2013 AFC South Projections

The Houston Texans have shown that they can be a playoff team and advance, but after consecutive losses in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Texans are looking to break through and make the Super Bowl this season.

The Texans had the 7th ranked offense in the NFL last season as quarterback Matt Schaub passed for 4,008 yards. Running back Arian Foster chipped in with 1,424 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while wide receiver Andre Johnson was his typical self with 112 receptions and 1,598 receiving yards.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak no longer has to worry about opposing defenses keying on both Foster and Johnson. Running back Ben Tate is entering his third season and he will look to spell Foster. This past spring, the Texans drafted wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the first round to compliment Johnson as teams will no longer be able to double team him.

Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is happy to have middle linebacker Brian Cushing healthy in 2013 as the Texans defense wasn’t the same after Cushing was lost halfway through the 2012 campaign as the result of an ACL injury.

You cannot speak about the Texans defense and not talk about defensive end J.J. Watt. Watt is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of The Year as he led the league in sacks last season with 20.5. I wish nothing but the best of luck to offenses that will attempt to guard Watt.

The Texans needed a veteran presence in their locker room and they have it now in the form of safety Ed Reed. Up until this season Reed spent his entire 11-year NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, but now he brings Super Bowl experience to a team that is desperate to get there.

The Texans first two games of the season are winnable as they will square of against the San Diego Chargers and the Tennessee Titans, but the real test will come in Week 3 when Houston travels to take on the defending Super Bowl Champions in the Ravens. With that said this team should be playing deep in the month of January.

Y-Indianapolis Colts 10-6

The Indianapolis Colts have a history of quick turnarounds. When the Colts still called Baltimore home, they went from 2-12 in 1974 to 10-4 in 1975. In 1998, the Colts were 3-13 before they went 13-3 in 1999. That was the case last season for the Colts as they went 11-5 following a 2-14 campaign in 2011. From 2002-2010, the Colts won at least 10 regular season games and they are ready to start another streak with second year quarterback Andrew Luck.

Luck passed for 4,374 yards last year as a rookie, but he will look to cut down on his 18 interceptions. This season should be a little easier for Luck as his former college offensive coordinator at Stanford in Pep Hamilton is now with the Colts in the same capacity. Hamilton was one of the driving forces in Luck becoming the first overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Colts.

The Colts organization rallied around their head coach Chuck Pagano in 2012 has he dealt with leukemia. Pagano is back to roam the sidelines as he will look to improve a defensive unit that was 26th in the NFL last season in total defense. The Colts front seven doesn’t have a dominant player, but their secondary will make up for it with cornerback Vontae Davis and safety LaRon Landry.

With their first two games of the season against the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins, the Colts should get out of the shoot fast before they face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.

Tennessee Titans 8-8

The Tennessee Titans have been an enigma of a football team for the past few seasons. 2011 was the first season for Titans head coach Mike Munchak and the team had a surprising 9-7 record. The Titans were expected to contend for a playoff spot in the AFC last season, but they limped to the finish line with a 6-10 mark.

In 2013, the Titans will go where quarterback Jake Locker takes them. Locker was the Titans first round pick in 2011 and he saw limited action coming off of the bench that season. Munchak named Locker the starter heading into the 2012, but his season was cut short by a shoulder injury. Now Munchak and the Titans are hopeful that Locker can be healthy in 2013 as well as providing leadership.

Since rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009, Titans running back Chris Johnson has been productive, but not as dominant as he was expected to be. Johnson has gone over the 1,000 yard mark in each of his five NFL seasons, but aside from 2009, he hasn’t had a season in which he passed the 1,500 yard mark.

The Titans have young wide receivers in Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt, Justin Hunter, and Damian Williams, but like Locker it is time for them to step up and show that they belong in the NFL.

The schedule makers weren’t too kind to the Titans as they will have their first two games of the season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Texans. A slow start and another losing season could spell the end for Munchak in Nashville.

Jacksonville Jaguars 1-15

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t enjoyed a winning season since 2007 which is a lifetime ago in the NFL. In that time the Jaguars have missed on their first round selections at the NFL Draft which is a clear illustration of the team’s  27-53 record since. Gus Bradley is the new Jaguars head coach and he will be charged with getting this team on the right track. 

If the Jaguars are going to improve in 2013, it all centers around quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert was the Jaguars first round pick in 2011 and he has yet to show the promise that the organization expected. In two NFL seasons, Gabbert has only thrown 21 touchdowns as he is well on his way to being labeled as a bust.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s 2012 season was disappointing as it was cut short due to injury while he was seeking a new contract. Jones-Drew is frustrated with both his compensation and the losing in Jacksonville which is why it makes sense for Jaguars general manager David Caldwell to trade him, but that appears to be highly unlikely.

This will be another long season for the Jaguars. Luckily for the fans in Jacksonville, both the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators are expected to field good teams this season in college football.