2015 NFL Draft: AFC South Schedule Gets Tougher For Titans
By Les Bailey
As if the Tenneessee Titans didn’t already have a tough schedule in 2015, their AFC South rivals have all gotten better in the 2015 NFL Draft, and even with a franchise quarterback like Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota on board an 8 and 8 season is still going to be difficult.
I have held that an 8 and 8 season in 2015 would mark a successful season for the Titans, but after seeing what the rest of the division has done, both in free agency and the draft it’s my take that 8 and 8 would be like going to the Super Bowl.
I do think that finishing second in the division is possible!
Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts are still the team to beat in the AFC South, and all they have done in the off-season is add weapons to Luck’s arsenal as if he didn’t already have enough.
The Colts were deficient in the running game in 2014, and even though they made it to the AFC Championship game against the Super Bowl champs have made the moves to shore up that part of their game by signing Frank Gore in free agency.
And giving Andrew Luck another target like former Houston Texan receiver, Andre Johnson pretty much guarantees the Colts another AFC South title in 2015.
In the first three rounds of the 2015 draft, the Colts also addressed some defensive holes and added a speed burner on the outside. I look for the colts to add another running back in the later rounds but this is how they fared in the first three rounds.
- Round 1 Phillip Dorsett WR Miami(Fl)
- Round 2 D’Joun Smith CB Florida Atlantic
- Round 3 Henry Anderson DE Stanford.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have made some interesting moves in free agency, and continue to improve on defense by adding Vince Wilfork from the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Along with arguably the best defensive end in the NFL(J.J. Watt) the Texans will strike fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators, including the Titans Marcus Mariota.
The big problem the Texans have not solved so far this off-season is their quarterback situation. They continue to think Ryan Mallett is the man, but I don’t think he is a franchise guy, and the uncertainty at that position gives the Tennessee Titans an opportunity to finish second in the division this year.
The Texans added some more help on defense during the first three rounds of the draft, and made an attempt to replace Andre Johnson with their last pick on Friday night.
- Round 1 Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
- Round 2 Benardrick McKinney ILB Miss. State
- Round 3 Jalen Strong WR Arizona State
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made some interesting moves in the off-season, but still lack something. I know they are big on their 2014 first-round quarterback, Blake Bortles but they are only one J.J. Watt sack away from needing to start Chad Henne at quarterback.
If you follow the old-school theory that if you don’t have a franchise quarterback, then you have to get after the opponents quarterback. The Jags addressed that issue in the first round of the draft on Thursday night by selecting Dante Fowler Jr. from Florida.
Between Fowler and Watt, the Titans will need to continue to add some help on the offensive line in order to protect their new quarterback. Especially needing to face them twice a year.
Picking a top-notch running back in the second round like T.J. Yeldon will certainly help the situation, but is it enough to make the Jags a playoff team.
The Jags are in my opinion, not ready to get out of the cellar in the AFC South. I know this won’t set well with fans in Gatorland, but I think they will continue to bring up the rear in this division, and will more than likely draft early again in 2016.
Jag picks so far in the 2015 Draft.
- Round 1 Dante Fowler Jr. DE/OLB Florida
- Round 2 T.J Yeldon RB Alabama
- Round 3 A.J. Cann OG South Carolina
The way I see the season unfolding in the AFC South is the Colts winning the division, the Texans and Titans fighting for second place, and the Jags in their usual spot bringing up the rear!
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