NFL Preview: AFC South
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/887/1/NFL-Preview-AFC-South/Houston-Texans-2006-6-10.html
The Editor
By The Editor
Published on 08/14/2007
Home to the reigning Super Bowl champs, the AFC South is one of the most intriguing divisions in football. Steve Michalovich, Andy Mindzak, and Matt Gardner break down the Texans, Colts, Jags and Titans for ASM's NFL preview.
Home to the reigning Super Bowl champs, the AFC South is one of the most intriguing divisions in football. Steve Michalovich, Andy Mindzak, and Matt Gardner break down the Texans, Colts, Jags and Titans for ASM's NFL preview.
Houston Texans (2006: 6-10)
THE MATT & MARIO SHOW
by Steve Michalovich
Mario Williams has a lot of pressure on him in Year 2; that'll happen
when you get picked over Reggie Bush
Of all the players in NFL, there are two in particular that I would not want to be. They happen to play on the same team. Matt Schaub and Mario Williams will without a doubt be feeing the heat in toasty Houston as the Texans open up the season. The Texans’ fans are salivating for a contender, but the team has yet to reward them with a winning season in five years.
The more that Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young continue to get better, the more Texans’ fans are reminded that they passed on all of those soon-to-be-franchise players, instead making Williams the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft. While it appears, his fellow draftees from 2006 are contributing to their respective teams’ newfound success, Houston continues to be locked in the basement of the AFC. There will be much pressure put on Williams to rebound from a lackluster rookie season. He still can make it happen; remember, coming out of college, some insiders were referring to him as the next Reggie White.
Schaub is new man in town. And now the city of Houston is depending on him to turn its team into a threat in the AFC South. David Carr was shown the door after he had been the franchise’s starting quarterback for its first five years of existence, only to see the front office trade for a career backup. The team didn’t seem to be confident in Carr’s ability anymore, and it felt a change was needed. Schaub has appeared to be a smart, strong-armed quarterback (in the two career games he’s started in the NFL). This was a huge gamble for the Houston front office that could either move the team into a new, bright direction or swiftly back to the drawing board.
Joining Schaub on the offense will be running back Ahman Green, who isn’t what he used to be, but is better than any option this team has ever had lining up in the backfield. Andre Johnson, one of the most underrated wide receivers in football, also calls Houston home. His 1,147 receiving yards and five touchdowns don’t put him in elite status yet, but things could be different if there were anything close to a No. 2 receiver on this club. A handful of players are in competition for that spot. The offensive line has shown glimpses of potential, but if you want to search for blame as to why Carr is gone, you could begin with this unit.
The defense has the building blocks in place for a foundation to build around. Williams can still become a tough man to run against. Linebacker DeMaco Ryans and cornerback Dunta Robinson are becoming formidable impact players on the defensive side of the ball. The 20-year-old rookie Amobi Okoye will likely play in his first season due to his tremendous blend of speed and power.
Special teams were an issue for this club a season ago as well. Kris Brown is inconsistent and doesn’t have the strongest leg. Chad Stanley’s net average of 36.7 yards per punt was tied for ninth in the AFC. The return game was nothing to brag about either.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
A .500 season. Schaub shows that he has been a diamond in the rough for the past three years playing behind Mike Vick. The defense makes strides, and the Houston faithful have a young, exciting team on their hands.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
A disastrous 2-14 year. Schaub is a total bust, and suddenly David Carr doesn’t look so bad. Williams continues to struggle, and worst of all, the Titans, Saints and Cardinals all make the playoffs.
by Steve Michalovich
Mario Williams has a lot of pressure on him in Year 2; that'll happen
when you get picked over Reggie Bush
Of all the players in NFL, there are two in particular that I would not want to be. They happen to play on the same team. Matt Schaub and Mario Williams will without a doubt be feeing the heat in toasty Houston as the Texans open up the season. The Texans’ fans are salivating for a contender, but the team has yet to reward them with a winning season in five years.
The more that Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young continue to get better, the more Texans’ fans are reminded that they passed on all of those soon-to-be-franchise players, instead making Williams the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft. While it appears, his fellow draftees from 2006 are contributing to their respective teams’ newfound success, Houston continues to be locked in the basement of the AFC. There will be much pressure put on Williams to rebound from a lackluster rookie season. He still can make it happen; remember, coming out of college, some insiders were referring to him as the next Reggie White.
Schaub is new man in town. And now the city of Houston is depending on him to turn its team into a threat in the AFC South. David Carr was shown the door after he had been the franchise’s starting quarterback for its first five years of existence, only to see the front office trade for a career backup. The team didn’t seem to be confident in Carr’s ability anymore, and it felt a change was needed. Schaub has appeared to be a smart, strong-armed quarterback (in the two career games he’s started in the NFL). This was a huge gamble for the Houston front office that could either move the team into a new, bright direction or swiftly back to the drawing board.
Joining Schaub on the offense will be running back Ahman Green, who isn’t what he used to be, but is better than any option this team has ever had lining up in the backfield. Andre Johnson, one of the most underrated wide receivers in football, also calls Houston home. His 1,147 receiving yards and five touchdowns don’t put him in elite status yet, but things could be different if there were anything close to a No. 2 receiver on this club. A handful of players are in competition for that spot. The offensive line has shown glimpses of potential, but if you want to search for blame as to why Carr is gone, you could begin with this unit.
The defense has the building blocks in place for a foundation to build around. Williams can still become a tough man to run against. Linebacker DeMaco Ryans and cornerback Dunta Robinson are becoming formidable impact players on the defensive side of the ball. The 20-year-old rookie Amobi Okoye will likely play in his first season due to his tremendous blend of speed and power.
Special teams were an issue for this club a season ago as well. Kris Brown is inconsistent and doesn’t have the strongest leg. Chad Stanley’s net average of 36.7 yards per punt was tied for ninth in the AFC. The return game was nothing to brag about either.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
A .500 season. Schaub shows that he has been a diamond in the rough for the past three years playing behind Mike Vick. The defense makes strides, and the Houston faithful have a young, exciting team on their hands.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
A disastrous 2-14 year. Schaub is a total bust, and suddenly David Carr doesn’t look so bad. Williams continues to struggle, and worst of all, the Titans, Saints and Cardinals all make the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts (2006: 12-4)
BACK FOR MORE
by Andy Mindzak
With his first title out of the way, Manning enters '07
hungry for a second
The reigning Super Bowl Champs look just as strong in 2007. After finishing the 2006 season with a 12-4 record, they went on to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl and give Peyton Manning his first ring. There are a few changes on their roster this year, as a few notable defensive players have left, but the Colts will still be the team to beat in ’07. Being in a pretty cushy division (they get to play the Texans and Titans twice each year) that should give them a leg up on most teams, so I would not look for a let down after winning the big game last year.
As mentioned, there are a few changes on the Colts roster this year. Running back Dominic Rhodes has left to go to Oakland (why he thought that was a good idea I will never know) to compete with Lamont Jordan for the starting role. The difference will be felt on the defensive side of things, as they lost S Mike Doss, CB Nick Harper, and playoff hero LB Cato June to free agency. Also, blind side tackle Tarik Glenn retired recently, which might leave just a little uncertainty on the Offensive Line that hasn’t been there in a long time. They added WR Anthony Gonzalez out of Ohio State, and G Rick Demulling to help that offensive line.
Offensively, the Colts put up the 2nd most points in the NFL in 2006, with 427. With Rhodes now in Oakland, Joseph Addai is now the feature back, and should have no problem carrying the load all year. Jim Sor…I mean ummm… Peyton Manning is their starter and will no doubt put up solid number as usual. Wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are top notch and TE Dallas Clark is an excellent option over the middle. The Colts should be in the top 5 in offense this year, so scoring points should not be an issue in Indy, and probably will not be for some time.
Defensively, they have had some big set backs with key free agents leaving after their great Super Bowl run. Their defense ranked 23rd overall in ’06, allowing 360 points. During the playoffs however, their defense stepped up big time, and was a big reason why they now have rings. Dwight Freeney only finished with 5.5 sacks last year, but I would look for that to jump up considerably this year. They finished dead last against the run last year, but if they can continue their defensive success of the playoffs, they should be in decent shape.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Colts are one of the top 5 teams in the whole NFL, and should go deep in the playoffs once again this year. They do play the Texans and Titans twice, and should roll over Oakland, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. Even in tough match ups, their team is definitely good enough to come out with a win. Also, having kicker Adam Vinatieri around is like a real life good luck charm. He’s the NFL’s answer to the NBA’s Robert Horry.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
It’s rough to imagine this team finishing worse than 10-6. Not a bad scenario, considering most teams would be ecstatic to have that record. Unless Manning gets hurt, it could be worse, but as long as he is under center, 10-6 would be the worst of it. They have a rough schedule this year with games against New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Denver, and Jacksonville is always tough. If for some reason, they are on the bubble towards the end of the season, they close out with games against Oakland, Houston, and then Tennessee. Realistically, the Colts should be around 11-5 this year, and should make a great title defense.
by Andy Mindzak
With his first title out of the way, Manning enters '07
hungry for a second
The reigning Super Bowl Champs look just as strong in 2007. After finishing the 2006 season with a 12-4 record, they went on to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl and give Peyton Manning his first ring. There are a few changes on their roster this year, as a few notable defensive players have left, but the Colts will still be the team to beat in ’07. Being in a pretty cushy division (they get to play the Texans and Titans twice each year) that should give them a leg up on most teams, so I would not look for a let down after winning the big game last year.
As mentioned, there are a few changes on the Colts roster this year. Running back Dominic Rhodes has left to go to Oakland (why he thought that was a good idea I will never know) to compete with Lamont Jordan for the starting role. The difference will be felt on the defensive side of things, as they lost S Mike Doss, CB Nick Harper, and playoff hero LB Cato June to free agency. Also, blind side tackle Tarik Glenn retired recently, which might leave just a little uncertainty on the Offensive Line that hasn’t been there in a long time. They added WR Anthony Gonzalez out of Ohio State, and G Rick Demulling to help that offensive line.
Offensively, the Colts put up the 2nd most points in the NFL in 2006, with 427. With Rhodes now in Oakland, Joseph Addai is now the feature back, and should have no problem carrying the load all year. Jim Sor…I mean ummm… Peyton Manning is their starter and will no doubt put up solid number as usual. Wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are top notch and TE Dallas Clark is an excellent option over the middle. The Colts should be in the top 5 in offense this year, so scoring points should not be an issue in Indy, and probably will not be for some time.
Defensively, they have had some big set backs with key free agents leaving after their great Super Bowl run. Their defense ranked 23rd overall in ’06, allowing 360 points. During the playoffs however, their defense stepped up big time, and was a big reason why they now have rings. Dwight Freeney only finished with 5.5 sacks last year, but I would look for that to jump up considerably this year. They finished dead last against the run last year, but if they can continue their defensive success of the playoffs, they should be in decent shape.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Colts are one of the top 5 teams in the whole NFL, and should go deep in the playoffs once again this year. They do play the Texans and Titans twice, and should roll over Oakland, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. Even in tough match ups, their team is definitely good enough to come out with a win. Also, having kicker Adam Vinatieri around is like a real life good luck charm. He’s the NFL’s answer to the NBA’s Robert Horry.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
It’s rough to imagine this team finishing worse than 10-6. Not a bad scenario, considering most teams would be ecstatic to have that record. Unless Manning gets hurt, it could be worse, but as long as he is under center, 10-6 would be the worst of it. They have a rough schedule this year with games against New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Denver, and Jacksonville is always tough. If for some reason, they are on the bubble towards the end of the season, they close out with games against Oakland, Houston, and then Tennessee. Realistically, the Colts should be around 11-5 this year, and should make a great title defense.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2006: 8-8)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: JACKSONVILLE
by Andy Mindzak
The Jags need Leftwich and RB Fred Taylor to stay
on the field and out of the trainers' room to contend in
'08
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished 8-8 in 2006, but showed plenty of signs of life despite their starting QB Byron Leftwich missing significant time while being hurt. One big surprise came in the form of rookie Maurice Jones-Drew, who scored 13 rushing TD’s last year. The Jags look to 2007 with bright hopes provided they can stay healthy. With that in mind, here is the Jags outlook for the 2007 season.
Jacksonville didn’t make too many moves in the off season, but one move they did make was bringing in TE Jermaine Wiggins. The Jags also added WR Chris Jackson to give them some depth at the wide out position. During the draft, Jacksonville spent their first 2 picks on defensive help, picking up S Reggie Nelson from Florida, and LB Justin Durant from Hampton.
Last year the Jags had a solid offense, ranking 9th in the NFL putting up 371 points. Offensively, the Jaguars are a run oriented team, and with running backs like Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, why not? Quarterback Byron Leftwich hopefully can stay healthy in 2007, which will give the Jags a big boost under center. Backup QB David Garrard is a solid backup, but a backup nonetheless. Wide receivers Matt Jones and Reggie Williams are decent targets, and Ernest Wilford is a very solid #3 WR. I would look for the Jaguars to keep the ball on the ground and wear teams down. The combination of Taylor and Jones-Drew should do the trick.
Defensively, Jacksonville is one of the best units in all of the NFL. They ranked 4th in the league in 2006 while only surrendering 274 points. Bobby McCray led the team with 10 sacks last year, and Rashean Mathis, one of the best corners in the game, led the team with 8 interceptions. I would look for the Jags defense to once again be a top 5 unit in the league this year, and get them over the .500 barrier.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Leftwich and Fred Taylor don’t spend any time on the IR. If those 2 can stay healthy, the Jags are looking at an 11-5 record. Afterall, they play Houston and Tennessee twice, and with games against Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, and Oakland, they can definitely do that. Not to mention they play the Colts tough every time out.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Leftwich and Taylor spend significant time on the shelf with injuries.. If Jones-Drew falls victim to the sophomore slump, things can get real ugly. Even if that was the case, their defense will keep them in every game. Worst case scenario would have Jacksonville looking at an 8-8 record again. That will not be their fate however, as they will go 10-6 and find themselves in the playoffs in 2007.
by Andy Mindzak
The Jags need Leftwich and RB Fred Taylor to stay
on the field and out of the trainers' room to contend in
'08
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished 8-8 in 2006, but showed plenty of signs of life despite their starting QB Byron Leftwich missing significant time while being hurt. One big surprise came in the form of rookie Maurice Jones-Drew, who scored 13 rushing TD’s last year. The Jags look to 2007 with bright hopes provided they can stay healthy. With that in mind, here is the Jags outlook for the 2007 season.
Jacksonville didn’t make too many moves in the off season, but one move they did make was bringing in TE Jermaine Wiggins. The Jags also added WR Chris Jackson to give them some depth at the wide out position. During the draft, Jacksonville spent their first 2 picks on defensive help, picking up S Reggie Nelson from Florida, and LB Justin Durant from Hampton.
Last year the Jags had a solid offense, ranking 9th in the NFL putting up 371 points. Offensively, the Jaguars are a run oriented team, and with running backs like Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, why not? Quarterback Byron Leftwich hopefully can stay healthy in 2007, which will give the Jags a big boost under center. Backup QB David Garrard is a solid backup, but a backup nonetheless. Wide receivers Matt Jones and Reggie Williams are decent targets, and Ernest Wilford is a very solid #3 WR. I would look for the Jaguars to keep the ball on the ground and wear teams down. The combination of Taylor and Jones-Drew should do the trick.
Defensively, Jacksonville is one of the best units in all of the NFL. They ranked 4th in the league in 2006 while only surrendering 274 points. Bobby McCray led the team with 10 sacks last year, and Rashean Mathis, one of the best corners in the game, led the team with 8 interceptions. I would look for the Jags defense to once again be a top 5 unit in the league this year, and get them over the .500 barrier.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Leftwich and Fred Taylor don’t spend any time on the IR. If those 2 can stay healthy, the Jags are looking at an 11-5 record. Afterall, they play Houston and Tennessee twice, and with games against Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, and Oakland, they can definitely do that. Not to mention they play the Colts tough every time out.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Leftwich and Taylor spend significant time on the shelf with injuries.. If Jones-Drew falls victim to the sophomore slump, things can get real ugly. Even if that was the case, their defense will keep them in every game. Worst case scenario would have Jacksonville looking at an 8-8 record again. That will not be their fate however, as they will go 10-6 and find themselves in the playoffs in 2007.
Tennessee Titans (2006: 8-8)
CURSED?
by Matt Gardner
This can't be good for Tennessee
Vince Young, Madden NFL 08's cover star, had an amazing rookie season: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and his first Pro Bowl, 552 rushing yards, which probably makes him the most mobile quarterback in the NFL at present, and for the first time in a long time in Tennessee, a quarterback was leading the Titans to a few wins. Using a rare talent like Young's, the Titans hope to improve upon that record this year as their star quarterback continues to grow.
With two competent tackles in Roos and Stewart, Head Coach Jeff Fisher, alongside Norm Chow, will no doubt play upon Young and WR Brandon Jones' rappor. If they know what's good for them. After all, what other passing choices has Young got? Orr was shunned last season regardless of his high rating in practice, and two additions in the draft in this position make it clear which area is of certain weakness. Of course, Vince Young is still passing at under 50% completion. Jeff Fisher, who turned a 0-5 team into an 8-8 finish, will have to prove his worth.
With Peyton Manning's Colts no doubt storming the AFC South in 2007, the Titans will need to use all of their talent to secure a spot in the playoffs. One player who won't be helping them, for the most part at least, is the very, very silly Pacman Jones. Pacman's strip club antics and his run-ins with the police since joining the NFL outnumber his interceptions and served him with a highly-publicized season-long ban and him apologizing to fans, saying he "will do everything in [his] power to regain (the fans') trust and respect".
Luckily, with a strong linebacker corps (hello, Keith Bulluck) and experienced players such as DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Titans are relatively well equipped defensively. They're going to need to be; if you've ever watched the Titans' defensive line, you'll know that they're hit-and-miss.
Even more worrying is looking at the Titans’ schedule, which includes the Broncos, Bengals, Saints and Colts. Uh-oh. Who thinks it's pain time for Nashville's finest?
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Young improves on accuracy and the WRs actually catch. With the Jaguars and Colts in the same division, it seems a slim chance that the Titans could make the postseason; 9-7 would be a success, giving the Titans their first winning season in four years.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Young still remains unreliable in the passing game and becomes the latest victim of the Madden Curse. Rushing and passing lines dissolve into the ground, with the defense crumbling alongside them (spending most of every game on the field). The Titans rename themselves the Oilers due to “Titans” being false advertising. Then they'll probably move to Los Angeles. I mean, SOMEONE has to.
by Matt Gardner
This can't be good for Tennessee
Vince Young, Madden NFL 08's cover star, had an amazing rookie season: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and his first Pro Bowl, 552 rushing yards, which probably makes him the most mobile quarterback in the NFL at present, and for the first time in a long time in Tennessee, a quarterback was leading the Titans to a few wins. Using a rare talent like Young's, the Titans hope to improve upon that record this year as their star quarterback continues to grow.
With two competent tackles in Roos and Stewart, Head Coach Jeff Fisher, alongside Norm Chow, will no doubt play upon Young and WR Brandon Jones' rappor. If they know what's good for them. After all, what other passing choices has Young got? Orr was shunned last season regardless of his high rating in practice, and two additions in the draft in this position make it clear which area is of certain weakness. Of course, Vince Young is still passing at under 50% completion. Jeff Fisher, who turned a 0-5 team into an 8-8 finish, will have to prove his worth.
With Peyton Manning's Colts no doubt storming the AFC South in 2007, the Titans will need to use all of their talent to secure a spot in the playoffs. One player who won't be helping them, for the most part at least, is the very, very silly Pacman Jones. Pacman's strip club antics and his run-ins with the police since joining the NFL outnumber his interceptions and served him with a highly-publicized season-long ban and him apologizing to fans, saying he "will do everything in [his] power to regain (the fans') trust and respect".
Luckily, with a strong linebacker corps (hello, Keith Bulluck) and experienced players such as DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Titans are relatively well equipped defensively. They're going to need to be; if you've ever watched the Titans' defensive line, you'll know that they're hit-and-miss.
Even more worrying is looking at the Titans’ schedule, which includes the Broncos, Bengals, Saints and Colts. Uh-oh. Who thinks it's pain time for Nashville's finest?
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Young improves on accuracy and the WRs actually catch. With the Jaguars and Colts in the same division, it seems a slim chance that the Titans could make the postseason; 9-7 would be a success, giving the Titans their first winning season in four years.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Young still remains unreliable in the passing game and becomes the latest victim of the Madden Curse. Rushing and passing lines dissolve into the ground, with the defense crumbling alongside them (spending most of every game on the field). The Titans rename themselves the Oilers due to “Titans” being false advertising. Then they'll probably move to Los Angeles. I mean, SOMEONE has to.