AFC South outlook
HOUSTON

LAST SEASON: Coach Dom Capers and general manager Charley Casserly spent the season studying and planning for the expansion and college drafts. They built an offensive line centered on tackle Tony Boselli in the expansion draft. Quarterback David Carr, No. 1 overall, was the centerpiece of the college draft.

ADDITIONS: Everyone. Cornerbacks Marcus Coleman and Aaron Glenn and linebackers Kailee Wong and Jamie Sharper give the defense experience. Carr hopes to have good targets in Corey Bradford, second round draft pick Jabar Gaffney and Jermaine Lewis.

SUBTRACTIONS: To be announced.

WATCH FOR: Carr to move up quickly, possibly starting by opening day. The Texans didn't spend big on running backs and expect James Allen to step into the job.

EXPECTATIONS: The name players obtained in the expansion draft and the presence of Carr have fans expecting the moon. Capers is more practical — the Texans are still learning each other's first names.

HOUSTON TEXANS

  • Sep. 8 Dallas, 2:30 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at San Diego, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Indianapolis, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Philadelphia, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Open date
  • Oct. 13 Buffalo, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 at Cleveland, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 at Jacksonville, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Jacksonville, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 NY Giants, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Indianapolis, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 Tennessee, 8 a.m.

TENNESSEE

LAST SEASON: Injuries tumbled the Titans to their first losing season under coach Jeff Fisher and out of the playoffs a year after a 13-3 season, best in the NFL.

ADDITIONS: FS Lance Schulters, FB Greg Comella, RBs Robert Holcombe and Skip Hicks and OLs Jeff Smith and Aaron Graham.

SUBRACTIONS: OL Bruce Matthews retired after 19 seasons. SS Blaine Bishop, CBs DeRon Jenkins and Michael Booker, DTs Jason Fisk and Josh Evans, and LBs Eddie Robinson and Greg Favors.

WATCH FOR: DE Kevin Carter is ready to redeem himself after a two-sack season in 2001.

EXPECTATIONS: Favorite to win the new (and weak) AFC South.

TENNESSEE TITANS

  • Sep. 8 Philadelphia, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Dallas, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Cleveland, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Oakland, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Washington, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Jacksonville, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Open date
  • Oct. 27 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Houston, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 16 New England, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at Houston, 8 a.m.

JACKSONVILLE

LAST SEASON: Injuries, distractions and blown leads turned a 2-0 start into the team's second straight losing season.

ADDITIONS: WRs Bobby Shaw and Patrick Johnson; TE Pete Mitchell; DE Marco Coleman; OL Chris Naeole; LB Wali Rainer.

SUBTRACTIONS: OT Tony Boselli; WR Keenan McCardell; DTs Gary Walker and Seth Payne; LB Hardy Nickerson; DE Renaldo Wynn; K Mike Hollis; CB Aaron Beasley.

WATCH FOR: RB Fred Taylor's health will be a key. Underpaid WR Jimmy Smith will play with a chip on his shoulder. New starting CB Jason Craft must show he was worth big raise he got in the offseason.

EXPECTATIONS: After watching New England win it all with an overturned roster, the Jaguars think they can do it, too. A more realistic goal would be 8-8 at best.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

  • Sep. 8 Indianapolis, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Kansas City, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Open date
  • Sep. 29 New York Jets, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Philadelphia, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Tennessee, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 at Baltimore, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Houston, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at NY Giants, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 10 Washington, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Houston, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Cleveland, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at Indianapolis, 11:05 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS

LAST SEASON: Lost seven of 10 games after RB Edgerrin James went down with a season-ending knee injury. Missed playoffs for the first time in three years. Coach Jim Mora was fired, and Tony Dungy replaced him.

ADDITIONS: CB Walt Harris, WR Qadry Ismai plus DLs Dwight Freeney and Larry Tripplett, top draft picks.

SUBTRACTIONS: CB Jeff Burris, S Chad Cota, TE Ken Dilger, G Steve McKinney.

WATCH FOR: Improved defense with return of injured LBs Mike Peterson and Rob Morris. But the Colts fortunes may rest on James' recovery and the impact of their first two draft picks — Freeney, a speed rusher, and Tripplett, a run-stuffer.

EXPECTATIONS: If Dungy succeeds in improving the defense, and James recovers, the Colts should get back in the playoffs.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

  • Sep. 8 at Jacksonville, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Miami, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Houston, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Open date
  • Oct. 6 Cincinnati, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Baltimore, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 21 at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 27 at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 3 Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Philadelphia, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Denver, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 1 Houston, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Cleveland, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 Jacksonville, 11:05 a.m.

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