AFC South: Top cat Jaguars over the Titans, Colts, Texans in a division in transition
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Miami Dolphins/NFL 2023 season preview
The Miami Dolphins have high expectations as head coach Mike McDaniel enters his second season at the helm of the franchise.
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AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS
Coach: DeMeco Ryans (first season as an NFL head coach).
Last season: 3-13-1 (fourth in the division).
Key additions: QB C.J. Stroud, DE Will Anderson, Jr., LB Denzel Perryman, S Jimmie Ward, DT Sheldon Rankins, TE Dalton Schultz, RB Devin Singletary.
Key subtractions: WR Brandin Cooks, OG A.J. Cann, TE O.J. Howard, S Jonathan Owens, DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB Christian Kirksey, DB Desmond King.
Looking ahead: If you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have an offense and the Texans didn’t (30th in scoring, 31st in rushing, third down percentage and total offense). If you don’t have a D-line, you don’t have a defense and they didn’t (last vs. the run, 30th overall). Ask no more why the Texans drafted Stroud and Anderson after signing Rankins and Perryman. We’ll know in a year if they went too far by entrusting rookie coach and former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Coach: Shane Steichen (first season as an NFL head coach).
Last season: 4-12-1 (third in the division).
Key additions: QB Anthony Richardson, QB Gardner Minshew, DE Samson Ebukam, K Matt Gay, CB JuJu Brents, WR/KR Isaiah McKenzie.
Key subtractions: QB Mike Ryan, WR Parris Campbell, CB Stephon Gilmore, DE Yannick Ngakoue.
Looking ahead: A year after firing former Buffalo backup QB Frank Reich as head coach, the Colts mimicked the Bills by risking a first-round pick on a big, mobile, strong-armed quarterback who might have trouble hitting the broad side of a Hoosier barn. Healthy years from running back Jonathan Taylor and linebacker Shaquille Leonard, which the Colts didn’t get in 2022, would be Percocet on 2023 — less pain but the roster wounds remain.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Coach: Doug Pederson (second season in Jacksonville, 10-9 in the regular season, 0-1 in the playoffs).
Last season: 10-9 (first in the division), lost in the AFC Divisional Round to Kansas City.
Key additions: WR Calvin Ridley, OT Anton Harrison, LS Ross Matiscik.
Key subtractions: LB OT Jawaan Taylor, WR Marvin Jones, Jr., TE Chris Manhertz.
Looking ahead: With a healthy season from running back Travis Etienne and with Pederson giving quarterback Trevor Lawrence guidance and an offense that fit, the Jags zoomed from Comically Pathetic to Contending Problem. Though young, they’re already the stable (see the few key changes above) power above transitioning AFC South rivals. Or, they will be if their young leaders know how to handle last season’s first sips of NFL success.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Coach: Mike Vrabel (sixth season with the Titans, 48-34 regular season, 2-3 playoffs).
Last season: 7-10 (second in the division).
Key additions: WR DeAndre Hopkins, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, OT Andre Dillard, OLB Arden Key, TE Trevon Wesco, G Peter Skoronski.
Key subtractions: WR Robert Woods, TE Geoff Swaim, LB David Long, Jr., OT Taylor Lewan, K Randy Shudak, OL Dennis Dailey, OG Nate Davis, S Andrew Adams, C Ben Jones, LB Bud Dupree.
Looking ahead: The problems for the AFC South’s Throwback Team — run on offense, stop the run on defense — start when either they or their opponent drops back to pass. The contract clock runs out on quarterback Ryan Tannehill and disgruntled All-Pro running back Derrick Henry after this season. After four seasons in Tennessee, Tannehill faces the “Is This All He Is?” questions that he heard with the Dolphins. Whatever Tanny doesn’t have left, he’ll benefit from better team health. Only safety Kevin Byard and cornerback Roger McCreary started every game as the Titans used an NFL-record 91 players.
This story was originally published August 31, 2023 at 8:30 AM.
