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Houston needs help on the right side of the offensive line. It needs another dynamic receiver. It needs depth at outside linebacker. It needs a corner, particularly if it doesn’t think second-year man Brandon Harris can replace departed veteran Jason Allen.

In 2011, in the first year of a 3-4 front under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Texans did just fine with the nose tackles they had -- Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell. Phillips predicted that.

But if you’re looking for a spot in the returning defensive lineup that can be upgraded, it’s Kareem Jackson’s cornerback spot (where the team is fiercely dedicated to the No. 20 pick from 2010) and its nose tackle, where the Cody-Mitchell tandem is not regarded as the strongest possible.

They combined to play just two-thirds of the team’s snaps (38.19 percent for Mitchell, 28.22 for Mitchell), with Antonio Smith kicking inside in the nickel package. Cody and Mitchell are asked to stuff the run and force more than one blocker to get at least a hand on them.

Even so, the Texans are allowed to get more than 50 tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks from their two primary nose tackles. Which is why they should draft one if they can.

The money isn’t mine. I’m not certain about what you can afford and what the market will pay when free agency opens on March 13. I’m not positive about your plans and schemes.

But I’ve got a good sense of your team. We've looked at your free agents.

And here’s what I’d try to do with your major issues:

1. Make one, big solid offer to defensive end Mario Williams. Very soon. Tell him it’s the best you are going to be able to do now or later. Expect him not to take it. Prepare for life without him and the crushing reviews you’ll get when he goes to a place like Seattle or, worse, Jacksonville, and wreaks some havoc as a pass rusher. Take solace that he’s overpaid by his new team and will ultimately mess up its cap. Plan to draft a outside linebacker to be third in a rotation with Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed.

2. Free up money with the following moves: Cut receiver Jacoby Jones (due a $3 million base salary) and reserve quarterback Matt Leinart (due a $1.75 million base). Make it clear while you’d like to keep them on your team, you cannot pay inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans ($5.9 million), receiver Kevin Walter ($3.5 million base) or defensive tackle Shaun Cody ($2 million) the base salaries they are scheduled to make. Ryans is a good player and a great locker room guy. But he played 58 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps last season. He can't make that money for that time on the field.

3. Do what you need to do to hold on to running back Arian Foster, but realize you have control. He’s a restricted free agent. A team trying to lure him away with an offer sheet would have to give up a first-rounder for him, and as great as he is, a first round pick is a high price for a running back. I think you can be a little risky here in terms of not worrying about outsiders. An offer sheet could be front-loaded and hard to match straight up. Hopefully if he’s offered one, he’ll share the numbers because he likes you and you’ve give him an equivalent deal shaped differently to get him to steer clear of signing the sheet. With or without outside influence, you should be able to give him a deal he’ll like that has a smaller 2012 cap number than the franchise tag of nearly $8 million.

4. Find a way to lock up center Chris Myers and don’t worry about guard Mike Brisiel, who's not the same caliber and won't cost nearly as much, unless he can be had for cheap. While you’d like to keep both, Myers is a better player, who's more valuable and has a better injury history. He’s also more of a the leader of the group. You need him long-term to keep that great running game going. Antoine Caldwell can take over at right guard without major drop off. There is no obvious replacement for Myers on the roster, so they’d have to find one if you let him go.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Shaun Cody’s wrap-up episode of “On the Nose” features a turn to song. While amusing, it’s also somewhat difficult to listen to, so brace yourself. It's very cool that he invested the time and energy he did in these videos all season long. They really gave a lot of Texans a chance to show off a different side of their personalities and gave us a hint about the team's camaraderie.

Indianapolis Colts

Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star hopes Jim Irsay won’t say another public word until Peyton Manning’s farewell news conference.

Irsay is desperate for a way to get rid of Peyton Manning without losing paying customers, says Greg Couch of FoxSports.com. (Hat tip to Bob Kravitz on Twitter.)

Jacksonville Jaguars

GM Gene Smith is accumulating opinions, says John Oehser of the Jaguars' team website.

Tony Boselli is pumping up the passion of the Jaguars’ fan base, says Oehser.

Tennessee Titans

John Glennon of The Tennessean writes that Mike Munchak sees Jason Jones playing outside and inside if he re-signs. While Jones can be a swing guy, I think Munchak overemphasizes Jones as both an end and a tackle. Jones played nearly twice as much at end as at tackle last season. The Titans would be best served to admit a mistake and play him inside if they are able to sign him.

Glennon recounts what Randy Moss did not do during his time with the Titans.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Nose tackle Shaun Cody provides the comic relief for the Texans, says Jeffrey Martin of the Chronicle.

The field could be an issue today at Reliant Stadium after the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Saturday, says Jerome Solomon.

John McClain of the Chronicle sees a narrow Texans win.

Indianapolis Colts

This is the end of an era for the Colts, says Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star. It’s a meaningless game that’s deeply meaningful.

The Colts have been here before, and in 1997 it meant a clean sweep. Lives will change after this game, and perhaps the very fabric of the franchise, too, says Mike Chappell of the Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Florida Times-Union has a thorough tribute to Wayne Weaver as the Jaguars ready for their final game with him as owner. NFL fans in North Florida should always be grateful for his work to bring a team to the region.

Fred Taylor would like to see Maurice Jones-Drew surpass his record for rushing yards in a season, says Tania Ganguli of the T-U.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans need to win, then wait, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. If the day pans out for them the way they hope it will, they’ll be celebrating results that produce a playoff berth on their flight from Houston to Nashville.

To beat the Texans, Tennessee will have to handle Arian Foster a lot better than it did in the first game between the two teams, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

As he prepares to face his former team, Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky is proud of what the Texans have done, says Jeffrey Martin of the Houston Chronicle.

The Texans should lean heavily on the run to get on track in Indianapolis, says John McClain of the Chronicle.

Andre Johnson is out for Thursday night’s game in Indianapolis and Owen Daniels might be too, says McClain.

Shaun Cody put on an excellent production exploring the old age of Jeff Garcia and Jake Delhomme.

Indianapolis Colts

Bill Polian says Peyton Manning will fail his physical after the season and then be in line to continue his rehabilitation with the team, writes Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Things are a lot different since the Colts played Houston on opening day, say Phil Richards and Chappell.

Football Outsiders says the Colts have an 89.8 percent chance of drafting first overall.

One-time Colts tight end Ben Utecht is experiencing memory loss, says Erik Brady of USA Today.

Jacksonville Jaguars

In his 12th season and at 34 years old, center Brad Meester wants to return and be part of a Jaguars turnaround, says Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.

Gene Frenette of the T-U offers a review of Shahid Khan’s podcast with Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

The Jaguars put another defensive back on injured reserve, says Tania Ganguli of the T-U. Does safety Darcel McBath qualify as part of the injury trend when he didn't have a real role and just joined the team last week?

John Oehser of jaguars.com expects the Jaguars to become more of a passing team.

Tennessee Titans

This should have been the Titans' time, writes David Boclair of The City Paper. If Pacman Jones and Vince Young panned out and were in their prime, at worst Tennessee would be right there with Houston in the AFC South.

Matt Hasselbeck practiced and Chris Johnson rested on Tuesday, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Pressuring Blaine Gabbert is one of the keys for the Titans on Saturday, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Reading the coverage ...

Rebranded NFL logos from Kurt Snibbe at Page 2.

Houston Texans

Matt Schaub holds out hope for a return but says his foot is the size of a cinder block, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Matt Leinart is walking into a perfect situation, says McClain.

Writes Jeffrey Martin: “It’s important to note Leinart, who was perceived as a bust, is only 28. His best days weren’t too long ago, and the reminders were everywhere Tuesday inside the Texans’ dressing room. From the cardinal red 'USC Football' long-sleeved shirt peeking out of his locker to the playful embrace he shared with nose tackle Shaun Cody, who played with Leinart in college, to the media mob hanging on his every word. Leinart is relevant again, and this is the second chance the former Heisman Trophy winner desperately desired.”

Five backups who stepped in and led a team to the playoffs, from McClain.

Leinart can be a viable starting quarterback on a playoff team, says Bill Barnwell of Grantland.

Indianapolis Colts

Colts ticket prices will stay the same in 2012, Jim Irsay said via Twitter.

Dwight Freeney is heading to NYC and other bye plans from Phillip B. Wilson.

Peyton Manning is not fired up about the (tongue-in-cheek) opportunity to coach at Ole Miss despite a push by some fans, says Tom Weir of USA Today.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Running back Dei Karim aspires to be better than Maurice Jones-Drew, says Vito Stellino.

The Jaguars filled out their roster with corner Ashton Youboty and defensive end George Selvie, says Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Injuries elsewhere have opened the door for the Titans in the AFC South, says David Climer of The Tennessean.

Can the Titans succeed against a quarterback like Atlanta’s Matt Ryan? John Glennon of The Tennessean ponders.

Five hot topics for the Titans going forward, from Glennon.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Throwback football personified by a bloody Brian Cushing has the Texans three games over .500 for the first time in franchise history, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Arian Foster and Ben Tate have four 100-plus-yard efforts apiece this season, writes Dale Robertson of The Houston Chronicle. “And to think that just two years ago, before Tate had been drafted and while Foster was trying to shuck the anonymity of being an undrafted rookie free agent, the Texans didn't deliver a 100-yard afternoon until Foster broke through on the season's final Sunday.” It’s an incredible advantage and luxury to have two backs of such high quality.

Much-maligned cornerback Kareem Jackson may have played his best game for the Texans, writes McClain. I’m glad to see the progress, but need to see this caliber of play against a tougher opponent in a tighter game.

Richard Justice of the Chronicle can’t find much to nitpick about out of the win over the Browns.

Brooks Reed is picking up what the Texans lost when Mario Williams went down, says Jeffrey Martin of the Chronicle.

Shaun Cody picked off a two-point conversion pass, says the Chronicle staff.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were frustrated and baffled by another blowout loss, writes Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Bob Kravitz of the Star looks at the Colts’ competition with Miami for the No. 1 pick in the draft: “Remember the day when we watched the scoreboard to see how soon the Colts might clinch home-field advantage? Remember how we spent November preparing the annual rest-'em-or-play-'em debate? Now we're a city of Dolfans, checking our phones to get updates on the Miami game.”

Kelvin Hayden had a great day for the Falcons but feels for his old teammates, says Phillip B. Wilson.

Donald Brown got most of the carries after Delone Carter lost a fumble, says Chappell.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald says the Dolphins trading for Peyton Manning is an intriguing possibility.

Kravitz’s report card.

Nate Dunlevy of 18to88.com shreds Kravitz’s Sunday column in the Indianapolis Star that shredded Chris Polian.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Among the class of rookie quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert’s been subpar, writes Tania Ganguli of the Times-Union. But anticipation, footwork and mechanics are coachable flaws, says one analyst. I think most of us understand the limitations he’s got with the Jaguars' offensive personnel. Still, we just want one big flash that shows off the promise.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans botched the second half and lost to the Bengals Sunday, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. The vibe about the team that had gone from 3-1 to 4-4 has changed.

The Titans have a split personality that leaves David Climer of The Tennessean struggling to see them better than 8-8 at season’s end.

Chris Johnson had a solid first half, then disappeared, says Wyatt. Also covered in this notebook: Jared Cook’s fumble, Mike Munchak’s fourth-down decision, Damian Williams’ great catch and an injury rundown.

The offense found a groove in the first half, then was a second-half disaster, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Receiver A.J. Green was pretty special against the Titans, writes Glennon.

Wyatt’s report card.

ESPN Stats & Information can now delve into playtime percentages, a great feature we will use often.

My initial reaction to the available info was merely to ask for the numbers on some key situational guys and some stars from each of our teams. Keep in mind some are influenced by time missed because of injuries.

Here’s the percentage of their team's snaps on offense or defense they’ve played.

Houston Texans: CB Kareem Jackson 74.4, CB Jason Allen 52.8, WR Kevin Walter 66.8, WR Jacoby Jones 71.5, DT Shaun Cody 35.9, DT Earl Mitchell 25.6.

Indianapolis Colts: TE Dallas Clark 86.9, TE Brody Eldridge 41.3, WR Austin Collie 59.2, CB Jacob Lacey 75.3, DE Dwight Freeney 63.1, DE Robert Mathis 64.3, DE Jamaal Anderson, 38.3, DE Tyler Brayton 45.6, S David Caldwell 44.1, S Joe Lefeged 38.1.

Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Clint Session 42.3, FB Greg Jones 40.3, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, 71.9, CB Drew Coleman 53.0, DE John Chick 25.3.

Tennessee Titans: DE Derrick Morgan 57.7, LB Will Witherspoon 83.8, DT Karl Klug 50.7, DT Jurrell Casey 56.1, TE Craig Stevens 33.6. TE Jared Cook 62.1, RB Chris Johnson 70.7.

Have you found yourself wondering about Antonio Smith's wacky sack dance?

Me neither.

Still, this is a highly entertaining video from the team’s website that explains it and shows us a very funny side of Smith, who says “I can speak without you even knowing I am speaking.”

That’s a trick I’d like to hear. Or not hear.

HOUSTON -- Arrived at Texans practice about halfway through. I thought I’d start out with some straight observational sharing.

1) I watched the offensive and defensive line one-on-ones from a tough angle.

• Chris Myers had a very good snap against Shaun Cody.
• Antonio Smith gained good ground on Wade Smith twice.
• Duane Brown fended off Bryan Braman twice.
• J.J. Watt got good push against Derek Newton, but Newton managed to stay between Watt and his target. Newton also watched Jesse Nading fly right past him.
• Mike Brisiel handled Tim Bulman, but Bulman had a good win against Cody Wallace.
• Connor Barwin went around Pete Hendrickson.

And the highlight for me: Brooks Reed vs. Eric Winston. Reed quickly got inside Winston on the first snap. Then he did it again though he had to go wider. And against Newton, he got steered out real wide, wide enough that he probably couldn’t have recovered to make a play.

Reed’s clearly super-fast off the edge. (Sidenote: He’s got relatively skinny legs. Calves anyway.) On the second snap against Winston, I wondered if he went wide enough that even a clean run might take him too long to get to the quarterback, allowing for the ball to come out. Still, forcing a quick pass with such pressure is a victory.

2) Brian Cushing, who’s been out of action for most of camp as he recovered from knee surgery, was part of team drills. In the very first snap of 11 vs. 11 work I saw, he edged up to the line and weaved his way through the middle very quickly and cleanly, slicing through the line in a way he would have had a pretty good shot at Matt Schaub in a live situation.

3) Schaub found Kevin Walter with a bomb up the right side that fell incomplete only because Kareem Jackson had a handful of Walter’s jersey to prevent him from catching up to it. Jackson made no real effort to hide the foul or recover from it.

4) Owen Daniels slipped open against what had to be a busted coverage for a big play. Reed let him go near the line of scrimmage and Glover Quin wasn’t in range. The culprit is likely unidentified.

5) Trindon Holliday had a nice little catch-and-run, but limped back and found a trainer.

6) Sherrick McManis intercepted Matt Leinart.

7) When I talked to the sidelined Ben Tate after the practice, he indicated that Steve Slaton now has a hamstring issue as well.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

The Texans see a lot of Shannon Sharpe in Owen Daniels, says Jeffrey Martin.

Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell are vying for time at nose tackle, says John McClain,

Matt Leinart continues to look sharp, says McClain.

Gary Kubiak is concerned about the injured Brian Cushing, says Martin.

It’s hard not to root for Chris Ogbonnaya, says Richard Justice.

Where does Ben Tate fit into the Texans’ crowded backfield wonders Justice.

Jason Allen can overtake Kareem Jackson, says Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

The first depth chart says the offensive line is still developing, says Mike Chappell.

Beyond the starters, there are a lot of questions in the defensive backfield, says Chappell.

There was not a lot of new information in Jim Caldwell’s Peyton Manning update.

Indy added tight end Michael Matthews.

Mike Pollak has much to prove, says Brett Mock.

Nate Davis talked with Colts.com about his progress.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Blaine Gabbert’s the starter in Thursday night’s preseason opener, says Vito Stellino.

Aaron Kampman and Maurice Jones-Drew are among key players not going to New England, says Tania Ganguli.

Jack Del Rio talked to Bill Belichick about joint practices but the lockout kept it from happening, says Ganguli. The Falcons will visit Jacksonville next week.

Todd Bouman is back, says Ganguli.

Del Rio’s had to catch himself and be patient in a camp that didn’t follow a typical offseason, says John Oehser.

Is Jason Hill a roster lock? Alfie Crow wonders.

Tennessee Titans

Stafon Johnson’s completed a second comeback, writes John Glennon.

Cortland Finnegan worked inside in the nickel package, says Wyatt.

Matt Hasselbeck looks for three specific things a day to work on, says David Boclair.

Rusty Smith is staying patient, says Wyatt.

Anthony Smith is ready to compete. He was really bad in Jacksonville a couple years ago.

A first look at the Texans' unofficial depth chart gives us these nuggets to consider:

• James Casey is the No. 1 fullback ahead of Lawrence Vickers.
• Derrick Ward is the second running back, followed by Steve Slaton and Ben Tate.
• Shaun Cody is ahead of Earl Mitchell at nose tackle.
• Kareem Jackson is the starting left cornerback with Brice McCain and Brandon Harris behind him.
• Jason Allen is the No. 2 right cornerback behind Johnathan Joseph.
• Fifth-round pick Shiloh Keo is fourth at free safety.
• New linebacker Tim Dobbins is listed fifth in line at middle linebacker, but worked today with the second and third team.
• Trindon Holliday is the front-line punt and kick returner.
• Undrafted Brett Hartmann is listed as the first punter, ahead of veteran Brad Maynard.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Matt Leinart found his best fit with the Texans, says John McClain.

The Texans waived a couple of undrafted free agents.

Improving the secondary is mission one.

Battle Red Blog looks at the war of the noses between Earl Mitchell and Shaun Cody.

Indianapolis Colts

Ernie Sims is out after an appendectomy, says Phillip B. Wilson.

Dan Orlovsky is looking to win the backup spot behind Peyton Manning, says Mike Chappell.

A good look at the nose tackle in the Colts defense from Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tyson Alualu has a much better understanding of his position, says Tania Ganguli.

Kevin Haslam is out for the season.

You can’t draft and develop receivers without giving them time to develop, says John Oehser.

Tennessee Titans

Cortland Finnegan polished his backpedal, says Jim Wyatt.

Finnegan’s errors won’t be forgotten, says David Climer.

Kenny Britt practiced for the first time, says John Glennon.

The Chris Johnson holdout is at 11 days, says Wyatt.

Vince Young’s path to stardom has taken a detour, says Jerome Solomon.

Are teams addressing needs? We can’t say if they’ve picked the right guys until we see how they all play. But we can assess how our four franchises have done in terms of filling holes or attempting to upgrade to this point.

Houston Texans

Old needs: The Texans were in desperate need of defensive backs and landed the second-best available cornerback in Johnathan Joseph and a safety better than any they have in Danieal Manning. They re-signed receiver Jacoby Jones, third tackle Rashad Butler and backup quarterback Matt Leinart. Matt Turk was a free agent who departed, so a punter is a need.

New needs: Fullback Vonta Leach was a huge part of Arian Foster’s rushing title but went to Baltimore. It seems likely the Texans will turn to versatile tight end James Casey as a lead blocker, but there are some quality free-agent options out there.

Don’t think they need: They’ve said from the time Wade Phillips evaluated personnel that Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell will be a capable combo at nose tackle. It’s a spot they may well be overestimating.

Indianapolis Colts

Old needs: A contract for quarterback Peyton Manning was No. 1, even though he was not technically a free agent, and they’ve gotten that done. They prevented safety and kicker from becoming issues with quick moves to retain Melvin Bullitt and Adam Vinatieri.

New needs: Kavell Conner is likely the third linebacker with Clint Session now a member of the Jaguars. But the linebacking depth is hardly great, and even a late veteran addition at the position might be significant.

Don’t think they need: I’m sure they’d love to find the next Reggie Wayne or a run-stuffing defensive tackle, but they either don’t see those guys out there or, more likely, aren’t changing their philosophy about chasing significant outsiders.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Old needs: Very aggressively address linebacker (with Paul Posluszny and Session), safety (with Dawan Landry) and nickelback (with Drew Coleman). That’s four quality players added to their top 12 on defense

New needs: Punter Adam Podlesh bolted for a big contract in Chicago. But the Jaguars quickly adjusted, signing Turk to replace him.

Don’t think they need: They’ve tried and failed with veteran wideouts to varying degrees -- from the bust of Jerry Porter, to the more affordable non-contributions of Troy Williamson, to the stopgap year from Torry Holt. They appear comfortable with a top three of Mike Thomas, Jason Hill and Jarett Dillard or Cecil Shorts. They won’t likely be shopping.

Tennessee Titans

Old needs: They’ve addressed quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck), middle linebacker (Barrett Ruud), defensive tackle (Shaun Smith), and guard (re-signing Leroy Harris). Safety has gone unaddressed, so it appears Chris Hope remains in place. With Ahmard Hall a free agent, they could use a fullback, but may just go with tight ends or an undrafted if he departs.

New needs: Stephen Tulloch didn’t officially leave until after the Titans signed Ruud. They lost Jason Babin to Philadelphia, but never really planned to pursue him hard, and the move of Jason Jones to end helps offset it.

Don’t think they need: Wide receiver is always an issue for the Titans, but they don’t feel the desperation outsiders do. They’re content with their group, though an experienced, low-cost free agent could eventually arrive.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each AFC South team:

Houston Texans

1. Finally fix the secondary: Not only was the Texans’ secondary awful in coverage last season, but it also needs some stabilizing veteran leadership on the back end of this revamped defense. A safety like Eric Weddle could help cure both issues. There are quite a few safeties in this crop of free agents who would be clear upgrades for Houston. Of course, we have to discuss Nnamdi Asomugha -- and the Texans should certainly be right in the thick of those negotiations. If they can’t land Asomugha, the Texans could pursue Johnathan Joseph or Ike Taylor, who could help fix some leaks.

2. Work the cap: Houston is pretty tight up against the cap as it stands right now. But the team has serious needs on defense -- particularly in the secondary. In order to get the help they need, the Texans might have to restructure a few contracts or let a current player or two go.

3. Lock up Vonta Leach: This offense pretty much has it all. Wideout Andre Johnson makes everyone around him better in just so many ways. And the running game was exceptional last season. But Leach is a key component in that running game. And no fullback opens holes like this guy. Houston should bring him back and dedicate the rest of its free-agent moves to the defense.

Top five free agents: Leach, WR Jacoby Jones, S Bernard Pollard, DE Mark Anderson and QB Matt Leinart.

Indianapolis Colts

1. Get Peyton Manning’s extension done: Manning has been franchised and had surgery again on his neck recently. But there is little doubt who the face of this franchise is. Getting him locked up long term is something that Indianapolis just needs to get done.

2. Get a starting safety signed: Melvin Bullitt is a free agent. He is a solid player, and bringing him back makes a lot of sense. Outside of Antoine Bethea, who is vastly underrated, Indy has very little at this position. The Colts need to get a starter under contract. Also on defense, bringing back linebacker Clint Session, who is a superb fit in this scheme, and adding defensive tackle help also should be priorities if they can fit it under the cap.

3. Add running back help: This could come in the form of bringing back the reliable Joseph Addai. Well, he is reliable when he is healthy. And Addai has a great grasp of the Colts’ offense. I am very high on 2011 draft pick Delone Carter and maybe the light goes on for Donald Brown. But the Colts do need someone in their backfield who can pass protect and can be trusted. In this capacity, Addai seems to be worth more to the Colts than to any other team.

Top five free agents: Manning (franchised), Session, Addai, Bullitt and OT Charlie Johnson.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Address holes at linebacker: Linebackers Justin Durant and Kirk Morrison are up for free agency. I would suggest bringing one of those two back and then finding an upgrade from a coverage standpoint at a starting linebacker position to go along with the steady Daryl Smith. James Anderson would be an excellent target, and if healthy, so would another Panther -- Thomas Davis.

2. Address holes at safety: Jacksonville featured one of the worst secondaries in football last season. The Jags tried many bodies at safety, but it yielded minimal results. This is a very strong free-agent safety class, and the Jaguars need to add a starter or two they can count on week after week.

3. Spend! The Jaguars have quite a bit of money to spend in free agency, and under the new rules, they will have to spend. This free-agency period is like none we have ever seen and the action could be fast and furious. Jacksonville needs to stay the course and make wise financial decisions as it tries to add players who can mostly upgrade a hurting defense.

Top free agents: Marcedes Lewis (franchised), WR Mike Sims-Walker, Durant and Morrison.

Tennessee Titans

1. Revamp the Interior offensive line: Although they didn’t play great in 2010, I have faith in the Titans’ offensive tackles. But the interior of the line is a train wreck. That won’t do with a rookie quarterback behind center and in an offense that will be extremely run-heavy. Chris Johnson had little room to run last season. That needs to change. Marshal Yanda and Harvey Dahl would be great targets here.

2. Add a veteran quarterback: Needless to say, the Titans cannot enter the season with just the quarterbacks they currently have on their roster. They must bring in a veteran with some experience. Donovan McNabb would be high on my list. Matt Hasselbeck might also fit the bill.

3. Fortify every level of the defense: Presently, Tennessee is very young at linebacker, just adequate at safety and could lose three of its defensive ends. Making matters more difficult, the team is also installing a different version of the 4-3 defense. The Titans do have some money to spend in free agency. It would be wise if they used those funds on young free-agent talent, as it appears this team is now rebuilding from the ground up. Every level of the defense could use reinforcement.

Top five free agents: DE Jason Babin, LB Stephen Tulloch, WR Randy Moss, DE Dave Ball and DE Jacob Ford.