2010 NFL Preview Part 2: AFC South

Aloha...

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4) - You know about the offense so I'll make it quick... Manning is there (duh) and as reliable as it gets... the WR stable is pretty darn impressive when you factor in Wayne, the emerging Garcon, now 2nd-year guy in Collie, and a returning Gonzalez... Donald Brown is healthy to team with Addai.. and Dallas Clark is filthy.... okay, done... on defense, they've lost guys like Marlin Jackson, but the key cogs are back (Mathis, Freeney, Sanders, Bethea, etc.) and they should be as fast as ever on that side of the ball... 14 wins again? Probably unlikely... but 12 and a possible bye... almost penciled in
   
2. Houston Texans (11-5) - Small steps... the offense returns in full... I love Jacoby Jones opposite of Andre Johnson (the best receiver alive), and Schaub exploded last year... the RB situation is fluid... but they have capable options in Foster/Tate/Slaton... it's not great, but they're winging it around anyway... the Dunta Robinson loss hurts them in the secondary.. but Mario Williams anchors a quality D-line (and if they get Aaron Schobel, look out), they have a pro bowl MLB in Demeco Ryans, and quality safeties to help out the young corners... I'm high on them..
   
3. Tennessee Titans (9-7) - Which Titans team is for real? The one that started dreadfully in 2009... or the one (anchored by Vince Young) that killed it down the stretch... I'm going to say it's in the middle... I'm still not sold on Young, but he's a winner everywhere he's been... Oh, I haven't mentioned Chris Johnson yet... let's end that now... 2000+ yards last year, and no signs of slowing down... I won't say he goes for that many again, but barring injury, he's a mortal lock for 1700+... the receivers are below-average, and that's a hindrance, but they are pounding the rock... my issue? The defense... gone are the days where they were feared.. and the talent level is significantly lowered... I like guys like David Thornton, Jovan Haye, and Courtland Finnegan... but if they are your anchors, you're probably in trouble...
   
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10) - MoJo wins them some games alone... but Garrard fell off the cliff in 2009, the receivers are still subpar (even when Mike Sims-Walker is alive), and the O-line, while rebuilding, probably won't be all the way there in 2010.... the defense should be better with young guys like 1st-rounder Alualu on the D-line and Kirk Morrison in the middle... but I can't trust Garrard, and Del Rio is overmatched...