AFC South 2010 Preview
by Scott Rickenbach
Houston - The Texans passing attack has become ultra impressive. However, injuries along the offensive line early last season certainly played a role in a rushing attack that ended up finishing up among the worst in the league.
Slaton's neck injury definitely played a role in the sharp decline of the running attack as well. The drafting of Tate showed that the Texans were certainly cognizant of the negative impact their poor rushing attack had on them last season. Houston defended the run well last year but, other than Mario Williams, the pass rush was an issue.
That continues to hold back the defense but if they prove early on that the issue has been addressed properly for this season then we would not be surprised to see this team end up playoff bound.
Indianapolis - The Colts appear to be the prime example of a Super Bowl loser primed for a letdown in the following season.
Sure their 14 game win streak last season was amazing but it's the way their season ended that will be remembered. That said, some "hangover effect" should be expected this season. The rushing attack of the Colts is still a concern. Defensively, Indianapolis dropped in their ability to defend the pass last season. The schedule for the Colts this season is also unkind and the pass protection and inability to open up holes on the ground shows that the offensive line has regressed. The entire league remembers the Colts 14-0 start last season and, in that sense, every opponent this season certainly has the Indy game circled. We look for a much more challenging regular season for the Colts this year and that means this division is likely to be a bunched up group this season.
Jacksonville - The Jags were 7-5 before dropping each of their last four games last season. We believe this team should be "right there" again this season and, this time, they are unlikely to falter late. The Jaguars did a good job in the draft in terms of adding a lot of talent and depth for the defensive line rotation. Also, the running game improved last season. With the house cleaning on defense and the fact that the Jaguars aren't expected to be a real threat this season, don't be surprised if they surprise some teams as well as some bettors early and often this season. This is the perfect set-up for a team to surprise after they were expected to do too much too soon last season and they ultimately disappointed their followers. With lower expectations this season, they don't face the same pressure as last season and the weight is off their shoulders.
Tennessee - After their solid run in '08 some key differences reared their ugly head in '09. Keep in mind they went to a defensive coordinator who was in his first year ever in that role. Also, the secondary fell victim to the injury bug. Additionally, going with Kerry Collins early in the season really hurt this team. The only thing that turned it around was when Vince Young took over at QB. The question now is how much of the momentum of the Titans strong 8-2 run can be carried into this season. We like the Titans willingness to go with youth on defense this year. Their poor defense (especially against the pass) buried this team last season. Look for a healthier secondary and good moves to speed and youth in the front seven to give this defense a much better look in '10. We feel Tennessee's second half momentum absolutely gives this team a good shot at a strong start out of the gate this season. With Fisher at head coach, the Titans should be a threat in the AFC South as he continues to be a top leader in this league.
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