2005 AFC South Predictions

Indianapolis colts predictions

COACH: Tony Dungy 2004 RECORD: 12-4, first place in the AFC South (beat Denver at home in the first round of the playoffs and lost at New England in the AFC Divisional Playoffs)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB: Peyton Manning RB: Edgerrin James, Dominic Rhodes, James Mungro, and Anthony Davis WR: Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokley TE: Dallas Clark OL: T Tarik Glenn, G Dylan Gandy, and C Rob Hunt DL: DE Dwight Freeney, DE Jonathan Welsh, DT Montae Reagor, DT Larry Tripplett, and DT Vincent Burns LB: Rob Morris, Cato June, and Tyjuan Hagler CB: Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden S: Mike Doss and Matt Giordano K: Mike Vanderjagt and Dave Rayner P: Hunter Smith

Heading into the 2005 NFL Draft, Indianapolis lacked a true No. 1 cornerback. The Colts hope they solved that problem by selecting CB Marlin Jackson (Michigan) and CB Kelvin Hayden (Illinois), along with S Matt Giordano (Cal Golden Bears). Former first-round pick MLB Rob Morris never panned out, which led to the drafting of DT Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns (Kentucky), DE Jonathan Welsh (Wisconsin), and LB Tyjuan Hagler (Cincinnati). The offense has needed a road grading run blocker on the inside for years and while RB Anthony Davis (Wisconsin) probably isn’t that player, he should provide good depth behind Pro Bowl RB Edgerrin James, RB Dominic Rhodes, and RB James Mungro. G Dylan Gandy (drafted out of Texas Tech), and C Rob Hunt (drafted out of North Dakota St.) were added to help protect Pro Bowl QB Peyton Manning. On special teams, K Dave Rayner (Michigan St.) was brought in to push Pro Bowl K Mike Vanderjagt.

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JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS predictions

COACH: Jack Del Rio 2004 RECORD: 9-7, second place in the AFC South

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB: Byron Leftwich RB: Fred Taylor, LeBrandon Toefield, Alvin Pearman, and Greg Jones WR: Jimmy Smith, Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, and Chad Owens TE: Kyle Brady OL: C Brett Romberg, G Chris Naeole, T Mike Pearson, T Ephraim Salaam, and T Khalif Barnes DL: DE Reggie Hayward, DE Marcellus Wiley, DE Omari Hand, DT Marcus Stroud, and DT John Henderson LB: Nate Wayne, Greg Favors, and Pat Thomas CB: Rashean Mathis, Terry Cousin, Kenny Wright, Scott Starks, and Chris Roberson S: Donovin Darius, Deon Grant, Deke Cooper, Ray Perryman, and Gerald Sensabaugh K: Josh Scobee P: Chris Hanson

Jacksonville knows that heir apparents for (All-Pro) WR Jimmy Smith, (All-Pro) TE Kyle Brady, and T Mike Pearson must be found. Replacements could come from a group that includes WR Reggie Williams, TE Matt Jones (drafted out of Arkansas), T Khalif Barnes (drafted out of Washington), and WR Chad Owens (drafted out of Hawaii). Meanwhile, ex-Philadelphia Eagle LB Nate Wayne, ex-Denver Bronco DE Reggie Hayward, ex-Dallas Cowboy DE Marcellus Wiley, CB Scott Starks (drafted out of Wisconsin), S Gerald Sensabaugh (drafted out of North Carolina), and LB Pat Thomas (drafted out of NC State) could help complete the defense. RB Alvin Pearman was drafted out of Virginia to provide depth behind Pro Bowl RB Fred Taylor, RB LeBrandon Toefield, and RB Greg Jones.

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HOUSTON TEXANS predictions

COACH: Dom Capers 2004 RECORD: 7-9, third place in the AFC South

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB: David Carr RB: Domanick Davis and Vernand Morency WR: Andre Johnson, Corey Bradford, Jabar Gaffney, and Devin Pitts TE: Mark Bruener OL: C Drew Hodgdon, G Zach Wiegert, G Chester Pitts, G Fred Weary and T Victor Riley DL: Seth Payne, Gary Walker, Robaire Smith and Travis Johnson LB: Kailee Wong, Morlon Greenwood, Jason Babin, Zeke Moreno, and Kenneth Pettway CB: Phillip Buchanon, Demarcus Faggins, and Dunta Robinson S: Marcus Coleman, CC Brown, and Jammal Lord K: Kris Brown P: Chad Stanley

Houston needed a pass-rushing force who could make plays up the field, so they brought in ex-Miami Dolphin LB Morlon Greenwood, ex-San Diego Charger LB Zeke Moreno, DL Travis Johnson (drafted out of Florida St.) and LB Kenneth Pettway (drafted out of Grambling). They should all provide some relief for (All-Pro) DL Seth Payne, DL Gary Walker, DL Robaire Smith, LB Kailee Wong, LB Jason Babin, CB Phillip Buchanon, and S Marcus Coleman. RB Vernand Morency (drafted out of Oklahoma St.) can help RB Domanick Davis and WR Jerome Mathis (drafted out of Hampton University) can do likewise for (All-Pro) TE Mark Bruener, (All-Pro) WR Andre Johnson, WR Corey Bradford, and WR Jabbar Gaffney. Ex-New Orleans Saint Pro Bowl T Victor Jones was signed to be a consistent blind side protector for (All-Pro) QB David Carr.

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TENNESSEE TITANS predictions

COACH: Jeff Fisher 2004 RECORD: 5-11, fourth place in the AFC South

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB: Steve McNair RB: Travis Henry, Chris Brown, Jarrett Payton, Damien Nash, and Walter Reyes WR: Drew Bennett, Courtney Roby, Brandon Jones, and Roydell Williams TE: Ben Troupe, Bo Scaife, and Ben Hall OL: G Benji Olson, T Brad Hopkins, T Michael Roos, T David Stewart, and T Daniel Loper DL: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT Albert Haynesworth and DT Rien Long LB: Keith Bulluck and Rocky Calmus CB: Andre Woolfolk, Adam Jones, Reynaldo Hill, and Antoine Harris S: Tank Williams, Lamont Thompson, Vincent Fuller, and Marcus Randall K: Ola Kimrin and Rob Bironas P: Craig Hentrich

Defense was a weak area, so Tennessee brought in ex-Arizona Cardinal DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Adam “Pac Man” Jones (drafted out of West Virginia), CB Reynaldo Hill (drafted out of Florida), and S Vincent Fuller (drafted out of Virginia Tech). The Titans traded for ex-Buffalo (All-Pro) RB Travis Henry and drafted RB Damien Nash (Missouri) because incumbent RB Chris Brown can’t seem to stay healthy. With Pro Bowl QB Steve McNair beat up, the drafting of T Michael Roos (Eastern Washington), WR Courtney Roby (Indiana), WR Brandon Jones (Oklahoma), T David Stewart (Mississippi St.), WR Roydell Williams (Tulane), T Daniel Loper (Texas Tech), and TE Bo Scaife (Texas) was a priority.

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By: Jorge Gonzalez (Special to WagerOnFootball.com)
Jorge Gonzalez owns VegasWise out of Las Vegas. Jorge has lived where all the action begins for 33 years and is a pre-law graduate from UNLV. With over 15 years of experience beating the sportsbooks get his premium plays here.