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After addressing their greatest need by taking nose tackle Dontari Poe at No. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs added offensive beef at pick No. 44 by taking Illinois’ Jeff Allen.

He played both tackle spots in college, but he projects as a guard in college. He will push Ryan Lilja. Allen is set to team with former college teammate Jon Asamoah, a starting guard for the Chiefs who was a third-round pick two years ago.

The Chiefs are going to be very young in the interior of the offensive line. Rodney Hudson, a second-round pick last season, is expected to take over at center.

Allen is a tough, big, gritty player who appears NFL ready. This pick helps solidify Kansas City’s offense.

Once again, the Chiefs chose to enhance quarterback Matt Cassel instead of replace him. Allen was taken over several players, including Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins. He could still end up with the Chiefs later in the draft, but the Allen pick shows the Chiefs are bent on giving Cassel the best possible offense he can have. Allen is known as an outstanding pass protector.

The Denver Broncos have gotten a jump on the Peyton Manning chase.

Television news helicopters followed Manning’s ride from a Denver-area airport to the Broncos facility, where Manning is meeting with team officials. It won’t be his last visit. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that Manning will visit the Cardinals; Kansas City owner Clark Hunt has said the Chiefs have interest in Manning as well.

Expect Manning to make his decision within the next several days. The veteran quarterback will weigh several options before making his decision. Let's look at how the Broncos and the Chiefs stack up in several areas:

Finances

Denver: It has already been reported the Broncos are willing to spend whatever it takes to get Manning. Denver owner Pat Bowlen has seen Manning beat his team’s brains in for years. He’d happily pay to get Manning on his side.

Kansas City: The Chiefs are in great salary-cap shape. They can easily hang with any other team’s offer for Manning.

Supporting offensive cast

Denver: The Broncos have strong offensive linemen, a good running game and some solid receivers. There is room to get better and I’m sure the Broncos would promise Manning improvements, even allow him to make suggestions.

Kansas City: The Chiefs have a better supporting cast in the passing game than Denver. Manning would likely be thrilled to throw to receivers Dwayne Bowe, Jon Baldwin and Steve Breaston and tight end Tony Moeaki. The Chiefs can run the ball, too. And Manning would reunite with former Colts teammate guard Ryan Lilja.

Defense

Denver: The Broncos have an improved defense and are expected to try to get better. If the six-game suspension of linebacker D.J. Williams holds up, however, it will weaken the group.

Kansas City: Romeo Crennel’s defense was fabulous at the end of last season and it has a chance to be a stellar group with a few additions. Manning would have to be impressed by this group.

Coaching staff

Denver: Denver head coach John Fox loves veteran quarterbacks and is a noted players' coach. He and Manning would be a natural fit. Offensively, the Broncos showed last season that they are more than willing to adjust their system to their quarterback. Manning would like this group.

Kansas City: Crennel runs a New England-like ship. No opponent knows how important coaching was to New England’s success better than Manning. I think Crennel and his staff would work well with Manning.

Intangibles

Denver: The Broncos have something no other competitor for Manning has: a Hall of Fame quarterback running the show. John Elway would give Manning what he wanted, and he understands what it is like to be in Manning’s shoes as few others do.

Kansas City: The Chiefs don’t have a Hall of Famer running the show, but Hall of Famer Len Dawson is never too far off.

Room for friends

Denver: The Broncos could be open to signing several of Manning’s former Colts teammates, including center Jeff Saturday, receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. That would appeal to Manning.

Kansas City: The Chiefs are pretty set at receiver and tight end. I could see them making room for Saturday, however.

Ability to win now

Denver: The Broncos went from being 4-12 in 2010 to going 8-8 and winning a playoff game in 2011. With Manning and a few more pieces, the Broncos would be a threat to make a deep playoff run.

Kansas City: The Chiefs went 7-9 in 2011 despite several injuries. Adding Manning could make the Chiefs a dark-horse Super Bowl choice.

Conclusion: Both teams have strong selling points to Manning and both have the means to get it done. It will come down to a comfort level for Manning, who will also consider other teams. But there’s no doubt that both the Broncos and Chiefs will be in this chase for the long haul.

I heard rumblings this summer that the Kansas City Chiefs would cut Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters and I’ve heard rumblings from scouts that his skills has eroded some.

But it did come as a bit of surprise to receive the email from the Chiefs that they cut Waters on Thursday. He was a bright light for the organization and the community. He was a classy player and a classy guy off the field.

He was a leader of that team and I thought the Chiefs might stick one more season with Waters. But it’s clear the Chiefs want to transition to some younger players on the line. Jon Asamoah, taken last year, could join guard veteran Ryan Lilja as a starter. Second-round pick Rodney Hudson could also push for guard time as veteran Casey Wiegmann plays one more year at center.

Asamoah and Hudson are good, young players the Chiefs need to look at. Plus, Wiegmann and Lilja will provide veteran leadership, so I think they withstand Waters’ departure. But his presence will be missed in the locker room. He was a pro’s pro.

Waters said his release was mutual (probably because he wants to remain a starter) and he is looking to continue his career elsewhere. I think Waters would be a good fit for a rising young team that needs help on the line.

Oakland, anyone?

Perhaps I wrote that selfishly. Waters is one of my favorite interview subjects and I’d love to get a chance to continue working with him. Wherever he goes, I’m sure he’ll be missed in Kansas City and appreciated for his service there, on the field and in the community, for the past 11 years.

» NFC Underrated Players: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the most underrated players in the division.

Denver Broncos

D.J. Williams, linebacker: Williams was a first-round pick in 2004, and the Broncos paid handsomely to keep him a couple of years ago. He is appreciated in Denver, but this athletic, smart linebacker doesn’t get much national notice. He has never been to a Pro Bowl, yet Williams is a tackle machine. He has had at least 119 tackles in three of the past four seasons. He is versatile and has played virtually every linebacker position possible.

Kansas City Chiefs

Brandon Carr, cornerback: I chose Carr over stout guard Ryan Lilja and play-making linebacker Derrick Johnson. Carr is younger than Lilja and Johnson, and he may eventually get the recognition he deserves. One of the reasons Carr is overshadowed is that he plays opposite fellow four-year cornerback Brandon Flowers. Flowers was a second-round pick in 2008, and Carr was taken three rounds later. The terrific Flowers has gotten most of the accolades, but Carr is standout as well. He is approaching free agency soon, and he’ll hit the cornerback jackpot by getting paid by either the Chiefs or some other lucky club.

Oakland Raiders

Marcel Reece, fullback: The fullback is becoming extinct in the NFL. Many teams just don’t have a use for this position. The fullback, however, thrives in Oakland, a franchise with a rich tradition of fullback play. The Raiders have scored again with Reece. A college receiver, Reece gives Oakland’s offense a delicious variation. He is a key blocker in one of the NFL’s best running attacks, and he is a receiving weapon in short-yardage situations. Plus, the intelligent Reece has become a leader of the unit. The fullback position is alive and well in Oakland.

San Diego Chargers

Antonio Garay, defensive tackle: Garay had an incredible impact on the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL last season. The Chargers’ defense was long ignited by the ferocious nose tackle play of the massive Jamal Williams. When Williams got hurt in the first game of the 2009 season, ending his career in San Diego, the Chargers were worried that their defensive identity was gone. But Garay, a 31-year-old journeyman, took over in 2010. He instantly became an anchor on the defense and dominated the line of scrimmage. The dominance of the nose tackle has continued in San Diego with Garay.

With the offseason in full swing, let’s take a look at one major question facing each AFC South team as it begins preparations for the 2011 season:

HOUSTON TEXANS

How do they fix the secondary?

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is charged with repairing and revitalizing a defense that was 30th overall and dead last against the pass. His 3-4 front will alter a lot of things and the Texans will need to add some personnel to fill it out. Better work up front will ease some of the pressure on the defensive backs, but they will need more than that.

We don’t know when -- or even if -- there will be free agency. But the Texans need to make a big splash with a veteran outsider. Nnamdi Asomugha or Champ Bailey could knock every one down a peg at corner, shut down a side of the field or a primary receiver and help transform things. A veteran free safety like Eric Weddle could provide a big boost as well.

If the Texans think the pass defense can be fixed by coaching and will improve dramatically with a scheme and maturing kids, they’re overestimating what they’ve got, again.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Are they going to take action to address the offensive line?

We’ve heard for years about how the Colts would get better at converting that tough third-and-1 in the run game. We saw Bill Polian drop Ryan Lilja after pointing to the offensive line as a reason for the loss in Super Bowl XLIV. We heard Polian admit Rodger Saffold could have been a solution for the Colts at left tackle.

Now, as Peyton Manning heads into the final stretch of his prime, the Colts need to move from talk to action with regard to the offensive line. After last year’s comments, Polian added middling free agents Andy Alleman and Adam Terry and drafted Jacques McClendon in the fourth round. Only McClendon stuck and he did nothing.

Getting Manning more time for things to develop downfield and creating more of a push for ball carriers means investing at least one premium draft pick and landing at least one quality veteran via free agency or trade when those windows open. The Colts don’t have to find Hall of Fame linemen. But there is a lot of room between some of the guys they’ve been relying on and that level of talent.

They’re overdue to follow through with a real revamping.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

How do they fix the secondary?

With four games a season against Manning and Matt Schaub, the Jaguars are woefully unprepared to face them with what they’ve got at safety. Last season, Jacksonville spent its first four draft picks on defensive linemen. This season, they’d be wise to put a similar emphasis on the secondary, and safety in particular.

Ideally they’d have drafted an up-and-comer to go with a veteran brought in from the outside -- someone like Weddle, Dawan Landry, Quintin Mikell or Donte Whitner. They've already had Bob Sanders in for a look. While depth at cornerback is also an issue, I suspect Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox and William Middleton will all look a lot better if they are playing with safeties who are superior to Don Carey and Courtney Greene.

They’ve got a big question at quarterback, too. It’s time to draft and develop a signal-caller with more upside who can be more consistent than David Garrard. But they contended last season with Garrard. It's possible they can make a playoff push with him under center -- provided they address the secondary.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Who’s the quarterback?

There couldn’t be a worse time to be uncertain at the position, and the Titans’ depth chart at the spot currently has blanks at starter and backup. Blame it on Bud Adams and his love affair with Vince Young.

New coach Mike Munchak and his offensive coordinator Chris Palmer don’t really know what they will be able to do offensively, because they do not know who they will be asking to do it. General Manager Mike Reinfeldt has said the team will find a veteran and use a draft pick. But if the draft comes before free agency and trades, it will be more difficult to be patient and to take more of a project guy out of college. It’s not a good year to need a quarterback in the draft, and the scouting department will have to show it can find someone in the group who will develop into a franchise guy.

Once they do, they could look to make a big move for Kevin Kolb, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton, Matt Flynn or any number of veteran options they believe could operate an offense that will remain run-centric keyed around Chris Johnson.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –- The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t overly concerned with the scoreboard as they met in their locker room at halftime Sunday.

Sure, the Baltimore Ravens were leading 10-7, but the Chiefs knew they were the faster, fresher and crisper team in the first half. They just didn’t have the points to show for their first-half success. But the score was irrelevant. The Chiefs outplayed Baltimore for much of the first half and they knew it.

The game plan for the second half? More of the same and find the end zone.

The Chiefs went back on the field and it all went so wrong. Baltimore completely took over the game, fueled by uncharacteristically sloppy play by the home team, and the suddenly perky Chiefs -- the feel-good story of the NFL season -- became a one-and-done playoff participant. Baltimore outscored the Chiefs 20-0 after halftime on its way to a 30-7 win.

Everything changed in 30 minutes.

“I tell you this,” Kansas City guard Ryan Lilja said. “We felt a lot better at halftime than we do right now ... We thought we had a chance, we really did, and that’s why this stinks so bad.”

The game was Kansas City’s seventh straight playoff defeat, an NFL record. The Chiefs’ last playoff win came in the 1993 season, when they were led by Joe Montana. On Sunday, the Matt Cassel-led Kansas City offense was nowhere near up to Montana’s postseason splendor.

Sunday’s defeat and the end of an unexpectedly positive season in Kansas City must be pinned on poor offensive execution, which was not a problem for much of the season. Coincidentally or not, Kansas City’s offense took a nap after news broke Dec. 31 that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis would take the same position with the University of Florida.

Several Chiefs players have said Weis’ pending departure had nothing to do with their sudden offensive failures, but Chiefs fans will likely question that. In fairness to Weis, he didn’t miss any time with the Chiefs after he took the Gators’ position. Weis is now done with his duties in Kansas City as he heads back to the college ranks.

But the truth is Weis’ offense was awful in Week 17 against Oakland and on Sunday. The Chiefs were outscored 61-17 in the two home losses after starting the season 7-0 at home with the hopes of home dominance being a major factor in the playoffs.

The biggest reason for the Chiefs’ inability to score in the final two games under Weis was their sudden lack of ball security. The Chiefs committed five turnovers Sunday and two last week. They had 12 turnovers in the first 15 games of the season.

Cassel threw three interceptions (one when the game was out of hand) and Kansas City lost two fumbles. Two of Kansas City’s turnovers came in the third quarter, when the Ravens stretched their lead to 23-7.

“We hadn’t done that all season,” Lilja said. “Ball security was a point of emphasis all season and was this week as well. It was just stuff that snowballed.”

Added rookie Dexter McCluster, who had one of the fumbles: “We’ve been a disciplined team all season. That got away from us today and it hurt us.”

Cassel -- who threw just five interceptions in the regular season -- couldn’t get anything going. Betrayed by poor offensive-line protection for the second straight game, Cassel finished 9-of-18 for 70 yards with a passer rating of a startling 20.4. ESPN Stats & Information, through Pro-Football-Reference, reports that it was the third time since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 that a quarterback threw for less than 75 yards and had three interceptions in a playoff game. The others were Craig Morton in 1977 and Dave Krieg in 1983. Cassel was historically bad in his final game under Weis, a coach who helped him develop into an effective player this season.

Cassel didn’t get any help from his favorite target, Pro Bowl receiver Dwayne Bowe. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Bowe wasn’t targeted once Sunday.

It was the first time all season Cassel didn’t throw to Bowe’s direction. Bowe, who had 15 touchdown catches this season, missed practice Wednesday because he had the flu, but he practiced fully the rest of the week.

The Chiefs did everything they could to avoid a flu outbreak this week, but they couldn’t avoid a putrid offensive performance Sunday. Coach Todd Haley’s penchant for going for it on fourth down hurt the team in the third quarter when running back Jamaal Charles -- who gave Kansas City a short-lived 7-3 lead on a 41-yard touchdown run in the first quarter -- was stopped for a 4-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Baltimore 33-yard line on the Chiefs’ first possession of the second half. It signaled the end of the game for Kansas City.

“We really couldn’t do much after that,” Kansas City center Casey Wiegmann said of the fourth-down failure.

This is a team that transformed from a weak outfit that won 10 games in its previous three seasons to a 10-6 division winner by playing complete, mistake-free football on offense for much of the season. Its old standbys disappeared. Weis’ play calling wasn’t working. Cassel’s efficiency was gone. Bowe’s route running was absent. Charles’ ball security was out to lunch. The protection was on vacation.

And now so are the Chiefs.

“A lot of guys grew up this season, but the disappointing thing is how it ended,” Wiegmann said. “We fell apart at the end.”

The AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs, 6-4, got good and bad news Thursday on the injury front as they prepare to play Sunday in Seattle.

Standout rookie tight end Tony Moeaki returned to full participation in practice Thursday after dealing with a head injury that kept him out of the Chiefs’ win against the Cardinals on Sunday. If he doesn’t have a setback, he should play at Seattle. It also looks like fellow rookie, receiver/running back/returner Dexter McCluster is on track to play Sunday. He practiced fully for the second straight day Thursday after missing four games with an ankle injury.

However, cornerback Brandon Flowers, who is having an outstanding season, didn’t practice again Thursday because of a hamstring injury he suffered against Arizona. It might be difficult for him to play Sunday. Guard Ryan Lilja (foot) and tackle Branden Albert (groin) continued to be limited in practice Thursday.

In Oakland, Raiders’ coach Tom Cable said star left cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is “90 percent” and remains on track to play Sunday against Miami, as expected. He's missed two games with an ankle injury.

Denver linebacker D.J. Williams was limited in practice for the second straight day with a concussion suffered Monday night in San Diego. The team is hopeful he'll play against St. Louis. Linebacker Robert Ayers looks to be on track to play against St. Louis. He practiced fully Thursday for the second straight day after missing several weeks with a foot injury.

Some players in Pittsburgh are not pleased that Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour didn’t get fined heavier for knocking down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday. Seymour was fined $25,000. It is not being received well in Tennessee, either.

Former Denver assistant Mike Heimerdinger is going to finish his work week, remarkably, before starting treatment for cancer next week. He is the offensive coordinator in Tennessee.

It was a tough day for former Denver cornerback Alphonso Smith in Detroit’s 21-point loss to New England on Thursday. Smith gave up three touchdowns and was benched in the Lions’ loss. He has five interceptions this season. Denver traded its 2010 first-round pick (No. 14) to take Smith at No. 37 in 2009. Denver gave up on him and traded him to Detroit in September.

We put together our AFC West midseason team.

We have a few ground rules: We’re using a 3-4 defense because three teams in the division use the 3-4 as their base. We took some liberties at some positions. For example, we aren’t taking a fullback, but we are using the two best running backs, and we’re not worrying about where players line up within their position group (left vs. right tackle, for example). We’re going with the best two tackles, two best safeties, best four linebackers, etc.

Before we look at our midseason team, here is a look at our spring All-AFC West team:

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Why: Rivers has been brilliant this season. He is on pace to set the NFL season passing yardage mark. He has thrown for 2,944 yards in nine games despite playing with a depleted receiving crew.

Running backs

Darren McFadden, Oakland; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

Why: These are the two best running backs in the division. Both players are a big reason why their teams are doing well. McFadden has 757 rushing yards in seven games, and Charles has 719 yards and is leading the NFL with a 6.4 yard-per carry average.

Receivers

Brandon Lloyd, Denver; Jabar Gaffney, Denver

Why: Denver is doing just fine in the post-Brandon Marshall era. Lloyd led the NFL with 878 receiving yards after Week 9. Gaffney had 45 catches for 516 yards. Lloyd and Gaffney are really clicking with quarterback Kyle Orton.

Tight end

Antonio Gates, San Diego

Why: Gates is having a special season. Despite missing one game with a foot injury, he has 40 catches for 663 yards and nine touchdowns. He is the best tight end in the NFL.

Tackles

Ryan Clady, Denver; Branden Albert, Kansas City

Why: These third-season players have a chance to be very good for several years.

Guards

Ryan Lilja, Kansas City; Robert Gallery, Oakland

Why: Lilja is a big reason why Kansas City’s offensive line is much better. Gallery, when healthy, leads an improved line in Oakland.

Center

Nick Hardwick, San Diego

Why: Hardwick is the anchor of a strong offense in San Diego.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Richard Seymour, Oakland; Tommy Kelly, Oakland; Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City

Why: Seymour has been brilliant in Oakland’s three-game winning streak. He has been very disruptive. Kelly is finally earning his big paycheck with a strong season. Dorsey, the No. 5 pick in 2008, is having a breakout season.

Linebackers

Tamba Hali, Kansas City; Derrick Johnson, Kansas City; Shaun Phillips, San Diego; D.J. Williams, Denver

Why: Hali and Johnson are both playing at an All-Pro pace for the resurgent Chiefs. Phillips can be a pass-rush beast at times. Williams, who was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk earlier Friday, leads the division with 72 tackles.

Cornerbacks

Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland; Brandon Flowers, Kansas City

Why: Asomugha and Flowers represent the old and new guard of cornerback playing in a division known for strong play at the position.

Safeties

Eric Berry, Kansas City; Tyvon Branch, Oakland

Why: Both players have been playing very well in recent weeks. Berry looks very much like the player Kansas City envisioned when the Chiefs selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in April.

SPECIALISTS

Punter

Shane Lechler, Oakland

Why: Lechler is the best punter in the NFL.

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland

Why: Janikowski is not having a great season, but he’s leading the NFL in points.

Returner

Darren Sproles, San Diego

Why: There are some good, young returners in this division, but Sproles has been the most consistent.

MVP: Rivers

Why: There is no player having a better season in the NFL.

Offensive player: McFadden

Why: He gets the slight edge over Gates. McFadden is leading the NFL in rushing yards per game.

Defensive player: Hali

Why: He gets the slight edge over Seymour. Hali has been consistently good all season.

Coach: Todd Haley, Kansas City

Why: His team has come out of nowhere and has been in every game it has played.

Rookie: Tony Moeaki, tight end, Kansas City

Why: The third-round pick from Iowa is already Matt Cassel’s favorite target. He has 30 catches.

Three of the better players in the AFC West are doubtful to play in Week 9. All of their absences would be felt greatly by their teams.

Oakland is preparing for its biggest game since 2002 with star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and standout tight end Zach Miller being listed as doubtful to play against first-place Kansas City. Also, San Diego star tight end Antonio Gates is doubtful to play at Houston.

Asomugha and Miller would be big losses for Oakland against the Chiefs. Neither player practiced all week. Asomugha has an ankle injury and Miller has a foot problem.

Asomugha is widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson, who is coming off a concussion, will get more playing time if Asomugha doesn’t play.

Kansas City has the No. 1 running attack in the NFL and relies on the run. However, if Asomugha doesn’t play, expect Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel to challenge Oakland’s cornerbacks more than he would if Asomugha were healthy. Miller is a favorite target in Oakland and a top third-down weapon.

San Diego’s passing game will be a mess if Gates can’t play. He has plantar fasciitis on one foot and an injured toe on the other, and didn’t practice all week. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers will be without his top four receivers, and if Gates – Rivers’ favorite target – doesn’t play, Rivers will be in a lurch. Backup tight ends Randy McMichael and Kris Wilson and receiver Patrick Crayton will the have to carry the receiving load along with running back Darren Sproles.

Rivers has thrown for 2,649 yards this season, which is more than any quarterback in NFL history after eight games. He might be challenged like he has never been before this week. Oakland and San Diego have a bye in Week 10, so these three players will get a chance to heal next week.

Meanwhile, Kansas City guard Ryan Lilja (hand) and receiver/returner/rusher Dexter McCluster (ankle) are both questionable to face Oakland.

We won’t know it until we have the full context of the season, of course. Still, the Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts contest on "Monday Night Football" could prove to be the game of the year in the AFC South.

I’m not talking point spreads when I call the Texans the underdog. The Texans are trying to climb over the incumbent division champs; the Colts, on the other hand, are eager to extend an eight-year term as a playoff presence.

In a preparation week when both sides will spew some familiar phrases, I thought it might be fun to look at the game from the Texans’ perspective through the prism of some of those clichés:

They have to establish their running game.

Football Outsiders has preached to us that running well usually means you had a late lead and could stack up the carries, and that forcing the run early doesn’t correlate to wins. Look back at the Texans’ win in the first matchup on opening day. Arian Foster had 10 carries for a respectable 40 yards. But it was a second-half push to build on a second-half lead and wear down the Colts where he did his massive damage: 23 carries for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

Related cliché quote: “It was just one game. That’s what I was saying throughout the course of the whole week. It was just one game. This is just another game.” -- Arian Foster.

They have to give 110 percent.

The buzz out of Houston is that the Texans are actually planning on giving 112 percent. Because the Texans expect the Colts have considered the 110 percent rule, Houston goes up 2 percent just in case the Colts were thinking the same way and decided to boost their effort to 111 percent.

They just have to worry about themselves.

It’s certainly true. The Texans have things they should definitely be worried about in house: that shaky pass coverage and the weak rush that can take far too long to make the quarterback get the ball out of his hands. But I think they’d be wise to worry about Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Antoine Bethea, too. It’s impossible to extract just “you” from an equation that includes the guy you’re matched up against, because at least some of what you do has to be based on what he does. Are the Texans just worried about themselves? Sure. Duane Brown is thinking about what he needs to do to slow Freeney. Andre Johnson is looking and how some routes will help him shake Bethea.

Related cliché quote: “We all respect what [Manning] is all about, but we know what we have to do as a team to have a chance to be successful.” -- Texans coach Gary Kubiak.

The more physical team will win.

I don’t see it as any sort of guarantee here. The Colts can be a finesse team. Any squad that goes for speed and smarts over size and power fits the label, which has taken on a negative connotation because somehow power football is preferred. The Texans don’t like to be called finesse, because it’s usually part of the build up to someone accusing them of being soft. But there is nothing wrong with using athleticism and angles to make plays as opposed to brute strength. (Ryan Lilja covered that nicely in this piece.) The Texans certainly can be the more physical team in this game and still lose it.

No one thought we could win.

The beloved Rodney Dangerfield “no respect” card in cliché form. The Texans haven’t struck me as a big disrespect team, but it runs through every team that hasn’t won big and believes it has to prove itself. The Texans' defense is the worst yardage defense in the NFL, that’s not a respect-earner. Heck, even coaches of great teams like to use this tactic. It absolutely doesn’t matter if it’s not true if you can get players to buy it. Kubiak wouldn’t even need to doctor a pick sheet to slap up on the bulletin board or to talk about in a team meeting. He could simply urge everyone to look at this endless row of blue horseshoes. “The Colts are all beat up, we are 4-2 and have already beaten them and not one entry in 10 thinks we’ll win! Why, we'll show those @&*^(%!.$*s.”

Related cliché quote: “It’s a national televised game and people will get to see how the Texans respond.” -- Johnson.

They can’t shoot themselves in the foot.

Clichés are boring because part of becoming a cliché is being overused. But many of them became overused because they were accurate. Every team buys into this one. There are games every week decided by mistakes, and the Colts usually aren’t one of the teams making them. Everyone knows a key turnover, untimely penalty or missed field goal can be the difference. Tuesday morning, I’ll be looking for a divisional decisive moment. Plays like that are always contenders. But if you buy into “The Secret” and the idea that what you think about you bring about, then concentrating on not making mistakes is likely to help produce ... mistakes.

Related cliché quote: “It’s not about the talent. It’s really not. It’s about us making mistakes. We make the stupidest mistakes in the craziest times in the game.” -- Bernard Pollard.

The mailbag is filling up with notes from panicked Colts fans.

The gist of their questions: Isn’t it time for the Colts to make a move to get one of the disgruntled offensive linemen out there: Marcus McNeill or Logan Mankins?

Sure, if the Colts found them a system fit, adding either would give a big boost to the offensive line.

But it’s uncharacteristic for the Colts to go outside looking for help. Those guys would be costly, and making a move would amount to a concession that Indy underestimated its offensive line issues.

That’s the confusing part of this.

Bill Polian was quick to say the offensive line was a primary issue in the Super Bowl loss to New Orleans.

But the Colts did little to fix it. Left guard Ryan Lilja was released. Two street free agents, Adam Terry and Andy Alleman, didn’t stick. Only one of eight draft picks was spent on an offensive lineman, and Jacques McClendon was not active in Houston.

The Colts couldn’t do major free-agent shopping because the CBA limited the top teams’ ability to do so.

Still, with the head honcho saying it was a concern, it sure seems like the Colts could have done more on the line to ensure better protection and better run blocking.

On a bad foot, Charlie Johnson put forth a courageous effort against Mario Williams. But Johnson’s not cast as a left tackle by a lot of personnel folks. If Indy had a franchise left tackle, Johnson would likely be better as a guard. Polian missed on Tony Ugoh in 2007. The guy they hoped to be the heir to Tarik Glenn was waived/injured and is now on IR.

Putting Peyton Manning at risk is a dangerous game. He was face down on the turf, an official checking on him after one hit. He bounced up. But will he always? He absorbed two sacks, eight additional hits and stuff that didn't register in the stat book.

The guys the Colts do have will play better. Manning can continue to get the ball out quickly and make pressure less of an issue. Joseph Addai can make the most of what’s there. Not every team has a Williams-like threat to mess things up.

In Sunday's loss, the Colts didn’t choose to go with two tight ends very often, leaving Johnson mostly on his own. Put tight end Brody Eldridge in to help the way I imagined and you’re taking one target out of the arsenal. Maybe the Colts do that more if they find it necessary. The choice at Reliant Stadium was to throw it more quickly with more options running routes.

I don’t expect Polian to be making calls about McNeill or Mankins Monday.

Polian talked before camp about throwing all the linemen in a pot and seeing who came out as the best group. Injuries to Jeff Saturday, Johnson and others made that system more difficult and there was no time to build continuity with the five who started against the Texans.

Still, today, I can understand why Colts’ faithful are wondering today why there wasn’t more in that pot.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 1

ANDERSON, Ind. -- They could have made a bid at an undefeated regular season and their hopes for a Super Bowl win were snuffed out by an onside kick and an untimely pick.

So it should concern the rest of the AFC South that the 2010 Indianapolis Colts appear to be better than last year’s version.

They get two high-quality players, who were injured for most of last year, back in safety Bob Sanders and receiver Anthony Gonzalez. The Colts added a third edge rusher and a blocking tight end in the draft.

“Coach [Jim] Caldwell wants us to be a consistent team and not one that plays really well one week and not one that goes into a slump the next couple of games and then comes back,” Peyton Manning said. “I think we have been pretty consistent. Our offseason work, our execution and our attention to detail in training camp make a difference.

“But what has happened in the past doesn’t guarantee you anything for this 2010 season. We have some new players, new coaches and it is up to us to go out and form the identity of his team and to go out and try to win games this season.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Sanders stay on the field? The thing that makes him so good is the same thing that makes him so injury prone. He throws himself around like a torpedo, and suffers the consequences. He’s upbeat and happy right now to be spending his time on the field and with coaches and teammates instead of in the training room with medical staff.

“I don’t think you can put yourself in less danger on the field,” Sanders said when I asked if there was any way he could be less reckless to try to preserve himself. “We’re football players so we’re going to be physical. It’s a physical game. I make tackles. You just never know what’s going to happen. You just have to play your best, hope for the best, I pray and put it in God’s hands and just try to do my job.”

When he’s out there, he’ll be more creative than when we last saw him playing consistently. Second-year defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is much more willing to blitz than Ron Meeks was.

As good as Melvin Bullitt's been as Sanders’ replacement, Sanders is a game-altering presence when he’s out there. Sanders is making plays in camp. If he’s out there, the Colts’ defense could be fantastic.

2. Will offensive line changes amount to an upgrade? Left guard Ryan Lilja was let go, so at least one spot will be filled by someone new. Tony Ugoh looked like the early choice, but he’s been pulled back to tackle to work for the injured Charlie Johnson, so Jamey Richard is in play. Richard might shift to center while Jeff Saturday recovers from a knee scope, which could open the door for rookie Jacques McClendon, if he’s healthy, or someone like Jaimie Thomas.

The talent pool now includes McClendon and tackle Adam Terry, but there was no overhaul. Pass protection combined with Manning’s ability to get the ball out quick meant few sacks, but the team needs to run better for balance. Short-yardage bugaboos have been a factor in season-ending losses the past two years.

New offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars has a chance to make minor alterations that could have a bearing, and a quality-blocking tight end like Brody Eldridge could even help revive the once bread-and-butter stretch play.

3. Will secondary depth hold up? Bill Polian purged the roster of some injury-prone corners, then saw third-round pick Kevin Thomas go down shortly after the draft with a serious knee injury. Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey should be a fine top three, but if one gets hurt, Deshea Townsend or Marcus McCauley, who were available recently, could be the next option.

If the Colts have to go that deep down the depth chart, their pass rush will be even more vital. But how many teams would love for the fourth cornerback to be a primary issue heading into a season?

BIGGEST SURPRISE

It’s hard to find them with a very low-key team that drafts and grooms the bulk of its players. Polian’s harped on short-yardage failures, but then the team didn’t add a sure fire starter to the line with Andy Alleman (already gone), Terry and McClendon.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Before the Colts could start to sort things out, injuries dictated they move offensive linemen around. Saturday is out 2-6 weeks after a knee scope, and Johnson and McClendon are sidelined. It would have been nice to see Metzelaars have a full deck for a long stretch in order to best hold competitions and compare and contrast players. The sooner they resolve the lineup and start to build cohesion, the better. Now it’s probably going to be later than would be ideal.

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Darron CummingsExpect more surprises out of Larry Coyer's defense this season.
  In Year 2 of Coyer’s tenure as defensive coordinator, I expect the Colts will be more exotic with an occasional surprise look or package -- perhaps most often utilizing their depth at safety where Sanders, Antoine Bethea and Bullitt make for three starting-caliber players.
• While the defensive line shows fantastic speed and strength, Mitch King looked the least smooth during the drill in which linemen weave through blocking dummies, turn a corner and try to strip a quarterback. For those excited about him, an adjusted timetable might be advisable.
• As the punter and kickoff man, Pat McAfee is electric. But teams in the market for a kickoff specialist might want to keep an eye on Garrett Lindholm, who looks like he can regularly put the ball in the end zone.
• Powers carries himself exceptionally well. During a break in one practice, as most guys went to the cool-down tent or took themselves out of football mentality for a minute, he picked the brain of Reggie Wayne. Powers already has become a media favorite, too.
• Manning could make good money if his only job was to put on clinics about how to best loft red-zone passes to the pylons in the back corners of the end zones.
• Joseph Addai knows what he’s doing on every play, and Donald Brown is smart enough to follow his lead, though Brown doesn’t shine in pass protection one-on-ones versus linebackers. The Colts will be just fine if the line can block for the runners, and maybe even if it can’t. Brown’s had more than a year to get pass protections down. If that keeps him off the field any this year, it’s no one’s fault but his.
• Better didn’t mean great for the interior defensive line in 2009. Daniel Muir and Antonio Johnson continue to improve, and Fili Moala will make for a third 300-pounder in there. He appears to be comfortable and ready to contribute.
• The Colts haven’t emphasized the return game and, at times, it’s felt almost like they de-emphasized it. But undrafted rookie Brandon James is a miniature speedster who is in position to win at least the punt-return job. He could give Manning and the offense a short field once in a while.
• John Chick, who joined the Colts from the Canadian Football League, could win the fourth defensive end spot if he shows a good learning curve and durability.

Be it running up the middle or stifling pass-rushers coming that way, the AFC South’s looking for change on interior offensive lines heading toward the 2010 season.

The Tennessee Titans, who blocked for just the sixth 2,000-yard rusher in league history, have made an alteration. The Indianapolis Colts, the defending AFC champs who allowed a league-low 13 sacks, are auditioning interior candidates. The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars both identified the interior line as an area in need of improvement, too.

Yet of 32 draft picks by the four teams, just two were used on offensive linemen -- a fourth-rounder by the Colts for guard Jacques McClendon and a sixth-rounder by the Texans for guard Shelley Smith. And only three veteran additions seem like they can influence the mixes -- Justin Smiley in Jacksonville, Wade Smith in Houston and Andy Alleman in Indianapolis.

Said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.: “Didn't anyone in this division address the interior offensive line during the draft with any pick of substance? That seems odd.”

So here’s a team-by-team look at what’s going on inside, with some thoughts from Williamson:

Jacksonville

The Jaguars appear willing to have true competitions to hash things out.

Last year’s interior trio of left guard Vince Manuwai, center Brad Meester and right guard Uche Nwaneri is back. But the team is willing to shuffle, and at least two others are in play now as well -- Smiley, a guard acquired recently from Miami in a trade for an undisclosed draft pick believed to be a conditional seventh, and Kynan Forney, a backup guard last year.

At minicamp the weekend following the draft, Jags head coach Jack Del Rio and offensive line coach Andy Heck had flipped Manuwai to the right side, figuring he and right tackle Eben Britton are the team’s best run-blockers. With the aid of tight end Marcedes Lewis and fullback Greg Jones, the Jaguars could send Maurice Jones-Drew that direction and dare people to stop it.

But at organized team activities (OTAs) this week, Manuwai wasn’t working with the starters and Del Rio was talking about how the torn ACL the guard suffered back in the season opener of 2008 was still a factor for him.

“I think he’s still a little bothered by that but at some point you’ve got to get beyond that and go and he knows that,” Del Rio said. “I think Vinny still has a ways to go. I think Vinny’s working at it. He’s got his weight down. He’s trying but he needs to play better. I think he knows that. He’s working hard it and trying …

“We clearly [come] out of last year saying, ‘Look, we’ve got to have better play with our line, period,’ and our two young tackles [Eugene Monroe and Britton] we know are going to grow and get better but our interior line needs to pick it up as well. And they are working at it and they are challenging and competing and we expect them to play at a much higher level for us.”

I honestly think it’s wide open, but I’d be very surprised if Manuwai, who can be a very effective run-blocker, isn’t in the starting lineup for the opener against Denver.

Williamson says: “Adding Smiley could pay dividends, as this offensive line (especially on the interior) really was a problem area last year. Their protection up the gut was really poor. While I have some real doubts any more about Meester, I do like Manuwai quite a bit and expect more from him this year.”

Houston

The Texans' run troubles were in large part because of their backs. But they lost guards Chester Pitts and Mike Brisiel early and it’s a tough order for any team to replace 40 percent of its line and keep plugging. Steve Slaton had a miserable year as he tried to deal with a neck injury, couldn’t hold onto the ball and wound up on injured reserve.

Pitts is a free agent who won’t be back and Brisiel has been working as a backup so far in OTAs. The team’s lined up with Kasey Studdard at left guard, Chris Myers and at center and Antoine Caldwell at right guard. But Smith’s been rotated in some early at center.

With offensive line guru Alex Gibbs gone, the team will still be using his principles. But the three remaining coaches who oversee the position -- John Benton, Frank Pollack and Bruce Matthews -- may have fresher eyes and a willingness to shuffle. And odds are it's second-round pick Ben Tate getting many of the carries behind that line.

We should see some real competition for all three slots. I’ve repeatedly hear good things about Myers. And because Caldwell was a third-rounder, I expect the team would probably like to see him stake a claim.

Gary Kubiak said Studdard and Caldwell have earned the right to say they are starters “right now.”

“We are as competitive in there as we’ve ever been as a team,” Kubiak said. “It’s going to be hard to hold a job, and it’s going to be very competitive to get one. So that makes the team better.”

Williamson says: “I thought Myers played real well and he is an excellent fit in this system. Their interior offensive line is loaded with no-name guys, but overall they are well coached and effective enough. Still, an upgrade at one of the starting guard spots would have been a real nice addition. … Smith is an ideal sixth guy, but not a liability as a starter.”

Indianapolis

The Colts paid him a bonus, but still cut Ryan Lilja who seemed pretty effective to me at left guard last season. Team officials have worked hard to deflect the idea the Colts made the move because they want to be bigger on the line. But it’s a sensible time for a change with Pete Metzelaars taking over for Howard Mudd as line coach and the team looking to be more effective in clutch third-and-short situations and the like.

Tony Ugoh, who lost out at left tackle, has worked at left guard in recent offseason practice sessions. Jeff Saturday is entrenched as Peyton Manning's guy at center. Kyle DeVan is the incumbent right guard, who came out of nowhere last season.

Presuming no other tackles are shifted inside and that left tackle remains Charlie Johnson's job, Ugoh and DeVan face their competition from Alleman, McClendon and 2008 second-rounder Mike Pollak.

Bill Polian has talked about throwing everybody out there and seeing what happens. With a new position coach, the fight for roles may not start with any true favorites. While they have to continue to favor pass blocking above all else, I do think it’s in their best interest to be a bit more determined to be able to call for and execute runs in key situations with more success.

Williamson says: “Saturday is obviously the leader and his symbiotic relationship with Peyton carries a ton of weight. He is smart and very technically sound. I do think his game is falling off ever so slightly though. I was shocked that they let Lilja go and thought he was far and away their best guard. Now, they really need to count on youngsters and those youngsters still have a lot to prove.”

Tennessee

The Titans had the least concern here as they considered their roster, but with Kevin Mawae getting older and Leroy Harris on the bench and ready to play, they decided to go with youth and size. So last year’s left guard, Eugene Amano, is replacing Mawae at center, with Harris taking over at left guard.

Tennessee loses leadership and experience in the equation, but gains significant strength. Harris is very much an interior guy, but he’s athletic and smart enough that he played effectively at right tackle in a win at San Francisco last season.

A Hall of Famer as a player, line coach Mike Munchak knows when a guy is ready, and he’s fully endorsed this plan or the Titans wouldn’t be going with it. Whether Chris Johnson or someone like LeGarrette Blount is running up the middle, I think they’ll find a bit more daylight. And Vince Young should feel less inside rush closing in on him.

Williamson says: “You have to wonder how much Mawae will be missed. It isn't that he played great -- and clearly he isn't what he once was -- but just from the standpoint of making the calls and especially from a leadership perspective. So, this interior line is in transition. Right guard Jake Scott probably hasn't quite lived up to what Tennessee was expecting to get from him when they signed him in free agency, but he is a quality starting guard. I think Harris has a good amount of ability and could surprise with more playing time.”

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

What will the Colts’ offensive line look like in 2010?

Straight answer: We don’t know and only can speculate. There will be a new left guard, as Ryan Lilja was let go. Beyond that…

The team has added three players: sixth-year tackle Adam Terry, fourth-year guard Andy Alleman and fourth-round draft pick Jacques McClendon. They also added three undrafted tackles (one who was on the practice squads in Cincinnati, San Diego and Philadelphia last season) and an undrafted guard.

Team president Bill Polian recently said the intent is to toss all 15 offensive linemen on the roster into the OTA, minicamp and training camp mix and see what shakes out. That leaves a lot of room for a lot of scenarios including a tackle like Charlie Johnson kicking inside.

It’s my feeling that of the four remaining incumbents, only center Jeff Saturday is a lock to return in the spot he was in last season. But I also wouldn’t be at all surprised if all four -- Johnson at left tackle, Saturday at center, Kyle DeVan at right guard, Ryan Diem at right tackle -- were in place on opening day in Houston, with only Lilja’s replacement a newcomer. The group, after all, was good enough to get the Colts to a second Super Bowl in four years.

Pass protection is going to remain priority one with Peyton Manning taking the snaps, but more effective run blocking in some crucial scenarios is a factor that can help the Colts.

They need to lock in a left tackle and go from there. Charlie Johnson could remain in the spot, though some think he’s best as the sixth man who can fill in for a few games here and there at tackle or guard. Tony Ugoh needs to make his claim to the job now, and could get a clean slate with Pete Metzelaars taking over for longtime offensive line coach Howard Mudd.

A scout from another team told me recently that he thought Polian wanted to see Ugoh developed at the spot while the decisive Mudd had determined Ugoh couldn’t be effective enough for the Colts last year. We’ll likely never know if that’s the case, thought the results of the competitions could give us some degree of information.

Whoever the tackles are, they and the run game should get a boost from Brody Eldridge. He's the big blocking tight end the Colts drafted in the fifth round out of Oklahoma. He’s not going to hurt the Colts while getting in the way of an extra pass rusher either.