Going in right direction
AFC South has look of much better division after big moves
The AFC South may not be the worst division in the NFL next season.
Based on what has happened in free agency and what could transpire in the draft, the AFC South could be the league’s most improved division.
No matter how much better the division is, the AFC South should be much more competitive as Jacksonville and Tennessee close the distance between the Texans and Indianapolis.
“Everybody’s trying to get better, and everybody’s improved,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Every year’s different, and that’s what makes it such an exciting league.”
The Texans won the division with a 9-7 record last season.
Indianapolis had owned the division since quarterback Andrew Luck was drafted first overall in 2012, but the Colts couldn’t recover from his season-ending injuries last season and finished 8-8.
Jacksonville was third with a 5-11 record, and Tennessee earned the first overall pick in the draft by finishing 3-13.
After trading for running back DeMarco Murray and signing seven free agents, new Titans general manager Jon Robinson pulled off the trade of the year. Change at the top
The Titans traded the top pick to St. Louis. Now they have six picks in the first three rounds and nine overall.
“Tennessee has made some big acquisitions,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said.
One reason for improvement is stability. No coach was fired.
Pagano enters his fifth season. Gus Bradley (Jaguars) is in his fourth season, O’Brien his third.
Mike Mularkey (Titans) was elevated last season to replace the fired Ken Whisenhunt and was hired full time after the season. Tennessee is his third head coaching job after Buffalo and Jacksonville.
“I’m not sure there’s anything more important in the organization than the stability of the coaching staff,” O’Brien said.
The AFC South was one of three divisions not to undergo a head coaching change.
Another factor that should figure prominently into the division’s improvement is quarterback.
The Colts (Luck), Jaguars (Blake Bortles) and Titans (Marcus Mariota) have players they believe are franchise quarterbacks. The Texans believe they found theirs in Brock Osweiler.
“The stability at that position is very, very important,” O’Brien said. “When you have a guy like Andrew, he had some tough injuries. That’s tough. That’s your guy.
“There are some inconsistencies (with backups). It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just the way it is. You have to be able to deal with those things. Consistency at quarterback is a big, big priority.”
Bradley agreed.
“It starts at quarterback,” he said. “Now you’re seeing the (AFC South) teams have quarterbacks, and (we’re) building around them.”
Every team but Indianapolis improved in free agency. Jaguars busy
The Jaguars signed a possible five starters, including defensive end Malik Jackson. They also welcome back defensive end Dante Fowler, the third overall pick last year who suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of minicamp.
The Jaguars have the fifth overall pick this year and can add to what should be a formidable defense.
“It has gotten better,” Mularkey said about the division. “A lot of big signings in free agency, a lot of teams filled needs they needed to with some very good players.
“I think it’s gone up a notch as far as how competitive it’s going to be.”