The Houston Texans Have the Best Offensive Line in the AFC South

The Houston Texans have the best offensive line in the AFC South.

Well, they did before they cut Eric Winston.

Offensive line play is notoriously difficult to measure. Running backs get credit for rushing yards, even though that likely has more to do with the line. Linemen get the blame for sacks even though they likely have more to do with the quarterback.

The South is particularly difficult bunch to grade thanks in part to lines with real strengths coupled with glaring weaknesses. There isn't a "complete" line in the division. If any of the top three manage to plug a huge hole in 2012, they'll take the title of "Best Offensive Line in the South."

1. Houston

I'd feel a lot more comfortable with the Texans as the best line in the South if they hadn't just cut Eric Winston. The Texans led the South in adjusted line yards and graded out credibly in pass blocking. What worries me about the loss of Winston is that they were much better running right than left. Whatever hold the Texans have on this spot is tenuous at best.

2. Jacksonville

The Jaguars' line doesn't do anything well, but doesn't do anything poorly either. Their weak link was left guard Will Rackley, who was terrible at everything. Brad Meester and Eugene Monroe were very good at everything. The Jaguars are actually very close to having an elite line.

3. Tennessee

The Titans have replaced Jake Scott with Steve Hutchinson, but that's a lateral move. The Titans have an outstanding pass-blocking line, coupled with possibly the worst run blocking in football. They ranked last in the NFL in adjusted line yards but second in adjusted sack rate. They have a gaping hole at center, but are solid at both tackles.

The Titans aren't far off from having the best line in the division but have to be able to run the ball more efficiently. The funny thing is that as bad as they were in most run situations, they had the third-best power running game in the NFL.

4. Indianapolis

The Colts line has been terrible for years but actually improved significantly in 2011. Unfortunately, that means nothing for 2012.

The problem is that the Colts are also replacing almost the entire line. Jeff Saturday is gone and Ryan Diem retired. Mike Pollak is moving on as well. The Colts have added some castoffs and rejects from other teams, but at the present the line is more theory than reality.