This is the third post of a two-week series I will be doing, discussing every team by division and how I see their 2008 NFL season playing out. Today, we are discussing the AFC South division, which is populated by the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. Let’s get started!

Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning’s knee is still a big subject for debate. How bad is it? When will he be back?
In all likelihood, he’ll be back in time for the season opener vs. the Bears from the yet-to-be-opened Lucas Oil Stadium. I’m not worried about it one bit, and neither should the press. He’s never missed a start, and that’s not about to change.
Joseph Addai had a very solid year last season, and if you expect anything to change, his numbers ought to go up even farther. If Manning’s knee is worse than we think, and he needs to play it safe, Addai will be the one to step it up offensively.
Marvin Harrison has to stay healthy, because his absence was the main reason the Colts did not defeat the Chargers in the divisional round of the playoffs last January. Manning has some good back-up talent in the receiving corps, but Harrison and Wayne are the necessary parts for them to win another championship.
The defense is extraordinary, and I expect their 2008 season to be one to remember in Indy, perhaps even the best defense ever assembled by the Colts. Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney are two Hall-of-Fame caliber players, and will both have a remarkable season on their way to another AFC South title.

Regular Season Prediction: 12-4, 1st in AFC South, #3 seed in AFC playoffs

Jacksonville Jaguars
The main question up in the air at this point is can Garrard do what he did a year ago? The answer is yes, in my opinion, and he should do so keeping every game close. The Jaguars’ offense is one of the most potent in the league, and nobody will overlook them this year. That being said, their road to the playoffs will be harder than in 2007. Now, people know they are contenders, and they won’t be sneaking up on anybody.
Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor are one of the most dynamic running back duos in the National Football League. They both had extraordinary 2007’s. The rushing game won’t get hurt a bit, as I expect them and Garrard to share an even amount of the pass and the run. Why dominate only one when you are great at both?
The Jags picked up a huge amount of help in the off-season. The drafting of Derrick Harvey, who finally signed his contract yesterday, and of course, the trade for Jerry Porter. They only had to give up a 4th round pick for him. Does anyone remember what happened the last time and Oakland receiver was dealt away for a fourth round pick? Four words: Randy Moss in 2007. Now, Porter might not have a 23 TD season that many wideouts hope for, but he should be a solid contributor in the passing game that Jacksonville runs.
This team is one to be feared, and the defense can instill that very element into an opponent with one simple glance in their direction. Watch out for Jacksonville.

Regular Season Prediction: 10-6, 2nd in AFC South, #6 seed in AFC playoffs

Tennessee Titans
The problem with Vince Young is that he’s a better runner than he is a quarterback. We saw a similar situation with Michael Vick, and we all knew that as long as he ran and took off out of the pocket, he was never going to win the NFC or the Super Bowl.
If VY can stay in the pocket and let his lineman create some time, he’ll find an open guy. Alge Crumpler was added to the offense in the off-season, and I think he’ll contribute more than people give him credit for. Having been with Vick’s offense for most of his career, he should be bale to help Young mature into an elite athlete, and maybe even an elite quarterback. I expect him to have that big of an influence.
Chris Johnson, RB from East Carolina, didn’t have to travel far to live in his new team’s town, and I think we can expect a good rookie year out of him. Not a ROTY kind of season, but a good one, enough to take some of the pressure to run off of Vince Young. I’ll say 600 yards splitting the carries with LenDale White, who should also have a total in the 500-700 yard area.
The defense will have another fantastic season. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth are too of the scariest guys in the NFL. If any team goes up against them, minus maybe the Patriots OLine, they’re doomed.
In the end, it’ll come down to how well the offense can produce touchdowns and not rely on their kicker, Rob Bironas to boot 8 FGs a game. The defense will do it’s part, but the offense needs to score more points in 2008.

Regular Season Prediction: 9-7, 3rd in AFC South, no playoffs

Houston Texans
I underestimated the Texans for most of the off-season, but have since then come into the light and realized that they are legit rather than the idiots they were always used to making themselves out to be.
Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels are two good quarterbacks. Overall, they are average at best, with above-average playmaking ability. Whether or not they Schaub can become an elite quarterback is yet to be seen, but it will be decided this year. If he can’t get them to a better record than last years 8-8 season, they should get a QB in the first round of the draft. Todd Boeckman, of Ohio State, perhaps?
Steve Slaton should take most of the carries for the Texans in 2008. Ahman Green only has one good year left in him before he either retires or breaks down and hurts himself. The running game needs to be addressed soon, because Slaton can’t be the leader of a pro football rushing attack in my opinion. College is obviously a different story.
The defense has some stars and stars in the making. Both DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams should have solid years, but not enough to make a serious playoff push for the Texans. They’re still missing a few valuable and essential pieces before they can seriously contend for a Wild Card spot.

Regular Season Prediction: 8-8, 4th in AFC South, no playoffs

Let me hear what you think. Check back in tomorrow for my AFC West preview!

-Mike Greenspire

The Tennessee Titans have technically re-signed All-Pro Defensive End, Jevon Kearse to a new deal after being surprisingly released by the Philadelphia Eagles. Financial terms were not released.

He was drafted 16th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Titans, but headed to Philly after several seasons with his first franchise.

The Titans have had one of the best free agent signing periods of the entire NFL, signing TE, Alge Crumpler, who knows how to take the heat off of a scrambling QB, and now DE, Jevon Kearse, 9-year veteran, who is bound to have a big year.

I am starting a rumor. I think most of you will find it quite interesting.

The Titans could be interested in Pro Bowl LB Takeo Spikes, cut by the Eagles this week. Think about it, the guy would be a perfect fit for the defense they run. Plus, toughenig up that defnse EVEN MORE would be a great way to get your playmakers on the field. He could be one of the guys who turns a team around on defense.

What do you guys think? Let me know.

Watch out for the Titans.

-Mike Greensprie

The Tennessee Titans landed star TE, Alge Crumpler today. Congrats to them. Nobody else wanted him? Really? I find that hard to believe, but whatever.

I noticed that the Titans were missing something on their fofesne, because I had heard so much about how terific Vince Young was making them look. I was looking forward to watching him play the Chargers back in January. What I saw, was not very good. They looked fine the 1st half, but looking at the 2nd half, I dont know what kinda #### you could possibly feed your team to make them come out in the second half and choke like they did.

Well, maybe it was just me, but I saw the vacancy of a reliable big man receiving.

Alge Crupmler has just solved that problem for them.

He might not be in the prime of his career anymore, that was probably the NFC Championship Game loss to Philly back in the January of 2005, but I still see him being one of the best TEs in the coming year.

In case you missed it, the Titans were voted worst team in the 2007 playoffs by the bloggers. If they were to get back to the post-season in 2008, I doubt that unless Tom Brady gave a clone of himself to every team but the Titans that they will be the worst come next calendar year.

Good move by the Titans, and they could be one of those teams sneakignup on the powers of the AFC like Indianapolis. We'll see!

Thanks for reading! Take care!

-Mike Greenspire

Here are the official results to the poll I had out yesterday. The topic up for discusion was who was the worst team in the 2007 post-season?

After a record 9 votes, the worst team in the playoffs, with 55% of the votes is...

Congratulations! You are the worst team in the playoffs!

Washington (9-8) also recieved 3 votes,

and Tampa Bay (9-8) recieved 1.

-Mike Greenspireu>

All right, I've been waiting about a month for someone else to do this, but (sigh) I guess the burden is on me.

We all know that the New York Giants were the best team in the 2007 post-season. We know that the Patriots are second-best, Packers 3rd, Chargers 4th, and so on.

But, which of the 12 teams in the 2007 post-season... was the worst?

Here are the teams, in case you've forgotten (yeah right)

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

New England Patriots

Indianapolis Colts

San Diego Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

So, I am going to eliminate 6 teams right now.

DAL, GB, NYG, IND, SD, and NE have been eliminated from the competition.

Okay, these teams below are the teams you will be voting for as worst post-season team in the 2007 playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

So, I want you, the bloggers and readers, to vote. Which of the 6 remaining teams was the worst in the 2007 playoffs?

Please vote, with or without a biast opinion, and give a short description of why you chose that team.

-Mike Greenspire