AFC South Primer

We head to the AFC South today and take a peek at the defending AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts and their other divisional foes.

Is there any better receiver than Johnson?

Houston Texans
2009 record: 9-7, 2nd in division
Head coach: Gary Kubiak
Key Additions: FB Justin Griffith, K Neil Rackers
Key Losses: RB Ryan Moats, CB Dunta Robinson

1. Are Texans primed for the playoffs?
They came close last year, but I'm not so sure they have all the tools. How many people know that QB Matt Schaub led the NFL in passing yards last year? The key was keeping him healthy. The QB is the #1 key, but you have to have the people around Schaub. WR Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the league, but the talent pool becomes more shallow after that. A healthy Owen Daniels will go a long way, but it's the running back situation that concerns me. RB Ben Tate may be the horse they so desperately need.

2. Will Brian Cushing be as effective in 2010 as he was in '09?
Texans owner Bob McNair went to see Mr. Goodell in an attempt to have Cushing's suspension reduced for a positive test of hCG. Overtraining? Not seeing a reduction and since the skeleton has been freed, look for teams to maybe exploit the defending Defensive Rookie of the Year...at first. It will take Cushing a while, but we all know football is a game of adjustments. Cushing will have to make a big one.

3. What about those running backs?
Drafting Tate was big. The Texans also have Arian Foster who looked very good at the end of last season when he was given the opportunity to play. And we can't overlook Steve Slaton. He had injury issues last year and was actually a detriment. If Slaton can turn things around, if Tate can prove he's a horse and if Foster plays the way he did in the last last two games of 2009, the Texans could be playoff bound in 2010.

Even with the loss of CB Dunta Robinson and the suspension of Cushing, the defense is still legit. Just not as sound.

A healthy Sanders will make Indy all the
better defensively.

Indianapolis Colts
2009 record: 14-2
Head coach: Jim Caldwell
Key Additions: none
Key Losses: G Ryan Lilja, CB Tim Jennings, CB Marlin Jackson

1. We all know that QB Peyton Manning is going to get his payday. What about WR Reggie Wayne and DE Robert Mathis? How will the "unhappiness" with their contracts affect the Colts?
One thing I have learned is to never doubt the Colts. If Wayne isn't given the huge payday he feels he's entitled to receiving, I don't foresee that as an issue on the field. He's productive and know Manning's every twist and turn. That being said, some sort of compromise will be met. Mathis isn't far away either. He's the reason teams can't concentrate solely on DE Dwight Freeney. The two together is arguably the best DE combo in the NFL.

2. What can we make of the aging offensive line?
I thought the Colts would try to land OT Rodger Saffold with their first round pick for just that. The chose DE/LB Jerry Hughes instead and I was a bit disappointed. Not that Hughes is a bad player, but Saffold was a guy that I felt was a necessity for the Colts future. We just recently heard the C Jeff Saturday will be on the shelf for 2-6 weeks (most likely 4 weeks) and that in itself tells you the tale.

3. Will we see a healthy Bob Sanders?
The way this guy plays, I doubt it. He will miss a game due purely on his aggressive style. You know there's a shoulder or a knee issue down the road. If Sanders can stay healthy, the Colts are a bit more imposing on defense.

When you have Manning, you're never out of the question.

The Jags offense will once again center
around Maurice Jones-Drew.

Jacksonville Jaguars
2009 record: 7-9, 4th in division
Head coach: Jack Del Rio
Key Additions: DE Aaron Kampmann, LB Freddy Keiaho, WR Kassim Osgood, LB Kirk Morrison
Key Losses: WR Torry Holt, T Tra Thomas, DT John Henderson

1. Can the Jaguars please get a pass rush?
Not seeing it again in 2010. The Jags had a shot at drafting Jason Pierre-Paul and passed for Tyson Alualu. Not sure what the thinking was there except to find a replacement for Henderson. The Jags defensive front four has suffered because of poor drafting at the position. Can you sat Derrick Harvey?

2. Will the Jaguars stay in Jacksonville?
No question the NFL groans when they hear week after week that the Jags cannot sellout their home date...except when Indy comes a calling. That's a major issue that both the Jaguars brass and the NFL have to contend with. You don't like making a team move, but we know the dollar rules. The possibility of a move could lead to a distraction.

3. If Jacksonville doesn't make the playoffs, is Del Rio gone?
I hate to say it because Jack Del Rio is one guy I would seriously consider running my team, but to answer the question, yes.

I love the trade for Morrison. He will bring a return of the intense defense we've seen in the past from the Jaguars. It won't be what is was when Jacksonville was making a yearly run at the playoffs, but Morrison is a building block.

Johnson can get 2,106...with help.

Tennessee Titans
2009 record: 8-8
Head coach: Jeff Fisher
Key Additions: DE Justin Babin, CB Tye Hill, LB Will Weatherspoon
Key Losses: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, LB Keith Bulluck, C Kevin Mawae, TE Alge Crumpler

1. Ant good news about the defense?
Not really. Hard to maintain when you lose guys like Vanden Bosch, Bulluck and Hayneswoth over a two-year period. Drafting DE Derrick Morgan may ease the pain of losing a somewhat aging Vanden Bosch, but Morgan cannot bring the experience factor from a college campus. Titans fans should pray that CB Cortland Finnegan can return to his 2008 form. If he can, things will look much better on the defensive side of the ball.

2. Is this really Vince Young's team?
It is. VY proved last year he can get it done and lead the Titans to wins late in games. That's all Jeff Fisher can ask for.

3. Can Chris Johnson break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record?
Let's do the math first. Dickerson's record is 2,105. CJ would need to average 132 yards a game. He only came up 100 yards shy of breaking that last season. Two games did him in last year. The opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers (57) and a week 5 affair against the Colts (34). CJ had only two other games in which he didn't reach the century mark (week 3 v. Jets - 97 and week 4 v. Jacksonville - 83). It's a matter of the workload. Johnson had 358 rushing attempts last season and averaged 5.6 yards a carry. That's a lot of attempts. If Johnson can raise his yards per carry to an astonishing 5.9 yards a rush, he will. I don't like adding more carries. Although, Johnson is hard to catch if he's in the open field. Wait. You can't catch him in the open field.

Don't forget that Young has receiving threats as well. This team could produce fireworks if Young's can outperform his '09.

We all know who's going to win this division.

1. Indianapolis. It's a matter of protecting Peyton.
2. Tennessee. Johnson's a game changer and Young is primed for another good season.
3. Houston. Losing Cushing for four games could mean starting out 0-4.
4. Jacksonville. When you have no home field advantage...