Someone in Baltimore is Drinking the Kool-Aid Too

[WMH]

All these drinkers are making me nervous........

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/07/early_scouting_report_houston_texans.html

Early scouting report: Houston Texans
The Sun will take a look at all 13 of the Ravens' 2010 opponents. Today's early scouting report is on the Houston Texans, the Ravens’ opponent in Week 14:

Head coach: Gary Kubiak (31-33 overall)

2009 record: 9-7

Biggest addition: K Neil Rackers. The Texans signed the former Arizona Cardinal to a two-year, $4.1 million contract to increase the competition at kicker. Kris Brown, last season’s kicker, missed 11 field goals last season. Whoever wins will make this a position of strength.

Key loss: CB Dunta Robinson. The Texans didn’t blink when they lost their top cornerback to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Houston drafted CB Kareem Jackson in the first round and immediately placed him with the first team on the first day of offseason practices. He could make one of the biggest impacts of any defensive rookie this year.

Question mark: Can RB Steve Slaton rebound? Slaton must prove he can bounce back from neck surgery and regain his form from 2008, when he rushed for 1,282 yards. The Texans, though, made sure they have another option if Slaton falters. Houston drafted 220-pound rookie Ben Tate (from Stephen Decatur High School in Salisbury) in the second round for a reason.

Projected 2010 finish: 11-5, second in the AFC South. The Texans have more talent than they’ve ever had. Of course, that’s been said the past couple of years and Houston has fallen short of the playoffs each time. The reason why it’ll be different this year is urgency. Another disappointing season likely will end Kubiak’s tenure. That’s why the Texans will finally live up to expectations.

[Nconroe]

I'll take 11-5. There sure is a lot of kool-aid out there outside of Houston.

I think they have a tough schedule and well, gotta see it now.

[NBT]

I think a lot of us are holding our breath, hoping the production equals the hype.

[HPF Bob]

Biggest addition: K Neil Rackers. The Texans signed the former Arizona Cardinal to a two-year, $4.1 million contract to increase the competition at kicker. Kris Brown, last season’s kicker, missed 11 field goals last season. Whoever wins will make this a position of strength.

Wha?? If Rackers wins the job, we get sloppy seconds from the Cardinals. If Brown keeps the job, how is that an upgrade?

Key loss: CB Dunta Robinson. The Texans didn’t blink when they lost their top cornerback to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Houston drafted CB Kareem Jackson in the first round and immediately placed him with the first team on the first day of offseason practices. He could make one of the biggest impacts of any defensive rookie this year.

So if Jackson is an instant replacement, how is Dunta a "key loss"? If Jackson bombs, it's a key loss but the post-op Dunta just wasn't the player the pre-op Dunta was. Bottom line, our secondary still blows.

Question mark: Can RB Steve Slaton rebound? Slaton must prove he can bounce back from neck surgery and regain his form from 2008, when he rushed for 1,282 yards. The Texans, though, made sure they have another option if Slaton falters. Houston drafted 220-pound rookie Ben Tate (from Stephen Decatur High School in Salisbury) in the second round for a reason.

Slaton had a bad year and drafting Tate was justified but the OL needs to open more holes too. Not sure if that problem has been sufficiently addressed.

Projected 2010 finish: 11-5, second in the AFC South.

He hasn't seen our schedule, has he? I think it's very possible we'll be a better team in 2010 but with a worse record.