2007-2008 NFL Picks (AFC South)
No one can handle the Colts' offensive firepower . . . again
While Jacksonville has an interesting team with Byron Leftwich, Maurice Jones-Drew, and a spectacular defense, the Colts are too much to handle
AFC South:
1) Indianapolis Colts (11-5) - No surprise here. There won't be much competition for the Colts in the AFC South. The rest of the league, however, is a different story. The Colts won the Super Bowl last year, but that's where the good news ends for Tony Dungy and company. Indy's offense will be prolific, as usual. Joseph Addai has another year of experience and by all accounts is a much better back for it. Peyton Manning will be throwing down the field and putting up monster numbers again. But the Colts' defense will struggle. It was last in the league in rushing yards per game (173 per 60 minutes, not good) and it didn't improve during the offseason. There weren't any big offseason pickups, and other than Dwight Freeney at D-end and Bob Sanders in the secondary, opposing teams are looking at a lot of holes. The Colts' out of conference schedule doesn't help. While their division is roadkill, the Colts have New Orleans, Denver, San Diego, Baltimore, and New England on the calendar this year, and all of those teams will be extremely difficult to beat with a subpar defense.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) - While it remains to be seen which Byron Leftwich will show up this season (reports say that Leftwich has lost a significant amount of weight and has come into camp in the best shape of his life), the Jaguars' defense will keep them in most games. The Jags were second in the NFL in allowed yards per game last season, allowing just 283.6 total yards per game, second only to the Baltimore Ravens. The Jacksonville defense should continue to give the offense good field position while putting some points on the board. Maurice Jones-Drew was an extremely pleasant surprise for the offense last season and provided an out for the offense in case Fred Taylor succombed to an annual injury. If Leftwich plays to his potential (a big 'if'), or even to some of his potential, the Jags could be a challenge to some of the elite teams in the AFC.
3) Tennessee Titans (7-9) - Who is going to start in the backfield? Travis Henry went and upgraded his situation (now he's running behind the goliaths of the Denver Broncos offensive line) and left the Titans with LenDale White and Chris Brown. And Tennessee's No. 1 receiver? Drew Bennett. That's not going to get it done in the AFC, no matter how good Vince Young is this season. It may take a few more savvy drafts and free agent signings before they can surround Young with a proper arsenal. Titans fans just have to hope that Young comes in before his curfew during the regular season.
4) Houston Texans (5-11) - Five wins might be generous. Matt Schaub hasn't taken a snap as the No. 1 guy for a professional team and Ahman Green is older than dust in the backfield. Their defense consists of Mario Williams on the line and not much else behind him. How nice would it be to have Reggie Bush right now?
Read more football articles by Rob Greenfield:
national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/20072008_nfl_picks_afc_north
national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/20072008_nfl_picks_afc_east
national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/20072008_nfl_picks_afc_west
