2009 NFL Previews - AFC South

The Indianapolis Colts had reigned supreme in the AFC South every year until last season. The new kings are the Tennessee Titans. The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to rebound after a dreadful season, while the Houston Texans will try to finally climb above the .500 barrier.

1. Indianapolis Colts

2008 Record: 12-4, 2nd place in AFC South
Coach: Jim Caldwell (1st year Indianapolis, 0-0 career)
Schedule: http://www.profootball-fans.com/nfl-schedule/indianapolis-colts.html
Key Additions: RB Donald Brown
Key Losses: WR Marvin Harrison, RB Dominic Rhodes

2009 Outlook: The Colts started the 2008 season very slowly, getting off to a 3-4 start. Then Peyton Manning finally got fully healthy from offseason surgery, and the Colts reeled off 9 wins in a row. Despite their winning streak, they had dug themselves too big a whole to start the year, and had to settle for the #5 seed and a road game in the Wild Card round. After a back and forth game against the Chargers, the Colts eventually lost in overtime, prematurely ending their season. This offseason didn't see many personnel changes for the Colts, the release of WR Marvin Harrison was the most significant move, and he had become the Colts #3 receiver anyway. Where the Colts did see major changes was in their coaching staff. Tony Dungy retired to teach Mike Vick how to be a dog lover, and his handpicked successor Jim Caldwell takes over. Caldwell had an awful record while coach at Wake Forest, but he also didn't have the obscene amount of talent that he gets to coach now. The Colts will also have new Offensive and Defensive Coordinators this season. The amount of overhaul on the staff is concerning, but Colts fans can stay calm because they have the best quarterback in the game. While not the official Offensive Coordinator, Manning has been coaching the offense for virtually his entire career. The Colts also bolstered their running game with the drafting of RB Donald Brown out of UCONN. Starter Joseph Addai has struggled with injuries the last couple of seasons, and was also quite ineffective last year. It might help to have someone push Addai. WR Anthony Gonzalez should seamlessly replace Harrison, while WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark figure to be the reliable targets they have always been. The defense has playmakers in DE Dwight Freeney and S Bob Sanders, although Sanders spends far too much time on the injured list. The defense doesn't need to be great, just competent. The schedule is challenging but not overwhelming, and the Colts will roll to another double digit win season and division title.

Prediction: 11-5

2. Houston Texans

2008 Record: 8-8, 3rd place in AFC South
Coach: Gary Kubiak (4th year Houston, 22-26 career)
Schedule: http://www.profootball-fans.com/nfl-schedule/houston-texans.html
Key Additions: LB Brian Cushing, DE Antonio Smith, LB Cato June, QB Dan Orlovsky
Key Losses: S Will Demps, QB Sage Rosenfels, RB Ahman Green

2009 Outlook: 2008 was a lot like 2007 for the Houston Texans, as in another 8-8 finish. The Texans have yet to have a winning record since joining the NFL in 2002. I picked them as my sleeper team last year, but the Texans got off to a slow start and never fully recovered. QB Matt Schaub remains a question mark, when healthy he has been decent, but he has had a lot of trouble staying healthy. RB Steve Slaton was a great find in the 2008 draft and has the running back job all to himself, with the departure of Ahman Green. At wide receiver the Texans have one of the most overrated underrated guys in Andre Johnson. Johnson is always talked about as being underrated, and honestly, I don't think anyone truly underrates him at this point. The Texans also boast one of the best TEs in the AFC, the truly underrated Owen Daniels. Defense was the point of emphasis for the Texas this offseason. Once blasted for the pick, the drafting of DE Mario Williams over RB Reggie Bush in 2006 looks more and more brilliant each season. The Texans overhauled their linebacking corps with the drafting of Brian Cushing, and the signing of Cato June. The offense is in pretty good shape, if the Texans defense can become a top 10 defense then they have a great chance at finally having a winning season. However, I expect another familiar finish for Houston.

Prediction: 8-8

3. Tennessee Titans

2008 Record: 13-3, AFC South champs
Coach: Jeff Fisher (16th year Tennessee, 133-108 career)
Schedule: http://www.profootball-fans.com/nfl-schedule/tennesee-titans.html
Key Additions: WR Kenny Britt, WR Nate Washington, CB DeMarcus Faggins
Key Losses: DT Albert Haynesworth, WR Brandon Jones

2009 Outlook: The Titans surprised everyone by jumping out to a 10-0 start last season. However, they faltered down the stretch, and were knocked out of the playoffs in the AFC Divisional Round at home by Baltimore. The Titans had some key decisions to make in free agency, and they decided to bring back QB Kerry Collins as their starter, while letting dominant DT Albert Haynesworth move on. Collins took over for Vince Young midway during the first game of last year and kept a stranglehold on the job. He was never amazing, but he didn't have to be and that is because of the Titans impressive running game. RBs Chris Johnson and LenDale White were both forces, with Johnson serving as the speed guy and White the bruising goal line back. Wide receiver has been an issue in Tennessee ever since Derrick Mason left, and the Titans finally seemed to address it with the drafting of Rutgers WR Kenny Britt. The Titans also signed Nate Washington away from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think Washington could really blossom as their #1 guy, as he was a very reliable deep threat for the Steelers. The defense was dominant for the Titans last year but I think they will greatly miss Haynesworth. Haynesworth definitely made the other players around him better, especially DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. I don't know what it is about the Titans but I just find them boring and continually expect them to fail. Maybe it is their boring offense, or the fact that coach Jeff Fisher is about to start his 16th season in Tennessee. This team just seems stale and bland, and I think a 2-4 start will lead to us seeing Vince Young sooner, rather than later.

Prediction: 7-9

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

2008 Record: 5-11, last place in AFC South
Coach: Jack Del Rio (7th year Jacksonville, 51-48 career)
Schedule: http://www.profootball-fans.com/nfl-schedule/jacksonville-jaguars.html
Key Additions: OT Eugene Monroe, OT Tra Thomas, WR Torry Holt, S Marlon McCree
Key Losses: RB Fred Taylor, WR Matt Jones, WR Jerry Porter, WR Reggie Williams, LB Mike Peterson, DE Paul Spicer, S Gerald Sensabaugh, CB Drayton Florence

2009 Outlook: Disaster. That is the only word needed to describe the Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 season. Following a 11-5 2007 season that saw them push the New England Patriots to the limit in the playoffs, expectations were very high for Jacksonville last year. The team hovered around .500 to start the year and then the bottom fell out. Coach Jack Del Rio was spared but major changes were made to the team. It was felt that a cancerous atmosphere had spread in the locker room and because of this many guys were cut or allowed to walk. One player that was tough for the Jags to let go was longtime RB Fred Taylor. The Jaguars are putting all their faith behind RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who has certainly impressed during his short career, but I have my doubts about him being able to sustain a full season as the number one back, due to his small stature. QB David Gerrard had a forgettable 2008 after signing his huge contract extension, but he also didn't have very capable targets to throw to last year. The Jags are hoping that WR Torry Holt has something left and can be their number one receiver. Beyond that, the Jags have question marks at that position, especially after getting rid of Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, and Jerry Porter. The Jags were killed by injuries to their offensive line last year, so they drafted Eugene Monroe, and signed away Tra Thomas from the Philadelphia Eagles. The defense also saw a huge turnover in the offseason, and will be a huge question mark coming into 2009. Getting pressure on the quarterback was the Jags biggest problem last year, and they didn't really do much to address that problem. I like Jack Del Rio as a coach, but he will be given his walking papers after another sub .500 season.

Prediction: 6-10