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Who had the best defensive end season in AFC South history? Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report asks and examines.

Houston Texans

The Texans are playing a numbers game, as Whitney Mercilus is now wearing 59 (which used to belong to DeMeco Ryans) and undrafted rookie linebacker Shawn Loiseau has Mario Williams’ old 90, says Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle.

Houston plans to bid for the 2017 Super Bowl, says David Barron of the Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts

Ryan Grigson thinks Cassius Vaughn has not hit his ceiling yet, says Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star.

Mike Chappell of the Star discusses continuing coverage in Indy of Peyton Manning and other former Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Thirty-year-old fullback Naufahu Tahi served his Mormon mission in Jacksonville and now he’s back, trying to earn a roster spot with the Jaguars, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Why Mike Thomas is not likely to be on the roster bubble, from Ganguli. Thomas would really have to bomb for this to become any sort of an issue, and Lee Evans would have to really bounce back.

The Jaguars have opened up contract talks with some of their draft picks, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

It’s time for Titans cornerback Jason McCourty to take on a bigger leadership role, writes John Glennon of The Tennessean. I agree and I think McCourty is ready to do it.

Glennon found Golf Channel video of Jordan Babineaux getting golf tips.

1. Houston Texans: Wade Phillips did some great things with this defense a year ago. But he’s not the only member of the Texans’ organization who deserves credit for an incredibly improved defense from 2010 to 2011. Houston’s front office was very aggressive in addressing the defensive side of the ball last offseason. Now, Houston has big-time players at each level of its 3-4 defense.

For those who don’t yet know, J.J. Watt immediately established himself as one of the up-and-coming defensive players in this league. Not only is Watt is a fantastic hustle player, but he has ideal size and length for his 3-4 defensive end position to go with well above-average athletic ability. Watt will be a star. Like Watt, Brian Cushing did everything asked of him really well from his inside linebacker spot last season and has established himself as one of the better second-level defenders in the league.

Before last season, the Texans paid a premium to sign him, but simply put, Johnathan Joseph is one of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL today. He is the total package and probably the best player on this excellent defense -- which is really saying something. The Texans could use one more cover man to step up, though. Overall, Houston is well-equipped in coverage and of course the pass rush helped a lot in that capacity.

Maybe what the Texans’ defense did best in Phillips’ first year was rushing the quarterback -- even without Mario Williams for much of the season. The Texans did add Whitney Mercilus to further enhance their threat off the edge and Connor Barwin could be knocking on the door of stardom.

Besides the first-round selection of Mercilus, who is in an ideal position to learn the outside linebacker position slowly, the Texans mostly stuck to improving their offense in the draft. However, Houston did land an intriguing prospect to play behind Watt and the underrated Antonio Smith in late fourth-round pick Jared Crick, who is an ideal fit for this defensive scheme. Only the Steelers, 49ers and Raves allowed fewer points than Houston last year. Don’t expect much of a drop-off this year.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: The AFC South has a shot to have two top-five defenses in 2012. Mike Malarkey takes over as the Jaguars’ head coach, but his focus will be getting quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s career straightened out and improving a dismal Jacksonville passing game.

The defense will be in Mel Tucker’s hands. Tucker wants a fast-flowing, physical and aggressive defense that doesn’t blitz a lot and gets most of its pressure from the defensive linemen. The Jaguars found a gem in Jeremy Mincey, who’s excelled in all facets of playing defensive end in their 4-3 scheme. But this defense really lacked a complementary end to Mincey, especially as a pass-rusher. Jacksonville used the No. 38 pick in this year’s draft on Andre Branch, who could help immediately on passing downs but offers little against the run.

One guy who let this defense down last season is Tyson Alualu, who really had a down 2011 season in all regards. Still, only three teams bettered Jacksonville in rushing yards allowed per attempt in 2011. A vastly underrated positional group in the NFL is the Jaguars’ linebacker corps, especially Daryl Smith, who does everything well on the second level. Paul Posluszny isn’t much behind Smith and was a fine addition to Jacksonville’s defense in free agency a year ago. The Jags’ secondary lacks star power but it is pretty solid at each position. The Jaguars were 10th in the league in points allowed last year. They could improve upon that in 2012.

3. Tennessee Titans: There isn’t a lot of star power here, but the Titans are very young on defense and could be poised to improve. Youngsters Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug, Alterraun Verner, Jason McCourty and others are much better players than many casual NFL fans know. Third-round pick Mike Martin should be the perfect complement to the run-stuffing Casey and the lighter pass-rushing Klug in the Titans’ defensive tackle rotation.

The Titans’ pass rush was a huge problem last season, as only Tampa Bay recorded fewer sacks than Tennessee, but it should be much better this year, especially with the addition of Kamerion Wimbley. Former first-round pick Derrick Morgan also should finally be healthy. This is a key season for Morgan -- and the Titans need more from him.

On the second level, the Titans are now very young and active. Colin McCarthy is a tackling machine and should quickly establish himself as a leader of this defense. Tennessee lost Cortland Finnegan to the Rams in free agency, but overall, their coverage people were above average last season -- despite that suspect pass rush. Finnegan had an excellent season, though, and will be difficult to replace.

The Titans look to be improved up front in their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, but not as strong on the back end in coverage. Only seven teams allowed fewer points than Tennessee during the 2011 season. Maintaining that standard could be difficult, but overall, this is a pretty solid group in just about all areas.

4. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts might have the worst defense in the NFL this season. Their run defense was abysmal last season. Indianapolis has nowhere to go but up in this department and additions such as Cory Redding, Brandon McKinney and Josh Chapman should help shore up the run defense at the line of scrimmage. Still, such a drastic scheme change really leaves Indianapolis in a bind on this side of the ball for 2012.

Although the Colts surely will not be playing with the lead as much as they did when Peyton Manning was behind center, the edge pass-rush presence of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis should still rank among the best in the NFL. Mathis was probably the Colts’ best defensive player last season. He can still get it done. I believe the same is true with Freeney. As good as Freeney and Mathis still are, just the Titans and Buccaneers sacked opposing quarterbacks less than Indianapolis.

Besides Freeney and Mathis, Pat Angerer and especially Antoine Bethea are above-average starters for their respective positions. But outside of these four, the remaining prevalent members of the Colts’ defense are littered with flaws. One player I am very high on is Drake Nevis, but Nevis was drafted to be an upfield disruptive three-technique. The problem here is that if Indianapolis goes with a predominantly 3-4 alignment, Nevis’ great penetrating abilities could be wasted. That is the problem with switching schemes -- players from the former philosophy aren’t well-suited for what the new coaching staff has in mind. This applies to many members of the Colts’ defense, which up until now was a fast-flowing undersized unit built on speed. Now this unit will be building to be much like what Chuck Pagano coached in Baltimore -- and Nevis is one of many examples of the problems with making such a change.

The Colts were not strong at all in coverage last year -- and it doesn’t look as though they will be much improved in 2012. They are particularly weak at cornerback. Indianapolis also had the fewest interceptions in the league last year. Pagano and his defensive staff will be more creative with their looks and pressures, which he hopes will leads to more turnovers created. Getting more Ravens-type of defensive players will be a massive priority for Indianapolis next offseason.

Earlier this week, Texans owner Bob McNair talked about negotiating contract extensions for coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith.

That got me thinking: Who are the AFC South players who need contract extensions before they get anywhere close to an expired contract at the start of the 2013 league year?

Here are my top six:

1) Matt Schaub, Texans quarterback

I understand there are some non-believers. In five seasons with the Texans, Schaub has played a full slate of games only twice. He’s not been consistently clutch in big moments.

Still, I see him as a quality engineer of Kubiak’s offense. I think the team loves him and has faith in him. And although rookie T.J. Yates did some good work while filling in for Schaub last season, I don’t think the Texans would be comfortable handing the team over to Yates after he's been in the league only two seasons, especially if he plays only a little or not at all this season because Schaub is in the lineup.

I’d make sure Schaub’s fully recovered from the serious right foot injury that ended his 2011 season. If he plays well in the first month of the season, I’d talk to his agent. Even if they wait until after the 2012 season plays out, gauging his health and seeing how far he can take them, Schaub is their guy.

He’s not the best player on this list, but as a starting quarterback, he goes to the head of the line. Is he a top quarterback in the league? My count says he’s 13th or 14th among current starters. You’d like better, but can do far worse and I don’t think you can project Yates to rank any higher. The Texans aren't going to be drafting at the top of the first round, and none of the guys better than Schaub are going to be hitting the market. So there is no place to go to upgrade.

2) Connor Barwin, Texans outside linebacker

The Texans projected Barwin could be a quality pass-rusher when they drafted him out of Cincinnati in 2009 with a second-round pick. Last year, in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense, Barwin was a consistent pass-rushing force, playing nearly 95 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and recording 11.5 sacks.

Barwin is part of the reason the franchise could afford to let Mario Williams depart as a free agent. The Texans simply cannot allow Barwin to follow Williams out of town. And with the increase in 3-4 defenses around the league, there are a lot of teams that would make a play for Barwin if he came free.

3) Daryl Smith, Jacksonville linebacker

Smith’s known for being an underrated player.

He’s an anchor for the Jaguars, and I expect he’ll shine in a healthy defense in 2012. The unit has a chance to be great, and Smith will shine if the coverage behind him is good and the rush in front of him can be consistent. They have the people for both of those elements to be in place.

The Jaguars would certainly like to keep a starting linebacker corps of Smith, Paul Posluszny and Clint Session together.

4) Duane Brown, Texans left tackle

I don’t think he’s regarded around the league as a premier guy who would draw a ton of interest if he became a free agent. But he is regarded as an excellent player in the Texans' line scheme. The team is moving forward, replacing Mike Brisiel at right guard and Eric Winston at right tackle.

The Texans did what they had to in order to keep center Chris Myers. They will need to do the same with Brown. They must hold together the key pieces of what was an excellent group in 2011. Brown is vital for the success of Schaub, or Yates, as well as running back Arian Foster.

5) Jason McCourty, Titans cornerback

He’s a solid player on the rise. He plays a position where he will have a chance to establish himself as a productive leader who needs to be in place for the long term.

Cortland Finnegan is gone. And the team is weak at safety, where Michael Griffin is getting one last chance under the franchise tag and Jordan Babineaux owns a starting spot at least in part because the Titans don’t have other options.

McCourty is a smart player who should be the best member of the secondary in 2012 and beyond provided they are able to keep him.

6) Terrance Knighton, Jaguars defensive tackle

He suffered a serious eye injury in a bar incident not long ago, but indications are he should be OK for training camp. Knighton has had weight issues since he came into the league. He seems to have gained better control of that, and general manager Gene Smith made it clear to Knighton that if he proves he can remain fit he’ll be taken care of in the long run.

Knighton moves very well for a very large man, and the Jaguars believe if their defense will be good, it will be because Knighton and Tyson Alualu anchor the middle, stuffing the run and moving the quarterback off his spot.

Also not under contract for 2013 and likely worthy of new deals: Texans safety Glover Quin, Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers, Jaguars cornerback Derek Cox, Titans tight end Jared Cook and Colts receiver Austin Collie.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle sees the Texans going 11-5 this season, but you’ve got to scroll through a slideshow to see.

Bob McNair promoted two in the front office, including one of his sons, Cal McNair, says McClain.

A look at the defensive linemen in the draft from Sam Khan of the Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts

“Come next Thursday night, the Colts will have their centerpiece in place. But what happens the following few days, in rounds two through seven, will go a long way toward establishing how quickly the rebuilding process will proceed,” says Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star.

Many players feel like they are starting over with the new coaching staff, says Mike Chappell of the Star. Fili Moala is now a 3-4 end.

Jacksonville Jaguars

D’Anthony Smith is healthy and hopes to contribute as the two defensive tackles ahead of him recover from injury, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. It’s time for him to show something, but we have no idea what he can do yet.

Aaron Ross will get a few days off from training camp to watch his wife compete in the London Olympics, says Vito Stellino of the T-U. That doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.

Lee Evans’ one-year contract includes a $1.05 million base salary, reports Ganguli. But if he doesn’t make the team out of camp, they can avoid that and a roster bonus of nearly $200,000 and get off the hook having paid just his $250,000 guarantee.

Receiver Taylor Price will miss the rest of the offseason with a stress fracture in his left foot, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

As expected, Chris Johnson intends to participate in the offseason program which kicks off Monday. He’ll be there Tuesday, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. If Johnson makes 30 of 36 workouts, he won’t sacrifice $250,000.

The McCourty brothers, Jason and Devin, are ready for their Week 1 matchup in the Patriots-Titans game, says Wyatt.

The Titans have raked in SEC players over the years, says Wyatt.

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Houston Texans

Key additions: None.

Key losses: OLB Mario Williams, RG Mike Brisiel, CB Jason Allen, TE Joel Dreessen, RT Eric Winston (cut), ILB DeMeco Ryans (traded), FB Lawrence Vickers (cut), QB Matt Leinart (cut).

Keepers and finance: Not everyone got away. The Texans managed to keep two very important players. They re-signed running back Arian Foster before he reached restricted free agency. And after he'd explored the market some, they struck a deal with unrestricted-free-agent center Chris Myers, a vital piece to a line that lost the two starters on the right side when Winston was cut and Brisiel bolted to Oakland.

Ryans was not a full-time player in the 3-4 defense, and his price tag was high. While Houston takes a $750,000 hit this season, he’s cleared from the books in the future. That will help the team as it tries to make sure players like outside linebacker Connor Barwin and left tackle Duane Brown don’t get away like Williams did.

What’s next: Depth paid off in a big way in 2011 as the Texans managed to win the division and a playoff game despite major personnel losses. At several spots, like on the offensive line and at corner, the draft will serve to replenish the roster with the same kind of insurance.

But the Texans are not without need.

While they are likely to stick with Jacoby Jones as part of the team and like Kevin Walter, a more reliable and dynamic weapon to go with Andre Johnson at receiver is something they acknowledge wanting. A third outside linebacker can reduce the high-snap strain on Barwin and Brooks Reed. While they hope Rashad Butler will replace Winston and Antoine Caldwell will take Brisiel’s spot, adding a guy who can compete for one or both of those spots would be healthy.

Indianapolis Colts

Key additions: DE Cory Redding, WR Donnie Avery, C Samson Satele, S Tom Zbikowski, G Mike McGlynn, RT Winston Justice (trade), QB Drew Stanton (trade).

Key losses: QB Peyton Manning (cut), WR Pierre Garcon, TE Jacob Tamme, C Jeff Saturday, TE Dallas Clark (cut), LB Gary Brackett (cut), S Melvin Bullitt (cut), RT Ryan Diem (retired), WR Anthony Gonzalez, QB Dan Orlovsky, CB Jacob Lacey (not tendered), QB Curtis Painter (cut), DE Jamaal Anderson, G Mike Pollak.

So much we don’t know: We know background on coach Chuck Pagano and his coordinators and we know what Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson have said. But there will be a degree of mystery well into the season about what they intend to run and with whom. It’s unlikely to be a sweeping transition to a 3-4 defense, as it takes time to overhaul the personnel. But as they play a hybrid defense and move toward a conversion, they’ll need more than they’ve got -- starting with a nose tackle.

On offense, they’ve said they’ll use a fullback. That’s a major departure from the previous regime. And we don’t know if a Donald Brown-Delone Carter duo at fullback will be sufficient to run behind. They need help virtually everywhere after the cap purge and free-agency turnover. Not everything will get addressed as much as they’d like in their first offseason.

What’s next: I expect more role players like Zbikowski and McGlynn, more castoffs like Justice and Stanton and more guys who are presumed finished by a lot of teams, like Avery.

They are all guys who didn’t cost much but who have upside and can help, at least as role players. And if they don’t pan out, it’s hardly a death blow to Indianapolis' major, long-term plans. Money is limited with big dead-money charges and a $19 million cap hit for defensive end Dwight Freeney the team has indicated it's willing to carry.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Key additions: WR Laurent Robinson, CB Aaron Ross, QB Chad Henne.

Key losses: DT Leger Douzable (did not tender).

Keeping their own: The Jaguars did well to hold on to players who have been valuable to them. The top of that list belongs to safety Dwight Lowery. They traded with the Jets for him before last season, shifted him full time to safety and got good work from him before he was hurt. It was crucial for the team to stay fixed at the position where it was horrific in 2010 before signing Dawan Landry and adding Lowery.

They also re-signed defensive end Jeremy Mincey, a great effort defensive end who was overextended in terms of playing time last year. He’s no sack-master, but he’s going to bust it on every play, break through sometimes and make the opponent work hard to stay in his way. And with the lack of quality defensive ends who hit the market, the Jaguars did well to keep him from jumping to Chicago.

What’s next: Receiver has to be addressed beyond a change in position coach and the addition of Robinson. If it’s not in the first round, it needs to be early. The franchise is trying to maximize Blaine Gabbert’s chances to be a franchise quarterback, and few would be able to establish themselves with the current cast of wideouts.

The Jaguars are a top pass-rushing end away from being a top-flight defense. Can they find him seventh overall in the draft? They could tab someone like South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, though it’s hard to say he or any rookie would be an immediate solution. Most ends need some time to become impact guys in the league.

The Jaguars could certainly look to add in the secondary free-agent market and when players are set free late in training camp.

Tennessee Titans

Key additions: DE Kamerion Wimbley, RG Steve Hutchinson.

Key losses: CB Cortland Finnegan, DL Jason Jones, WR Donnie Avery.

Sidetracked: Did the Titans miss out on real chances to sign either Scott Wells, who went to St. Louis, or Chris Myers, who stayed in Houston, as their new center because they were focused on chasing quarterback Peyton Manning? Perhaps. But when the owner declares that his executives and coaches need to put the hard sell on an all-time great QB with roots in the team’s state, that’s what you do.

Ideally, the team will still find an alternative to Eugene Amano. If the Titans find a new center to go with Hutchinson, who replaces free agent Jake Scott in the starting lineup, the interior offensive line could see a big improvement. That could have a big bearing on running back Chris Johnson, provided he takes care of his own business.

What’s next: The Titans think Wimbley will excel as a full-time defensive end, but they can’t afford for him to be too full time. He’s a smaller guy who’s played mostly as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and shouldn’t be asked to play every down of every game. That means they still need more help at end, where the only other guys they have right now are Derrick Morgan and Malcolm Sheppard.

Look for them to address depth at corner -- where they feel fine about Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner as the starters, if that’s how it falls -- as well as at receiver. One wild-card spot could be running back. Are they content with Javon Ringer and Jamie Harper as changeups to Johnson, or would they like to add a big back?

In earlier times, when Jeff Fisher was a primary power broker, the Titans were constantly accused of a failure to communicate.

Players on their way out often had hurt feelings when they didn’t get a phone call returned, didn’t get a straightforward explanation about where they stood.

I leaned toward defending the team. What can you say, really? You don’t want to back yourself into a corner in case circumstances change.

But the Titans have changed.

A team now headed by general manager Ruston Webster and coach Mike Munchak chose to operate differently with cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

They told him their plan: They won’t be offering him a contract. They are letting him go.

And so, as is human nature, Finnegan wants the next step; he wants more; he wants to know why.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean spoke with him:

“It is bittersweet,” Finnegan said. “For six years I played in the Titans organization. I am grateful and humbled that the Titans took a chance on me and the way they matured me over the years.

“But they wanted to move on. … I don’t know why, and I don’t know what else a guy could do career-wise and in the community. But that’s part of the business, and you have to move on. I’ll have great memories of my time with the Titans. It just didn’t work out.”

Again, how would it benefit the Titans to spell it out for him?

Here’s why: They don’t think he’s a $10 million-a-year corner. Although he’s a very good and versatile defensive back, he’s not going to single-handedly erase a top receiver every week. Even had the Titans decided to give him the franchise tag, he would have hated it and griped. He’s a good guy at heart and did a lot for the team and the community, but his nasty streak, on and off the field, could show up at bad moments and be unhealthy. The last time he got money, he didn’t react to a fatter wallet well.

If you’re thinking the loss of Finnegan will hit the Titans the way the loss of Albert Haynesworth did, or even Jason Babin, I disagree with you.

Jason McCourty is a high-quality corner who will be the lead guy. Alterraun Verner is a smart player who will man the other side. Finnegan manned the nickel post well, but if the Titans are down to that, they’ll find an answer. It could be Ryan Mouton. It could be that Tommie Campbell or Chris Hawkins comes in to take Verner’s outside slot and he kicks inside.

The Titans will add an outsider or two from the lower tier of veterans, and they'll draft at least one.

And there is your explanation.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean solidified the presumption that the Titans would likely put the franchise tag on safety Michael Griffin, reporting it will happen.

The team’s first-round pick from 2007 has been inconsistent in five seasons. He may be better than most of the alternatives at a thin position in both free agency and the draft, but a guaranteed one-year salary of $6.2 million qualifies as dangerous to me.

Griffin is a complicated, moody guy. He’s at his best when the players around him are excelling, and tends not to play well when they aren’t playing well. While he got a big contract as a rookie, we have no real idea how he will react to the tag when he surely believes he’s worthy of a long-term deal. In my view, with Chris Hope gone, the Titans lack a strong leader in the secondary.

I question the move. My franchise player needs to be a guy who sets the tone, not a guy who needs the tone set for him. And while $6.2 million is hardly exorbitant, I’ve said I think the Titans could find someone at half that price to produce as Griffin did in 2011. It strikes me as a) settling and b) playing somewhat scared. I won't go so far as to call it panic.

Tennessee stood to lose three of its four starters in the secondary, with Griffin, cornerback Cortland Finnegan and safety Jordan Babineaux all heading for free agency. Indications are the team will quickly sign Babineaux once free agency opens March 13. A rule pertaining to Babineaux’s expiring contract prohibits him being re-signed before the new league year begins.

So while I expect Finnegan to be gone and the Titans to add a safety and a corner for depth, they could well go into the 2012 season with a secondary that looks a lot like last year’s. Cornerback Jason McCourty, Griffin and Babineaux will remain in place. Alterraun Verner will start in Finnegan’s place and the Titans will have a competition to see who takes over Finnegan’s nickel role.

An upgraded pass rush is a priority, and it will help all those guys on the back end.

But the Titans could have been more ambitious and/or creative at safety.

Here’s hoping they get someone in place behind Griffin who’s ready to take over in 2013, when he will be a free agent again.

Brian McIntyre of Mac’s Football Blog has done a tremendous job tracking base salary increases for 2012 triggered by things that happened in 2011. (Hat tip to Alan Burge of the Houston Examiner.)

McIntyre's updated list currently includes 10 players from the AFC South:

Here they are, with their base salary increases:

• Houston LT Duane Brown, $1.3 million
• Houston CB Brice McCain, $693,000
• Indianapolis WR Austin Collie, $693,000
• Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee, $693,000
• Jacksonville CB Derek Cox, $645,000
• Jacksonville WR Jarett Dillard, $645,000
• Jacksonville LT Eugene Monroe, $500,000
• Jacksonville G Uche Nwaneri, $1.926 million
• Jacksonville DT Terrance Knighton, $645,000
• Tennessee CB Jason McCourty, $645,000

Brown did good work establishing himself as a premier left tackle and is now slated to earn $2,081,500 -- still quite a reasonable price. Nwaneri is not quite at that level, but he set the tone for a line that produced the league's leading rusher. Nwaneri will now make $2.775 million.

On the other end of the spectrum, Dillard is now scheduled to make $1,260,000. He’s going to have to have a big offseason and camp to prove he’s worth that.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

The Texans are talking to Karl Dorrell about their open quarterbacks coach job, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts

There is no easy way for the Colts and Peyton Manning to part ways, says Bob Kravitz.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A podcast of a recent conversation with Shahid Khan, courtesy of the Florida Times-Union.

Tennessee Titans

Titans cornerback Jason McCourty is tight with his twin brother Devin, who’s playing in the Super Bowl for the Patriots, writes Jim Wyatt.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Long the Texans’ brightest star, receiver Andre Johnson has finally made it to the big playoff stage, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Slowed by two hamstring injuries this season, Johnson promised that he will be playing at a high level against Cincinnati.

How does the Texans’ lack of playoff experience factor in to what may happen, asks Steve Campbell.

Danieal Manning has the most playoff experience on the Texans, and he’s turned up the focus and intensity as he gets ready, says Jerome Solomon.

Indianapolis Colts

Bill Polian told AP that the lack of a backup plan at quarterback ultimately cost him his job. That's true, in that if he had a better plan the team would have won more games and he probably would have survived. But there were a lot of bigger issues we've covered.

The Colts have asked permission to talk to Baltimore’s Eric DeCosta about their GM job, an Indianapolis Star report says. Colts director of player personnel Tom Telesco also appears to be in the mix. Adam Schefter says Green Bay Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey declined an interview.

A look at some GM possibilities from Phil Richards of the Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Owner Shahid Khan says what people are seeing about the Jaguars’ coaching search is just the tip of the iceberg, writes Tania Ganguli. But there are three primary targets and NFL Network says Jay Gruden is a favorite.

Tennessee Titans

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean hands out his awards for the Titans’ season. Toughest call, I think, was defensive player of the year where he went with cornerback Jason McCourty. There is a case to be made there, but even without starting all season I’d lean to rookie middle linebacker Colin McCarthy.

Secondary coach Marcus Robertson was surprised to be let go, he told Wyatt.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 12
Preseason Power Ranking: 23

Biggest surprise: The 9-7 record. The team was expected to suffer from the lockout and resulting lack of offseason work, but it came together and outperformed expectations given a new coach, new staff and new quarterbacks. Matt Hasselbeck had the best passing season in franchise history by anyone not named Warren Moon despite losing WR Kenny Britt early to a torn-up knee and not getting consistent production from running back Chris Johnson. Coach Mike Munchak set a tone and showed himself to be a straight-forward, well-measured coach who won the respect of his players. With a big contribution from their rookie class, the Titans started off well under a new regime.

Biggest disappointment: Johnson secured a big new contract after he billed himself as a playmaker, not just a running back. But he and the run game were so ineffective that the Titans became a passing team even with Britt on IR. Over half of Johnson's yards came in four wins over bad teams. And although the team consistently defended him, it was completely fair to question his effort. He often went down too easily, he didn’t make a guy miss when he wound up one-on-one and he didn’t work hard enough at his responsibilities without the ball in his hands. The team is hopeful it can get him back on track with an offseason in which he’s expected to be in Nashville far more often.

Biggest need: Defensive pieces. Rookie middle linebacker Colin McCarthy, who was not part of the plan at the start of the season, was probably the best defensive player on the team at season’s end. That indicts a lot of other guys. The Titans have to rush the passer better to be more consistent on defense and they need more than Derrick Morgan, Jason Jones (who should go back to tackle), Dave Ball and William Hayes. Three safeties are heading toward free agency, so the Titans have a lot to sort through there, too.

Team MVP: Hasselbeck is the easiest choice. He played better than many of us expected and brought just the sort of leadership the Titans needed. But I’ll go with receiver Nate Washington, who became the No. 1 receiver with Britt’s injury and delivered a 1,000-yard season even with a bad ankle for the last part of the season. Washington thrived with the new coaching and new quarterbacks. His maturation serves as a symbol of what the Titans need from a lot of other guys at a lot of other spots.

Sorting out the secondary: Safeties Michael Griffin, Chris Hope and Jordan Babineaux and cornerback Cortland Finnegan all have expiring contracts. Finnegan probably draws an offer in free agency beyond what the Titans would give him. The team cannot make a long-term commitment with big money to the inconsistent Griffin. Hope is likely done. Babineaux played well and would be nice to retain. That’s a lot to decide on just in the secondary, but I’d expect a big infusion of new guys to work with young corners Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner.

HOUSTON -- A couple halftime thoughts from Reliant Stadium, where the Titans lead the Texans 13-10.

• The Titans smartly came out with something different, using shotgun with an empty backfield. They had great success with it early, but seemed to sag when it didn’t lead to a touchdown drive right out of the gate. An injury to receiver Damian Williams that’s knocked him from the game may force them to use it less than they’d like the rest of the way.
• Houston’s front is great. The Texans swarmed against a good pass-protecting offensive line and produced two Antonio Smith sacks of Matt Hasselbeck. The linemen and linebackers just come from a different spot on every play. I think that pass rush is going to key them in the playoffs.
• Jake Delhomme got away with a very bad throw late in the second quarter. Cornerback Jason McCourty would have probably gone for a touchdown if he didn’t flub the pass like a man who had casts on two broken hands.
• Receiver Donnie Avery benefitted from Williams’ injury and caught the Titans' touchdown on a smartly designed play. Tennessee bunched three receivers right, then had Hasselbeck throw to Avery against Jason Allen on the left from the 1-yard line. It was Avery's first catch of the year.
• The Texans should pound it with running backs Ben Tate and Derrick Ward in the second half. I think they can break the Titans' defense that way, and that the Titans could be frustrated they aren’t having an easier time considering Houston didn’t dress Arian Foster, Johnathan Joseph or Owen Daniels.
• I thought rules dictated teams announce in-game injuries. But the Texans have not said what prompted T.J. Yates’ trip to the locker room and exit from the game. And the Titans took a long, long time before finally revealing at the half that Williams has a rib injury and his return is questionable.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:

Blitzing Cam Newton: The Texans have thrived when sending five or more pass-rushers. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Houston blitzes on 52.1 percent of dropbacks, second only to New Orleans. The Texans allow a 48.2 completion percentage, only 5.5 yards per attempt, and have recorded 20 of their 24 sacks in those situations. Newton has thrown seven touchdowns and three interceptions in such circumstances. But he’s also taken 18 sacks, as many as any quarterback in the NFL. Linebacker coach Reggie Herring will work as the defensive coordinator with Wade Phillips recovering from kidney and gallbladder surgery. But Phillips drew up the plan, and the Texans should be doing what they've been doing.

Rematch: The Titans beat the Colts in the first matchup 27-10 on Oct. 30 in Nashville. Nate Washington caught two touchdown passes and Patrick Bailey blocked a punt that Jason McCourty recovered for a score. Curtis Painter attempted 49 passes in that game. I think the Titans would be thrilled if Dan Orlovsky dropped back anywhere near that often, as he’s mistake-prone, and the more Indianapolis has to rely on him the better the chance at interceptions, sacks and fumbles. Defensive end Dave Ball and tackle Karl Klug could be primed to force a turnover or two. Tennessee has not swept the Colts since 2002, the first year of realignment.

Serious scoring defense: During their seven-game winning streak the Texans have allowed fewer than 20 points a game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team with such a streak was the 2005 Bears, who held eight consecutive opponents under 20 points during an eight-game win streak. Carolina has topped 20 points in 10 of its 13 games, and has averaged nearly 31 points a game over its past four.

Rest and recovery: There is not a lot that can happen for the Jaguars to change things in their last two games. But they’ve got a weekend off now after Thursday night’s beatdown in Atlanta. They finish with division games at Tennessee and against Indianapolis. So we’ll see how Mel Tucker can get a battered team ready for familiar opponents and if the Jaguars are able to get Maurice Jones-Drew the yards he needs to secure a rushing title.

Tidbits: Since Washington became a regular in 2006, his 14.9 yards per catch is the seventh-highest average in the NFL. … Arian Foster is 43 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing, and Ben Tate is 180 yards shy of 1,000. When they both get there, they’ll become just the seventh set of teammates to hit the mark in the same season. … Texans receivers have dropped 11 passes, tied with Minnesota for fewest in the NFL this season. … Newton’s 39.2 red zone completion percentage is the third-worst in the league.

Cortland Finnegan had a one-day walkout in the preseason over his contract and dramatically fibbed about why he disappeared before coming to his senses, coming clean and apologizing.

Since then he’s been a model citizen.

He didn’t head into the locker room Thursday planning on saying anything that stirred controversy or became a distraction.

I think he did his best to answer some questions honestly.

But he made a mistake.

It’s unbecoming for a key player on a team still in playoff contention to lament his contract situation, even in what appears to have been a calm, reflective conversation with Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

“It is like you have three weeks left and they say you are going to be fired, and you don’t hear anything leading up to that. You just do the best you can with what you’ve got. But from history, it doesn’t look bright for me here. But I know I can’t control that.”

Reaching unrestricted free agency, where he can hit the jackpot, is hardly akin to being fired.

He should have noted how New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and Baltimore running back Ray Rice have handled similar situations, by saying things will take care of themselves and they just need to keep playing well.

The Titans have a slew of guys playing out their contracts, Finnegan being the most important.

But there has been no indication that the team has engaged in contract talks with anyone. And it’s probably the right approach. A new deal for one guy could have changed how he’s playing and tick off other guys wanting the same. That other teams may be doing things differently is of no consequence.

Tennessee could franchise Finnegan, though he said he’d be “upset” if he got the one-year tag for over $10 million in 2012.

With Alterraun Verner and Jason McCourty, the Titans have two good young corners. Tommie Campbell is viewed as a high-quality prospect with upside. Tennessee could decide to let Finnegan walk. But he is a versatile player who’s raised his game this season, shifting inside in the nickel package and consistently disrupting receivers and blitzing with effect. That would be tough to replace.

He’ll be an attractive option on the free-agent market if he gets there. Money changed him the first time he got a new contract in 2008. A prospective employer, old or new, has to weigh that into the equation when considering offering him a new contract.

If he winds up on a new team, they’ll be getting a good corner who doesn’t always know how or when to make his points.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Playoff positioning and a potential bye offer the Texans continued incentive to keep winning, says John McClain of the Chronicle.

Gary Kubiak credits general manager Rick Smith for building the roster, says McClain.

Houston fans are basking in the team’s division title, say David Barron and Ronnie Crocker of the Chronicle.

What this division title means to Texans fans, from Lance Zierlein of the Chronicle blog.

Indianapolis Colts

No opponent wants to be the one who loses to the Colts, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Joe Lefeged made a couple plays in the loss at Baltimore, says Phil Richards of the Star.

Phillip B. Wilson of the Star swings at Bill Polian for negative comments about punter Pat McAfee.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars' injured-reserve count is up to 27, says Tania Ganguli of the Times-Union.

Mel Tucker has little time to mull his future while he tries to oversee a solid finish, says Vito Stellino of the T-U.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans will start Matt Hasselbeck if he’s healthy, writes Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Cornerback Jason McCourty is cleared to return from the concussion that kept him out of the New Orleans game, says Wyatt.