AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Year: 9-7).
Major Additions:
WR/TE Matt Jones, OT Khalif Barnes, DE Reggie Hayward, DE Marcellus Wiley, DT Tony Williams, DT Martin Chase, OLB Nate Wayne, CB Terry Cousin.
Major Subtractions:
FB Marc Edwards, DE Lionel Barnes, OLB Jason Gildon, CB Juran Bolden, CB Dewayne Washington.
Offense This Year: Byron Leftwich progressed throughout the 2004 season, and the offense improved as he garnered more playing time. The Jaguars scored just 13 points per game the first four contests of the season. Jacksonville's offense output increased to 20.6 points when Leftwich was in the lineup. However, that was why the Jaguars failed to qualify for the playoffs -- Leftwich was banged up and missed four games. With David Gerard at the helm, Jacksonville was 1-3, scoring just 11 points per contest. Leftwich needs to stay healthy for the Jaguars to reach the postseason. His top wide receiver, Jimmy Smith, is now 36. The young receivers -- Reggie Williams, Troy Edwards, Cortez Hankton, Ernest Wilford and rookie Matt Jones -- have to step up and become potent weapons for Leftwich. Edwards had 50 receptions for 536 yards in 2004, but much more production is needed from the other wide outs, especially Williams, who was a first-round selection last year. Williams caught 27 passes for 268 yards in his rookie campaign. While Leftwich needs to stay healthy, the other player that the Jaguars cannot lose is Fred Taylor. The 29-year-old running back rushed for 1,224 yards in 2004. Taylor is currently rehabilitating a knee injury, but coach Jack Del Rio says he's on schedule. If Taylor is not, Jacksonville may acquire Travis Henry from Buffalo. Either way, the starting running back will receive blocking from a very solid offensive line that allowed Taylor to gain 4.7 yards per rush, and surrendered just 32 sacks last season.
Defense This Year: Jacksonville is one of the best teams against the run for a reason -- they are very strong at defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson are one of the league's elite duos at defensive tackle. While they lacked worthy backups in 2004 -- which contributed to the defense's inconsistency -- they will be able to take a breather this season, as Jacksonville signed Tony Williams. Stroud and Henderson eat up offensive linemen, allowing speedy linebackers Mike Peterson, Akin Ayodele and Daryl Smith to make plays. Last year's linebacking corps combined for 17½ sacks. Peterson is currently the best of the bunch, but look out for Smith as a future Pro Bowl candidate. The second-year run stopper from Georgia Tech is already penciled in as the starting weakside linebacker, and is lauded for his speed, tackling ability and smarts. Also helping to stop the run at safety are Deon Grant and Donovin Darius, who are considered among the NFL's best tandems at their position. Jacksonville needs to worry about stopping the pass. They struggled mightily to do so last season, but they should be improved in that department. The Jaguars' key free-agent signee was Reggie Hayward, who had 10½ sacks for Denver in 2004. Hayward will immediately bolster a pass rush, whose leading sack artist was Greg Favors with 5½. Hayward's presence will take some pressure off a very questionable cornerbacking corps. Rashean Mathis, a third-year corner, is very talented, but Jacksonville lacks a true, number-two corner. The current occupant of that position is Kiwaukee Thomas. The Jaguars also lack depth at that position.
Schedule and Intangibles: Jacksonville's hot and humid climate contribute to their outstanding 49-31 home record since 1995... The Jaguars need to improve in special teams if they want to contend for the Super Bowl. While kicker Josh Scobee and punter Chris Hanson are very good players, Jacksonville did not return a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown. They surrendered two touchdowns instead... The Jaguars have the luxury of beating up on some soft, non-divisional opponents this season, including San Francisco, Cleveland, Arizona, St. Louis and Denver. However, Jacksonville also has Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati on their schedule.
Analysis: If Byron Leftwich and Fred Taylor stay healthy, Jacksonville could advance very far this season. How far? Playing the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship is certainly possible.
Projection: 13-3 (1st in the AFC South).
Indianapolis Colts (Last Year: 12-4).
Major Additions:
OT Joaquin Gonzalez, CB Marlin Jackson.
Major Subtractions:
TE Marcus Pollard, G Rick DeMulling, S Idrees Bashir, S Cory Bird.
Offense This Year: What can I say? This is one of the best offenses in the history of professional football. Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino's touchdown record by throwing 49 last season. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley form the best trio of receivers in the NFL. Teams cannot key in against the pass because of Edgerrin James, who accumulated a very quiet 1,548 rushing yards in 2004. Tight end Dallas Clark is also a potent weapon -- the second-year wide receiver registered 423 receiving yards and five touchdowns last year. Indianapolis also has four excellent offensive linemen -- left tackle Tarik Glenn, left guard Ryan Lilja, center Jeff Saturday and right tackle Ryan Diem. The only questionable piece of the Colts' offense is right guard Jake Scott, a fifth-round pick in 2004. Scott will be replacing mainstay Rick DeMulling, who signed with Detroit. Still, one weak link will not restrict an offense that scored more than 23 points 13 times last season.
Defense This Year: Indianapolis' best defense is their offense. On most occasions, the Colts scoring unit cannot be stopped, placing opponents in 14- and 21-point deficits before they know what hit them. In response, they are forced to throw, allowing their quarterback to be devoured by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who combined for a mind-boggling 26½ sacks in 2004. However, if Indianapolis is playing a good team, like New England, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Kansas City or San Diego, their terrible defense is exposed. The Colts may have dynamic pass rushers Freeney and Mathis, and a pair of solid safeties -- Bob Sanders and Mike Doss -- but Indianapolis has nothing beyond that. Their group of defensive tackles are among the league's worst. Their linebackers, excluding Rob Morris, are terrible. Top cornerback Nick Harper should be nothing more than a second corner. The other starter, Donald Strickland, is one of the worst starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The Colts drafted Marlin Jackson in the first round this year, but he is not ready to step in and defend the likes of Andre Johnson, Jimmy Smith, Reggie Williams, Drew Bennett or Tyrone Calico. In short, Indianapolis has one of the worst defenses in the league.
Schedule and Intangibles: Can Peyton Manning finally beat Tom Brady? Manning is 0-6 in his career against the three-time Super Bowl Champion... The Colts have one of the best kicking games in all of football. Mike Vanderjagt, who was perfect in 2003, connected on 20 of 25 attempts last season. Punter Hunter Smith is one of the league's best at his position. While Indianapolis possesses a good kicker returner, Dominic Rhodes, it is not clear how good their punt return team is. After all, the Colts defense did not force many teams to punt last season... For a first-place schedule, the Colts will not be traversing a difficult path. They do have tough non-divisional opponents to deal with, such as New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Diego and Cincinnati. However, Indianapolis will also be playing weak teams like Cleveland, Arizona, St. Louis and San Francisco.
Additional Reading: Peyton Manning always wins when it comes to numbers. But, he may never win the Super Bowl.
Analysis: Indianapolis is basically a lock for the playoffs. They are also a lock to get bounced out of the playoffs by the New England Patriots. The Colts do not have the defense to win in the postseason.
Projection: 12-4 (2nd in the AFC South).
Houston Texans (Last Year: 7-9).
Major Additions:
RB Vernand Morency, WR Jerome Mathis, OT Victor Riley, NT Travis Johnson, ILB Morlon Greenwood, ILB Zeke Moreno, CB Phillip Buchanon, CB Lewis Sanders,
Major Subtractions:
OLB Jamie Sharper, ILB Jay Foreman, CB Aaron Glenn, S Eric Brown, S Marlon McCree, KR/PR J.J. Moses.
Offense This Year: Houston's offense struggled in the early stages of the 2004 season, because Domanick Davis was rehabbing an injury. Davis rushed for just 523 yards the first 11 weeks of the season. He finally exploded, trampling Tennessee for 129 yards on 16 carries. Davis finished his second season with 1,188 yards. With a healthy Davis, the Texans should be able to score easily. Wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the best in the NFL, will stretch the field, and of course David Carr will be able to get him the ball. Carr broke through last season, throwing for 3,531 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also maintained a 61.2 completion percentage -- the highest in his three-year career. If the Texans want to get into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, Carr needs to keep his turnovers to a minimum. The Texans' franchise player threw 14 interceptions and fumbled five times in 2004. Another concern with Houston's offense is their inability to protect Carr, who was sacked 49 times last season. That's far too many for an offensive line to allow. Free-agent acquisition Victor Riley should help, but the Texans needed more assistance up front.
Defense This Year: Houston could neither stop the run nor the pass last season, which is why they were not in contention for a postseason berth. They were ranked 22nd against the run, and could not pressure the opposing signal caller, registering just 24 sacks all year. To make matters worse, the Texans did not add enough this off-season to improve their stop unit. Houston plays a 3-4, and they feature a defensive line comprised of oft-injured players. They drafted Travis Johnson with their first-round selection, but he is currently third on the depth chart behind Seth Payne and Jerry DeLoach. Johnson needs to crack the starting lineup. Gone from Houston's mediocre linebacking corps are Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman. They welcome Morlon Greenwood and Zeke Moreno. Not exactly an upgrade. Outside linebacker Jason Babin, the Texans' first-round pick in 2004, needs to step up and become one of the leaders of this defense. He must do so because cornerback Aaron Glenn signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Houston replaced the All-Pro corner with Phillip Buchanon, a young defensive back who has yet to reach his potential. While the Texans have Pro Bowl candidates Dunta Robinson at the other cornerback position and Marcus Coleman at free safety, they lack an adequate starter at strong safety and any sort of depth in their secondary. Houston's defense has not improved.
Schedule and Intangibles: The Texans have decent special teams. Kick returner J.J. Moses is always a threat, while Buchanon may take over as the punt returner. However, kicker Kris Brown cannot be trusted. He connected on 17 of 24 attempts last year... Houston has a fairly easy schedule. Non-divisional opponents include Buffalo, Cleveland, St. Louis, Arizona and San Francisco. The Texans must also face Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Baltimore.
Analysis: Houston's offense will be improved this season, but they do not have the defense to compete in a very tough conference.
Projection: 7-9 (3rd in the AFC South).
Tennessee Titans (Last Year: 5-11).
Major Additions:
RB Travis Henry, WR Courtney Roby, WR Brandon Jones, WR Roydell Williams, OT Michael Roos, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Pac-Man Jones, S Vincent Fuller, K Ola Kimrin.
Major Subtractions:
RB Antowain Smith, FB Robert Holcombe, WR Derrick Mason, WR Eddie Berlin, TE Shad Meier, OT Fred Miller, DE Carlos Hall, DE/DT Kevin Carter, CB Samari Rolle, CB Andre Dyson, S Lance Schulters, K Joe Nedney, K Gary Anderson.
Offense This Year: The Titans have the potential to have one of the best offenses in the NFL. They do not have the firepower of the Colts or Rams, but they will probably be in the top 10 of scoring by season's end. Steve McNair, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, will be under center for another season. If McNair gets hurt again, Billy Volek is more than capable of leading this offense. Whether the quarterback is McNair or Volek, they will be throwing the ball to Drew Bennett, one of the elite receivers in the NFL. Talented third-year star Chris Brown will take pressure off the passing game by terrorizing defenses with his running ability. Brown averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2004 behind an exceptional offensive line. Four starters return -- left tackle Brad Hopkins, left guard Zach Piller, center Justin Hartwig and right guard Benji Olson. The Titans, however, have a few potential problems with their scoring unit. There is no legitimate backup at running back behind Brown. Damien Nash, a fifth-round selection in April's draft, is currently second on the depth chart. If Brown goes down, the Titans will either have to trade for Travis Henry, or throw the ball on nearly every down. Tennessee also has some worries at wide receiver. Tyrone Calico is the starter opposite Bennett. While Calico was a second-round selection in 2003, it remains to be seen whether or not he can start in the NFL. Calico had 297 receiving yards in 2003, but he suffered a season-ending injury in 2004, and only played in one contest. Who will play right tackle? Fred Miller has defected for Chicago, leaving the job to rookie Michael Roos.
Defense This Year: Tennessee was ranked dead last in run defense, surrendering five yards per carry. They also registered just 32 sacks all season, and could not stop the pass. That's basically why their defense permitted 27.4 points per game. To make matters worse, Carlos Hall, sack leader Kevin Carter, Samari Rolle and interceptions leader Andre Dyson have all left for other destinations. That leaves the Titans with one of the youngest defenses of all time. Their defensive line is comprised of three 23-year-olds and one 24-year-old. Albert Haynesworth is a solid player at defensive tackle, but the other three -- Bo Schobel, Rien Long and Travis LaBoy -- have to prove that they are capable of starting in the NFL. The second-youngest unit of Tennessee's defense is the secondary. Starting cornerbacks Pac Man Jones and Andre Woolfolk are 21 and 25, respectively. The eldest backup at corner is Tony Beckham, who is 26. The other corners are 24 or younger. The hard-hitting strong safety Tank Williams is also 24. The elder statesman of the starting secondary, Lamont Thompson resides at free safety. Thompson is 26. The linebacking unit is the oldest and most talented on this defense. They are led by Keith Bulluck, a perennial Pro Bowler at outside linebacker. He is joined by Peter Sirmon, 28, and Brad Kassell, 25. Tennessee's stop unit certainly has a lot of growing up to do. It'll be a painful year in the Music City.
Schedule and Intangibles: For years, Tennessee has had one of the preeminent home field advantages in the NFL. They were 59-37 at Adelphia Coliseum prior to last season. The Titans were just 2-6 at home last year... Tennessee has terrible special teams. They failed to score a touchdown last season, while surrendering one. Starting kicker Ola Kimrin was just one for four from 40 yards or further in 2004... The Titans have a relatively easy schedule, but it doesn't really matter because they are one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Additional Reading: Travis Henry will be a backup running back for another team in 2005.
Analysis: If you like watching 49-38 games that feature no defense, you should probably become a Titans fan. If you like watching a team win, look elsewhere.
Projection: 2-14 (4th in the AFC South).
2001 Season Preview
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