AFC South

Indianapolis Colts
Will the Colts stay hungry?
The Colts better be or they’ll get eaten alive. The league is too good for the Colts to rest on their laurels. Teams like New England and San Diego are waiting for it. Super Bowl winners can get fat and lazy, but there is a good chance the Colts avoid the Super Bowl winner’s hangover because coach Tony Dungy and franchise quarterback Peyton Manning won’t allow it. Now that they’ve reached the top, don’t expect Manning and Dungy to go down easily.

Will Tarik Glenn’s retirement hurt?
A lot. The man was Manning's personal protector. Ask any NFL coach or scout and they’ll tell you that the left tackle is one of the game's most pertinent players. For Glenn to leave the team essentially on the eve of training camp hurts. Second-year player Charles Johnson and rookie Tony Ugoh — drafted to replace Glenn down the road — will get a chance to play. It will be tough for both players and on Manning a few times a game.

How good is Joseph Addai?

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Joseph Addai

Very good. The Colts struck gold. Some thought that Indy was going to fall on its face when running back Edgerrin James — the glue of the offense — bolted in 2006 for the bigger money in Arizona. But the team didn’t panic, drafted Addai in the first round and hasn’t looked back. He's fearless, a strong runner and good as a receiver. The Colts didn’t miss a beat and Addai will just get better know that he’ll get even more carries with Dominic Rhodes now in Oakland.

Can Indianapolis repeat?
Yes, but it won’t be easy and the Colts can’t be considered a favorite. They may be a top-five team but Indianapolis has to compete with several teams for the big prize. Plus, its defense, shaky for most of last season, may have regressed. The offense is still top notch but with all the distractions, competition and a loss of talent in certain places, the Colts will have a difficult time repeating.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Who’s the QB?
Byron Leftwich — or not. There were all kinds of offseason chatter that Leftwich was out and that the Jaguars were looking at quarterbacks, including Jake Plummer and Daunte Culpepper. But nothing happened. Leftwich has been pushed by David Garrard, who played when Leftwich was injured last year and Garrard will start the season behind center, but that could change later on, too.

Can Jack Del Rio keep his job?
If Jacksonville fails to make the playoffs, yes, he is likely gone. This is a talented roster and should be a playoff team. However, there have been some offensive issues — starting with the quarterback — that haven’t been addressed. And if those same problems plague the Jaguars, Del Rio will pay. There has been speculation that he doesn’t get along with ownership. If that's true, he must win.

Is Maurice Jones-Drew still a TD machine again?

Marc Serota / Getty Images Maurice Jones-Drew

Why not? The 2006 second-round pick from UCLA looks like a nice little player. He is a shifty, tough runner who gets a lot of his 5-7, 208-pound frame. He was a huge addition to the Jaguars’ offense last season with 13 touchdowns on 166 carries. Expect another big season. Yes, fantasy league players, take this guy early.

Is this team Super Bowl contender?
No. Some think the Jaguars have the AFC South's best talent, even more than the defending Super Bowl champion Colts. And the Jaguars have skills, especially on defense. That's one of the league's best. But their quarterback problems are big and for all their talent, they're not among the power teams of the AFC. Ultimately, this is a nice team that doesn’t have what to it takes to go the distance.

Tennessee Titans
Will Vince Young succeed in his second season?

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Vince Young

Big time. This guy is special. He will succeed this season and his entire career. Sure, the Titans don’t have much overall talent, but they have plenty at quarterback. Young single-handily changed the team's attitude after an 0-5 last season until Tennessee was was knocked out of the playoff picture on the final day of this season. Mark it down, Vince is special.

Can LenDale White stop eating and start running?
In just his second season, White already is at a crossroads. He's talented enough to be the starter should be. But ballooning weight and nagging injuries have dogged him since the 2006 draft. He was a star at USC. He can be an effective back. But he has been his own worst enemy. It’s early but it’s put up or shut up time for White.

Will ‘Pacman’ affect this team?
No. Jones has been a major distraction since he joined the team. But now that he is suspended — and do you really think he’ll ever be back — the Titans don’t have to worry about him anymore. The Titans will be asked often about Jones, but that won't matter. He's out of sight and out of mind.

Can this team contend?
No. Vince Young will make this team dangerous, but it lost a lot of talent starting with running back Travis Henry. Jeff Fisher is a great coach and has a superstar in Young. The future is bright and Tennessee will win its share of games this year, but not not nearly enough.

Houston Texans
Is Matt Schaub a bonafide starting quarterback?
Maybe, but don’t expect him to turn around the Texans’ right away. It’s a funny thing about Schaub. As soon as the Falcons traded him, the word around the league was that he wasn’t a top quarterback. Yet, when he was Michael Vick’s backup, he was considered a can’t-miss prospect — and the Falcons would like to have Schaub now. The truth is, we don’t know the answer because he has never been a starter. There is potential, but Schaub is far from can’t miss.

Will Mario Williams ever be worth the No. 1 pick?

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Mario Williams

No. Not even close. Williams may not even be a decent player. He was so-so as a rookie, and that assessment was only earned after a decent finish to the season. Williams is the type of player NFL scouts get fired over. He was inconsistent at North Carolina State, yet, he looks the part. Teams have to remember production is more than important a combine performance. Instead of Vince Young or Reggie Bush, the Texans went for a questionable defensive end.

Will Amobi Okoye have an instant impact?
Okoye was one of the draft's most intriguing players. He was just 19 when Houston took him 10th overall. The Louisville defensive tackle has a ton of potential and is a very bright player. He looks like a sure-fire standout. Expect some growing pains. But this kid should make early strides.

Does Ahman Green have anything left?
Not enough to make a big difference. The Packers didn’t try very hard to keep Green, even though they didn’t have any other answers at the spot. Green is 30, a ripe age for an NFL tailback. He had 1,059 yards last season, but he has missed 13 games the past two years. His durability has become an issue. Thirty-year-old runners don’t suddenly get healthier. This is a player on the way down.

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