AFC South Preview

This division was selected at random by 4 out of 5 jerkoffs. Soooooooo here it goes (again).

Colts- If they aren't your favorite, you either plan to assassinate Peyton before the season, you're really high on David Garrard, or we need to operate on your brain pronto. Manning is the top QB in the league (yeah, screw Tom Brady, I freakin said it) and while there are questions about Marvin, even if he's missing the passing game won't lack options with Addai being a solid receiver out of the backfield and Reggie Wayne moving up to the top spot, Anthony Gonzalez moving up to start and Roy Hall being the slot receiver (essentially the 5th option after TE Dallas Clark and HB Joseph Addai). The line returns 4 starters, Jake Scott having fled to Tennessee in free agency, with Charlie Johnson and Mike Pollak battling to replace him. The defense is also returning most of a solid core. The only exceptions are Dwight Freeney, sidelined after a procedure on his foot this offseason and a new player being plugged into the never ending Colts merry-go-round at Weakside Linebacker, Tyjuan Hagler the starter at this juncutre. Regardless, they figure to do fine on both sides of the ball, and have to still be a favorite for a first round bye week.

Texans- I'm higher on the boys from Houston than most, and not just because Kyle's tactical twelve gauge is aimed at my temple whilst I'm typing this. There still is no apparent skill in the offensive backfield, but a cobbled together stable of running backs should do fine behind a Kubiak and Gibbs offensive line. Andre Johnson is still an electric threat on the outside and figures to keep opposing DBs backpedaling and then running for their lives (or jobs). Kevin Walter while certainly not brand name, proved to be a serviceable number two receiver, particularly with the help of Owen Daniels from the end of the line. The defense is really molding into something special with Super Mario, Amobi "The New Nightmare" Okoye and Travis Johnson infusing truckloads of talent (and size) into the front seven. They're backed by an overachieving core of linebackers led by former rookie of the year and Crimson Tide alum Demeco Ryans. The defensive backfield has a few questions at safety with CC Brown and an aging Will Demps, but don't figure to be able to hold back the obvious athleticism of Fred Bennett and Dunta Robinson (although Jacque Reeves is expected to start while Robinson continues to come back from a terrible leg injury last season). Overall, they figure to surprise some people this season.

Jaguars- What is there to say that you don't already know? Athletic receivers who can't seem to put it together seems to be the new trademark of this franchise, although David Garrard does his best Donovan McNabb (circa 2002) impression with somehow drawing good seasons out of those receiving cores and leaning on his ability to make things happen with his own legs. He has a little help in the backfield though, in the form of Fred Taylor, a possible hall-of-famer and his blooming understudy, Maurice Jones-Drew, who runs incredibly hard for someone who barely outranks my 14 year old brother in size. How he does it I'll never know, but lets just hope it isn't the same way LT was able to slam bodies and seemingly not feel pain. The offensive line returns most of the same bodies, but isn't particularly stable with a plethora of athletic, up and down maulers. The defense features new pass rushing rookies Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, who both come out of the SEC, so you know they have real talent. Strong performances from the linebacking corp last year was very encouraging, and the defensive backs should be fine, with Drayton Florence being brought in to start opposite Rashean Mathis. The safeties figure to hold up well, Reggie Nelson heading into a second year that hopes to see improvement and Brian Williams moving to safety after being a corner previously in his career. I see them falling short of the playoffs, but as one of the better teams to do so.

Titans- Ahhhhh Tennessee. You never cease to baffle me. LenDale White has a fine season, certainly good enough to pin a starting title to his name, aaaaaaand they proceed to pick up another workout warrior paper half back in the first round. Vince Young has reportedly impressed as a passer this offseason and has been noted as wanting to not be one of those running backs who throws. However, he'll probably have to run quite a bit this year with a lackluster set of options in the receiving game (Alge Crumpler was the big weapon they brought in for him?). He should do alright in that capacity, though, as the Titans are starting to lay the foundation to have a very strong set of linemen for years to come, and Michael Roos, a promising tackle, has been locked up. The defense figures to drop off a good bit, with Jevon Kearse being expected to replace Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy and their fourteen sacks last season. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth are still in town, though, so it can only be so bad to be a Titan in the trenches. Outside Linebackers Keith Bulluck and David Thornton figure to each turn in another top notch season, but Ryan Fowler is a question mark in the middle, both in terms of ability and ability to stay on the field. They also haven't invested in quality corners, and I imagine that to be their big downfall.

Tune in tomorrow for more football preseason madness.