texans RB last year.

The Texans were great at pass protection. They gave up very few sacks especially given the number of times Schaub let the ball fly.

The only thing that scare me a little is the schedule, but I think teams outside our division are more worried about having the Texans on their schedule.

[Joshua]

I'm worried about the upcoming season. It's not only that we have what appears to be a brutal schedule but also the schemes of those teams. We face a lot of aggressive defenses, particularly 3-4 ones. Historically, we have been terrible against blitzing 3-4 teams with solid NTs (see, Ravens, Steelers, Jets over the last 2 years). Other than blind loyalty, I have no reason to conclude that the Jets, Cowboys, Chargers, and Ravens are anything but bad matchups for us.

Plus, Denver (Dumervil) and Washington (our old buddy, Albert) are now running a 3-4 (although how well they will run it is still yet to be known). Finally, we also have several blitz-happy/very good pass rushing 4-3s on the schedule as well. Philly, Giants, and Colts can all get after the QB.

Above average pass rushing defenses generally seem to give us troubles and we have a boatload of them on the schedule next year. As a corrollary, this also raises Schaub injury concerns for me. Hope I'm wrong.

[Bigtinylittle]

If Schaub stays healthy, I will be very surprised if we have a losing season, no matter what the schedule looks like. I base my reasoning on this: we have undeniably more talent here now than Kubiak has ever had, and we have managed to go the last three years without having a losing season.

Barring key injuries, for us to go from 9-7 to 7-9 or worse with more talent than we have ever had just doesn't add up. Not saying it couldn't happen, just that it would really surprise me.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I can see 6-10 just as easily as 9-7.

The average of that is of course a losing record. I won't be surprised it that's how it ends.
Along with the issue of Schaubs health, I'm more concerned about our corners
than any other positions.