2007 NFL Preview - AFC South
06/20/2007 07:17 AM
By: Chance Harper
Entering this season as the reigning NFL Champions and having won the last four AFC South titles, the Indianapolis Colts are definitely the cream of the division. And with both the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans in various states of flux, it leaves just the Jacksonville Jaguars to mount any challenge to Peyton Manning and the Ponies in 2007.
The South did indeed rise again.
2007 NFL Preview - AFC South
Things went very well for the AFC South division in 2006. The Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl, the Tennessee Titans went 11-5 against the spread, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the No. 6-ranked team in the league in terms of efficiency, and the Houston Texans tripled their win total from 2005. Will the good times continue to roll?
The Colts certainly hope so. They bring back the No. 1 offense in the NFL, with only some minor changes to speak of at this point. The one negative could be at running back, where Dominic Rhodes is no longer around to support the exquisite Joseph Addai. That task will likely fall on the shoulders of DeDe Dorsey, a former NAIA All-American with limited experience in the pros.
Statistically, Indianapolis had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, but things improved drastically in time for the postseason with the return of safety Bob Sanders from injury, along with some important strategic tweaks by 'Tampa 2' Tony Dungy. Although Cato June is the latest linebacker to jump ship, and the secondary is even thinner with Nick Harper packing his bags, Indy had a solid draft and should have little trouble filling those positions.
The only thing holding the Colts back in the eyes of handicappers? Inflated expectations after finally winning their Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at quarterback.
The Jaguars are also looking for more in 2007, but with good reason. Somehow Jacksonville only went 8-8 last year despite possessing the third-best defense in the NFL and a pair of potent tailbacks in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Jacksonville had a 'Pythagorean wins' total of 10.8, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 6.1 points.
Defense and running may win championships, but as the Colts know, you need a quarterback. Byron Leftwich played just six games last year before going on injured reserve; David Garrard was competent the rest of the way, completing 60.2 percent of his passes but adding nine interceptions to his 10 touchdown throws. The Jags have already named Leftwich their starter for 2007, with the intent to run more play-action under new offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter. That should suit both Leftwich and Jacksonville supporters quite nicely.
Quarterback is also the focal point for the Titans. Vince Young was one of several rookies elevated to the starting role in a league that has historically avoided throwing untested players into the deep end. It was a success. Young took the reins in Week 4 and led Tennessee to a record of 8-5 straight up and a scintillating 10-3 ATS.
Onward and upward? Let’s hold off on the Super Bowl party for now. The Titans still had one of the worst offenses in the league last year at No. 25 on the efficiency list, and the defense was nearly as bad at No. 24. Tennessee’s Pythagorean wins total of six speaks volumes about why the Titans were ATS terrors, while the snakebitten Jags were just 8-8 at the pay window. A questionable draft and the one-year suspension of CB Pacman Jones should keep the Titans in check in 2007.
What to do about the Texans? The betting public isn’t impressed by the decision to drop QB David Carr in favor of former Falcons backup Matt Schaub; the Texans total for this year is 6.5 wins, with the Under priced at -125. But Houston fans will have some faith that coach Gary Kubiak knows what he’s doing. Kubiak spent nine years as John Elway’s backup in Denver, then another decade as the Broncos offensive co-ordinator/QB coach before joining the Texans.
Houston had one of the best drafts in the league, picking up defensive tackle Amobi Okoye from Louisville with the 10th-overall selection and adding instant depth at several positions. Defense was Houston’s bugaboo in 2006 at No. 31 of the 32 team -- only woeful Washington was worse. Things can only get better with Okoye on board.
06/20/2007 07:17 AM
By: Chance Harper
Entering this season as the reigning NFL Champions and having won the last four AFC South titles, the Indianapolis Colts are definitely the cream of the division. And with both the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans in various states of flux, it leaves just the Jacksonville Jaguars to mount any challenge to Peyton Manning and the Ponies in 2007.
The South did indeed rise again.
2007 NFL Preview - AFC South
Things went very well for the AFC South division in 2006. The Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl, the Tennessee Titans went 11-5 against the spread, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the No. 6-ranked team in the league in terms of efficiency, and the Houston Texans tripled their win total from 2005. Will the good times continue to roll?
The Colts certainly hope so. They bring back the No. 1 offense in the NFL, with only some minor changes to speak of at this point. The one negative could be at running back, where Dominic Rhodes is no longer around to support the exquisite Joseph Addai. That task will likely fall on the shoulders of DeDe Dorsey, a former NAIA All-American with limited experience in the pros.
Statistically, Indianapolis had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, but things improved drastically in time for the postseason with the return of safety Bob Sanders from injury, along with some important strategic tweaks by 'Tampa 2' Tony Dungy. Although Cato June is the latest linebacker to jump ship, and the secondary is even thinner with Nick Harper packing his bags, Indy had a solid draft and should have little trouble filling those positions.
The only thing holding the Colts back in the eyes of handicappers? Inflated expectations after finally winning their Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at quarterback.
The Jaguars are also looking for more in 2007, but with good reason. Somehow Jacksonville only went 8-8 last year despite possessing the third-best defense in the NFL and a pair of potent tailbacks in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Jacksonville had a 'Pythagorean wins' total of 10.8, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 6.1 points.
Defense and running may win championships, but as the Colts know, you need a quarterback. Byron Leftwich played just six games last year before going on injured reserve; David Garrard was competent the rest of the way, completing 60.2 percent of his passes but adding nine interceptions to his 10 touchdown throws. The Jags have already named Leftwich their starter for 2007, with the intent to run more play-action under new offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter. That should suit both Leftwich and Jacksonville supporters quite nicely.
Quarterback is also the focal point for the Titans. Vince Young was one of several rookies elevated to the starting role in a league that has historically avoided throwing untested players into the deep end. It was a success. Young took the reins in Week 4 and led Tennessee to a record of 8-5 straight up and a scintillating 10-3 ATS.
Onward and upward? Let’s hold off on the Super Bowl party for now. The Titans still had one of the worst offenses in the league last year at No. 25 on the efficiency list, and the defense was nearly as bad at No. 24. Tennessee’s Pythagorean wins total of six speaks volumes about why the Titans were ATS terrors, while the snakebitten Jags were just 8-8 at the pay window. A questionable draft and the one-year suspension of CB Pacman Jones should keep the Titans in check in 2007.
What to do about the Texans? The betting public isn’t impressed by the decision to drop QB David Carr in favor of former Falcons backup Matt Schaub; the Texans total for this year is 6.5 wins, with the Under priced at -125. But Houston fans will have some faith that coach Gary Kubiak knows what he’s doing. Kubiak spent nine years as John Elway’s backup in Denver, then another decade as the Broncos offensive co-ordinator/QB coach before joining the Texans.
Houston had one of the best drafts in the league, picking up defensive tackle Amobi Okoye from Louisville with the 10th-overall selection and adding instant depth at several positions. Defense was Houston’s bugaboo in 2006 at No. 31 of the 32 team -- only woeful Washington was worse. Things can only get better with Okoye on board.