2009 AFC South Draft Review

Houston Texans




Houston is progressing nicely and added some needed personnel to
continue their quest to make the playoffs for the first time in team
history. Free agent Antonio Smith will strengthen a front line full of first
round draft choices. Brian Cushing, the Texans’ first round pick, is
talented and will contribute by stopping both the run and playing the
pass. The defense is the key to the playoff run as is the health of
quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub’s durability will always be a question
because now the Texans don’t have underrated Sage Rosenfels to fall
back on. A major injury to Schaub could bring Houston crashing back to
the bottom of the AFC South. Brian Cushing was drafted to help
stabilize the linebacker position that has been racked with injuries for
the past several years. The sticky wicket is if he can stay healthy for a
whole season. If he does, he will team with DeMeco Ryans and give the
Texans a pair of impact linebackers. Connor Barwin is very versatile
and Houston sees him as a pass rushing defensive end that could get on
the field in pass downs with Mario Williams, Antonio Smith moving
down inside, and Barwin rushing off the left side. Antoine Caldwell is
a versatile center-guard combination that adds depth to an improving
offensive line. Durable and smart in his play, he has the ability to
recover in pass protection. He is athletic with a thick lower body.
Glover Quin is another two for one player that has experience at both
corner and safety. He has the strength and savvy to play press corner.
He is built like a safety with good overall body strength and will not shy
away from contact. He is a developmental player that averaged over 30
yards a kickoff return his senior year. Anthony Hill is a run blocking
tight end with better than average hands. He has experience at lining up
in the slot or wing position and sealing the end of the line of scrimmage.
He helps upgrade the edge running game. James Casey fits the theme
of the Texans’ draft of versatile athletes. The best thing he does is catch
the ball in his hands and should team with Owen Daniels in the red zone
to take pressure off Andre Johnson. Brice McCain is a speedy cover
corner that excels in man-to-man coverage. He is shorter than ideal, but
has good leaping ability. He will compete for the nickel/dime corner job
and special teams’ coverage. Troy Nolan will get a look at free safety
after a big play career at Arizona State. He scored five touchdowns in
two seasons. Four were on interceptions and one was a fumble recovery.
He is instinctive with good anticipation. His fringe athletic ability and
marginal speed for the position kept him from being drafted higher.
GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.


FREE AGENCY: Former Cardinal Antonio Smith was guaranteed $12.5
million dollars of a $35 million dollar contract over five years to play
opposite Mario Williams. Smith can constrict the running lanes and
rush the passer from an inside position. Shaun Cody will be in the
defensive line rotation and compete with Amobi Okoye for a starting
position. Cato June will back up at the Will linebacker spot. Dan
Orlovsky was signed as the backup quarterback.



Indianapolis Colts




The Colts have made several off-season dramatic changes in
their coaching staff. First and foremost, Head Coach Tony Dungy
retired. Dungy was the man that kept his head when everyone
around him was losing theirs. Classy and consistent were his
hallmarks. Offensive coordinator Tom Moore, offensive line
coach Howard Mudd, and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks
were three other major losses. In a quarterback driven league,
the Colts still have one of the best in Peyton Manning. For years,
great quarterbacks have covered up poor position play on both
sides of the ball, bad draft picks, and organizational shortcomings.
The league’s reigning MVP will carry the Colts to the playoffs
once again with his dedication and heady play. Donald Brown
will have every opportunity to work into the backfield rotation
with Joseph Addai. He combines a pick, slide, and glide running
style with bending and weaving when he breaks into the second
level. He’s a change of pace back with good hands to catch the
ball and get upfield. Fili Moala was the first of two three-hundred
pound run stuffers that the Colts drafted in 2009. To be effective
inside at tackle he must keep his knee bend to anchor and hold
his ground. His angular build is not ideal for an inside player.
Jerraud Powers fits the Colt profile at corner with his scrappy
press cover two play. He is a physical player that doesn’t shy
away from contact. He is willing to force and contain. He is a
competitor with quick feet and change of direction. Austin Collie,
just like all Colt receivers, has consistent hands to make the
catch. Additionally, he is a good route runner and will compete
for the ball in a crowd. He will have a major learning curve because
Indy requires the receivers to know all the receiving positions
before they get on the field. Terrance Taylor is perfect as an
inside leverage defensive tackle with his low center of gravity.
He comes off low and hits with an explosive force. Strong enough
to stack a double team, he will be very effective in a rotation.
Curtis Painter will compete with Jim Sorgi for the backup spot
behind Peyton Manning. He has always been productive and
accurate as a short and medium area passer. He is a rhythm and
timing passer that fits into the Colts’ scheme. Pat McAfee has
big shoes to fill when long-time punter Hunter Smith was not resigned.
McAfee averaged 44.7 yards on 62 punts and also has
experience on kickoffs and field goals. He consistently had hang
times in the 4.35 to 4.70 range. The Colts gained the pick in a
trade with Philadelphia. Jaimie Thomas is athletic for the guard
position and has a chance to make the team if he cleans up his
inconsistencies and breakdown of technique. He plays better in
a confined area than in space. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.


FREE AGENCY: As usual, the Colts sign their own free agents. This
year Matt Giordano, Tyjuan Hagler, Kelvin Hayden, Freddy Keiaho,
Jeff Saturday are all back in the fold. Adam Seward was signed to
compete for a linebacker position. In an unusual move, Ed Johnson
who was released after an off-field incident involving drugs in 2008
was re-signed. Johnson started 16 games his rookie year.



Jacksonville Jaguars




General Manager Gene Smith drafted a pair of the top offensive tackles
for the future and signed a veteran Pro Bowl tackle in free agency. That
should help insure David Garrard some needed protection that he didn’t
have in 2008. Pass catchers like free agent Torry Holt, a healthy Mike
Walker, and rookie Mike Thomas, along with an upgraded running game
will also help. Eugene Monroe fell to the Jaguars at number eight and
will compete with free agent pickup Tra Thomas for the left tackle
spot. The rangy, long-armed athlete is a pass protector first. He uses
his hands effectively in pass protection with good hand placement and
an explosive punch. He played upright in a two-point stance in both
the run and pass game in college but will need to learn to work from a
three-point stance. Eben Britton was a second round choice and will
compete with inconsistent Tony Pashos at right tackle. Another big
athletic offensive tackle, he will team with Monroe to be the future
cornerstones of the offensive line. He has all the physical tools,
toughness, technique, and competitiveness to start as a rookie. Terrance
Knighton is a long-armed run player that will compete for a position in
the front rotation. The wide-bodied developmental tackle is a
competitive and athletic bull rusher that needs technique work. Derek
Cox must have impressed the Jacksonville brass somewhere because
the team gave up a second round pick in the 2010 draft and a 7th round
pick in the 2009 draft to select him in the third round. He is a height,
weight, and speed prospect that flashes a closing burst on the ball. A
physical player, he will get a shot at corner and safety to make the
team. He ran a 4.45 at his pro day and will contribute on special teams’
coverage. Mike Thomas is the sleeper of the Jags’ draft. The explosive
hand catcher rarely drops a ball. Competitive and scrappy, he is quick
in and out of his cuts. He is a playmaker that gets open and makes
plays. Thomas can make a defender miss in the open field. He is a good
route runner that will compete as a special teams’ returner. Jarett
Dillard, like Thomas, is shorter than ideal but possesses outstanding
hands and eye-hand coordination. He runs precise routes with good
body control. Quick and sudden in his movements, he is a natural
receiver that can make the clutch catch and the off-target pass reception.
Zach Miller is an athletic small college quarterback that was drafted as
a tight end/H-back projection. He played in the Cactus Bowl as a tight
end and caught five passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Rashad
Jennings fell to the seventh round but has a chance to make the team
as a between the tackles power runner. He is an outstanding athlete that
presses the hole when he runs the ball. He has good instincts and feel
for running the ball. Tiquan Underwood is an athletic receiver with
rare speed, a leggy vertical receiver with inconsistent hands. He is more
of a long strider that builds up speed as he goes down the field. He is a
developmental player with unique tools. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.


FREE AGENCY: Ten-year veteran Torry Holt brings a veteran presence
to an unstable receiving corps. Rookies Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard,
and Tiquan Underwood will be given every opportunity to compete for
playing time after the purging of Matt Jones, Reggie Lewis, and Jerry
Porter. Offensive tackle Tra Thomas and strong safety Sean Considine,
both signed from the Eagles, are expected to start. Aging and injury
prone Fred Taylor signed with New England.



Tennessee Titans




Jeff Fisher’s teams are always in the Super Bowl hunt and this year is
no different. Jovan Haye was added in free agency and Sen’Derrick
Marks was drafted filling one of the Titans’ draft priorities. Three
defensive backs were also drafted to upgrade special teams’ coverage
and secondary weak spots. Kenny Britt is a possession type long
strider that builds up speed as he goes down the field. Although he was
productive over his career, he is not a natural hand catcher. He will
compete with Justin Gage at one wide receiver spot. He has the tools to
help the Titans improve their passing game, but he must improve in
every phase of his game. Sen’Derrick Marks played with ankle injuries
during his junior year, but was an underachiever in most phases of his
game. The Titans are going to need his best effort to work into the front
rotation of Jovan Haye, Jason Jones, and Tony Brown. He may be
more athlete than playmaker. Jared Cook is an athletic tight end that
needs to improve his blocking and receiving skills to make the team. He
may be more athlete than football player. Cook lacks playing consistency
and inline functional strength to block ends and linebackers. Ryan
Mouton is a good athlete that closes quickly on the ball. A tough and
competitive corner, he is a willing tackler and hitter. He will back up Pro
Bowler Cortland Finnegan and compete for a nickel or dime corner
position. Gerald McRath projects to be the backup to productive
Keith Bulluck. He is very athletic, active, and instinctive in his play. He
has excellent straight line speed, makes plays all over the field, and will
contribute on special teams. Troy Kropog will back up Pro Bowler
Michael Roos. He is more physical than athletic in his play. In college
he played left tackle. He plays with good technique and quick feet and
is crafty in his play. Javon Ringer is a smart and instinctive runner that
drives his legs on contact. Athletic with quickness and cutting ability,
he is a change of pace type back that has returned kickoffs in the past.
He has better running skills than Chris Henry. Jason McCourty is a
workout warrior that ran in the 4.35 range this spring. A developmental
project, he flashed kickoff return ability his senior year. Dominique
Edison adds more youth to the Titan receiving corps. A small college
athlete, he has size and speed. He is a developmental project that needs
work on his routes and the nuances of receiver play. Ryan Durand is a
developmental guard that is more tough and physical than athletic.
Nick Schommer has good size and speed for a free safety, plus good
tackling skills. He is a tough physical player that should contribute on
special teams’ coverage. He is a developmental player that is smart and
instinctive. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.


FREE AGENCY: Nate Washington helped upgrade a very mediocre
receiving corps. He received a $27 million dollar contract with $9 million
guaranteed over six years. The Titans also signed Kerry Collins to a
two year deal to throw to the new group of receivers. Rob Bironas, a
money kicker, was extended for four more years at $3 million a year, $5
million guaranteed. Jovan Haye was signed to help lessen the blow
from the Albert Haynesworth departure. Return specialist Mark Jones
replaces Chris Carr who departed for Baltimore. Patrick Ramsey will
compete with Vince Young for the backup spot behind Collins.