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Houston Texans

Clearly unsatisfied with their depth, the Texans signed receiver Bryant Johnson, says John McClain.

Richard Justice looks at what Wade Phillips had to say.

Adam Clanton talked to a whole bunch of Texans about sports movies. (Video.)

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts will ease Peyton Manning back in to practice, says Mike Chappell.

Jeff Saturday said Manning did most of his work in the positional segment of practice.

A season preview from Evan Reller.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew is ready to burst in his preseason debut, says Tania Ganguli.

Jeremy Mincey’s concussion came from a practice collision with Uche Nwaneri, says Vito Stellino.

Kassim Osgood is looking for ways to entertain himself during kickoffs, says Ganguli.

What are the Jaguars accomplishing by continuing to start David Garrard, asks Adam Stites.

Tennessee Titans

Jovan Haye fell victim to a trio of draft picks in Karl Klug, Jurrell Casey and Zach Clayton, says Jim Wyatt.

Kevin Curtis has another chance with the Titans, says John Glennon.

Mike Munchak’s ascension to head coach of the Titans provides the opportunity for a reassessment of offensive linemen and their mental acumen, says David Boclair.

Reading the coverage from Bristol ...

Is the stud running back dying? Jon Bois examines the question.

An agent perspective on undrafted rookies, from Jack Bechta.

Houston Texans

The Texans may stand to lose the most from the lockout, says Don Banks.

Clark Judge believes in Wade Phillips.

Five young guys who need to contribute, from Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

Undrafted free agents who could be fits, from Stampede Blue.

Part II of Shane Clemons’ detailed look at Peyton Manning.

Chris Rucker is ready to contribute.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Blaine Gabbert will need to learn to look off defenders, says John Oehser.

Tennessee Titans

Jovan Haye thinks his talents may be better suited for the new staff, writes Jim Wyatt.

Byron Stingily comes to the Titans with one big endorsement, says John Glennon.

Tony Brown is at about 85 percent according to his agent, says Wyatt.

After being struck recently with how the NFL's labor rift has been cast as billionaires vs. millionaires, I thought I’d look at some players' salaries.

Totaling-up career earnings is quite difficult, and bonus money can be hard to nail down and sort through.

We can still get an interesting snapshot by looking at scheduled 2011 base salaries. I suspect many readers will be surprised that the vast majority of players will earn less than $1 million this fall.

Here, according to the NFLPA, are the players from each AFC South team currently scheduled to make a base salary of $1 million or more in 2011. Keep in mind guys in line for some form of free agency are not part of things here.

Fifty-three of 216 players under contract are slated to make $1 million or more. That’s 24.5 percent of the division.

Houston Texans

• DE Mario Williams -- $13.8 million
• WR Andre Johnson – $7.2 million
• QB Matt Schaub -- $5.7 million
• LB DeMeco Ryans -- $5 million
• DE Antonio Smith -- $4.6 million
• RT Eric Winston -- $4.5 million
• DT Amobi Okoye -- $2.95 million
• C Chris Myers -- $2.75 million
• QB Dan Orlovsky -- $2.75 million
• K Neil Rackers -- $2.15 million
• G Wade Smith -- $1.75 million
• WR David Anderson -- $1.44 million
• RB Steve Slaton -- $1.2 million

Total base salaries of $1 million or more: 13

Total players under contract for 2011: 49

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 26.5

Indianapolis Colts

• DE Dwight Freeney -- $11.42 million
• CB Kelvin Hayden -- $6.105
• WR Reggie Wayne -- $5.95 million
• RT Ryan Diem -- $5.4 million
• FS Antoine Bethea -- $4.745 million
• TE Dallas Clark -- $4.2 million
• DE Robert Mathis -- $2.41 million
• C Jeff Saturday -- $2.4 million
• LB Gary Brackett -- $2 million
• LB Philip Wheeler -- $1.2 million
• WR Anthony Gonzalez -- $1.11 million

Total base salaries of $1 million or more: 11

Total players under contract for 2011: 57

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 19.3

Jacksonville Jaguars

• QB David Garrard -- $7.975 million
• CB Rashean Mathis -- $4.45 million
• LB Daryl Smith -- $4.2 million
• RB Maurice Jones-Drew -- $4.05 million
• FB Greg Jones -- $3.1 million
• DE Derrick Harvey -- $2.8025 million
• DE Aaron Kampman -- $2.45 million
• G Vince Manuwai -- $2.9
• K Josh Scobee -- $2 million
• OL Justin Smiley -- $2 million
• C Brad Meester -- $1.95 million
• WR Kassim Osgood -- $1.475 million
• LT Eugene Monroe -- $1.2425 million

Total base salaries of $1 million or more: 13

Total players under contract for 2011: 51

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 25.5

Tennessee Titans

• QB Vince Young -- $8.5 million*
• SS Chris Hope -- $6.5 million
• WR Kenny Britt -- $5.75 million
• LT Michael Roos -- $5 million
• G Jake Scott -- $4.7 million
• RT David Stewart -- $4.5 million
• DT Tony Brown -- $4 million
• WR Justin Gage -- $3.5 million
• FS Michael Griffin -- $3.3105 million
• WR Nate Washington $3.3 million
• CB Cortland Finnegan -- $3.293 million
• DT Jovan Haye -- $3 million
• C Eugene Amano -- $2.68 million
• K Rob Bironas -- $2.4 million
• DB Vincent Fuller -- $2.06 million
• LS Ken Amato $1.05 million

Total base salaries of $1 million or more: 16

Total players under contract for 2011: 59

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 27.1

*Young will be cut or traded, the Titans have announced.

What I think they are thinking at headquarters of the four AFC South teams …

Houston Texans

Is Gary Kubiak going to get fired? How about Rick Smith? Does a big work week and performance against Jacksonville do anything to help them? Do we care? Does beating the Jaguars and ensuring they are not in the playoffs and don’t finish better than .500 provide much of an incentive for us? No matter what happens, wouldn’t it be nice to walk into the offseason with a win? If we make David Garrard look bad, can we not finish with the league’s worst pass defense? Where should we go to unwind, have a drink on the beach, play a bunch of golf and/or get reacquainted with the wife and kids?

Indianapolis Colts

Control, control, control. Considering all we’ve been through, we can’t be unhappy at all with being in a win-and-in scenario in our final regular season game. The Titans will put up a tough fight as they try to ruin it for them. But if Matt Cassel is shredding them, Peyton Manning certainly can. And we were really in control of the entire game when we won on Dec. 9 in Nashville. The run game and the run defense are peaking, and those are awfully good things to be able to say when heading into a game against Chris Johnson and then, we expect, into the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

It would have been nice to hear Jack Del Rio and Garrard own some of their mistakes from Sunday’s loss. That’s a bad one. And we know people think it won’t be hard for us to go to Houston, fall behind big early and take away any of the suspense over who’s going to win the division. Even on a bad day, we’ve got to be able to beat Washington at home. If we finish 8-8 or 9-7 it’s forward progress in the big picture, but in the smaller picture, we really will have blown it. Will it be enough for Del Rio to survive? For Garrard to hold his spot? We need to not think about that and convince ourselves that the Titans can beat the Colts.

Tennessee Titans

I don’t really fear getting replaced in the lineup for the finale. Maybe I should, because we’ve seen Vincent Fuller, Bo Scaife and Jovan Haye get sat down for at least a game. But look at Justin Gage. He’s good for a drop or two a game and suffers no consequences. I can mail it in like that. This may be Jeff Fisher’s last stand and why should we believe he'd change for it? We’re all in better standing with him here than without him, but are we smart enough to know it? Is there any player on the roster who can stand in the middle of a huddle and tell us why we should think we can win at Indianapolis? Anyone? Anyone? Monday and Tuesday could be a lot more exciting than Sunday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Barring a scoreless overtime, the Colts' appearance at LP Field guarantees that one AFC South team will end a losing streak Thursday night.

As they brace for the first of two head-to-head matchups in the final month of the season, the Colts (6-6) and Titans (5-7) have combined to lose eight straight.

Somebody gets to leave the stadium tonight feeling a lot better. Here are five questions to consider before we see who that is.

1. Will Peyton Manning break out of his funk? He has 11 interceptions in his past three games. But the Titans have only three interceptions during their five consecutive losses. Look for corner Cortland Finnegan to draw the difficult Reggie Wayne assignment, but to have plenty of help as the Titans show themselves more willing to take chances with Pierre Garcon, Jacob Tamme and especially Blair White.

Rookie Alterraun Verner is the second starting corner and will face Manning for the first time, and second-year man Jason McCourty will work in the nickel. McCourty started last season in a loss to the Colts when the Titans gave up 309 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Manning with only one pick.

Tennessee has been getting crushed in time of possession -- it hasn’t held the ball for 21 minutes in its past two losses. Manning will be content to take what’s given and string together long drives if he can.

2. Who’s playing in the Colts' secondary? The Colts' starting cornerbacks are out -- Jerraud Powers is finished for the season after surgery to repair a broken forearm and Kelvin Hayden is not recovered from a neck injury. That means Jacob Lacey and Justin Tryon are in line to work as the top two corners with rookie Cornelius Brown as the nickel.

The Titans have hardly been slinging it. They haven’t scored an offensive touchdown since Nov. 21. But Kerry Collins will have receiver Kenny Britt back after a four-game layoff with a hamstring injury and surely Tennessee will finally throw a jump ball to Randy Moss, right?

A drop-off at corner can mean extra strain on safeties Antoine Bethea and Aaron Francisco. Unless, of course, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are regularly able to hurry Collins and shorten the clock for all the guys in coverage.

3. How many catches will Tamme have? While the tight end has been productive, he’s not Dallas Clark. But the Titans' defense has given up significant yardage to tight ends far less talented than Clark this season.

I don’t know that anything has changed for the Titans' linebackers, who are most responsible for those issues, and I look for the Colts to be primed to attack the soft underbelly of the Tennessee defense until Stephen Tulloch or Will Witherspoon or Gerald McRath prove things are any different.

Heck, watch the banged-up Brody Eldridge make a couple of key catches.

4. How much will Indy even try to run it? The Colts would like to show some semblance of balance and some effective runs would help keep the play-action believable -- though everyone seems to bite on it even when they can’t run. It will be interesting to see how coach Jim Caldwell and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen deploy Donald Brown, Javarris James and Dominic Rhodes.

“They won’t run on us if we play Titans’ defense, to tell you the truth,” defensive tackle Jovan Haye said. “If we have somewhat of a repeat performance from Sunday, then they will. They utilize it in their offense, but they’re not a big run team. If we play like we did [surrendering 258 rushing yards in the loss to Jacksonville], they’ll run the ball.”

5. Can Chris Johnson get something going? He wants more carries and the Titans are desperate to get him going to help elongate drives, keep the defense off the field and alter the time of possession trend. But last year the Colts didn’t allow him a carry longer than 11 yards in two games while holding him to a 4.1-yard average.

Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said tackle Fili Moala, in his first year starting, and rookie linebacker Pat Angerer have been very effective run-stopping pieces on top of what the Colts had previously.

The Titans need to show a willingness to throw deep to Britt and Moss to keep the Colts honest and buy a bit of extra space and time for Johnson.

“He is an outstanding back with outstanding numbers,” Caldwell said. “I think what happens just like anything else, people get spoiled. He is a talented guy and I think he has been performing well. We have to get ready to handle him because he is a heck of a back.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Stephen Tulloch didn’t flinch.

I had a chance to ask him this week about the role of linebackers in Peyton Manning's 11 interceptions over his last three games, and the Titans' middle linebacker rattled them right off.

“He’s thrown four picks to linebackers -- Kevin Burnett with San Diego, two to Sean Lee of Dallas and one to my guy Stephen Cooper of San Diego,” Tulloch said. “So he has thrown to linebackers.

"I think it’s due to the fact that he’s off his spot. D-lines are getting pressure and making him move up in the pocket or move around and he’s out of his comfort zone. I’m sure he’ll figure out what’s going on and get it corrected.”

Tennessee linebackers have not been big contributors in the turnover department this season. Tulloch and Will Witherspoon each have one of the team’s 15 interceptions. ('Backers have just one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as well.)

To change that, the Titans will do their best to move Manning off his spot. It’s a theme that dates way back for Tennessee against Manning. When he was in his prime in Tennessee, Albert Haynesworth used to talk about Manning being average when he was off his spot.

Nobody’s making such bold claims now, but the intent is the same.

“It helps a lot,” defensive tackle Jovan Haye said. “Manning just wants to stay in the pocket. He has his pocket, he has his comfort zone. The only way to get him off being as great as he is is to get him off line, have him moving around the pocket, get him uncomfortable. If you just let him sit back there, he’s going to make things happen.

“We have a great game plan going in and we have the right guys to get him off the spot. But that doesn’t guarantee anything.”

The Titans were a great pass-rushing team early this year. They had 25 sacks through their first seven games and were 5-2. During the current five-game losing streak, they’ve got only eight sacks.

Manning might be better served to take a sack a bit more often rather than rush a throw that turns into a pick. But he hasn’t made his name tucking it and going down, or even throwing it away, and odds are against us seeing a lot of that now.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The most intriguing matchup I see in Raiders-Titans Sunday will be right in the middle of the field: Oakland’s center, Jared Veldheer against Titans defensive tackles like Jason Jones and Jovan Haye.

Why?

Well Veldheer is a rookie, he played at Hillsdale College and he’s 6-foot-8.

When’s the last time the Titans’ interior guys saw a 6-8 center?

“Probably in the NBA,” Haye said. “He’s not your prototypical center, so it’ll be a good challenge. He’s a rookie. First game, I’m pretty sure he’ll be amped up. He’s a big boy. Normally, centers don’t come that big, they’re 6-1, 6-2.”

“I’ve never seen a 6-8 center,” said Jason Jones, who was explosive and disruptive throughout the preseason. “[D-line coach Jim] Washburn wrote that on our board and I was like, ‘6-8? That’s a typo.’ You see them at tackle, maybe guard. Not center.”

At 6-5, Jones is the Titans tallest interior lineman. Tony Brown is 6-2. Sen’Derrick Marks and Haye are 6-2.

Players are coaches that the guy who’s able to stay low and get under the opponent wins, putting him off balance and gaining the ability to move him.

But Haye said we shouldn't assume just because Veldheer can naturally be higher that he will be and that the Titans will consistently be able to tip him over.

“It’s all leverage and quickness at the end of the day,” he said. “Sometimes being the small guy ain’t the worst thing and we’re a small team with small guys great at playing with leverage ...

"You can’t necessarily say it’s easy to win leverage against him. He might be 6-8 and play 5-9, you never know. We just have to play under them, they are a big O-line.”

If the Titans can get Albert Haynesworth for a third-round pick or less, they should jump on it. If they need to throw in a seventh, they should.

Tennessee’s old defensive tackle is hardly without sin in all that’s transpired in his relationship with the Redskins. But Mike Shanahan’s butchered things as well, often showing more concern with proving who’s boss than with attempting to get production out of a guy who can be dominant.

The Titans can handle him. Haynesworth played his best football for defensive line coach Jim Washburn. They have a good relationship and re-establishing it could help fix Haynesworth and resurrect his game and his name.

They can handle what’s left of the salary. They can handle and manage his personality. They can get him to play hard.

Bring him back, bump Jovan Haye out of the top four tackles. Give the Titans Haynesworth, Jason Jones, Tony Brown and Sen’Derrick Marks as their four interior guys and life gets easier for everyone on defense.

And the Titans would be a better football team.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., -- When the Titans and Cardinals broke into pieces early in practice, injured Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald didn’t stick with the quarterbacks and receivers in seven-on-seven.

He watched the Titans defensive linemen work against Arizona’s large offensive line. There were many good battles, and the Cards fared a lot better at fending off the rush in the drill than they did Monday night in a preseason loss at LP Field.

My thinking about the Titans is turning a bit -- they may be better than I've been expecting. And the biggest force behind it is the defensive line.

And that’s with four key guys currently out or limited: Derrick Morgan, the No. 1 pick; William Hayes, perhaps the best edge rush prospect; Jacob Ford, who has 12 sacks in 29 games; and Tony Brown, probably the best all-around interior lineman.

It still looks like a very deep group that will find ways to get to the quarterback without blitz help, though the Titans worked the blitz a good deal against the Cardinals in the game.

The rest of the group is also a pretty anonymous gang, part draft picks, part reclamation project free agents: ends Jason Babin and Dave Ball; tackles Jason Jones, Jovan Haye and Sen’Derrick Marks.

That’s five quality ends before Raheem Brock or Eric Bakhtiari, who's likely to be on a 53-man roster. That’s four quality tackles before seventh-round rookie David Howard.

High motor end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who set the Titans’ standard for work, left as a free agent for Detroit. Albert Haynesworth is heading into his second-season of drama in Washington.

And defensive line coach Jim Washburn may be just fine without them. The rotating won’t be based as much on situations -- though you want your best pass rushers on the field on third down, first down hardly qualifies as a “run down” any more -- as it will be on freshness. Tired linemen are expected to remove themselves from action, making way for the next guy while recovering.

Jeff Fisher said he’s very happy with the group’s depth and his counterpart at Thursday’s practice was impressed.

“I think they’re good, I think it’s one of the better defensive lines, I’ve always thought that.” Ken Whisenhunt said. “I know what coach Fisher’s mentality’s been with defense. They play hard. They do a very good job with their twists and their stunt game. Definitely when you play a team like Tennessee, it makes your O-line better. Because if you don’t work hard, you’re going to get embarrassed.”

Cardinals guard Alan Faneca also talked about twists and stunts, saying he thinks the Titans are using them more instead of relying on juggernauts like KVB and Haynesworth to pave the road.

“I think they’ve mixed in a lot of guys, they all seem to play pretty good with each other,” Faneca said. “…To me it seemed like they were working a lot on their inside games and stuff. With Vanden Bosch and Haynesworth, they really let those guys work so that really wasn’t as big of a staple of theirs. They mix it up. You can’t anticipate one thing, you’ve got to anticipate a couple things, and that slows your reaction down.”

I don’t know how much more the Titans may game and stunt -- this could just be a time in camp where they’ve emphasized it. I am certain they all want to and believe they can line up and beat the man across from them while using stuff to keep blockers off balance. A year after the team had 31 sacks, a drop off of 13 from 2008, I'll be surprised if the number isn't up.

“We’re very deep right now,” Jones said. “Right now we still have interchangeable parts, athletic guys on this D-line. When the hurt guys get back it’s going to be full force… We still have the same pride. When we get our rushes we expect to get to the quarterback or at least hit him and cause some havoc.”

A pre-camp depth chart can tell us more about PR, seniority and staff loyalties than about who will be in up-in-the air spots come opening day.

That said, having one is better than not having one. And among our four franchises, only the Titans have one out so far.

I just got around to scanning the depth chart the Titans included as part of their training camp release and thought a few bullet points were worth mention and discussion.

• Though middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch was not with the team through the entire offseason as he tried to leverage a long-term deal, he is listed as the starting middle linebacker. Odds are he’s in camp in time -- his one-year restricted free-agent tender was signed in June. Colin Allred’s worked in his place, and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if coach Jeff Fisher put Allred with the first team to start to make a statement of his own.
• At outside linebacker, Gerald McRath and David Thornton are listed as the starters. But Fisher said during OTAs, while Thornton healed multiple injuries, that the veteran didn’t qualify as a starter then. McRath is suspended for the first four games. Will Witherspoon, listed behind McRath, was the team’s biggest free-agent addition and is unquestionably going to be one of the starters outside.
• Rookie third-rounder Damian Williams is listed as the front-liner at both punt returner and kick returner, with another rookie receiver, Marc Mariani, second at punt returner and Kenny Britt second at kick returner. Alvin Pearman is third at both and clearly only veteran insurance. But Pearman ranks third at running back, ahead of rookies LeGarrette Blount and Stafon Johnson.
• Elsewhere, rookies rate lowly, as you’d expect. First-round defensive end Derrick Morgan is third on one side behind Jacob Ford and Jason Babin.
• Defensive tackle Jovan Haye, the player I rate as most likely to be demoted out of the starting lineup, remains a starter ahead of Jason Jones and Sen’Derrick Marks.
• Cornerback Jason McCourty is the second starter, with Ryan Mouton and rookie Alterraun Verner behind him while Tye Hill is backing up Cortland Finnegan on the other side.

Again, it’s an unofficial depth chart they are nice enough to provide this early for us to pick apart. We’ll take similar looks at the others when we first see them.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

What players in the division qualify as the most important, emerging second-year guys?

We’ll steer away from guys who were major contributors as rookies last year, looking for breakout sophomore candidates.

In Houston, we know Brian Cushing can play and we know the Texans love Glover Quin. Antoine Caldwell, the Texans' 2009 third-round lineman, needs to be part of the solution on an interior offensive line that suffered serious injuries early last season. It was particularly ineffective in the run game. He looks like he might be the guy at right guard, but there is still quite a bit to sort out. (Correction: Caldwell was taken in the third round, not the second.)

For the Colts, halfback Donald Brown needs to pass protect better to earn time on the field. But our choice is defensive tackle Fili Moala. The 2009 season amounted to a redshirt season for him as he tried to make the adjustment from USC to the NFL. But they drafted him as part of a push to be bigger and more physical inside and it would be good for them if he earned a slot in the rotation.

The 2009 Jaguars were loaded with rookie contributors, and Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton, Mike Thomas, Terrance Knighton and Derek Cox all did too much to still qualify as candidates here. Zach Miller's a great candidate, but with Marcedes Lewis and Ernest Wilford having good springs, the need at tight end doesn’t compare to safety. With a shaky corps of veterans at safety, Courtney Greene has room to earn the faith of the coaches and time on the field. He was an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers last year.

The Tennessee Titans are looking to their 2009 draft class for a giant contribution. Receiver Kenny Britt and linebacker Gerald McRath are going to get significant playing time. While Jason McCourty or Ryan Mouton will get the spotlight as a second corner, I’m not sold on either DB yet. But I do expect defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks to break out. He’s gotten stronger, and should be a key interior piece. Maybe he will take snaps away from the disappointing Jovan Haye?

Andrew from Indy writes: With Chris Johnson, Andre Johnson, and Peyton Manning in the AFC South, is it safe to say that the league's best RB, QB, and WR all play in the same division? With Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark, the AFC South might have the highest concentration of elite skill position players in the league.

Paul Kuharsky: It’s a loaded skill-position division, for sure.

I’d say those are the three top guys at their positions heading into 2010. And I’d put Manning, Johnson and Johnson up against any divisional quarterback, receiver, running back trio in the league.

---

Periwinkle J from Houston writes: Do you think the Texans will use more than normal three wide receiver looks now that Kevin Walter is returning and Jacoby Jones showed signs of better play last season? Or will Gary Kubiak be too busy trying to set up the play action? Speaking of which, how did the Texans have so much success with the play action last season with the mediocre run game?

Paul Kuharsky: Maybe a bit more three-wide. They will look to get five best threats on the field as much as possible. If that includes three wides at times, so be it. I’m not totally sold on all this Jacoby Jones hype quite yet.

As for play-action, I hit on it when I was with the Texans in June: See here.

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Brian Myers from Murfreesboro, TN writes: If Chris Johnson and the Titans come to a compromise on this year’s earnings, are we just setting up ourselves for the same thing next year with him wanting more money or/and longer contract? Or is his third year the most likely choice when the Titans would offer him a longer extension anyways?

Paul Kuharsky: If CJ gets the boost this year, it does nothing to address years three, four or five of his deal. So of course he’ll be asking for more money after this season. The team knows and expects that. And should be ready to pay then.

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Kevin C. in Cape Girardeau, MO writes: Who will be the starting running back for the Texans? Can we even say starter or are they thinking committee down there? They’re counting on a lot of kids.

Paul Kuharsky: It’ll be fluid. For the start of camp they’ll look to Arian Foster first. I think we’ll see a combo of Steve Slaton, Foster and Ben Tate until someone distinguishes himself.

Ultimately, they’d like Tate to lead and Slaton to be third-down type, I believe.

---

Joey Marchy from Jacksonville writes: Paul, what's your take on the Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy football show. Two hours of radio every week requires a pretty good level of preparation. You do radio, do you think getting ready for the show will be in the back of Maurice's mind as he goes throughout the week?

Paul Kuharsky: I can’t believe this issue has taken on such a life. MJD is a veteran, mature guy.

Say you’ve got a great day job but you also play in a band on Friday nights. You love playing in the band, it’s fun and you look forward to it each week. Should I automatically assume that because of that interest, you have less-than-quality focus at your day job? Not if you are a conscientious person and worker.

He is.

We really think he’s going to not pay attention in meetings or focus less as he runs practice plays because he’s thinking about his fantasy football show?

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Brian in Indy writes: PK, How much pressure does Peyton Manning have from the player's assoc. to sign for as much as he can to set a precedent for future deals? It seems easy to say that he can take a cut or a below market deal to allow the team to retain its best players but it's not that simple, is it?

Paul Kuharsky: None, I think.

Jim Irsay’s said he will be highest paid. What more could the PA want for him? And he’s not beholden to the PA. Vice versa.

Taking less to allow for spending elsewhere isn’t really necessary cap-wise any more, even if/when a cap returns.

---

Dustin in Stanford CA writes: Hey Paul, I was wondering if you could give us some idea of the best case and worse case scenarios for the Titans defensive line. Many of the players have been in Jim Washburn's system for a long time now. Any chance they are dominant once again?

Paul Kuharsky: Best scenario is Derrick Morgan doesn’t play like a rookie, Sen’Derrick Marks is much improved, Jason Jones is tougher, Jacob Ford is durable, William Hayes picks up where he left off, and Jovan Haye is way better than last year.

If all that happens, they can be really good on the D-line. That’s a lot to ask to happen all at once.

---

Andy in Texas writes: How is the secondary doing so far this offseason? If Kareem Jackson pans out and Glover Quin continues his quick development it's conceivable the Texans could have a very good young cornerback tandem with Brice McCain at nickel. Also what's the word on Troy Nolan? Could he eventually take the place of the subpar Eugene Wilson? Thanks.

Paul Kuharsky: Very good? Two young, raw kids against Manning twice? I think very good is expecting a lot, especially with a less than stellar free safety as you mention. They better get a good rush on a regular basis.

Too early to say on Nolan. They liked him in OTAs and since they didn’t bring anyone in, how could they not?

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reported that Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended four to six games.

That will have directly impact one AFC South team: The Tennessee Titans host the Steelers on Week 2 on Sept. 19.

Instead of dealing with Roethlisberger, they will face Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich.

That’s a better deal on an NFL Sunday for sure.

But while Roethlisberger led the Steelers to an overtime win in the NFL’s season opener against the Titans last year, his line wasn’t phenomenal: Roethlisberger connected on 33-of-43 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice and sacked four times.

I expect the Tennessee defense the Steelers see this time around will feature six new starters.

Kyle Vanden Bosch is now with Detroit; Jevon Kearse and Nick Harper are free agents they won’t re-sign; Keith Bulluck is a free agent coming off a blown out knee I don’t expect them to re-sign; Jovan Haye should rank behind Jason Jones or Sen'Derrick Marks as well as Tony Brown; and banged up David Thornton's starting slot is in jeopardy.

Each week leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Under the radar needs.

Houston Texans

While DeMeco Ryans in the middle and Brian Cushing on the strongside are fixtures, the weakside and linebacker depth rate as a secondary issue for the Texans. They could use a pick on the right guy. Gary Kubiak said early this week that Kris Brown can expect competition as the team’s placekicker starting in OTAs. That allows for the possibility the team could use a late pick on a kicker.

Indianapolis Colts

While the team was pleased with the progress of Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir and expect a second-year jump from Fili Moala, it could still look to add another bigger defensive tackle. Tyjuan Hagler was the starting strongside linebacker at the start of the season, but when an injury ended his season Philip Wheeler took over. That could be a spot Bill Polian addresses. As the team looks for better run-blocking linemen, is Gijon Robinson judged as a sufficient run-blocking H-back/tight end or might there be a better option available than Robinson or injury-prone Tom Santi?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Linebacker hasn’t gotten as much attention as defensive end and the secondary in pre-draft talk so far, but only Daryl Smith is safe from competition. The Jaguars loaded up with three wide receivers in Gene Smith’s first draft, but they lack playmakers and can use a solid guy opposite Mike Sims-Walker if they smack into one during the draft. Indications are the Jaguars will stick with a David Garrard-Luke McCown starter-backup tandem, but Jacksonville needs to develop another quarterback.

Tennessee Titans

Even presuming Michael Griffin bounces back from a very poor third season, Chris Hope will turn 30 early in the fall and the Titans primary depth at safety is Vincent Fuller, who they need playing nickel. Tony Brown, Jason Jones, Jovan Haye, Sen’Derrick Marks and Kevin Vickerson look like a reasonably talented and deep group, but Haye and Marks underwhelmed in their first seasons. Drafting a tackle wouldn’t be a surprise. If Kevin Mawae doesn’t return as a backup center, the Titans will need an interior offensive lineman to back up the three starters.

The acknowledged top prognosticator of compensatory draft picks was a little more off than in the past as far as the AFC South is concerned.

In this post on March 9, we pointed to the nearly fearless (he’d be completely fearless if he used his name) AdamJT13 who said the Titans would get a third and three sevenths and the Jaguars would get a sixth.

Adam Schefter on Monday reported Tennessee officially got a third (97th overall), a sixth (207th), and a seventh (241st). Jacksonville got a sixth (203rd) and Indianapolis got two sevenths (240th and 246th).

These additional picks are awarded based on a formula that factors in free agents lost last year, their contracts and their production in their first year elsewhere.

A third-rounder is the highest possible. Picks in the seventh round basically allow teams to lock in players they would have pursued as undrafted rookies.

The picks cannot be traded.

From the league release that followed, here are the guys who factored in:

INDIANAPOLIS

Lost: Darrell Reid, Hunter Smith

JACKSONVILLE

Lost: Khalif Barnes, Mike Peterson, Gerald Sensabaugh

Signed: Sean Considine, Tra Thomas

TENNESSEE

Lost: Chris Carr, Albert Haynesworth, Brandon Jones, Eric King, Daniel Loper, Chris Simms

Signed: Jovan Haye, Mark Jones, Nate Washington