UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC South

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC South team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion Indianapolis Colts:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
For the first time in a while, this division is almost completely up-for-grabs. With the quarterback situation unsettled in Indy, everyone else must step up. Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and Joseph Addai provide excellent support for whoever throws the ball. The o-line has shuffled a bit, and it remains to be seen whether it holds well. On defense, with Dwight Freeney continuing to pressure the opposing left tackle, the linebackers (led by Gary Brackett) can be more flexible in coverages, which translates to a more free wheeling secondary. Of course, the biggest question is when Peyton Manning can come back. If this team gets off to a tough start with Kerry Collins, and Manning returns to lead them to the playoffs, it will be hard to ignore his contribution as a true MVP of this team, if not the entire league.

HOUSTON TEXANS
"This will be the year." That's what NFL pundits have been saying about the Texans' playoff hopes ever since the Carr era ended. Unfortunately, the Texans have managed to disappoint numerous times with a mediocre regular season record. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, and company have done all they could, to no avail. As explosive as the offense has been the last few years, the defense has been dreadful. This year, former Cowboys coach Wade Phillips installs his 3-4 scheme with a bunch of possible playmakers at his disposal (including Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing). The question will be whether the available personnel can cleanly make the switch.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The Jags have only been to the playoffs twice since their epic 1999 season (see our "Greatest Teams"), and have otherwise been a downtrodden franchise. The team has had little identity save for their tailback position, where Fred Taylor has dominated for years, and now Maurice Jones-Drew takes the role of featured back. David Garrard is still the starting QB, but Blaine Gabbert patiently waits in the wings. This year could very well be do-or-die for Del Rio, otherwise it may be time to finally make the move to LA....

TENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans, like the Jaguars, have a quarterback project of their own. Matt Hasselbeck, the longtime Seahawk, is set to start, with Jake Locker right behind him on the depth chart. Fortunately for both, the Titans have secured their number one player in runningback Chris Johnson. Johnson has a questionable attitude, but undoubtedly holds unbelievable talents and skills. If/when the quarterbacks start to struggle in the passing game, they can always hand it off to Johnson. The o-line looks ready to reach Pro Bowl caliber form under new Titans coach Mike Munchak. What will be interesting to watch is whether the defense improves.


AFC SOUTH TITLE: Indianapolis Colts

• This was a tough choice, but if the Colts can survive relatively unscathed while/if Peyton Manning's gone, then they have a legitimate chance to run the table. Unfortunately, if Manning continues what many see as the beginning of a steady decline, look for possibly the Titans to surprise some people.

WILD CARD TEAMS: None

• I believe the Titans will be formidable, but in the end it may not be enough to beat out the other wild card teams of the AFC. The Texans could also surprise, but may struggle with their new defensive personnel adjustments. The Jaguars are too unstable a franchise to consistently compete.

The Greatest Teams: 1961 Houston Oilers

"Houston has the Oilers, the greatest football team;
We take the ball from goal to goal like no one's ever seen.
We're in the air, we're on the ground...always in control;
And when you say 'the Oilers', you're talking Super Bowl."

The Tennessee Titans have a long and storied history, particularly because they used to be another franchise completely: the Houston Oilers. Although the Oilers never did quite make it to the Super Bowl as "Luv Ya Blue" attests, their legacy still lives on in NFL lore. Several recent Titans franchises certainly deserved consideration here, including the 1999 Tennessee team that made it to Super Bowl XXXIV(where they lost to the St. Louis Rams, 23-16). However, the early Oilers teams of the American Football League were very dominant in their own right, especially the 1961 team. And, just for clarification purposes, the Oilers of the AFL are still a part of NFL history, since AFL history and records have been incorporated into the NFL after the merger.

At quarterback, the Oilers boasted the "Grand Old Man" in George Blanda, who was 34 and still exhibiting Pro Bowl seasons. Blanda, who previously played in Chicago before starting in Houston in 1960, was both the team's quarterback and kicker, and feat not unusual for the day. As quarterback, he led the young AFL in passing yardage, passing touchdowns, and passer rating during the 1961 season. These numbers were supported by Houston's All-Pro halfback Billy Cannon, who led the league in rushing yardage. Cannon, the 1959 Heisman winner, was fiercely recruited by both the NFL and AFL (he was selected by the NFL's Los Angeles Rams with the first pick in the 1960 Draft), which resulted in a court decision that ultimately ruled in the AFL's favor. Cannon looked like he was certainly on his way to being the star he was in college at LSU. At receiver, both Bill Groman and Charley Hennigan had 1,000 yard seasons, with Groman scoring 18 touchdowns and Hennigan scoring 12. Left tackle Al Jamison and center Bob Schmidt merited Pro Bowl seasons, 2 out of 13 players on the team to do so.

On defense, veteran Ed Husmann anchored the four man defensive front, powered by a linebacking core of Doug Cline, Dennit Morris, and Mike Dukes. The secondary helped vault the Oilers to second in the league in pass defense, with star corner Tony Banfield recording 8 picks, fourth best in the league. Safety Jim Norton did one better, recording 9 interceptions, but unfortunately did not get All-Pro consideration.

The Oilers started off the season by creaming the Oakland Raiders 55-0 before losing their next three games and tying one to the Boston Patriots. The Oilers would quickly rebound after that, destroying the Dallas Texans in their next game, 38-7, before going on a 9 game win streak en route to their second straight AFL Championship Game appearance. A George Blanda to Billy Cannon touchdown pass would be all this difference in a somewhat sloppy 10-3 win against the San Diego Chargers. The Oilers quickly established themselves in the early AFL as a dominant powerhouse, a feat that could only be matched by the Oilers in the late 70s, early 90s, and the Titans of the early 2000s. Although the Oilers are now but a fun look back into football's past, the 1961 team shall live on as one of the best Oilers/Titans teams ever to grace the gridiron.

The Future of Vince Young

With the departure of 16-year head coach Jeff Fisher, the Tennessee Titans appear ready to move forward without the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Vince Young has been a polarizing figure throughout his tumultuous five years in Tennessee. While Young's lack of work ethic is "legendary" around his team, there is no denying that he has a successful NFL quarterback. Titans owner Bud Adams has reinforced the idea that the team that Young will not be on the 2011 roster. Young has long overstayed his welcome in Tennessee and a change in scenery might just be the best case scenario for him. People tend to quickly forget that the Titans were 30-17 when Young played over his Titans career as compared to 15-18 when he did not. Having been selected to the Pro Bowl twice in only five seasons, Young will be competing with Kevin Kolb (assuming the Eagles aim to trade him) as the premiere quarterback on the market. These teams seem to be the best fits for Young:


MIAMI:
The Dolphins took a step backwards a season ago with second year starter Chad Henne at the helm. The majority opinion is that Henne is not a legitimate in the NFL and the Dolphins will look into finding a signal caller in the draft. However, Young seems to be a fine fit for the fins. His mobility would mesh well with the Wildcat running game. It seems more likely though that the Dolphins will stick with Henne for another season and perhaps draft a develop a quarterback in the draft such as former University of Washington gunslinger Jake Locker.

JACKSONVILLE:
Another potential landing spot for Young is the Jags who finished 8-8 a season ago. With current quarterback David Garrard being more of a caretaker and with his being 32 years of age, the Jags are searching for their franchise man. Will it be recently acquired Trent Edwards? Probably not. The starting gig might be Young's for the taking. However, Garrard did perform admirably a year ago and so the Jags may find their man in April's draft.

OAKLAND:
The Raiders surprised the rest of league in 2010 by finishing 8-8 while having a carousel of starting quarterbacks. Young would bring stability to the role and compliment the multiple weapons the black and silver have on offense. With talented players at each skill position, Young would have plenty of weapons at his disposal and would not have to do it all himself.

CAROLINA:
The Panthers are weak in many areas, quarterback included. However, Young is not a real fit here as the Panthers don't have any weapons on the outside apart from an aging Steve Smith. Carolina will be hoping for one of the few elite quarterbacks in the April draft to be a future NFL stud.

MINNESOTA: Finally rid of all the Brett Farve drama (we think), the Vikings have a gaping hole at quarterback without any viable options within the organization. A team that made it to the NFC Championship team two seasons ago, is still overflowing with talent but the window is closing. The Vikings may just be a quarterback away from the Superbowl with the kind of talent they have at receiver and Adrian Peterson in the backfield. A proven winner in Young could be just what the doctor ordered.