However, In a similar situation to the linebackers, after Byard, there are not many great safeties. Last year's first-round pick. The Jaguars are expected to be flexible but will often play three defensive linemen, leaving. Web93.7. He was drafted onto the 2017 Texans team cut in the image of the Patriots and Bill Belichick: Bill OBrien was the head coach, Romeo Crennel was the assistant head coach, Vrabel was the defensive coordinator, and Bowen was a defensive assistant. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? Last season, Tennessee endured the loss of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preseason as well as star running back Derrick Henry midseason and still churned out win after win after win before falling victim to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals magical playoff run in the AFC divisional round. As the defensive linemen took the podiums in Indianapolis on Wednesday, I thought it would be interesting to ask a bunch of them for the one play they would show anybody if asked for the real highlight shot. Dupree struggled with injuries in 2021 but has proven to be a capable pass rusher. . Lets now dive into the AFC South breakout candidates. Well, they do have a fairly easy schedule in 2022. Teams without many pre-snap penalties and turnovers are often called well-coached, though much of that is just luck. In Tennessee, the Titans shipped out A.J. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Whats at Steak in the 2023 NFL Combine, The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1 Instant Reactions. In terms of defensive ends, the division has a wide range of talent. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson contract negotiation. Despite this, Gilmore can still be a starter on most teams. Buckners talent and experience will help the Colts this year in their attempt to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2021. He did it with Jack Conklin and Corey Davis and Adoree Jackson and A.J. Current student at SNHU. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. Gregg Rosenthal projects the starters for every AFC North team. Injuries could derail his season, but Colts faithful can look forward to one of the leagues best cornerback pairings. The Rest: Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans. Landry should continue to be a terror for opposing gameplans as his skills only improve. Please enter a valid email and try again. At defensive end, instead of those light, explosive, bendy rushers long favored by the Schwartzian defense, the Titans have 6-foot-3, 280-pound Mario Edwards Jr. Edwardss best season as a pass rusher came in 2020 with the Bearshe had four sacks and seven quarterback hits. Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones had a very different approach than Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham for the coin toss ahead of Super Bowl LVII. Here's an look at the AFC South win totals for the 2022 season By Tyler Sullivan Jul 25, 2022 at 2:29 pm ET 5 min read USATSI The AFC South won't be Theyre the worst offense in football in terms of yards per drive, but theyre 24th in expected points added per play, 21st in DVOA, 26th in points per game. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Titans drafted Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker with both becoming starters. WebGet the comprehensive list of every Defensive End for each NFL pro football team. The Titans have quadrupled the rate of quarters coverage. As the league has moved to having two-deep safeties, so has the Titans defense. Their offense is perhaps the most one-dimensional offense in the entire NFL, so bringing in a young guy who can catch passes would go a long way in fixing that and clearing the box a bit more for Derrick Henry. WebThe Jacksonville Jaguars are introducing a new head coach and hold the No. As for the two bottom dwellers in the Jaguars and Texans, they are each entering the upcoming year with intriguing second-year quarterbacks in Trevor Lawrence and Davis Mills. The AFC South won't be mistaken for a super competitive division, but it did boast the No. AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase. The 27-year-old is coming off a strong season where he tallied 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. Did the Ravens make enough moves to rebound from an injury-plagued 2021 season? That improved roster is just one reason why the Over is a favorable bet here with Indy. If that edge rusher has a quick first step and the flexibility to bend around the arc, he should feast in Schwartzs defense. Gregg Rosenthal projects the starters for every AFC North team. Also, PFF strangely leaves off two players who should be in anyones top 101 players. In Kevin Byards second season with the Titans, he was nominated to his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams and was considered one of the leagues foremost safeties. They could also go all-in and trade up for a guy like Bryce Young, but that would require more capital. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) - 2MAW613 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. To borrow a Belichickism, the Titans do their job. They also hold the 12th overall pick in the draft this year, which could very well give them a shot at their rookie of choice in April. The Colts signed Stephon Gilmore this offseason to help bolster a young Colts secondary. Last season mostly felt like treading water; now the Texans should start moving forward. The team could possibly look to the draft, free agency, or even a trade to address this need, but they really just need to make a move one way or another. This is a pressure lookwatch Mario Edwards Jr. (94) knife into an interior gap at the snap, freeing up space for Kalu. Since being drafted by the Jaguars in 2016. Even as the Tennessee offense has sunk this season, the defense is putting on a master classand is keeping the Titans atop the AFC South. It has three players that stand out from the rest, Clemsons Mile Murphy, Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame, and BJ Ojulari from LSU. Star pass rusher Harold Landry III tore his ACL during practice just days before the season began; offensive tackle Taylor Lewan suffered the same fate in Week 2. These are the Jaguars projected starters going into the season. Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot on what quarterback Desmond Riddler brings to the Falcons and more. Leonard, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Pro is the captain and best player on Colts defense and roster overall. Christian Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill are projected to start which leaves them as one of the weaker units in the league. The Titans edge rushers include Harold Landry and Bud Dupree. Players with 100+ tackles and 4+ INTs last season, Kenny Moore Shaquille Leonard Logan Wilson. Now its Johnsons chance to do the same. The defensive line would be a great start. In a similar situation to the linebackers, after Byard, there are not many great safeties. They struggled to establish a hard-hitting run game between the tackles, and they would become a much more dangerous offense if they could fix that for next season. If they can clean up against other inferior opponents like the Giants in Week 1 and at Washington in Week 5, you're sitting at six wins. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Are the Seahawks poised to surprise? Today, well analyze the needs for each team in the division and how they can get more competitive for next season. Teams who win a lot of football games are often called well-coached, because, well, theyre winning a lot of football games, so the coaches are probably doing their jobs well. The majority of their issues in the trenches come at the tackle position on offense, and theyll need to bring someone in to help solidify the position. 1 seed in the AFC with Tannehill under center last season, he was also their undoing in a Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals where he threw three interceptions. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! They likely won't be favored in either of those road games and could even find themselves home dogs if Denver lives up to the hype with Russell Wilson and the Bengals continue to look like the team that went to the Super Bowl last year. The same cannot be said for the Colts and Jaguars, who bring back the starters from last season who are solid but they hope to make up for it with good coaching and more experience. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. A look at Jaguars pass rushers led by Josh Allen and Travon Walker working moves in pregame. Broncos; Chargers; Chiefs; NFC East . One or two more effective players should do the trick in getting this line over the hump. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport: Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry says restructuring Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract is on the table. AP Offensive Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp. He should bring more stability under center, making the Colts the current betting favorite to win the division. The Tennessee Titans have won the AFC South two seasons in a row, but things could change in 2022. Hutchinson has been the most dominating pass-rusher in college football during the 2021 season and easily outperformed the presumptive top p Thibodeaux has out-of-this-world athletic ability and as a result, is in the running for being the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Class Impact for 2022 The defending AFC champs didnt land much in terms of immediate help, but Cincinnati did add depth in a few key areas. This is becoming old hat for head coach Mike Vrabel, the NFLs reigning Coach of the Year after the Titans 12-5 2021 season. His resume is already filled with three first-team All-Pro nominations, three Pro-Bowl visits, and a DROY award. Sound good?" Log in. The division has plenty of young edge defenders who should be staples in their teams defense for years to come. 1 seed in the conference last year and sports another that some view as a dark horse Super Bowl team in 2022. And thats gonna keep them safe against the run. Despite their offense, the Titans are once again going to win a lot of games and play a home playoff game. When you see this first blending of ideas in the Titans defense, its easy to start seeing the next ones. New York Post. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch commends 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's decision to delay his UCL surgery. Hell be one to watch next season. Gregg Rosenthal projects the starters for every AFC East team. Although he is a rookie and unproven his upside is through the roof and gives the Texans secondary some hope. Dan Servodidio hands out 2022 NFL Draft grades and breaks down the fantasy football impact for the AFC South teams, including the best and worst picks for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars & Titans. They had a toughness that numbers can't fully capture, but the roster looks worse overall now. Outside of the Commanders, every team made the playoffs and won at least one game. Chatted with Jags CB Shaquill Griffin a few mins ago and he told me their pass rush will be on fire this year. The Tennessee Titans had the best rookie class in 2022 grade-wise, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. With the 2022 NFL Draft and most of free agency in the rearview, Gregg Rosenthal will project starting lineups for all 32 teams because that's his idea of fun. Gregg Rosenthal projects the starters for every AFC West team. We Like Our Guys: Analyzing the Dallas Cowboys Final Roster, 2022 AFC South Breakdown by Position: The Offense. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Bradlee Anae spent most of the season on the practice squad but was signed to the active roster before Week 18. The Titans drafted Caleb Farley in the first round in 2021 who suffered an injury and missed his rookie season. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. That's no longer the case. There are plenty of talented Josh Allens in the NFL, but this. Player A 2019 sixth-round selection because of his lack of size, the 5-foot-11, sub-230-pound Long darts around the field, sneaking under blocks, popping into gaps, and offering a wide range of coverage influence on passing downs. The oddsmakers think that the Colts and Titans will win around nine or ten games. 2 overall, Jets seem to be the only team outside of Packers in the running for Aaron Rodgers based on Raiders comments at Combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Ron Rivera enters his 26th season coaching in the NFL and his third as Washingtons head coach in 2022 after being named the 30th head coach in franchise history on Jan. 1, 2020. The contract suggests Atlanta views Mariota more as insurance over the next 2 years than the clear answer even for 2022. Since being drafted by the Jaguars in 2016. WebDownload this stock image: Buffalo Bills defensive end Daniel Joseph runs on the field during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Here are Clemsons Brian Bresee, Wisconsins Keeanu Benton, Texas Keondre Coburn, Floridas Gervon Dexter, and South Carolinas Zacch Pickens The Jaguars also signed Darius Williams from the Los Angeles Rams. The Titans linebackers going into the season are David Long Jr. and Zach Cunningham. The off-ball linebackers are totally overhauled. The likes of Zach Cunningham and Bobby Okereke just arent on the same level as Leonard. Instead, veteran Marcus Mariota and 3rd-round rookie Desmond Ridder will compete for the starting job. With the offseason rolling along and the Combine almost here, lets continue looking at the different positions on the Jets and look at the defensive end position. Is the Cardinals' roster more flawed than people realize? Top NBA Duos, Bears No. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Brown was traded to the Eagles after contract extension discussions fell through. Stroud if they stick with the second-overall pick. Who Will Be the Eagles Next Offensive and Defensive Coordinators? You'll now receive the top Jets Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Paye had four sacks in 14 games in 2021. The Jets would save $15.4 million by cutting Lawson, but will the Jets actually do so with Lawson coming off a strong season and the Jets being in a win-now mode? The Pro Football Focus grades were only a little better than average last year and there are two new starters, including a question mark at left tackle. Texas Tech linebacker Tyree Wilson wakes up with "GMFB" and shares his recovery from fractured foot, how he transferred to Texas Tech. But can they all turn it around? First, there isnt an elite talent at tight end in the AFC South. Aside from a name change this past off-season. Win total projection: 6.5 (Over +105, Under -125). Contributing 73 combined tackles and only allowing one touchdown, Jenkins is a more than serviceable player at the position. Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio's conference during NFL combine week. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? The Colts boast arguably the best linebacker in the NFL in Shaquille Leonard. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was Simmons and Autry also spend time rushing the passer on the edge. Hell compete for a roster spot during the summer. He has an elite combination of size, strength, a Drake is a quality prospect who possesses impressive athletic ability: he has a unique combination of speed, agility, power as wel David Ojabo may have the greatest upside of any player in the 2022 NFL Draft class with a unique combination of size, strength, an Arnold Ebiketie is an impressive pro prospect who has top-level athletic skills - he's explosive, has elite speed around the edge, Johnson has been rocketing up draft boards after his dominating 2021 season with FSU. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. While the Texans may be able to surprise folks at times next year, their road isn't easy as they have the fifth-hardest schedule based on their opponents' win total projections. He also led the nation for defensive tackles with 14.5 Hes projected to get a contract worth about $9.25 million per year for two years. The breakdown will contain the best at each unit followed by the rest in descending order. Second-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was a quiet internal promotion after the 2020 season, during which the Titans had no defensive coordinator and produced one of the leagues worst defenses. Brown, and now hes doing it without them. Looking at that second defensive end spot, paired with the likely five other names on that front to make the roster, all of those guys combined for just 2,540 career NFL snaps. Obviously everyone knows that the Bills are rea SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL, NFC SOUTH TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO FREE AGENCY AND THE 2023 NFL DRAFT, AFC SOUTH TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO FREE AGENCY AND THE 2023 NFL DRAFT, AFC EAST TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO FREE AGENCY AND THE 2023 NFL DRAFT. As the defensive linemen took the podiums in Indianapolis on Wednesday, I thought it would be interesting to ask a bunch of them for the one play they would show anybody if asked for the real highlight shot.