With all the teams that go from bad to great and great to bad from one season to the next, forecasting how things will pan out in the NFL is close to impossible.

It’s another ingredient in why the NFL is the best thing going in sports, another piece of the unpredictability we love.

Generally, I have trouble forecasting big things for teams that are counting on a high number of unproven players to make simultaneous jumps and be productive -- though they can emerge as far better than I expect, of course. Still, it’s why I am not particularly optimistic about the 2010 Tennessee Titans.

I thought I’d go team-by-team in search of less-than-established spots in the lineup to create an AFC South uncertainty index.

Let’s be clear: you may not prefer Amobi Okoye at defensive tackle for the Houston Texans, Kyle DeVan at right guard for the Indianapolis Colts, Brad Meester at center for the Jacksonville Jaguars or Michael Griffin at safety for the Titans. But they are guys who will play and have a degree of faith from the team.

I’m looking at spots where inexperience is a big factor.

We’re not pretending to know the season-opening depth charts here, simply building off last year’s versions. We’ll look a bit beyond starting lineups with significant roles and return jobs included. Here's our look in order of uncertainty. (Starting positions labeled with an asterisk.)

Titans (10, with three starters)

• *Defensive end: Derrick Morgan
• *Outside linebacker: Gerald McRath
• *Cornerback: Jason McCourty, Ryan Mouton, Alterraun Verner, Rod Hood, Tye Hill
• Third outside cornerback: McCourty, Mouton, Verner, Hood, Hill
• Second running back: Javon Ringer
• Blocking tight end: Craig Stevens
• Second receiving tight end: Jared Cook
• Third defensive tackle: Sen’Derrick Marks
• Punt returner: Damian Williams, Alvin Pearman, Ryan Mouton
• Kick returner: Marc Mariani, Damian Williams, Mark Jones

Kuharsky’s take: Sure, young and talented can be exciting and promising, but that’s quite a lot. You’d expect Morgan to be fine. And they went with numbers instead of value at corner, where I’d think one or two guys have to emerge. McRath, Stevens, Cook and Marks all need to contribute. If Jeff Fisher hasn’t found solutions in the return game, they’ve got serious issues.

Jaguars (10 with two starters)

• *Defensive tackle: Tyson Alualu
• *Second and third wide receiver: Troy Williamson, Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard
• Second and third running back: Deji Karim, Rashad Jennings
• Third or fourth defensive tackle: D’Anthony Smith
• Third or fourth defensive end: Larry Hart, Austen Lane
• Third tight end: Zach Miller
• Nickelback: Don Carey, Scott Starks, Tyron Brackenridge
• Punt returner: Scotty McGee, Thomas, Karim
• Kick returner: McGee, Karim, Thomas

Kuharsky’s take: Alualu, the first rounder, should fare well. Finding playmakers (beyond hyphen guys Mike Sims-Walker and Maurice Jones-Drew) out of the receivers and running backs is a huge issue. McGee or Karim panning out as a returner would help in that department too. With shaky veteran safeties, nickelback will be especially important.

Indianapolis (six, with one starter)

• *Left guard: Tony Ugoh, Andy Alleman, Jacques McClendon
• Third (possibly second) tight end: Brody Eldridge, Tom Santi, Jacob Tamme
• Third defensive end: Jerry Hughes
• Fourth cornerback: Ray Fisher, Mike Newton, Brandon King, Jordan Hemby
• Punt returner: Fisher, Jerraud Powers, Brandon James
• Kick returner: Fisher, Sam Giguere, James

Kuharsky’s take: Potentially they’ve got just one starting spot in question. A season-killing knee injury to third-rounder Kevin Thomas hurts depth options at cornerback, but a lot of teams would be pleased for that to rank as one of its big issues. Eldridge could help upgrade run-blocking and Fisher and James seem to be more exciting return options than they’ve had recently.

Houston (four, with three starters)

• *Running back: Ben Tate
• *Right guard: Antoine Caldwell
• *Cornerback: Kareem Jackson
• Third (possibly second) tight end: James Casey, Garrett Graham

Kuharsky’s take: I’d prefer to have inexperienced guys with upside in the mix at nose tackle and free safety, but they look to be sticking with the status quo in Shaun Cody and Eugene Wilson, respectively. If you’re going to have new starters, let them be high draft picks like Tate (second), Caldwell (third last year) and Jackson (first).