- Yeah, really goin' on a limb here I know. The fact is that the Titans got much worse, Texans aren't ready defensively. and the Jags are...well...the Jags. Peyton has a plethora of weapons around him with Clark, Wayne, Garcon, Collie, and Gonzalez but the change should come in the running game this season. This is the year I expect the baton to be passed to Donald Brown in the backfield and he should have a pretty good season as long as he stays healthy. The defense wasn't as good as it looked statistically last year and really struggled to force turnovers. It should be better this season as many of the first year starters will be heading into their second year. Look for Jerraud Powers to become one of the better corners in the league, and a healthy Bob Sanders would help. I say division title, but not the 15-1 mark they put up last season.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
- I just slanted the Jags in my Colts preview, but I think that they are the second best team in this division. They have some talent with Jones-Drew and Sims-Walker not only leading in hyphenations but should be starters every week in any fantasy league you're apart of. Garrard is an okay Quarterback who can do some things with his legs as well as his arms. The only concern is eventually the bowling ball Jones-Drew will break down...will it be this year? The defense was atrocious last year, but was also the youngest in the entire NFL. Lots of growing pains happened last season that should pay dividends this time around. While many criticized the Tyson Alualu pick (it was higher than should have been) he's someone who should be an immediate help to a defensive line that was terrible last year. Kirk Morrison and Aaron Kampman coming in should also make a HUGE impact. I see them falling just short of the playoffs.
3. Houston Texans
- Sorry, Ryan. The Texans offensively can compete with anyone schematically and talent wise. But their biggest deficiancy (defense) has still not been addressed enough. Cushing, Ryans, and Williams are all studs and Bernard Pollard is a goos safety but the corner position is frightening. That will be their biggest achilles heel going forward and in a division where you are trying to overtake Peyton Manning...good luck. Andre Johnson is the best receiver in football (and is now being paid as such) and the running game may not have one elite back but Foster, Slaton, and rookie Tate give them some options and versatility. The Texans hope this is the season that Jacoby Jones will emerge as a legit number two option behind Johnson but will it be enough to overcome the defense? I say not.
4. Tennessee Titans
- Few teams were hit harder by free agency than the Titans. The rock at center Kevin Mawae is now unemployed, Keith Bulluck is wearing a different shade of blue, and the only semblence of a pass rush (Kyle Vanden Bosch) is now in the motor city. Vince Young may repeat what he did statistically last season, but it's a tall task to ask Chris Johnson to do the same--even though he's saying 2500 yards. The last two guys who have gone over 2000 yards (Terrell Davis and Jamal Lewis) have all battled injuries and not put up anywhere the same numbers the next season. Cortland Finnegan was exposed as what he was last year, a corner who thrives in a zone but struggled to stay with elite speed in man. The Titans will need to take a step back this season to get back to the level they were at when they finished 8-2 to end the season.
I agree with your statements but I think the Texans will finish ahead of the Jags and the fighting vince youngs but they have a tough schedule this year so we'll have to wait and see
ReplyDelete