AFC South: Michael Coe

We’ll get some good stuff Tuesday morning out of Orlando, where AFC South coaches are having breakfast with reporters at the owners meetings. I’ll be monitoring what comes out through some of my colleagues who are there.

The first thing of note I’ve seen was this from Adam Schefter via Twitter:
"Colts coach Jim Caldwell is thinking about playing some four WR sets with Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez."

As if three wides and Dallas Clark isn’t enough of a problem.

I automatically started thinking of secondary depth in the division and how it would stack up against that. Nobody in the league has the kind of corner and secondary depth needed to stand up to that personnel grouping with Peyton Manning at the controls.

The Texans and Titans are definitely in the market for a cornerback, and safety is also in play. The Jaguars likely take a defensive back or two as well in the draft.

Teams could obviously use an additional safety in the sort of dime scenarios this could force. Here’s our take on the depth at defensive back for each of the Colts’ division opponents:

Houston
Nickel: Glover Quin, Jacques Reeves, Brice McCain.

Dime candidates: Cornerbacks Fred Bennett, Antwaun Molden; Safeties Dominique Barber, Troy Nolan.

Assessment: Contemplating this secondary against the Colts’ four-wide lineup is scary right now. Throw Clark in as the fifth skill player and I don’t know how Houston holds up. Corner and free safety are big draft needs.

Jacksonville

Nickel: Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox, Tyron Brackenridge.

Dime candidates: Corners William Middleton, Kennard Cox, Michael Coe; whichever safety isn’t already playing out of Reggie Nelson, Anthony Smith, Sean Considine.

Assessment: Top three are pretty solid, but safety really needs to be sorted out and could have a new piece.

Tennessee

Nickel: Cortland Finnegan, Ryan Mouton, Vincent Fuller.

Dime candidates: Corners Rod Hood and Jason McCourty; safety Donnie Nickey.

Assessment: I am giving the nod as the second starting corner to Mouton right now based on hearing the team is high on him. A draft pick needs to compete for that spot. Overall depth is unproven.
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Cornerback Dante Hughes and offensive lineman Steve Justice are among the first three cuts for the Colts, according to Mike Chappell.

Hughes was a third-rounder in 2007, a class of nine that has not proven to be Bill Poilian’s best.
  • First-rounder Anthony Gonzalez is in line as the second wide receiver and has been very good in his first two years.
  • Second-round left tackle Tony Ugoh has been demoted to backup status though it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets the starting left tackle job back.
  • Hughes played in 24 games in two seasons.
  • The other third-rounder, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, retired before training camp of his second season.
  • Fourth-round defensive Brannon Condren played in eight games as a rookie, was elsewhere in 2008, re-signed in 2009 but was cut in late July.
  • Fourth-round linebacker Clint Session is in line to start and looks like he will be a good player.
  • Fifth-round receiver Roy Hall played in seven games in two seasons and was waived injured on Aug. 13. He is now on IR.
  • Fifth-round defensive back Michael Coe played in six games and was recently cut.
  • Seventh-round defensive end Keyunta Dawson was eventually moved to tackle, where he started 14 games last year. He now ranks as a backup end. I think they like him, but don't know if he's a lock for the final 53.

A draft class of nine players produced a crop that now includes two starters and two backups. Granted, Pitcock was a bad-luck development for the team and a good club isn't necessarily going to have room for late rounders.

Still, the way the Colts operate, I feel as if a group in its third year should be nearing its peak and contributing and producing more than that.

Do you agree?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky


In his list of trades that should be made, John Czarnecki says the Titans should trade for Anquan Boldin and the Jaguars need to acquire Tavaris Jackson.

As this might evoke responses from both Texas and Tennessee: Bud Adams was elected to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, according to John McClain.


Houston Texans


Brian Cushing could return from his knee injury and play in the preseason finale in Tampa Bay, says John McClain.

The Texans shouldn’t push Cushing too hard, writes Jerome Solomon.

Gary Kubiak listed Matt Schaub, Kevin Walter and Eugene Wilson as day-to-day as he looked ahead to the opener against the Jets, says McClain.

The Texans have the right coach in place, says Richard Justice.

A replay of McClain’s chat.

Rex Grossman will play on Friday at Tampa Bay, says Alan Burge.


Run defense
from the secondary and Antonio Smith was poor against the Vikings, and it’s fair to discuss Schaub’s durability, says Lance Zierlein.


Indianapolis Colts


Mike Chappell isn’t expecting to see Peyton Manning or most of the starting offense in Cincinnati.

Jim Sorgi is ready to play, John Oehser says in these notes on Tuesday developments.

Should the Colts keep two quarterbacks or three? Tom James looks at the question.

Oehser’s second stab at predicting the 53-man roster includes linebacker Ramon Humber and defensive back Jacob Lacey.

Chappell thinks Adrian Grady could make the roster ahead of Terrance Taylor.

The Colts cutting Michael Coe gave Phillip B. Wilson pause to remember the guys he covers are human.


Jacksonville Jaguars


Jack Del Rio may be joining the team’s beard brigade, says Michael C. Wright.

The Jaguars aren’t as young as Del Rio is suggesting, says Terry O’Brien.


Tennessee Titans


Tuff Harris returns often to the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana to talk about the possibilities for those who explore outside its boundaries. John Glennon's story.

Jason Jones is back but Mark Jones has issues, says Gary Estwick.

Patrick Ramsey is working to make the Titans keep three quarterbacks, blogs Jim Wyatt.


An injury report
from Wyatt.

Nate Washington feels better, but didn’t say much about his potential to return for the opener at Pittsburgh. Audio from titansradio.com.

Colts get started on cuts

August, 31, 2009
8/31/09
6:26
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The Colts got a head start on their first round of cuts and made four moves Monday.

They waived three injured players -- defensive back Michael Coe, defensive end Rudolph Hardie and defensive end Curtis Johnson. They also waived tight end Colin Cloherty.

By my count, that gets them to 76. Remember, Bob Sanders and Adam Vinatieri, who on the PUP list, count.

That means the team has one move left to make Tuesday, when rosters have to be down to 75.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Houston Texans

  • Five reasons the Texans will not match the hype and will miss the playoffs, writes Alan Burge.
  • Rex Grossman makes Clark Judge's list of the top 10 backup quarterbacks. So I guess Judge expects Grossman to outplay the pricier Dan Orlovsky to win the No. 2 job.
  • Frank Okam intends to make people account for him. Video from the team's Web site.

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Maurice Williams offers an update in an interview with Jaguars.com.
  • Clifton Brown looks at a couple of rebuilt offensive lines, including that of the Jaguars.
  • The Jaguars signed fourth-round pick receiver Mike Thomas, reports Vito Stellino.

Tennessee Titans

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Questions? Comments? Complaints? Critiques? I want them all, so feel free to drop a note in the mailbag.

I'll be with the Jags again Wednesday, then en route to Terre Haute, Ind., for the conclusion of the Colts' camp Thursday and Friday.

Let's take a morning lap around the division.

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Cornerback Michael Coe faces eight weeks to recover from left knee surgery, which will put the Colts in a tough spot when deciding whether to place him on IR or use a roster spot on him until he is ready, Mike Chappell reports.

In these highlights of Tony Dungy's daily press briefing, he discusses red zone efficiency and spells out plans for the return game in Carolina on Saturday -- Devin Aromashodu will get a look and Pierre Garcon won't play.

John Oehser of Colts.com looks at Marcus Howard after a good debut for the fifth-round pick from Georgia.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Before I figure where my delayed flight and missed connection will leave me tonight, let's have a look around the division, shall we?

Houston Texans

Andre Johnson isn't practicing when the Texans are inside on turf.

John McClain looks at two Texans, Darrell Green and Emmitt Thomas, who become hall of Famers Saturday.

Megan Manfull discusses the Texans' running backs and looks for you to share your opinions.

Indianapolis Colts

Bob Kravitz has some fun with the idea of hiding Peyton Manning during his rehab from knee surgery. Kravitz also shares a touching story about a lost pair of shorts -- it could make you tear up. I was on the radio with him Friday. He doesn't sound excited about Beijing.

As Indianapolis prepares for the league's preseason curtain-raiser in Canton, Mike Chappell considers which current Colts have Hall of Fame credentials. He polled several selectors as well as John Madden. Interesting split on Bill Polian. I agree with Peter King on this one.

Third-round linebacker Philip Wheeler needs knee surgery and will miss at least a couple weeks, while cornerback Michael Coe could also need an operation, Chappell reports.

Two undrafteds to keep an eye on, according to Phillip B. Wilson, are defensive tackle Eric Foster and defensive end Curtis Johnson.

Anthony Gonzalez knows Canton well.

Jim Sorgi has started preseason games before, so he will try to treat Sunday night as business as usual, according to Colts.com.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Brad Meester will miss eight to 10 weeks after surgery to repair a torn right biceps and Reggie Williams will be out two or three weeks after a knee scope, reports Michael C. Wright.

A check in on Khalif Barnes versus Richard Collier for Jacksonville's left tackle job. It's a matter of trust.

Some scrimmage notes from the Times-Union.

Some wrap-up thoughts after I spent two days with the Jaguars.

Tennessee Titans

Redo the top 10 in the first-round of the 2005 draft and Lofa Tatupu is a Tennessee Titan, says Alex Marvez at FoxSports.com. We call Alex Mr. President, as he's the top man in the Pro Football Writers of America.

Michael Griffin is learning a lot from Chris Hope, says Jessica Hopp, who could become Jessica Bliss any day now if her office email catches up to her marital status.

Practicing at night under new practice-field lights energized the Titans, Jim Wyatt tells us.

A week into Titans camp, Wyatt shares his three best guys on each side of the ball.

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