AFC South Preview

1. Tennessee Titans

What I like: After trying to get by with a tandem of Vince Young, Kerry Collins and Rusty Smith at QB, the Titans got themselves a steady veteran with a couple good years left in him in former Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck will improve a passing offense that ranked 25th last year, while also mentoring heir apparent Jake Locker. The Titans also benefited by dodging two bullets. First, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided NOT to suspend talented-but-troubled wideout Kenny Britt for his many offseason indiscretions. Second, after weeks of a much-publicized and panic-filled(for fantasy owners) holdout, the team agreed to a lucrative extension for workhorse back Chris Johnson. CJ2K, Britt and Hasselbeck give the Titans its best offensive trio since the Steve McNair-Eddie George-Yancey Thigpen days and, with the Colts having to start off without Peyton Manning and the Texans possibly having to lead off without rushing champ Arian Foster, the Titans can steal a suddenly up-for-grabs AFC South. Defensively, the team lost Jason Babin but gained back last year's top pick in Derrick Morgan(missed all of last year with a knee injury and is expected to miss the opener) and added two solid LB's in former Buc Barrett Ruud(to replace Stephen Tulloch) and rookie Akeem Ayers to go along with last year's signing of Will Witherspoon. The secondary returns in tact with Jason McCourtey and Cortland Finnegan manning the corner spots and talented safeties Chris Hope and Michael Griffin laying the wood.

What I don't like: The losses on the defensive line over the last couple of years are bound to catch up to the Titans, especially the loss of someone not even on the field: Former defensive coordinator Jim Washburn, who left to be the defensive line coach in Philly. Morgan was arguably the draft's most complete end last year, but he's unproven and, as of right now, unhealthy, and there isn't much beyond him on that defensive line. There are also health concerns with Hasselbeck, Britt and even Johnson(the history of backs who hit the field after a long holdout are kind of scary......see Anderson, Jamal). Hasselbeck has had numerous back issues and Britt missed time with various ailments last season. The team also needs Nate Washington to step up after signing him away from Pittsburgh. It will also be interesting to see how the team responds to new head coach Mike Munchak after the long tenure under Jeff Fisher.

Bottom line: Every year, a team we aren't expecting to break out makes a surprise run. For the first time in years, Indianapolis' grasp on the South has loosened and the Titans have enough talent on both sides of the ball to take advantage. Johnson has to prove he's worth the big payday he spent all summer lusting after and Hasselbeck and Britt need to build a strong rapport to establish balance on offense and lighten the load on CJ2K. On defense, someone has to emerge on the defensive line and provide a pass rush with Jason Babin gone because the rest of the defensive unit is pretty solid. Right now, the Titans are the healthiest team in the division and that gives them a leg up on the already-battered Colts and Texans.

2. Houston Texans

What I like: When all three are healthy, there's no better trio in the NFL than QB Matt Schaub, RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson. Schaub's thrown for 4,000 yards the last two seasons. Foster became the first undrafted back to win a rushing title since Priest Holmes and Johnson continues to cement his status as one of the game's best receivers. It will be interesting to see how the team converts from a 4-3 to the 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Mario Williams was coming on as pass-rushing terror as a defensive end but now has to learn to get to the QB as a stand-up outside linebacker. Brian Cushing, the team's other pass-rushing threat, will be moving from the outside to team on the inside with tackling machine DeMeco Ryans. To help improve the worst pass defense in the league, the team signed CB Jonathan Joesph away from Cincinnati and S Danieal Manning from Chicago and moved Glover Quin from cornerback(where he was a liability) to strong safety.

What I don't like: Foster's hamstring injury, eventhough it won't keep him out of the opener, scares me and it adds to skepticism over whether the defending rushing champ is legit or a one-year wonder. The loss of FB Vonta Leach hurts too, even if it was softened by the signing of Lawrence Vickers. I'm also weary of all the moving parts in the team's switch to the 3-4. For as much of athletic freak as Super Mario is, he might be a bit too big to play the DeMarcus Ware role in Phillips' scheme. Cushing is probably better suited on the outside and the team really doesn't have the big bodies up front to clog the lanes and keep blockers off this linebacking core. The Joesph signing helps but Kareem Jackson has to step it up a few notches after being burnt crisp routinely last year.

Bottom line: The Texans are everyone's sexy pick to take the reins of the AFC South with the Colts suddenly crumbling, but we keep waiting for the Texans to step up and it never happens. Offensively, this team has a slew of talent but they need to prove they can win close games and this defense needs to make huge strides, especially against the pass, before we crown them the new kings of the South.

3. Indianapolis Colts

What I like: Without Peyton Manning, there isn't much to get excited for. Even with #18 under center, there were questions about the offensive line and the running game. Now, the offense is temporarily in the hands of grizzled vet Kerry Collins until Manning returns from offseason neck surgery. My money is on us not seeing Eli's older brother before October. One neck surgery is hard enough but to try to come back from two in your late 30's and be deemed medically ready to play a position where you have the ball at all times in an age when QB safety is paramount is a rather daunting task. Collins, meanwhile, has a significantly better supporting cast with the likes of WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark than he did during his short tenure in Tennessee. The defense has its share of holes as well, but they still can rely on the pass rushing duo of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney as well as steady middle linebacker in Gary Brackett.

What I don't like: As I mentioned before, the offensive line scares me a bit. When Manning comes back, his blind side will be covered by a rookie left tackle in Anthony Castonzo, who will have to pick up the speed of the pro game instantaneously after being left on the outside looking in during the lockout. The running game is suspect as well. Joesph Addai was horrible last year but looked like Edgerrin James compared to Donald Brown. The best back on the roster might be rookie Delone Carter but who knows when he'll get his crack at the starting lineup. On defense, Freeney and Mathis are going to have to get to QB's quick because the secondary is in shambles. If a shaky pass defense isn't enough, the team is soft up the middle, making their ability to stop the run questionable as well. That doesn't bode well in a division with Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson and Arian Foster.

Bottom line: Manning's absence will allow us to see just how good a coach Jim Caldwell is. Since Tony Dungy's departure, Caldwell has been able to skate on the fact that he had a cerebral assassin behind center that didn't need to be coached up that heavily. Now, he has to turn water into wine by rejuvenating the career of a gray beard in Collins for at least the foreseeable future. As it that isn't enough, the division has gotten better around him and a once-balanced offense now looks one-dimensional while the once-famed Dungy defense is a shell of its former self. I alluded to the idea of the Colts tanking to secure the top spot and find Manning's heir apparent via the man who has drawn the most comparisons to him: Stanford QB Andrew Luck. I was only half-joking. The truth is, an immobile QB coming off neck surgery playing behind a shaky line is the type of risk no medical staff is willing to take. It's not impossible to think we won't see Manning at all this season or, if we do, that he is forced to miss more time by coming back too early. For the first time in more than a decade, things look bleek in Indianapolis and it might only be getting worse.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

What I like: Beyond Maurice Jones-Drew, nothing. The defense has a few respectable names in guys like Aaron Kampman, Rashean Mathis and new hires Paul Posluszny and Dawan Landry but the its mostly the same unit that finished 28th against the pass and 22nd against the run last year.

What I don't like: The Jags made what they thought was a sound business decision by cutting long time QB David Garrard and avoiding the $9 million he was owed this season. The only problem with that is, the team's quarterback options are now career backup Luke McCown and rookie Blaine Gabbert. If that isn't enough to cause a lump in your throat, Mike Sims-Walker, the team's best receiver the past two seasons is gone, and the Jags' new starting receivers are Mike Thomas and Jason Hill. Who? Exactly. On defense, Tyson Alualu, the team's surprise top ten pick, made the Jags look wise by being surprisingly decent last season. However, even with Alualu, the defense was dreadful last year and the team's new additions won't make them too much better.

Bottom line: Unless the Jaguars know something that we don't about Luke McCown, it's going to be a long year in Jacksonville. Jones-Drew, the team's lone bright spot, is coming off knee surgery in the offseason and is now being asked to carry an offense that will almost certainly see a rookie QB in Gabbert start by midseason. The chances of Jack Del Rio surviving this season seem grim. The overall talent is lacking and even proven vets like Kampman come with their own "Yeah, but...." disclaimers. The saddest part of what will be a depressing season for the Jags is that the team already took its franchise QB early, meaning fans will miss out on the possibility of Andrew Luck gracing south Florida. Luckily for the Jags suits, fans don't come to the games anyway and the team will probably be moving to Los Angeles by time Gabbert is ready to be a starting QB.