For the upcoming 2009 NFL season, the AFC South seems to be one of the more intriguing divisions in the NFL because it appears anyone has the ability to win the division.
Can the Indianapolis Colts still have the same success with reaching the playoffs with a new head coach running the show?
The Tennessee Titans have the biggest holes to replace and may find themselves on the outside looking in when the regular season is over.
What about the pesky Houston Texans who always seem to make a late run at the playoffs every season?
Are the Jacksonville Jaguars in rebuilding mode or can head coach Jack Del Rio secure his job winning the AFC South?
Here is preview of the AFC South for the 2009 season and where they will place, listed from first to last.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are the model of consistency in the NFL, and 2008 was no difference. They started the season 3–4 and had many people wondering if the Colts would be around in the playoffs. Before you know it, they won nine straight and extended their consecutive playoff appearances streak to seven years. Will they be able to make eight in 209?
The Colts offense is led by arguably the top quarterback in the past decade, Peyton Manning. Manning, who won the NFL MVP award in 2008, will be ready to go and continue to improve the production of the offense. Though the offense was able to score 23.5 points per game, there is some concern about the running game.
When running back Joseph Addai was unable to carry the work load of the offense, the ground game suffered and averaged only 79.6 yards per game. In 2008, Addai ran for 544 yards on 155 carries, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry. To help take some of the pressure, the Colts drafted Donald Brown out of Connecticut.
There will be a familiar face missing from the Colts offense in 2009. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison was is gone and the Colts will be looking to Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez to continue their improvement.
The Colts defense continued to improve in 2008 despite several key players, like safety Bob Sanders, missing time due to an injury. The Colts were ranked 7th in the NFL, allowing only 18.6 points per game in 2008.
One area of concern for the Colts is the defensive line, especially when it comes to stopping the run. Their undersized linebackers will need to step up their performance if they are going to reduce the 122.9 yards they gave up on the ground each game.
Defensive ends Dwight Freeney and underrated Robert Mathis are able to provide enough pressure to disrupt the oppositions passing game. Despite this, the defense was only able to record 23 turnovers; 15 interceptions and 8 fumbles.
There are a handful of NFL experts who are saying the Colts run at the playoffs are done and that they will be lucky to finish third in the AFC South. Hogwash. When the 2009 regular season is done, the Colts will be where they always have been, competing in the playoffs.
Houston Texans
For the past several years, the Houston Texans have been the dark horse candidate to reach the playoffs and 2008 was no exception. NFL experts were picking the Texans to earn a wildcard berth as they took the next step. The Texans started slow out of the gates and had to compile an 8-4 record in their last twelve games to reach the .500 mark.
Do not expect the tune to change for the Texans in the upcoming 2009 season where once again many NFL experts feel the team will make a hard run at a playoff appearance. The difference this time is the Texans have a legitimate shot.
The Houston Texans are loaded on the offense side of the ball. They have one of the top two wide receivers in the game, Andre Johnson. Last year Johnson was able to pull down 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Johnson could have an even more productive 2009 season if the Texans quarterback, Matt Schaub can remain healthy all season. Even with the games he missed, the passing offense was ranked fourth in the NFL, averaging 266.7 yards per game in the area.
One of the underlying reasons for their success was the running game, led by first year back Steve Slaton. After he took over the starting role, Slaton racked up 1,282 yards on the ground with 9 touchdowns. Every time he touched the ball, you had the feeling he could go the distance.
As for the Texans defense, the biggest area they had an issue with in 2008 was letting the opposition score. They gave up an average of 24.6 points per game, which was ranked 27th in the NFL.
To help shore up the defense, the Texans selected linebacker Brian Cushing in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. They also picked up several free agents on the defensive line to offer defensive end Mario Williams some assistance.
Though the Texans should have an easier time at the start of the 2009 NFL season, three of their last four games are against potential playoff teams. The Texans will make strides in 2009 and earn the second spot in the division, but it will not be enough to vault them into the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans
Last year was a magical season for the Tennessee Titans after they started the season 10-0 and finish out the regular season 13-4. The one downside for the Titans was that they lost their first playoff game and were sent home early.
When it comes to the offense, the team is lead by quarterback Kerry Collins who will turn 37 in December. There is concern if Collins can continue to manage the game like he did in 2008 or will he be more prone to mistakes like he was in New York or Oakland.
To help take some of the pressure off of Collins is the running back tandem of LenDale White and Chris Johnson. In 2008, both backs combined for 2,001 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. Titans’ fans should not worry when Johnson experiences the sophomore slump because White is ready to show he can be the primary back for a NFL franchise.
The biggest question for the 2009 Titans is the defensive unit and how it will be affected by the loss of Albert Haynesworth and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
With the departure of Haynesworth, the front seven of the Titans will need to step up their performance, specifically Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tony Brown, and Jovan Haye. They are going to have a difficult time filling the void and it will show in 2009.
The Titans have too many what ifs at the critical points on a winning team. Fans should expect the Titans to take a step back in 2009 and will be fighting with the Texans for second in the AFC South and a .500 record.
Jacksonville Jaguars
No one predicted the Jaguars to end the 2008 season with a 5–11 record and dead last in the AFC South. Whether it was the rash of key injuries or several players under performing, head coach Jack Del Rio is on the hot seat in 2009 and will need to win if he expects to last through out the season.
The time has come for running back Maurice Jones-Drew to step up and shine as the primary back. The key to the success of the offensive unit lies solely upon his shoulders. To help him achieve loft numbers, the Jaguars decided to spend some time on the offensive line, bringing in Tra Thomas and selecting Eugene Monroe in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Quarterback David Garrad, who took a step back in 2008 in the terms of production, will be looking to find some help out of a questionable wide receiving corp. The Jaguars number one receiver is Torry Holt who has been in the league for ten years. If Holt is able to help stretch the field, then this unit should improve upon their 2008 production.
The defensive unit of the Jaguars was affected most by injuries in 2008 when they lost significant playing time from Mike Peterson, Paul Spicer, and Tony McDaniel.
The front four of this defense will make or break their season. If they can apply pressure to the opposing quarterback, then this would free up a young linebacker group who can cause havoc on the field.
The defense will also need to improve upon their turnover ratio if the Jaguars are going to compete in a division where offense reigns supreme.
Though I would like to see him continue coaching with the Jaguars, Del Rio will find himself in the unemployment line after he completes a .500 season.
