Did Edgerrin James make the Colts a better team, or did the Colts make James a better player? That’s like wondering which came first, the chicken or the egg. One thing is for apparent, James or no James, other than Indianapolis most other teams in the AFC South have the distinct look of chicken salad.
Here is my take of teams in the AFC SOUTH DIVISION for 2006. Coming up next: the AFC WEST DIVISION Enjoy…
HOUSTON
After gradually inching up the win column in his first three years with the expansion Texans, the Dom Capers era ended sourly when Houston fell to a franchise low 2-win plateau in 2005. Capers was dispatched in favor of Gary Kubiak, former Broncos’ offensive coordinator as the club looked to reinvigorate a stalling offense. They then went and passed on sure-fire Heisman Trophy winning RB Reggie Bush in favor of DE Mario Williams of NC State. Say what? It will likely prove to be the biggest draft-day guffaw in modern history considering NONE of the previous five defensive linemen that were selected as the No.1 pick in the NFL draft over the last 25 years has ever made it to the Pro Bowl (won’t Bush look good in Hawaii someday soon). Meanwhile, QB David Carr continues under a full-scale sack assault. Sounds like a revolt in the making.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. New York Giants (11/5)
INDIANAPOLIS
Yuck-o. After a 13-0 start, and murmurs of a new domineering team, the Colts tossed a shoe ending the season on a 1-3 note. On the upside they did become the first NFL team in 10 years to finish with a winning record after going winless during the pre-season. They also swept the AFC South, winning all six games, and are now 16-2 SU in division play the L3Y. The free-agency loss of star RB Edgerrin James means backup Dominic Rhodes will battle 1st round pick Joseph Addai for starting honors in the backfield. Otherwise, QB Peyton Manning will be under intense pressure to continue finding WR’s Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Better news is the defense, which improved 60 YPG in 2005, returns pretty much in tact. The bad news in Tony Dungy has never fared all that well against the NFC East, the non-conference foes littering their ’06 itinerary.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Washington (10/22)
JACKSONVILLE
With Fred Taylor’s shelf life having just about expired, the Jaguars surprisingly passed on his replacement in this year’s draft in favor of first round pick TE Mercedes Lewis. Diminutive RB Maurice Drew was tabbed in the 2nd round instead. Many think that could ultimately prove to be a wrong move, but head coach Jack Del Rio believes loading up on targets for QB Byron Leftwich will prove to be the better option. You can’t refute Del Rio’s success as he’s inched this program to the border of stardom in three short years. Sure, they’ve scored 30 or more points in only four of its last 67 games - all against sub .500 opposition - but their defense keeps them in just about every game (one double-digit loss during the regular season last year). A tough schedule has them opening against four winning teams before tackling five straight losers thereafter.
PLAY ON: at Indianapolis (9/24)
TENNESSEE
The aging Titans felt they needed to get young ASAP. As a result it’s so long Steve and welcome Vince. That’s the new battle cry in Nashville these days as the Steve McNair days are done while the Vince Young era begins. GM Floyd Reese only hopes bypassing Matt Leinhart and Jay Cutler (local boy) does not come back to haunt him. The selection of RB LenDale White in the 2nd round was a real gift as he looks to challenge Chris Brown immediately for playing time. For a team that has won all of nine games the L2Y, the Titans are to be respected. For openers, their defense actually improved 38 YPG in 2005. Only a sharp drop in the running game (gained 100 yards only four times) kept them from being taken seriously. Their initial five road games (all against winning teams) however is not a joking matter.
PLAY AGAINST: as favorite vs. Houston (10/29)
This article was extracted from the 2006 PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS' YEARBOOK magazine. To order your copy of this 248-page best selling football preview click here www.playbook.com or call 1.800.PLAYBOOK for instant service.
Marc Lawrence has enjoyed success as a handicapper since 1975. He publishes the Playbook Football Handicappers Yearbook magazine and the weekly Playbook Football and Playbook Basketball newsletters. He is also a featured columnist for Football News.
In addition, he hosts Right on the Line, a 30-minute nationally syndicated cable TV show that airs Saturday mornings during the football season, and the 60-minute Right on the Line radio show, heard every weekend on over 100 radio stations across America, including the Sirius satellite radio network.
You can watch and listen to Right on the Line at www.playbook.com.
