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Houston Texans

Wade Smith thinks the Texans will be able to pick up where they left off even with two new starters on the right side of the Texans offensive line, says Robert Neely of National Football Authority.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck already ranks as the second-best quarterback in the AFC South, says Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive end Aaron Kampman continues to rehab and is approaching his cruising altitude, he told John Oehser of the team’s web site.

Tennessee Titans

“The Titans aren’t on the verge of trading for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, and any interest in the four-time Pro Bowler is lukewarm at best,” says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Who played the most on offense in the AFC South in 2011?

Here’s a rundown, with percentage of offensive snaps played:

QB – Matt Hasselbeck, Titans, 90.4

RB – Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars, 74.93

FB – Greg Jones, Jaguars, 38.71

WR – Reggie Wayne, Colts, 98.8

WR – Pierre Garcon, Colts, 95.5

TE – Owen Daniels, Texans, 79.13

C – Brad Meester, Jaguars, 100

G – Wade Smith, Texans, 100

G – Uche Nwaneri, Jaguars, 100

G – Jake Scott, Titans, 100

T – Jeff Linkenbach, Colts, 100

T – Michael Roos, Titans, 100

A few notes:

Chris Johnson was the only back other than MJD to play as much as 60 percent of his team’s snaps (70.23).

Jones was the only fullback to play at least a third of his team’s snaps. Houston’s James Casey was next in fullback playing time, working 32.39 percent of the Texans’ snaps.

Wayne missed just 12 snaps and Garcon only 44 for the Colts. They are both heading for unrestricted free agency, and if both are lost that’s a lot of playing time to fill in. The next biggest number for a receiver in the division? The Titans' Nate Washington at 82.9.

Daniels didn’t beat out Jacksonville’s Marcedes Lewis (76.75) by much. I’d bet guessing the No. 3 tight end would be tough. Prove me wrong in the comments section below.

Two other offensive linemen narrowly missed 100 percent: Titans guard Eugene Amano missed only one play and Colts center Jeff Saturday was off the field for just six.

At long last, we start to unveil ESPN.com’s All-AFC South Team.

We’ll start with the offense.

It’s a tough assignment.

The second guy at some spots -- like Houston running back Arian Foster -- is superb, while the top guy at other spots was hardly as good and was not so clearly better than his competition.

But we forge ahead.

WRs: Wide receivers were not great this season, with Andre Johnson missing too much time to be eligible and not one Jacksonville player at the position worth a look. Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne remained productive on a team that played three bad quarterbacks and was unable to have many offensive days of note. Tennessee’s Nate Washington topped 1,000 yards and was a prime third-down target. He blossomed in a season when the Titans were desperate after Kenny Britt was lost early on.

LT: Houston’s Duane Brown gets the nod after a fine season. He was probably the second-best guy (to center Chris Myers) on one of the very best lines in the NFL. But Tennessee’s Michael Roos was very steady again and Jacksonville’s Eugene Monroe emerged as a player closer to the kind the Jaguars expected and need him to be. Both deserve mention.

LG: I struggled to find a left guard that was worthy of a spot here, so I reluctantly leave the spot open. The second-best guard in the division was Houston’s Mike Brisiel and, like Jacksonville’s Uche Nwaneri, he plays on the right. One film-watcher I spoke with said I should just go with the entire Texans group, but others thought left guard Wade Smith dropped off from his 2010 performance. Tennessee’s Leroy Harris pass-blocked well like all the Titans, but was part of the team’s run struggles.

C: Myers led Houston’s line, perhaps the best in the NFL. He’s super smart, efficient and effective. He’s also very much the group’s tone-setter and leader. Considering how much the team's scheme relies on the unit working together with lateral movements and cutting, Myers' leadership is incredibly valuable.

RG: A lot of Jaguars linemen were in and out of the lineup as the team had to shuffle and leaned on one rookie, Will Rackley. Nwaneri may have even outranked Monroe as the steadiest guy on a line that help spring Maurice Jones-Drew for a league-high 1,606 yards on a team that could hardly throw the ball.

RT: Tennessee’s David Stewart was very good, but Eric Winston had a very strong season. Winston wins out over Stewart because he was more balanced and the Texans were far more balanced.

TE: Not a great year for guys at a position that could be stacked if everyone was healthy for the full season and producing as they are capable of doing. I was leaning toward Tennessee’s Jared Cook based on a solid finish. But Cook didn't do enough early and scouting associates steered me to Owen Daniels, who was not at his best but was still a threat who helped offset the stretches without Johnson.

QB: Matt Schaub didn’t play enough for the Texans to offset Matt Hasselbeck's season. While Hasselbeck didn’t maintain the high level of play he showed early on, he was the most consistent and productive guy in the division and the only quarterback not named Warren Moon to pass for 3,500 yards for the Titans/Oilers.

FB: Greg Jones of the Jaguars blocked for the best running game in the division and the most productive running back in the division. Case closed.

RB: If we weren’t in a quarterback-dominated era and if running well translated to winning more, then Jones-Drew of the Jaguars would be in the running for offensive player of the year. Such things are not happening in today’s NFL. That does not detract from his remarkable season, which is what took to win this spot over Foster.

At the core of the Houston Texans’ steady, methodical play this season in the face of a ridiculous injury list has been the offensive line.

Right tackle Eric Winston is a talker with a profile, but the rest of the group seems to revel in a degree of obscurity, no one more than center Chris Myers.

“I think he goes unnoticed for the kind of player he is,” Titans coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Mike Munchak said. “He understands the system, understands what he’s supposed to do and he goes out and does it. It’s not about how big and tall he is or what his measurables are. He’s efficient, and he’s successful the way he does his job.”

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. says Myers is the second-best center in the NFL this season, behind only Nick Mangold of the Jets.

“Myers is a great technician,” Williamson said. “He’s got great movement skills. He plays the game with excellent leverage. He’s the linchpin of the best offensive line in the NFL.”

Myers was pleased to learn of Munchak’s compliment, but he clearly isn’t concerned with what people outside of team headquarters think of him, the line or the Texans.

In that regard, he’s an old-school offensive lineman. He trained under five-time Pro Bowler Tom Nalen in Denver and is perfectly happy operating quietly in the background, allowing his play to do most of his talking and pleased if his running back is getting attention.

“It just comes with the territory of being an offensive lineman,” he said. “When you get to the higher level, once you become successful in the league you learn those accolades will come when warranted.”

They should be warranted this season, with the Texans winning the AFC South despite a slew of injuries to key players.

Myers was originally a sixth-round pick by Denver in 2005, 200th overall out of Miami. He spent the first month of his first season on the practice squad, then backed up Nalen and played special teams.

The Texans traded a sixth-round pick in 2007 to get Myers after coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith moved to Houston from jobs with the Broncos. Myers became a torch-bearer for both the sort of locker room culture and offensive line scheme the Texans wanted to establish. Houston has started him in every game.

There is less noise than there used to be about the Texans' zone-blocking scheme, a philosophy that features backside cuts that put defensive linemen on the ground. A lot of defenders hate it, and many say it puts their knees at risk. But it’s a legal technique that plenty of teams use, just not, perhaps, with the regularity and proficiency of the Texans.

It’s a scheme that serves to spring one-cut-and-go backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, and syncs up perfectly with the Texans’ play-action and bootleg passing attack.

“You put them all together and they are pretty darn good at what they do,” Munchak said. “The five of them together, they’ve got it going. They’ve been doing the same thing now since [offensive line coach Alex] Gibbs went in there [in 2008]. They kept the same concept, they stuck with the same system and they’ve gotten good at it.”

There is a psychological aspect to the scheme as well.

“I can’t lie, it definitely plays into the defense’s mind,” Myers said. “When you’re pounding and pounding on guys throughout the game and you keep cutting them on the backside, they can play the cuts for a long time, but at a certain point either they are going to forget about it or get tired of having to play off of it. Once you kind of grind on them, it ends up playing out in the fourth quarter.”

Left tackle Duane Brown, left guard Wade Smith, Myers, right guard Mike Brisiel and Winston make up what has been one of the league’s best and most reliable lines this season. Brisiel just finished playing in the win at Cincinnati on a broken leg and had surgery, so Antoine Caldwell will step in for a stretch.

When the line and offense are playing well, the Texans’ attack can be a beautiful operation.

“So much about the way we run the ball is tied to coordination, there is a real rhythm to this offense,” Smith said.

“To the degree that you can get five guys and in a lot of cases six guys with the tight end and then seven with the fullback on the same page and execute that coordinated effort, that’s where you start to get the big runs and the cutbacks and you start to see the success in the system. They’ve got that coordination, they’ve got that rhythm together, and I think that’s why you see us running the ball effectively.”

As the Texans make their first venture into the playoffs, there will be talk of the line’s solid play, but far more focus on the league’s top defense, Foster, receiver Andre Johnson and rookie quarterback T.J. Yates.

Myers will have a great vantage point on it all, watching and working.

“Obviously his position is a natural position of leadership on the line,” Smith said. “He’s done a nice job of keeping our guys coordinated and he’s playing at a high level at this point.

“More often than not it’s a position where people don’t talk a lot, so maybe people don’t recognize how important or how strong a leadership position the offensive line commands within a team, but it’s significantly important. That’s where games are won and lost, up front.”

In a recent radio appearance on “The Big Show” on Sports 790 in Houston, Kevin Walter offered a pretty reasonable review of Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

Finnegan prides himself on being an irritant. In the Titans’ loss at Houston last season, he prompted Andre Johnson to take several swings at him as they lined up across from each other.

Said Walter:

“Even before last year, before the whole fight with him and Andre -- years before that -- he’s been pushing people around. He’s pushed me in the back. But you know what? He runs away, he’ll run away from it. You go to talk to him, he’ll kind of hide by his guys. Then after the game he talks to you like nothing’s going on. Like. ‘Hey man, how are you doing?’ Seems like a nice guy after the game.

“But he’s the type of guy, you see him on film and you’re like 'what is he doing, why is he playing like that?' But I would say it’d be pretty cool to have a guy like that on your team because he’s busting his tail all the time. I’m not saying I like the guy, but he’s going out there and giving his effort, giving his all. If he can be a [jerk] here and there, that’s how he plays it.”

Let’s watch for, and be wary of, that large paragraph getting reduced to one line that makes it sound as if Walter simply called Finnegan a bad name.

Walter also said the Titans have played almost all zone coverage, but he knows coming off a bye they can throw a big changeup at the Texans showing more man coverage.

The Titans also have some concerns with the Texans. Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks doesn’t like the way Houston’s offensive line blocks, even if the cut blocks they use are legal. He said he’s been hurt by Eric Winston and Wade Smith.

Marks, via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

“I don’t like it, I don’t see that as being a good football player, as being a good offensive lineman. I never talk with Wade, I don’t know him. But I don’t like the way he did that block and I don’t like how Eric Winston did it the time he did it. I have a grudge against both of them about that…”

“We know the way they play, and knowing guys that play like that zone scheme who do a lot of cut-blocking, you just try and stay on your feet. You just try and keep your shoulders square and stay on your feet. But I don’t like the way they do it. I think that is something they should have taken out when they did the new (collective bargaining agreement).”

Houston Texans

The offensive front, blessed with continuity, cohesion and a collective work ethic, plus line coach John Benton's clever mind, has quietly evolved into one of the NFL's most experienced and steadfast units, writes Dale Robertson. One big key to the line’s success is that guards Wade Smith and Mike Brisiel have both played center, and their understanding of the spot enhances the overall cohesion of the group.

Kuharsky’s read: Lacking a “star,” they don’t get a ton of attention and because they play that Denver-style scheme heavy on cut blocks people tend to underrate the group. All of which is fine if Matt Schaub has time to throw and Arian Foster has room to run. Indications are they will. The guys in front of them are a likeable group.

Indianapolis Colts

Jim Caldwell is in a very tough spot, even beyond the loss of his franchise quarterback, writes Bob Kravitz. Caldwell is working for a franchise that has become mildly dysfunctional, the old we-speak-with-one-voice mantra turning into a cacophony of varying voices and disparate agendas.

Kuharsky’s read: Kravitz nails the mildly dysfunctional element to Caldwell’s situation and his lack of concern over it. But I disagree that the coach can’t be judged on this season. He’s held a team together under tough circumstances last year. Can he do it again with even tougher ones?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Dwight Lowery often calls or texts Drew Coleman to ask questions about the defense, writes Tania Ganguli. The trouble is, Coleman is so new himself sometimes he has to refer Lowery to someone who's been here a little longer. "It's been six weeks?" Coleman said. "It feels more like three weeks."

Kuharsky’s read: Can the two former Jets make a play or two that comes out of knowledge gleaned from practicing against Mark Sanchez and the offense? The Jaguars will need such things to have a chance.

Tennessee Titans

Shaun Smith, the 6-foot-2, 325-pound Titans defensive tackle, has become an unabashed, unapologetic trash-talker on the practice field and in games -- one of the best in the NFL, in his own humble opinion, writes John Glennon. Whether Smith’s verbal volleys make a significant Sunday difference is debatable. He feels they do, that they tend to wear down the confidence of opponents and motivate his teammates.

Kuharsky’s read: The jury’s out on Smith’s play. But the personality is something the Titans needed. He keeps things light -- he stepped in and delivered coach-speak comments when reporters waited for Mike Munchak this week, then leaned in to listen to a coordinator’s media session. But he also sends messages that need to be heard.

More Scouts Inc. lists are out, with rankings of running backs, fullbacks and offensive lines.

Here’s where the AFC South starters and players of note stand.

Running backs

2: Chris Johnson

4: Maurice Jones-Drew

6: Arian Foster

22: Joseph Addai

I think: Foster might be too low.

Fullbacks

7: Lawrence Vickers

8: Ahmard Hall

9: Greg Jones

I think: I might flip Jones and Vickers.

Tackles

14: Eric Winston

22: David Stewart

23: Michael Roos

28: Duane Brown

33: Eugene Monroe

49: Ryan Diem

52: Wade Smith (actually a guard)

68: Eben Britton

I think: I expressed myself on Roos yesterday. He's way to low.

Guards

22: Jake Scott

41: Jason Spitz

55: Eugene Amano (actually a center)

56: Leroy Harris

61: Mike Brisiel

62: Uche Nwaneri

70: Kyle DeVan

71: Mike Pollak

I think: It says a lot about the division's guards that Spitz is second among them.

Centers

7: Jeff Saturday

9: Chris Myers

24: Brad Meester

I think: Myers is underrated generally, and deserves this top 10 slot.

Reading the coverage…

The AFC South is well represented on Doug Farrar’s All-Underrated offense, with Jacob Tamme, Marcedes Lewis, Eugene Monroe and Wade Smith.

Houston Texans

A look at four Texans on hold in different situations because of the lockout, from Jeffrey Martin.

Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Castonzo wants to fend off defensive ends and help cure cancer, says Phil Richards. Jeff Saturday says Castonzo will “make a difference” for the Colts.

Considering free-agent options with Brett Mock.

Jacksonville Jaguars

With all the lockout time, Dirk Koetter is confident the offensive staff is ready, says John Oehser.

Ranking the top 10 Jaguars of all time with Steve Spooner.

Tennessee Titans

Jim Wyatt sat through a film session looking at Jake Locker with Chris Palmer. One revelation from Palmer: “We have not been a big quick-game passing team here. The (previous) coaching staff had a reason and it was a very sound reason why they didn’t do a lot of it. But if we are playing with a young quarterback, we know that they are going to blitz him. So the quick game has to be a part of us…”

What conduct during the lockout will be punishable by the NFL and how will Kenny Britt be affected, asks John Glennon.

The Titans hired Devin Bonik as an administrative assistant, says Jim 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.

Building toward the conclusion of our series looking at situations where you can hear these three words you love so much from me…

I was wrong:

• “Everyone is encouraged about the run game, but what’s changed? Second-round pick Ben Tate is lost with an injury. Guard Wade Smith was the only significant addition to the line, where interior issues were a big part of the problems. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison is from the same school as predecessor Kyle Shanahan, and line coach John Benton learned under the departed Alex Gibbs… They are largely counting on young guys getting better, which begs the question: What if they don’t?” (Preseason.) Yeah, running it better wasn’t an issue as Arian Foster was a revelation and his blockers did solid work for him.
• “I think it's too early to panic about the Texans' pass defense.” (Sept. 24.) Actually, there was no way to be too early. By Oct. 14 I realized the extent of the flawed plan.

I was fortunate:

• “[Kareem] Jackson has to be good for the team to have a chance.” (Preseason.) He was nowhere near good enough.
• “To finally get to the postseason, the Texans have to play more complete games.” (Preseason.) Poor starts created scenarios for some fantastic comebacks, but Houston consistently made it difficult on itself by playing flat early.

Nate Davis wisely hits it in his premise: it’s harder to find underappreciated players in the NFL when invitations to the Pro Bowl are passed out like advertising fliers on a Times Square street corner.

Nevertheless, USA Today’s published its annual All-Joe team, a squad of players who don’t quite get the sort of recognition they might deserve.

The AFC South’s presence comes primarily in the middle of the offensive line.

Here’s the entry on the guards:

Ryan Lilja, Chiefs -- Plucked off Colts' scrap heap, he was a linchpin in K.C.'s top-ranked rushing attack despite battling thumb and foot injuries. Wade Smith, Texans -- Journeyman joined team, joined lineup for 16 starts and helped RB Arian Foster join all-pro ranks as league's rushing king. Vince Manuwai, Jaguars -- Fully recovered from a devastating 2008 knee injury, he was a major reason Maurice Jones-Drew hit his stride in the second half.

I thought Smith was solid and represents the sort of addition the Texans need more of. Manuwai was very good at his peak, but was a late entry into the starting lineup after losing out in a position battle in camp.

Also mentioned: Colts tight end Jacob Tamme.

Aspirations were high. Piecing together our second-annual All-AFC South team sounded easy on the front end. Now that it’s time to share, I feel I’m going to insult the division’s best.

Seriously.

How will Colts safety Antoine Bethea, a steady and settling presence in the Colts' secondary at free safety, feel about being part of a secondary with such shaky candidates?

How can I sell that Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew isn’t here when I think he had the second-best running back season in the division and one of the four best in the league, while wedging on a right guard when I didn’t see any I really found worthy?

How do I explain to the Titans' Jason Babin that as the No. 3 defensive end I had to leave him off, while my initial search for linebackers produced only one name?

How do I sort through the Colts' Adam Vinatieri (92.9 percent on field goals), Titans' Rob Bironas (92.3) and Texans' Neil Rackers (90.0) while rewarding a punter from a group whose top net average was 15th in the league and eighth in the AFC?

Here is how I will start: I won’t force. We’re leaving blanks where a guy doesn’t match the caliber required. And top guys -- clear-cut guys, the cream of the division -- get not just a spot on the All-AFC South team, but a spot with honors.

I wanted to create a minimum number of games played to qualify, but that would have taken away too many good players.

The fact is, teams like this generally include the best guy at his position. The context of how good the best guy at another position is doesn’t factor in. But we’re dealing with a small group here, and the skill guys and the pass-rushers were sterling compared to a lot of others.

When Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. sent me back his All-AFC South team to help with perspective, he added four guys he categorized as “by default” and concluded with this:

“Must say, this is a pretty bad all-star team.”

I don’t see it competing very well with an all-division team from anywhere else, but it does have some very fine skill players, so who knows?

Receivers: Houston's Andre Johnson played through a serious ankle injury and was still an incredible threat. Indy's Reggie Wayne made more mistakes than usual but was still exceptionally productive. Three up-and-comers are worthy of mention for strong seasons: The Titans' Kenny Britt and Colts' Austin Collie missed too many games and the Jaguars' Mike Thomas was the best slot guy outside of Indy.

Tackles: It was a down year for the Titans’ line, but Michael Roos was the best of the bunch. His only challenger here was Houston's Duane Brown. The Texans' Eric Winston did not have his best year either, but he’s the top guy in the spot and his team had the league’s leading rusher.

Guards: Wade Smith was an excellent fit in Houston and the sort of veteran addition the Texans need to continue to find. He gets the nod over the stronger Vince Manuwai. He was overweight in camp and didn’t take over the starting job until the Jaguars’ sixth game. Fellow Jaguar Uche Nwaneri was good, not great. But there was space between him and the rest of the middling pool.

Center: Jacksonville's Brad Meester got some good reviews during the year and Colts star Jeff Saturday is an obvious default choice. But my sense is that Houston's Chris Myers is regarded as one of the division’s most underrated players. He’s a smart guy who’s still improving and did a lot to get the blocking for Arian Foster organized.

Tight end: Jacksonville's Marcedes Lewis made an excellent jump. He continued great work as a blocker, and his 58 catches and 10 touchdowns were career highs by 17 and eight, respectively. He was tough to get around and tough to cover.

Quarterback: Peyton Manning wasn’t the league MVP, but there is no argument at all about the Colts' star being division MVP. Prefer Foster? The Texans could have won six games and not made the playoffs without him.

Running back: Foster’s the easy choice as he was the league’s most productive runner and also very good as a pass-catcher. Jones-Drew’s chance to challenge faded with the late games missed to a knee injury. What a pool when the Titans' Chris Johnson ranks third.

Fullback: I debated this out when I did my Pro Bowl suggestion post and settled on Houston's Vonta Leach as more than one person I trust said he was better than Jacksonville's Greg Jones.

Defensive ends: Tough group when I’ve got Houston's Mario Williams fourth. He played hurt and saw his season end early. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis didn’t get to tee off as much because the Colts weren’t playing with big leads as much. And still they were very good. Babin was a revelation and right on Mathis’ heels.

Defensive tackles: The enormous Terrance Knighton ate up people and space for the Jaguars and has become a stalwart. His teammate Tyson Alualu is quicker and rates third here because the Titans’ Jason Jones was outstanding. Consistently disruptive, I rank him as his team’s best defender.

Outside linebackers: Jacksonville’s Daryl Smith was quite good, with a lot of uncertainty at the third linebacker spot and in the secondary. Houston's Brian Cushing was not nearly as good as he was as a rookie, but was still better than other outside guys in the division by a solid notch. I didn't love him, but scouts I talked to said he's worthy.

Middle linebacker: A tough spot I thought about not filling. Gary Brackett was not as good as usual, but the Colts were better when he was in the lineup than when he wasn’t. The guy who would typically challenge him, Houston's DeMeco Ryans, was lost for the season after six weeks.

Free safety: Bethea was the glue for a secondary that endured unimaginable turnover. Bethea often played with other defensive backs he had very little practice time with. He’s just a sound and reliable football player, and if he didn’t match previous years, his supporting cast had quite a bit to do with it.

Strong safety: The Colts were battered at the spot and the rest of the division’s strong safeties were awful. The best of a bad group isn’t worthy of mention here. It’s going to be a popular draft need.

Cornerbacks: Indy's Jerraud Powers was very good before he got hurt; a two-dimensional corner who covered well and did his part against the run. He’s developing into a premier guy. The second spot is vacant. A lot of corners suffered for the weak safety play, but I’m uncomfortable singling out anyone else’s season.

Kicker: Vinatieri has huge fan support and he was clutch. But when the competition also kicks off, it dents your candidacy. So Bironas, who has a division-high 17 touchbacks to go with 24 of 26 field goals, wins out. Jacksonville's Josh Scobee and Rackers were not far off.

Punter: Jacksonville's Adam Podlesh beats out the Titans' Brett Kern with slightly better numbers. But the entire division can punt better and more consistently.

Special teamer: Montell Owens of the Jaguars benefited from the addition of Kassim Osgood, but edged him in this category. Scouts really like him as a special-teams contributor.

Pro Football Focus isn’t gospel, but it has a unique way of looking at things.

Its midseason all-pro team includes three players from the AFC South: Texans fullback Vonta Leach, Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones and Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee.

Perhaps even more interesting were some of the names that popped up as runners-up. It is no surprise to see Peyton Manning or Andre Johnson or even Rob Bironas there -- they’d often be on the team, so a near miss is understandable.

Four other second teamers are more of a surprise: Austin Collie is the second slot receiver, Wade Smith is the second left guard, Chris Myers is the second center and Chris Hope is the second strong safety.

Two interior Texans linemen are a nice indication about the team’s success with Arian Foster and inside protection of Matt Schaub.

Reading the coverage …

Arian Foster, Wade Smith and Jason Babin are on Jason Cole’s midseason All-Unlikely Team.

Houston Texans

John McClain thinks Brian Cushing back to the strong side is the right move.

Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels missed practice, says John McClain.

More on the injuries from Nick Scurfield.

Pete Prisco and Clark Judge debate Gary Kubiak’s future.

What’s “wrong” with Matt Schaub, asks Battle Red Blog.

Thoughts on Cushing and the secondary issues, from Houston Diehards.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts front office has to keep digging up suitable replacements, says Mike Chappell.

Jerraud Powers says he’s ready, writes Phil Richards.

Breaking down Bengals-Colts with Phillip B. Wilson.

The Colts added Joique Bell, says Wilson.

Brandon James is back, says Wilson.

Clint Session said his injury came with major pain, says Wilson.

Peyton Manning is the glue holding things together, says Michael Marot.

Gary Brackett is dealing with turf toe again, says John Oehser.

Shutdown Corner says Pat Angerer is a Top 10 NFL name.

Joseph Addai talked to 18to88.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Rashean Mathis hopes to line up against Johnson, says Vito Stellino.

The division race is tough and tight, says Tania Ganguli.

Vince Manuwai has overtaken Justin Smiley at left guard, says Ganguli.

Eben Britton’s shoulder surgery was the “Drew Brees special,” says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Randy Moss wants wins, not trouble, says Jim Wyatt.

Joe Biddle assesses the media crush for Moss. (I was not left speechless, for the record.)

The defense knows what Moss can bring, says John Glennon.

A transcript of Moss’ news conference.

Vince Young sat Wednesday out, say Wyatt and Glennon.

A slide show of Moss at practice from George Walker.

Moss was gruff but compliant, says William Rhoden.

The Titans think any Moss distractions will be worth it, says Chris Harry.

Moss intends to be all business, says David Boclair.

Young Titans admit to being star struck by Moss, says Terry McCormick.

Reading the coverage …

Terrance Knighton and Glover Quin make Pete Prisco’s list of breakout players. There's a lot of good camp review here.

Houston Texans

The Texans cut Fred Bennett and Gary Kubiak indicated Wade Smith is close to winning the left guard spot, says John McClain.

It’s no surprise that McClain says Owen Daniels won’t play in the preseason finale.

Ben Tate vows to rebound and make fans happy, says Jerome Solomon.

McClain discussed what he learned from the Dallas game and what he’s looking forward to in the finale.

Indianapolis Colts

Peter King looks at the umpire and the Colts’ tempo as the lead of “Monday Morning Quarterback.”

Pierre Garcon is healthy and ready to line up wherever the Colts ask him to, says Phil Richards.

Bill Polian said defense is the hardest part of the preseason because of all the moving parts, says John Oehser.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jack Del Rio and David Garrard think the Jaguars are about ready to kick off for real, says Vito Stellino.

Reggie Nelson has kept smiling through a tough offseason and he’s about to get a verdict on his role, says Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have no concerns about Chris Johnson and the running game despite preseason struggles, says Jim Wyatt.

Tony Brown should play in the preseason finale against New Orleans Thursday night, says John Glennon.

A new owner is working to reopen Steve McNair’s restaurant.

Thirteen things Titans play-by-play man Mike Keith saw during training camp.