2023-09-06 00:38:56
The 2023 NFL season will begin with this Thursday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions. However, one of the most closely fought divisions will be the AFC South, in which the Jacksonville Jaguars dominated last year.
Now, the other three teams, the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans will seek to snatch the crown from businessman Shahid Khan’s team.
Trevor Lawrence, the prince who was promised
The Jacksonville Jaguars shocked everyone last year by winning their first playoff game since 2017 at the hands of head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the prince who was promised. The Clemson graduate is entering his third NFL season and expects to perform better than he did in his first two years in the league.
Management has taken it upon themselves to give Lawrence better tools. First, they drafted right tackle Anton Harrison in the first round of the draft following Jawaan Taylor’s departure to the Kansas City Chiefs and added running back Tank Bigsby in the second round of the draft. In addition to this, wide receiver Calvin Ridley will play once more following being suspended for a year for betting on NFL games.
Additionally, defense was a priority in the Draft as linebacker Arden Key and safety Andrew Wingard left Jacksonville in free agency. As such, rookies Yasir Abdullah, Tyler Lacy and Antonio Johnson are expected to get multiple playing opportunities in coordinator Mike Caldwell’s unit.
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Ryan Tannehill’s last chance with the Titans
The Tennessee Titans have a chance to wrest the divisional crown from the Jaguars, but it all depends on Ryan Tannehill’s ability to lead the team. If things go wrong with the veteran, front office has in Will Levis and Malik Willis two young quarterbacks willing to take over the offense.
Therefore, the Titans signed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins following he was released by the Arizona Cardinals. Also, the line will be modified since they will have tackle Andre Dillard as the one in charge of covering Tannehill’s blind side and rookie guard Peter Skoronski between him and the center.
The ever-reliable Derrick Henry will be able to get some rest thanks to the addition of rookie Tyjae Spears. ‘Tractorcito’ was the RB that added the most carries last year, with 349, and that allowed him to accumulate 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
If the Titans get off to a rocky start in their first four weeks once morest the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Vrabel’s job as head coach may not be safe. In five seasons in Tennessee, the coach is 48-34 in the regular season and 2-3 in the postseason.
The Colts bet on youth
The Indianapolis franchise is in the process of a total rebuild and it is notorious that they will bet on youth when new head coach Shane Steiche has bet on rookie Anthony Richardson as starting quarterback since day one.
The big question mark for the team is the contractual situation of Jonathan Taylor. The running back wants to leave Lucas Oil Stadium following failing to agree to a contract extension, but management doesn’t want to agree to any trade. Taylor will start the season on the physically unable to play list and will miss the first four weeks.
The defense will be led by MLB Shaquille Leonard and the main addition is rookie JuJu Brents, who will be in charge of covering the left area of the cornerbacks. DE Yannick Ngakou went to Chicago, but the Colts turned to San Francisco to sign Samson Ebukam in free agency.
The special teams will look different since following years of having Rodrigo Blankenship as a kicker, the Colts hired Matt Gay for those activities. In addition, the new kick return specialist will be Isaiah McKenzie, from the Buffalo Bills.
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The new Texans have history ahead
The Colts aren’t the only AFC South franchise rebuilding as the Houston Texans are also aiming to leave the bottom of the division with an excellent crop of young players led by quarterback CJ Stroud and linebacker Will Anderson.
In addition, the team will be coached by the DeMeco Ryans, who made history in the Texas franchise as one of the best linebackers ever to don the blue, red and white. The Alabama graduate spent six years in Houston, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and received his two Pro Bowl invites while with the Texans.
The line will feature guard Kendrick Green, who came to Houston via trade with Pittsburgh, and rookie center Jarrett Patterson. The offense will also feature wide receiver Tank Dell, who shone at the college level but was drafted only in the third round of the last draft.
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