AFC South: The Pre-Preseason 2008 NFL Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 31 2008
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
BEST MOVE: Re-signing Sage Rosenfels. This could be huge for Texans fans as Matt Schaub has yet to prove that he’s durable enough as a starting QB.
WORST MOVE: Free agent signing of cornerback Jacques Reeves. With Dunta Robinson still out for who knows how long, CB should have been made a higher priority than it was. Reeves won’t fill that need.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Overall the Texans should be much improved, but they will still be fighting it out with the Tennessee Titans for the basement.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Mario Williams. The first overall pick in 2006 finally came on last season. His numbers should go up again this year, helped by the continued emergence of his teammate Amobi Okoye.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Matt Schaub. This year Schaub has to prove that he is a starter and not just an exceptional backup. It will be tough to prove that from the sidelines, so he’d better stay healthy.
Indianapolis Colts
BEST MOVE: Signing free agent Dominic Rhodes. Having Rhodes team up again with Joseph Addai will bring back that powerful one-two punch that won them the Super Bowl. Sorry Manning, they got jobbed on that MVP.
WORST MOVE: Not re-signing OL Jake Scott. This will set back the once-stellar offensive line again.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Really depends on Peyton Manning’s recovery. It doesn’t look like he’ll be ready for Week 1 at this point, and if he has any setbacks it could really damage the Colts’ ability to recover their season.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Peyton Manning. How about that first play when he comes back? People will lose their freaking minds after watching Jim Sorgi for what will have seemed like <sigh> “forrrrrrever”.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Marvin Harrison. His skills have started to decline, but he’d always been durable until last season. His toughest job will be to come back and not re-injure himself while trying to be productive in a diminished role.
Jacksonville Jaguars
BEST MOVE: Signing free agent Joey Porter. Porter will be the go-to No. 1 receiver they’ve been looking for since Jimmy Smith retired.
WORST MOVE: Signing free agent Cleo Lemon. He couldn’t play quarterback for the Miami Dolphins after a 1-15 season. Isn’t Byron Leftwich available?
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: With some added pass rushers, the Jags should look to get to the AFC Championship game. Anything else would be falling short at this point.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Jack Del Rio. His move to go with David Garrard sure paid off. For Garrard. Zing! People have short memories when it comes to the good stuff. Not so much with the bad.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Matt Jones. Okay. IF he makes it to opening day. No one would be shocked if he didn’t even make the 53-man roster.
Tennessee Titans
BEST MOVE: Signing free agent Alge Crumpler. Crumpler should provide Vince Young with a reliable target in the red zone. This will only open up the running lanes to take advantage of Young’s scrambling ability. Hmmm, sound familiar?
WORST MOVE: Signing free agent Javon Kearse. Nostalgia. Nostalgia. Nostalgia. Ever have that girlfriend, the one you always thought “she’s the one who got away” about, and then you finally get a chance to rekindle your romance? You find out damn quick there’s a reason you broke up in the first place.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Not even close to the top of their division yet. Might not be close to third in their division yet.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Vince Young. Everybody wants Vince to succeed; they’re rooting for him all the way. He just has to live up to their expectations and that starts with making better decisions in the pocket.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: New offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. If this season goes sideways, it won’t be Vince Young’s fault. Nothing is. It will fall to the OC. Right, Norm Chow?
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More AFC Pre-Preseason Previews: NFC Pre-Preseason Previews:
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
