AFC South Preview: Is Colts Window Closing?

This division was very close in 2007 and will be again in 2008. The Colts have won the division it seems like for the last 100 years but in 2007 the margin of how the Colts won was shortened. With the preseason worries of Manning, and with Harrison showing his age last year will this be the season the Colts lose their dominance?

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have been the class of the AFC for the last 7 years as it is almost always down to them against the Patriots for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Well in 2007 the armor cracked a bit as the Colts lost to the Chargers in the AFC Divisional round simply because they could not stop the run game. In the off season drama surrounded this team as Manning underwent knee surgery and missed the whole preseason. Now questions rise that if Manning goes down this year will his back ups be able to keep the ship up right since they did not have a strong preseason. Manning will throw to Marvin Harrison who showed every bit his 36 years of age last year only playing in 5 games for the Colts. Anthony Gonzalez is the successor for Harrison as he started in place for Harrison and grabbed 37 balls for 3 scores, but he also was lost for 6 games due to injury. Reggie Wayne was Mannings main target in 2007 as he caught 104 balls for 10 scores, simply because he was the only man left standing that Manning had confidence in. The reliable Dallas Clark returns at tight end for the Colts after having a 58 catch, 11 touchdown season in 2007. The running backs are a flashback to the Super Bowl season as Dominic Rhodes comes back to Indy after a one season stint in Oakland. He looks to take the pressure off of Joseph Addai (1,072 yards and 12 scores). The offensive line took a huge hit in the preseason as center, Jeff Saturday was injured and might need knee surgery. This offensive unit must all stay on the field this season, and if they do then they will again be in contention to make a run to Tampa.

Defensively the Colts need to improve drastically on their rush defense Dwight Freeney returns after playing in only 6 games last year for the Colts before going down to injury. The Colts drastically missed Freeney's pass rush and presence on the line last year and need him to stay healthy. Ed Johnson returns at the inside tackle after starting his whole rookie year and gaining 41 tackles and 1 sack, a very impressive start to a career. At the other inside spot is Raheem Brock who looks to return to form after a injury shortened 2007 in which he played only 11 games. Marlin Johnson proved to be a good corner last year as he recorded 87 tackles, 1/2 sack and 1 pick but will need to do even better this year in a division that will be pass happy. At the other corner Kelvin Hayden returns after a break out season in which he got 83 tackles and 3 picks (both career highs). Bob Sanders returns to anchor this secondary with his 96 tackle, 3 1/2 sack and 2 pick season. He sets the tone for this secondary with his hard play and nose for the ball. Antonie Bethea joins Sanders at the other safety after a solid 2007 season in which he grabbed 65 tackles and 4 picks. The defense has to stay healthy in 2008 and this will help this team go far. Dont be surprised if the Colts go into week 9 against New England at 7-0. The Colts offense will be just to powerful for the Jaguars, Vikings, Green Bay and Houston to deal with as they get close wins in these games. The Colts should win the annual Manning-Brady match up 34-31, as they look for payback after last years 4th quarter collapse. The Colts will finish 13-3 in 2008.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The team that came so close to beating the Colts for the division has reloaded and his high hopes to win the division and get back to the playoffs. The Jags hopes lay in the arm of David Garrard who took over last year as the starter and recorded 18 touchdowns and only 3 picks leading his team to the playoffs and a win over the Steelers in the Wild card. Garrard will have to get his touchdowns up this year as he is in a division that will be pass happy and could face New England in the playoffs again. He will be passing to several new receivers. Troy Williamson comes over from Minnesota but has not really proved himself worthy of a number one receiver spot (79 total catches with 3 scores). His best season came in 2006 in which he caught 37 balls but did not find the end zone. The number 2 receiver will be the aging Jerry Porter who comes over from Oakland this season bringing his 284 career catches and 30 scores. The number three receiver will be Matt Jones who had an injury shorten his 2007 campaign to only 12 games. He has to get his output up to give Garrard a weapon and if he does he will find himself as the number one receiver as i dont know if any of the other receivers will become one. At tight end, Mercedes Lewis will win the starting job as he is a good blocking tight end and caught 37 balls with 2 scores in 2007. At running back the Jags are loaded as they bring back Fred Taylor (1,202 yards and 5 scores) and the speedy Maurice Jones Drew who picked up 768 yards and 9 scores. Taylor's power running and Drew's speed are a great one two punch.

On defense the Jags lost a good amount of talent to free agency. Returning at defensive end will be Paul Spicer who gobbled up 34 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks in 2007. At defensive tackle is the leader of this team, John Henderson. Henderson had a very down year in 2007 only recording 38 tackles and 2 sacks and will need to get his numbers back up to the sack master he was. At the tackle spot next to Big John will be Rob Meier. Meier recorded 27 tackles with 4 sacks in 12 games of work for the Jags. Rounding out the line will be Reggie Hayward who only played 12 games for Jacksonville last year and recorded only 18 tackles with 3 1/2 sacks. This line will have to get its numbers up in 2008 if they want to stand a chance in their division. At backer is Mike Peterson who recorded 70 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 pick in 2007. Daryl Smith comes back at the outside backer spot after recording 71 tackles and 1/2 sack in a very solid year for the Jags. The defense has to remain healthy if they have any chance of competing in this division. The Jags should improve on their record from last year finishing 12-4 and closing the gap even more.

Tennessee Titans

This teams 2008 success is totally dependent on how Vince Young developed and matures. According to his coaches this will be his break out year, after a disappointing 9 score and 17 pick year but in which his team did reach the AFC Wild Card game. Young will be throwing to former Jet, Justin McCareins (19 catches), Justin Gage (55 catches with 2 scores), Roydell Williams (55 catches with 4 scores), and Brandon Jones (21 catches with 2 scores). The Titans did not do enough to supply Young with weapons in the off season and this will hurt his development. Look for his numbers to remain close to where they were in 2007. At running back returns LenDale White, who after some weight issues to start his career had a good 2007 running for 1,110 and 7 scores.  He will take some of the pressure off of Young with his rushing threat. Im just not sure this offense has enough weapons to compete in this division just yet.

The defense will have to play big in 2008 if the team has any hope of a wild card run. Jevon Kearse returns to Tennessee after a four year stint in Philly as his numbers declined as injuries increased. He will look to get back to his "Freak" days and provide the team with a good outside rush. On the inside returns the big Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth comes back after a shortened 2007 (suspension) where he recorded 40 tackles and 6 sacks. He has to stay on the field for the Titans. Surprise sack master Kyle Vander Bosch returns for 2008 after having continue his streak of great sack seasons. He has recorded 31 sacks in the last 3 seasons for the Titans. He has to keep this up if the Titans have a chance to slow down the passing attacks in this division. Keith Bulluck is the strongest piece of this defense as he is the leader of the unit. His numbers declined in 2007 as age might be catching up with him. Between an aging defense and a offense with not enough fire power this might be a step backwards for this team. The Titans first win might not come till they play the Ravens week 5. They open the season against Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Houston, and Minnesota who all have more fire power then the Titans. The Titans will finish 4-12 on the season and coach Fisher might be looking for a new job at the end.

Houston Texans

This is a very interesting team as Gary Kubiak has turned this team around and got them to .500 last year at 8-8. Entering his third year as team head coach he looks for the teams first ever winning record and might get it. At quarterback Matt Schaub returns looking to make it through the season with no injuries. He showed hints of being the quarterback the Texans have been wishing for but also showed hints of a quarterback who makes bad choices when under pressure. He will have to limit his mistakes and calm down in the pocket. Aging running back Ahman Green looks to be the starting running back as he only played in 6 games last year before being injured. He rushed for 2 scores in those games and again showed hints of being a very good weapon for Houston if he can stay on the field. At receiver returns Andre Johnson who has had a stellar career in Houston with 371 catches and 25 scores. He as well only played in 9 games last year for the Texans and caught 60 balls with 8 scores in those short games. Across from Johnson is Kevin Walter who proved he can be a threat last year as he brought in 65 balls and 4 scores. If the starters can stay on the field the whole season this offense has the fire power to compete.

Defensively the Texans need to get stronger this year. On the line Johnson comes back after only recording 41 tackles last year and 0 sacks. He needs to get pressure on the quarterback if this unit will be successful. Weaver comes back at end after a injury shortened 2007 and looks to be more of a force after recording 0 sacks as well. Mario Williams was the only defensive player to get any kind of pressure recording 14 sacks. They need to get him help on the inside or teams will double Williams and have all day to pass. Will Demps comes back after a good first year in Houston recording 52 tackles. He is still looking to recapture the magic he had in Baltimore where he recorded 4 picks in 3 years and averaged 50 tackles a year. The defense could be the downfall to this team. The offense can score with almost everyone but they will not be able to win shoot outs if they get into them. They open up with the Steelers and the schedule does not get easier from there. only 6 teams on their schedule did not make the playoffs last year and of those 6 teams, 4 were close. The Texans will finish at 8-8 again and will make more of an impact in 2009.

AFC SOUTH PREDICTIONS:

Indianapolis Colts 13-3

Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4

Houston Texans 8-8

Tennesee Titans 4-12