The Tennessee Titans have several needs in this weekend’s draft, but then again nearly every team does. Even current superpowers the Patriots and Rams have ways to improve themselves this weekend.
With the NFL realigning into eight four-team divisions, the Titans have new surroundings this season in the AFC South. And judging from the results of 2001, the AFC South was the weakest of any of the eight divisions.
None of the three experienced teams — Tennessee, Indianapolis or Jacksonville — finished with a winning record. The fourth team is the expansion Houston Texans.
All three of the Titans’ new rivals will be looking to make major strides toward improving through this year’s draft.
Let’s take a look at what some of the Titans’ new division opponents might be doing this weekend.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts brought in Tony Dungy as head coach for one specific reason — to upgrade the defense to a point where this teams’ high-powered offense can take it to a Super Bowl.
After going 13-3 in 1999 on the shoulders of quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Edgerrin James and receiver Marvin Harrison, the Colts have dropped off every year going 10-6 and then 6-10, with the final year costing Jim Mora his job.
The Colts’ (and Mora’s) downfall came because in that three-year span, the Indianapolis defense went from passable to porous.
Dungy comes over after being fired from Tampa Bay for the exact opposite reasons of Mora. Dungy’s Bucs were always strong defensively, but featured an offense only slightly more exciting than watching all seven rounds of this weekend’s draft.
Armed now with the capable offense he never had in Tampa, Dungy’s only mission (other than resisting the temptation to rein in the offense) is to build a defense in Indianapolis.
Dungy has already started the process, signing former Titans linebacker Greg Favors and ex-Bears cornerback Walt Harris. But there is still more work to be done and lots of players who can help the Colts not only in the first round at No. 11, but also the majority of their eight picks on defensive players. That is Dungy’s style anyway and the Colts need more help there than anywhere else.
Houston Texans
What do you give the team that needs everything? The Texans have already locked up quarterback David Carr, the man they hope to build the franchise around, with the first pick.
In all, the Texans have 14 choices in the draft. They have the first pick in every round, plus the 18th selection in every round except the first and also have the 50th pick of the seventh round.
Considering coach Dom Capers and GM Charley Casserly are building a team from the ground up, they’ll need those 14 choices.
The Texans will play Capers’ 3-4 defense, so that means they’ll need big defensive tackles. The four hot tackle prospects will be gone by the time round two opens, but there still should be quality to be had at that spot throughout the first day of the selections.
Linebackers who can blitz, but also fare well in coverage will be needed to execute Capers’ zone blitz scheme. The Texans added Jay Foreman, a former starter in Buffalo on Wednesday. However, a quick glance at the Houston roster would indicate that more linebacker depth and an upgrade in the secondary (except for cornerback Marcus Coleman) are needed.
Offensively, James Allen will carry the load at running back, but adding another runner is certainly not out of the question. The draft is deep at receiver and adding a quality player or two there to complement Corey Bradford and Jermaine Lewis is likely.
The Texans addressed most of their offensive line needs in the expanson draft and in free agency. Some rookies will be brought on board for depth purposes, however.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The cocky Jaguars of 1999 who talked the talk, but could never convince the Titans they were the stronger team are all but gone.
Salary cap troubles and talk of dissention in the ranks have pretty much reduced the Jaguars to rubble. In fact, there are those who say that by opening day in September that Jacksonville’s roster will more closely resemble an expansion team than Houston’s.
That means it’s time for coach Tom Coughlin to rebuild. The Jags have already shed themselves of former stars Tony Boselli, Gary Walker and Kevin Hardy among others, and Keenan McCardell might not be far behind. There is even talk that quarterback Mark Brunell and oft-injured running back Fred Taylor could be had for the right offers.
Picking ninth in the first round, the Jags will get the opportunity to help themselves with an impact player. Considering that they need help in a number of areas, if one of the prize defensive tackles or safety Roy Williams is there, those players could make an immediate impact. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon of Miami has also been mentioned.
One question to ponder is this, if Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington is on the board at No. 9, would the Jags take him and begin building for the future. Brunell will be 32 this season and likely will be 35 by the time this team is ready to contend again. Provided he could stay healthy, Brunell would be quite the catch for some team only a quarterback away from a playoff run either this year or next.
In all, the Jaguars have eight picks in the draft and with as many holes as they have, probably wish they had three or four more.