So it’s Day 2 of our division-by-division free agency discussion and you can almost taste the lockout being lifted. We’ll now set our sights down south, to a division that is in a state of flux.
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Other than the Colts, that is. The Colts are as they always are: in need of upgrades at a number of positions, but content to ride their top talents to the top of the division.
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It’s worked for them, but Houston, Tennessee, and Jacksonville will need to improve to catch up. Especially when you consider one team is implementing a new defense, another has a coach on the hot seat, and there’s even a team with a rookie penciled in to start given the lack of options they have at quarterback.
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So let’s see what two of our most trusted analysts, Sam Monson and Khaled Elsayed, have to say about what could (or should) happen in the AFC South.
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Houston Texans
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Which player do they need to re-sign?
Sam: Clearly, they’d be lost at sea without Matt Leinart! Well OK, maybe not. As much as you get the feeling that he’s underachieving, I think they lose a lot without the playmaking skills of Jacoby Jones.
Khaled: Though he wasn’t great last year, if they don’t want to spend at the position, Bernard Pollard can be a decent in-the-box safety. Essentially, the Texans aren’t in a scary position, and could move on from all their free agents.
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What area is the team’s biggest need to upgrade?
Sam: With a move to a 3-4 this season you could make a pretty compelling argument for most positions on the D, but the bottom line is the front seven doesn’t matter if they can’t stop people from burning them deep.
Khaled: Cornerback. If you watched them last year you’d accept there’s no need to explain that answer.
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How do they upgrade that area?
Sam: Am I crazy or would a heady, dependable and complete safety like Eric Weddle make perfect sense for the Texans? He would not only upgrade the safety position but bring the kind of veteran leadership that could make their young secondary players better around him.
Khaled: Johnathan Joseph seems like a good fit for the Texans and they’re a good fit for him. He’d no longer be in the shadow of Leon Hall, and Houston would get a guy with top talent. Nice scheme fit with how Phillips likes to use his cornerbacks.
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Indianapolis Colts
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Which player do they need to re-sign?
Khaled: They could get by without any of them, such is their reliance on their star guys (primarily Manning and Freeney), but if there’s one guy they’d miss it’s Joseph Addai. He’s not spectacular, but he doesn’t let his team down.
Sam: I like what Addai gives them, but I think they’d be crazy to allow their best linebacker (Clint Session) to walk to keep a guy like Addai.
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What area is the team’s biggest need to upgrade?
Khaled: For years now, I’ve argued they need to invest in their defensive line. It’s great they have two excellent rushers coming off the edge, but imagine what they could do with someone clogging up the run or exploding past guards? Re-watch what the Jets did to them in the second half of their playoff game and tell me they don’t need to get better there.
Sam: Khaled makes a compelling argument, there’s no denying the Colts would be a much better force with improved DT play, but they just never seem interested in investing there. Imagine how much easier Peyton Manning’s job would be with some legitimate blindside protection, rather than that currently offered by Charlie Johnson?
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How do they upgrade that area?
Khaled: By signing someone, anyone. Though my preference would be for them to pick up a guy like Brandon Mebane, I don’t know if they have or would invest the cash in him. A cheaper alternative may be to bring in a veteran like Pat Williams. He’s not the player he was but he can still keep linemen off linebackers.
Sam: Jared Gaither is potentially as good as it gets as a blind side pass protector. Despite his frankly ridiculous size, he has the footwork and athleticism to play in any scheme, and he would allow Manning to fret less about what’s coming to hit him from his backside.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Which player do they need to re-sign?
Sam: I think they would probably be best served to try and keep Mike Sims-Walker around, purely because I don’t like what they can put on the field without him.
Khaled: Though he’s more a two down player, you watch Justin Durant sometimes and think he could be one of the top ten linebackers in the league. Granted, in space he can look like one of the worst ten, but give him a two down role and he can really put himself about.
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What area is the team’s biggest need to upgrade?
Sam: Assuming they let Sims-Walker walk, which is looking likely, I have to think that wide receiver becomes their top need – as good a slot guy as Mike Thomas is, would you really be comfortable with him being your top wide out?
Khaled: I wouldn’t argue that wide receiver is a big need for them (though Jason Hill does intrigue me), but I’ve watched their safeties (all 6,546 they tried last year) make bad play after bad play. Get a good player in and fix one of those spots.
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How do they upgrade that area?
Sam: There’s a lot to like in the free agent marketplace for wide receiver. I think Braylon Edwards brings something they don’t have otherwise, and balances their passing attack a lot more. His drops have been cut way down, and he might be affordable because his rep still suffers from them.
Khaled: I’d like to see them make a run at Quintin Mikell. For his talent level, he’ll represent excellent value given his rep isn’t flashy enough to command the contract he deserves.
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Tennessee Titans
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Which player do they need to re-sign?
Khaled: They’ll struggle to replace Stephen Tulloch but he’s a thumper, and Jason Babin is an impact player. You’ve seen him flourish in your system so why would you let him go somewhere else after you basically rediscovered him? Pass rushing is too important to neglect.
Sam: If I had a linebacker like Stephen Tulloch on my roster, there’s no way I’d let him leave. He flows to the football and is constantly making hits. He’s the heart of that D, they need to keep him around.
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What area is the team’s biggest need to upgrade?
Khaled: The interior of the offensive line is just plain horrible. They need to develop a nasty streak and start imposing themselves again if they want Chris Johnson to scale the heights of 2009. Pick up a guard who is less about mistakes, and more about mauling.
Sam: I can’t argue in this case. As much as they need help in other spots, you can’t look beyond that disaster of an O-line.
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How do they upgrade that area?
Khaled: They pay possibly the meanest guard in the league a handsome amount. That’s right I’m talking about Harvey Dahl. It may require some retooling, but Dahl would give this line a boost.
Sam: I’m even in agreement with the solution. The Titans lost some attitude when Mawae left (even if it was the right decision based on his play), Dahl would give them that back and dramatically upgrade their guard play too.
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Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled, and for Sam, it's: @SamMonson … and be sure to follow our main Twitter feed as well: @ProFootbalFocus
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