The final part in this series takes a look at the AFC South and West, last year the South was once again won by the Colts but the Chiefs shocked everyone to come from nowhere and take the West even though the Raiders went undefeated in the division throughout the season but could only manage two wins outside the AFC East. Here we go;
AFC South
Houston Texans – Once again the Texans flattered to deceive, the offense was outstanding posting some huge numbers and scores with Matt Shaub again linking well with perennial pro bowl receiver Andre Johnson, and Arian Foster had a breakout season leading the league in rushing yards and setting the all time record for an undrafted runner. But yet again the Texans defense was unable to match their colleges and once again kept the side from the playoffs. Houston have brought in former Cowboys Head Coach Wade Philips who will utilise his 3-4 defense to try and steady the ship. The main difference, to people who don’t follow the sport 3-4 is the number of players at the defensive line and linebacker positions, will be the moving of All Pro #1 pick Mario Williams from Defensive End to a rush linebacker. How this move will pan out isn’t yet known but a 6’6” 295lb linebacker is unheard of even in the modern game. The Texan used their first round pick to draft JJ Watt and their second round picks on corner Brandon Harris and linebacker Brooks Reed so the Texans are looking to address their needs, is it enough and if Philips can weave his magic, as he is a stellar Co-ordinator only time will tell, but time is one thing that Gary Kubiak doesn’t have.
Indianapolis Colts – More than any team in the league the Indianapolis Colts rely on one man, their franchise QB Peyton Manning. Manning is coming off neck surgery and will miss the opening games of the season with Kerry Collins after bringing the veteran QB out of retirement. In terms of recruitment Indianapolis used their #1 pick on the Tackle Anthony Castonzo and used their second round pick on the Tackle/Guard Benjamin Ijalana but while this would be a nice thing for Manning to have protecting him the Colts Offense is run by Manning and possibly could not be run by any other QB in the game let alone a 38 yr old journeyman. Manning’s injury is the biggest concern but if/when he returns the defensive problems may have already cost them a run at the playoffs. Once again the Colts have not addressed their interior defensive line issues and will once again be one of the smallest groups in the league. The edge rush is their but teams like the Texans, Titans and the big AFC powerhouses can run on them all day, unless Manning can return quickly and with little rust/limitations this could be a long season for Colts fans and the beginning of the end for one of the most successful teams of the last decade. 
Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags may have made the strangest moves of the off season with the unexpected change at the QB position. They surprised everyone by selecting Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick which was surprising on two counts, one not many people saw Gabbert as a top ten pick and Jacksonville had David Garrard at QB, who had just thrown 23 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate, and finished 8-8 with no major concerns over the offense apart from needing a #1 wide receiver, but then stranger than that, they released Garrard instead of paying him $8m in a roster bonus. With a decent O Line an excellent running back in Maurice Jones-Drew and a good young tight end in Mercedes Lewis this wasn’t a team that was expected to be looking for a rebuilding job at QB and now the talk is that Luke McCown will be the starter a man who has only started seven games in seven years his last coming in 2007. The defense has added a number of key free agents including Paul Posluszny, Clint Sessions and Dawan Landry to bolster the line backing and safety depth. They will be looking for Tyson Alualu to step up and show he was worth the 2010 #10 pick. Jacksonville fans would have gone into the draft hoping to add to a decent team and make a push now they must be wondering what the season will bring.
Tennessee Titans – The Titans also spent a top ten pick on a QB when they took Jake Locker with the #8 pick. Tennessee were expected to take a QB after parting ways with Vince Young. They also brought in Matthew Hasselbeck who will mentor Locker in a move that could enhance the rookie’s career. Tennessee have an impressive O line and a premier rusher in Chris Johnson who just signed a 4-year, $53.5 million contract extension - including $30 million guaranteed making him the highest paid running back in the league. The Titans also signed the highly touted Akeem Ayres who many thought would go in the first round but the loss of Jason Babin so soon after the departures of Kyle Van Bosch and Albert Haynesworth. They will be hoping that Shaun Smith and rookie Jurrell Casey along with last year’s top draft pick Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones can return the Titans front to its formidable past. A great acquisition at MLB will be Barrett Rudd but they will need to get more production out of the secondary and try to curtail the temper of Cortland Finnegan. Hasselbeck can improve the team from a year ago but the defense really needs to step up if they are to do anything against two high powered divisional opponents. AFC West
Denver Broncos – The ongoing off season drama at Mile High Stadium was the QB position and whether new head coach John Fox would want to risk playing Tim Tebow or stick with Kyle Orton who had put up excellent numbers over the previous two seasons but did not have the fan attraction of Tebow. Orton is staying put after a brief flirtation with Miami and the team is better for it, Tebow may get some game time especially near the goal line but Orton was not the issue a year ago in a dreadful season, a porous defense not helped by the loss of Elvis Dumervil struggled especially against the run and the new regime has looked to address that bringing in Broderick Bunkley and Ty Warren and switching to a four man front. Von Miller the #2 overall pick is a tackling machine but there is little depth around him and an aging secondary doesn’t help when the team was unable to generate a consistent pass rush. Denver have made small steps and having Dumervil around for 16 games will be like getting a new player and go some way to paying off his six-year $61.5 million contract extension. 
Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs were one of the league’s most surprising stories in 2010 going 10-6 and winning the division. Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones provided a sensational ground attack that allowed Matt Cassel to play the game manager role and use bug targets such as Dwayne Bowe and Tony Moeaki. Moeaki has been lost for the season but KC added Steve Breaston and first round draft choice Jonathon Baldwin and has an impressive O line and will be determined to prove they were not a one year wonder as some people fear. The defense is solid up front with Kelly Greg coming over from Baltimore to line up with recent draft picks Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson on a huge D Line. Tamba Hali will be relied upon for a pass rush but he will need help, Brandon Flowers is an impressive young corner and Safety Eric Berry will look to build on an all pro rookie season but again they will need people to make the step up with them if they are going to reamin a playoff team.
Oakland Raiders – While they managed to win every divisional game in 2010 the Raiders still managed to miss the playoffs winning only two other games and ending with an 8-8 record. The Raiders have yet another head coach this time it’s Hue Jackson, the fifth in seven years and he will inherit a team that could make the leap into playoff contention or blow up spectacularly in true Raider fashion. The Raiders have one of the most dangerous running backs in the league in Darren McFadden and have been busy assembling a solid line for him to run behind. There is no real star in the passing game and former first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey is looking like an Al Davis draft bust special to go along with Jamarcus Russell and Robert Gallery. The defense looks strong but is really going to miss All Pro corner Nnamdi Asomugha as he could cut a field in half, the team did pay Stanford Routt big money to fill the void but time will tell if he is the real deal or just benefitted from the Nnamdi factor. The Raiders are unlikely to go undefeated in the division again so a double digit loss season could again be on the cards.
San Diego Chargers – The biggest surprise in the West wasn’t the teams who did well it was the one who didn’t. The Chargers may be the most talented team in the entire league. They finished the season as the 8th team in NFL history to rank #1 in overall offense (395.6 yards/game), and overall defense (271.6 yards/game), and became only the 2nd of those teams to not make the playoffs. Philip Rivers only needs to add a Superbowl to his resume to be thought of along with the elite QB’s in the game. They have let two top running backs in LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles leave so pressure is on Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert to produce. The tall physical receiving core can all pass catch and run block and the O Line is as good as it gets with multiple pro bowl appearances for several payers. The D Line will be improved with first round pick Corey Liuget but they will bewanting to see more from Larry English the 2010 pick at outside linebacker. In the secondary Anton Cason and Quentin Jammer are a nice corner duo and having made Eric Weddle the highest paid safety in league history and provided new addition Bob Sanders can stay healthy they will add to an ever increasing array of talent, if Norv Turner doesn’t win the Superbowl this year someone else may be brought in who will.
No comments:
Post a Comment