2009 NFL PREVIEW- Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

2008 RECORD: 5-11
(4th in AFC South)

HEAD COACH: Jack Del Rio

Key Additions: WR Torry Holt (FA/Rams) OL Tra Thomas (FA/Eagles) QB Todd Bouman (FA/Ravens)

Key Losses: RB Fred Taylor (FA/Patriots) LB Mike Peterson (FA/Falcons) DE Paul Spicer (FA/Saints) WR Matt Jones (FA) WR Jerry Porter (FA) CB Drayton Florence (FA/Bills) WR Reggie Williams (FA)

Offense: Jacksonville's offense fell off dramatically in 2008, especially the running game as the tandem of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor wasn't packing quite the same punch in '08 than in previous years.
Taylor left via free agency and Jones-Drew will be the feature back after running for 824 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns in 2008. The fullback is Greg Jones, who will also act as a backup to Jones-Drew.
David Garrard returns for another season as quarterback after passing for 3,620 yards and 15 TDs and 13 interceptions last season. Garrard also rushed for 322 yards and scored two touchdowns in 2008.
The wide receivers will feature a whole new look for the 2009 season.
Torry Holt (64 catches for 796 yards and three touchdowns in '08) comes to Jacksonville after many stellar seasons with the St. Louis Rams. How much does Holt have left? The Jaguars are willing to see and will have Mike Walker and Dennis Northcutt lining up opposite Holt in 2009. The Tight End is Marcedes Lewis, who is starting to emerge as a consistent receiver and enjoyed a decent 2008 season by catching 41 passes for 489 yards and two TDs.
The offensive line is made up of center Brad Meester, guards Vince Manuwal and Maurice Williams and tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton.

Defense: The Jaguars' defense also fell off in 2008 as it slipped to 17th overall in the NFL, allowing 331 yards per game. Jacksonville also saw its run defense, so solid in past years, drop to 13th (107 yards allowed per game) in the league.
The Jags employ the 4-3 style and the defensive line will have Terrence Knighton and John Henderson at tackles and ends Reggie Hayward and Derrick Harvey.
Daryl Smith will anchor the linebacking corps in the middle and Clint Ingram and Justin Durant are the outside linebackers.
The cornerbacks are Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams. Sean Considine is the strong safety and Reggie Nelson is the free safety.
This unit (secondary) was lit up quite often in 2008, allowing 224 yards per game through the air. There were just 13 interceptions on defense and the pass rush was only able to generate 29 sacks for the season.
Jacksonville also allowed 367 points in '08, which was higher than previous seasons.

OUTLOOK: Jacksonville was a huge disappointment last year as many football fans figured they could be contenders for the Super Bowl.
Head Coach Jack Del Rio has to figure out a way to get the swagger back in his team in 2009.
This team seems to come alive after a down season and that has been the trend the past five or six seasons for the Jaguars.
There were a lot of changes in the off-season on offense and if Garrard and his new cast of receivers can connect quickly, it will be a great benefit for the team. Jones-Drew will have to carry the bulk of the load in the running game in '09 and that may be a concern for the team if he breaks down during the season. There is not a lot of depth at this position.
Defensively, the Jags have to pick it up and get after the quarterback to help out the secondary. They simply cannot allow opponents to pass at will against them in 2009, especially playing in the AFC South where Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Kerry Collins reside.
If Jacksonville can mesh offensively and the defense turns it around and plays the way it did in 2007 when the Jags battled hard into the second round of the playoffs, they can once again make a run at the playoffs.
The schedule is tough and the team has to prove itself all over again after making so many changes from last year.
The Jaguars should win more games, just not enough to get to the playoffs. A 7-9 finish would be more likely for the Jags than anything else this season.

TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Indianapolis (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Arizona (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Houston (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Tennessee (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Seattle (Oct. 11)
Week 6- vs. St. Louis (Oct. 18)
Week 7- BYE WEEK
Week 8- at Tennessee (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Kansas City (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at NY Jets (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. Buffalo (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at San Francisco (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. Houston (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Miami (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 17)
Week 16- at New England (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Cleveland (Jan. 3)

Grassley Voted For So-Called "Death Panel" In 2003

Grassley Voted For So-Called "Death Panel" In 2003

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SICK OF SEEING THESE INANE TOWN HALL PROTESTERS . . .

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2009 NFL PREVIEW- Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

2008 RECORD: 12-4
(2nd in AFC South)

HEAD COACH: Jim Caldwell

Key Additions: LB Adam Seward (FA/Panthers)

Key Losses: WR Marvin Harrison (FA) CB Keiwan Ratliff (FA/Steelers) RB Dominic Rhodes (FA/Bills)

Offense: Peyton Manning.
The name is synonymous with the Colts.
In 2009, Manning returns for his 12th season as Colts starting quarterback. In 2008, Manning was his usual brilliant self, throwing for 4,002 yards and 27 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions.
The wide receivers Manning throws to have changed a bit for the new season as Marvin Harrison, Manning's favorite target for many seasons, is no longer with the Colts.
Reggie Wayne is the man in Indianapolis now and comes off a solid season in which he caught 82 passes for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns.
Anthony Gonzalez is the "other" target and he had 57 catches (664 yards and four TDs) in 2008. Meanwhile, Dallas Clark returns as the primary Tight End after posting big numbers a year ago when he had 77 grabs for 848 yards and six touchdowns. Gijon Robinson is the "blocking" tight end for the Colts.
The running game sees Joseph Addai getting a much larger slice of the action as NFL '09 looms large.
Addai was banged up a year ago, but still managed to rush for 544 yards and five touchdowns. The Colts did not choose to re-sign Dominic Rhodes, who shuffled off to Buffalo, and Addai has to remain healthy if the Colts are to have a solid running game in 2009.
The backup running backs are Donald Brown (rookie draft pick from Connecticut), Mike Hart, Lance Ball and Chad Simpson.
The offensive line is intact as Jeff Saturday returns as the center. The guards are Ryan Lilja and Mike Pollak and the tackles are Tony Ugoh and Ryan Diem.

Defense: The Indianapolis defense has been vastly under rated for a few seasons now and they just do not get the same respect it seems as the offense does.
The Colts ranked 11th overall in total defense in 2008, allowing 311 yards per game, with the pass defense being the strength (188 yards allowed per game) of the team. The run defense was weak and allowed an average of 123 yards per game, which was 24th in the NFL.
Indy employs a 4-3 defense and up front will be tackles Keyunta Dawson and Fili Moala and ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, both of whom had double digit sack totals in 2008. Mathis led the Colts with 11.5 sacks while the incomparable Freeney had 10.5 sacks.
The linebackers are solid and feature Gary Brackett in the middle with Phillip Wheeler and Clint Session on the outside.
Defensive front subs include Raheem Brock, Antonio Johnson, Eric Foster and Marcus Howard. Backup linebackers are Adam Seward, Tyjuan Hagler and Jordan Senn.
The defensive backs are top notch, evidenced by their overall ranking against the pass in '08.
Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden are the cornerbacks and the safeties are Antoine Bethea (free) and strong safety Bob Sanders.
The defense also finished at seventh in the NFL in points allowed, giving up just 298 points for the 2008 season.

OUTLOOK: The Colts will likely battle Tennessee once again for the AFC South division title after giving up their reign as division champions. The Colts need to figure out how to advance in the post-season as they have lost in their first playoff game for the last two seasons.
Manning and company will continue to move the football and score points. They led the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage in '08, so scoring is not a problem.
The running game has to improve though as the Colts ranked next to last place in the NFL in rushing a year ago and if Addai can bounce back, that would definitely help.
The defense is solid and has actually been a positive force the past few seasons, in particular during the Colts' post-season run following 2006 when they won Super Bowl XLI.
New Head Coach Jim Caldwell takes over for the retired Tony Dungy and has a lot to look forward to in the 2009 season.
The Colts know they can make another run toward the Super Bowl but they no longer have the capacity they once did to strike fear into their opponents come game day.
This is fast becoming a veteran (or aging) team that knows how to win in the regular season, but not in the post-season.
For the Colts to go further in the post-season, they have to put it together the way they do for 16 games. They seem to shoot themselves in the foot for whatever reason come playoff time the past two seasons.
Can they get back to the Super Bowl?
Perhaps, but it's doubtful it will happen this year, what with defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, New England and San Diego (the team that has knocked them out of the playoffs two years in a row) looming in the AFC.
Not to mention the Colts are going to be in a dog fight all season long in their own division with Tennessee, Jacksonville and Houston.
The Colts will likely make the playoffs again after going 11-5 but, just like the past two seasons, will not make it to the big game.

TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Jacksonville (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at Miami (Sept. 21)
Week 3- at Arizona (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Seattle (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Tennessee (Oct. 11)
Week 6- BYE WEEK
Week 7- at St. Louis (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. San Francisco (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Houston (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. New England (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Baltimore (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Houston (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. Tennessee (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Denver (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Jacksonville (Dec. 17)
Week 16- vs. NY Jets (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Buffalo (Jan. 3)

Jared Bernstein: This Time, We Can't Leave the Middle Class Behind

Jared Bernstein: This Time, We Can't Leave the Middle Class Behind

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2009 NFL PREVIEW- Houston Texans

HOUSTON TEXANS

2008 RECORD: 8-8
(3rd in AFC South)

HEAD COACH: Gary Kubiak

Key Additions: DL Antonio Smith (FA/Cardinals) QB Dan Orlovsky (FA/Lions) LB Cato June (FA/Buccaneers)

Key Losses: QB Sage Rosenfels (trade/Vikings) DB C.C. Brown (FA/Giants) CB Demarcus Faggins (FA/Titans) RB Ahman Green (FA)

Offense: Quarterback Matt Schaub had a breakout season of sorts for the Texans in 2008 after throwing for 3,043 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with 10 interceptions. Schaub ranked fourth in the AFC in passing and will be back again in '09 as the starter.
Running back Steve Slaton also burst onto the NFL scene in 2008 by rushing for 1,282 yards for a 4.8 ypc average and nine touchdowns. Vonta Leach is the fullback and provides solid lead blocking for Slaton and gets an occasional carry as well. The backup to Slaton is Ryan Moats.
The wide receivers are led by Andre Johnson, who led the NFL in receiving with 115 catches for 1,575 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Kevin Walter made 60 catches for 899 yards (15.0 ypc average) and scored eight touchdowns. Andre Davis and David Anderson are the backups and the Tight End is Owen Daniels.
Daniels had 70 catches for 862 yards and two TDs in '08 and is backed up by Joel Dreesen.
The offensive line has center Chris Myers, guards Chester Pitts and Mike Brisiel and tackles Eric Winston and Duane Brown starting and versatile Rashad Butler and Antoine Caldwell are reliable substitutes.
The offense is solid and ranked third overall in the NFL in 2008 and fourth in passing with 280 yards passing per game. The rushing attack was 13th overall (115 yards per game).

Defense: This is an area that needs to improve if the Texans are going to get over the hump and make a serious run at the playoffs.
Houston ranked 22nd overall on defense last year, giving up 347 yards per game while allowing 123 yards on the ground and 224 through the air. They also allowed 394 total points, which placed them at 27th in the league.
The defensive front has Mario Williams (12 sacks in '08) at Right Defensive End and newcomer Antonio Smith coming over from Arizona via free agency at the left end spot. The defensive tackles are Travis Johnson and Amobi Okoye.
The linebackers are DeMeco Ryans (middle LB) and outside backers Zac Diles and Xavier Adibi. Free agent Cato June comes over from Tampa Bay and adds depth to the unit.
The secondary includes safeties Eugene Wilson and Dominique Barber and cornerbacks Jacques Reeves and Dunta Robinson. Reeves led the Texans with four interceptions last season as the team managed just 12 for the season.
Rookies Brian Cushing (linebacker from USC) and Connor Barwin (DE from Cincinnati) were drafted high for a reason and will get their chances to help improve the Texans' defense.

OUTLOOK: The Texans finished .500 in 2008 and out of the basement in the AFC South however, a return there would be no real surprise as the Colts, Titans and Jaguars are always ready to play.
Houston Head Coach Gary Kubiak has a solid offense to build around with Schaub, Johnson and Slaton in the mix.
The defense has a lot to prove as 2009 gets going.
If the Texans can get a better pass rush (the team had only 25 sacks in 2008) and get more picks from the secondary, that would bode well as the offense would have more opportunities to put up points.
Houston showed they can play against the Colts, who up until last season, was THE perennial power in the AFC South. The Texans lost two very close games to Indy and they know they can compete after getting off to a 0-4 start in '08 before coming back to finish at 8-8.
The key for success in '09 will be overall consistency and improvement from the defense.
A playoff spot? Maybe. The Falcons and Dolphins showed the turnaround can be quick, so why not Houston?
The answer to that question remains to be seen and it's likely the Texans may need more time to get there. Look for Houston to go 7-9 in '09 and look forward to better things in the future.

TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1-vs. NY Jets (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at Tennessee (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Jacksonville (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Oakland (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Arizona (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at Cincinnati (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. San Francisco (Oct. 25)
Week 8- at Buffalo (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at Indianapolis (Nov. 8)
Week 10- BYE WEEK
Week 11- vs. Tennessee (Nov. 23)
Week 12- vs. Indianapolis (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Jacksonville (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Seattle (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at St. Louis (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Miami (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. New England (Jan. 3)