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NFL Team Needs: AFC South

By Editorial Staff

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The newest segment for NFLMocks is the NFL Team Needs focus.  We are going to bring you division by division team needs and these needs will be updated throughout the offseason and during the actual season.  And after the season is said and done and free agency has settled we will have the areas your team should address when entering the 2011 NFL Draft.  We encourage you to check out our 2011 NFL Draft Player Scouting Reports, 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Big Board, our 2011 NFL Mock Draft, and our 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Position Rankings.

AFC South

Houston Texans

  1. Defensive End
  2. Defensive Tackle
  3. Corner back

Thoughts:

The Texans have a lot of young talent all over their roster, but they have put a lot of focus on offense and should focus next year on defense. A pass rusher to play opposite Mario Williams will help out the young cornerbacks on the roster. Antonio Smith is a good, versatile player, but the priority of every defense in the AFC South is to put pressure on Peyton Manning. Like many, I think there is still hope for improvement from DT Amobi Okoye, but an overall talent upgrade should be in order. 2010 3rd round pick Earl Mitchell is a start, but Shaun Cody would be better as a role player and back-up. 2010 1st round pick Kareem Jackson should get plenty of work this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if they take another talented corner early in 2011, much like the strategy Cincinnati used to upgrade their corner back position with Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph.

Indianapolis Colts

  1. Offensive Tackle
  2. Safety
  3. Defensive End

Thoughts:

Its always tough to pin point glaring holes for a team that has been as consistent a winner as the Colts have been, but that isn’t going to stop us from trying. C Jeff Saturday has been one of the best, but at 35 he will only be playing for a few more years. Having a interior of Mike Pollock, Tony Ugoh (off season rumors have him moving inside), and Charlie Johnson (who is a better fit at LG than LT) would be good, but RT Ryan Diem is on the wrong side of 30 and having a franchise type tackle to protect Manning over the life of his next contract would be ideal. S Bob Sanders has been a linchpin of the Colt defense, but his age and injury history should worry the front office enough to look at the top safety prospects. They definitely like Antonie Bethea with his recent contract signing, but he will need a partner long term. DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are one of the best combos and having Jerry Hughes learn while they are still there is a boon, but both are over 30 and more pass rushers will keep the defense as dangerous as the offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars

  1. Interior Offensive Line
  2. Corner Back
  3. Safety

Thoughts:

The Jaguars could use some top end talent at a lot of positions, but they are getting oldest at the guard and center position. Brad Meester and Vince Manuwai are decent, but they are both over 30 and there isn’t much developing behind them. CB Rashean Mathis has been one of the better corners in the league over his career, but he will be 30 this season and again, there isn’t much talent behind him. Brian Cox grabbed 4 INTs opposite Mathis last year, but still has a ways to go. Play from the safety position became a problem last season with former 1st round pick Reggie Nelson having a bad year and everyone else better off as backups. A talent upgrade across the secondary would get the Jaguars competing with the Colts again.

Tennessee Titans

  1. Offensive Guard
  2. Corner back
  3. Quarterback

Thoughts:

The Titans have one of the best run blocking lines in the NFL, but it could be better. Leroy Harris and Eugene Amano are swing-men on the interior line and upgrading the guard spot makes Harris a valuable backup as Amano held down the center spot quite well last year. Cortland Finnegan continues to be one of the top cornerbacks in the league, but Tye Hill isn’t a player who should be starting and 2010 3rd round pick Alterraun Verner would be better suited as a nickel back. The Titans have been consistently strong defensively and a top corner talent opposite Finnegan would help them shut down the South offenses out of Houston and Indy. This will probably be a make or break year for Vince Young as the offense will only go as far as he can take it. If they can’t make the playoffs, coupled with his most recent off-field problems, the Titans brass may look to see what chance they have at some of the top talent at quarterback in 2011.

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