ESPN.com presents AFC South Paul Kuharsky http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth 60 en-us Tue, 21 May 2013 01:42:30 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 Houston Texans Texans linebacker Brooks Reed revealed on Sunday he had surgery on his groin in late January, but says he is "100 percent" and ready for OTAs. Five things to watch at Texans OTAs, from Nick Scurfield of the team website. Indianapolis Colts Former Colts standout Dwight Freeney has signed with the San Diego Chargers. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars' decision not to sign Tim Tebow continues to be the "Great Debate," writes Vito Stellino.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50297/afc-south-links-tebow-the-great-debate Mon, 20 May 2013 10:30:44 EDT 50297 A look at key players for each AFC South team who are coming back from injuries: Houston Texans: There isn’t an easy, obvious fit here. Inside linebacker Brian Cushing is crucial, but all indications are he’s already largely back from the torn ACL he suffered early last season and will be good to go for training camp. Receiver DeVier Posey will be lucky if he makes it back by midseason from a torn Achilles, and they aren’t counting on him for 2013.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50260/eight-in-the-box-health-and-recovery Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:26 EDT 50260 I asked Mike Rodak of ESPNBoston.com for an assessment of two defensive linemen the Jaguars recently claimed off waivers from New England: Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick. Here are Rodak's insights: "Both Love and Deaderick joined the Patriots in 2010, Deaderick as a seventh-round pick and Love as an undrafted free agent. With injuries creating opportunities for playing time, both players began to emerge as rookies within the Patriots' 3-4 system, Love as a nose tackle and Deaderick at defensive end.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50272/on-the-jaguars-two-new-d-linemen Fri, 17 May 2013 09:30:32 EDT 50272 Houston Texans The team signed outside linebacker Trevardo Williams, a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, to a four-year deal Thursday. The Texans have now signed five of their draft picks. The Texans' director of college scouting, Mike Maccagnan, sat down with Nick Scurfield to give his assessment of nose tackle Chris Jones, a sixth-rounder out of Bowling Green. The signing of Ed Reed gave the Texans defense something it has lacked the past couple of years, said Russell Baxter of ProFootballGuru.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50283/afc-south-links-jags-cut-owens-add-love Fri, 17 May 2013 09:10:14 EDT 50283 A sampling of Thursday's chat: Kevin (Jacksonville, FL): I've read a lot of opinions from writers saying that [Alan] Ball will start opposite from [Dwayne] Gratz this year. However, every thing I've read about Ball is that he is not very good. Is it that much of a longshot for [Marcus] Trufant to be the starter? Paul Kuharsky: I'd root for one of the seventh-rounders to shine early. Trufant is on the tail end of a nice career. More a nickel option at this point.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50269/chat-film-reviewing-the-best-you-brought Fri, 17 May 2013 08:08:56 EDT 50269 With the second pick in the first round, the Jacksonville Jaguars got themselves a rock of an offensive tackle in Luke Joeckel. What did they get with the first pick of the second round? A team in dire need of cornerstones might have found one for the defense in Johnathan Cyprien, the strong safety out of Florida International. Initial reports out of Jacksonville are very solid. It’s obviously early, but Cyprien could be the linchpin of a young secondary that grows up together, helping slow the run and cover the sort of tight ends who are increasingly posing matchup issues around the league.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50250/cyprien-should-key-jaguars-secondary Thu, 16 May 2013 13:41:24 EDT 50250 We've pushed back our weekly chat a couple hours this afternoon. So reset your alarm, adjust your calendar reminder: We'll dive into to all things AFC South and beyond at 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT. The move is, in part, a result of a commitment for an airport dropoff. And we all know that's a binding social contract. See you here in a couple hours.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50239/todays-chat-will-be-at-3-et-2-ct Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:40 EDT 50239 Reading the coverage... Houston Texans At 23rd, Matt Schaub is only three slots ahead of Jake Locker in these quarterback rankings from Will Brinson of CBS Sports. The Texans officially added running back Deji Karim and center Tyler Horn, says Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle. The Texans have the 10th best front office in the NFL, says Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Indianapolis Colts Chuck Pagano participated in a conference call with season-ticket holders and Mike Chappell from the Indianapolis Star has highlights.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50235/rtc-pagano-high-on-hughes Thu, 16 May 2013 10:06:04 EDT 50235 At his best, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu has been a solid player. The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't seen his best often enough, partly because he has dealt with a bad knee for much of his time since they drafted him out of Cal 10th overall in 2010. Gus Bradley and the new defensive staff are making a big change with Alualu for his fourth season. Per John Oehser, Alualu is moving to end. From Oehser: Alualu said he mostly will either play on the tight end side of the defense, or the back side of the defense head up over the offensive tackle on that side.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50229/alualu-now-an-end-for-the-jaguars Thu, 16 May 2013 09:09:00 EDT 50229 The Tennessee Titans could still add John Abraham or Israel Idonije to their group of defensive ends. The issue is the same as it is for most free agents -- how much opportunity will one of them find in Tennessee, and for how much money? Currently the Titans' top three pass-rushers are starting ends Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley and outside linebacker Akeem Ayers. Ayers began to blitz more at the end of his second season and can also shift forward to play as a fifth defensive linemen or a 4-3 end.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/50214/on-the-titans-pass-rush-expectations Wed, 15 May 2013 16:11:42 EDT 50214