Since the end of the Steve McNair era in Tennessee, the Colts have ruled supreme in the AFC South. Peyton Manning has been to two Super Bowls and won one, and they don’t show many signs of slowing down this season with that ultra-productive offense.
However, the Texans have some outstanding offensive pieces themselves, and the Titans have one of the top running back’s and top running quarterback’s in the NFL, and an always physical defense.
Because the conference has lots of talent on the offensive side of the ball, the defense is the focus of the position battles leading up to training camp. And while a few receiver battles loom, the front seven seems to be the most intriguing area of the AFC West’s position competitions.
Indianapolis Colts
Pierre Garcon vs. Austin Collie
Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez are likely the starters on the outside for the Colts, but it is well known that the 3rd receiver is a healthy contributor to this offense. Both Garcon and Collie have emerged as legitimate threats for this team in the past, with both performing at starting level at points in their short careers.
If they plan on using Anthony Gonzalez in the slot like he played when he was with Harrison and Wayne, they could use Garcon because of his speed and separation ability. However, if they feel comfortable that Gonzalez can play on the outside, they could use the more sure-handed Collie in the slot. My bets on Collie because he’s so consistent, but Garcon’s playmaking ability makes him tough to bet against with a quarterback like Peyton Manning.
Daniel Muir vs. Fili Moala
Relatively known for the most part, Daniel Muir started the last 11 games for the Colts last season and while he didn’t light up the stat book, he played well enough to retain the starting job. He’s not the long term answer at all for the Colts, but he might be their best option for now.
Fili Moalawas once viewed as a first round talent, but after a disappointing senior season and so far a weak showing in the NFL, he may not be viewed as a starter either. He likely was in the teams plan as they try to maintain what has become a respectable unit, but with Moala and most of the defensive tackles they’ve brought in, there has been major inconsistencies and no sure winners.
Melvin Bullitt vs. Jamie Silva
Bob Sanders has been outstanding when he’s been on the field, but he’s been anything but healthy. Now faced with a serious bicep injury that has bothered him for years now, Sanders future as an NFL player has come into question. He looks as though he will be able to go to training camp and start the season, but as any Colts fans, it’s definitely necessary to find a possible replacement on the team.
Neither Melvin Bullit or Jamie Silva are what you would call an adequate replacement, but both can fill in if necessary. Bullit started 15 games last season at safety and finished the season with 77 tackles. However, the lack of playmaking ability in coverage make him upgradeable if possible. Jamie Silva has been a favorite of mine since his days at Boston College, and he was a do-it-all safety then and has the ability to be that in the future. It looks as though Bullit is going to be the starter if (when) Bob Sanders goes down, but I think Silva has a chance if he performs well at camp this year.
Houston Texans
Arian Foster vs. Steve Slaton vs. Ben Tate
In what has become a surprising battles, reports are that Arian Foster may actually be winning in the battle between a late round pick and a former rookie of the year contender. In Slaton’s rookie season, he looked like a steal andproved that he should have beena fringe 1st rounder like many projected. However, after 433 yards in his second season, he isn’t ingrained as the start one bit.
Foster is a little bigger back and his ability to finish off a drive with his power or pick up the necessary yards make him at the very least a good complement to the speedier Slaton. But, with 2nd rounder Ben Tate now in the mix, both Foster and Slaton could be in for quite a battles in training camp.Tate’s more complete than both players and is a great fit for Gary Kubiak’s system. As of now, I’ll take Slaton, but Foster will be the red-zone guy, and by season’s end, it could be Tate’s job altogether.
Zach Diles vs. Xavier Adibi
Both Diles and Adibi have been battles for playing time since they both came in the league. However, this year it looks as though they could be battling for a starting job.
The right outside linebacker job is wide open, and outside of rookie Darryl Sharpton, who I wasn’t all that high on in the draft, the job will come down to Adibi and Diles. Diles has more in-game experience and had 62 tackles compared to 11 by Adibi. I have always viewed Adibi as more of a complete linebacker because of his ability to blitz better off the edge and move sideline to sideline, while Diles is more of a consistent tackler who’s more stationary. Adibi is slotted as the starter for now, but Diles should be in stiff competition all off-season.
Glover Quin vs. Jacque Reeves vs. Brice McCain vs. Kareem Jackson vs. Fred Bennett
In a five way battles for four spots, two starting, there isn’t a favorite in my opinion. Quin played the most of all of the cornerbacks, but without an interception in 2009, he is not a lock to retain his starting job.
Reeves andBennett are the more experience of the remaining four. Reeves has bounced around the league and has been viewed multiple times as a 3rd cornerback who can start, but has yet to secure a starting gig anywhere he’s been. Bennett has been a disappointment in my eyes since he was drafted out of South Carolina, and I felt he could really develop in the Texans system.
McCain has been a pleasant surprise for this team since being drafted two season ago, andmay actually be one of the favorites to be a starter. However, he could be more of a stop-gap starter until this year’s 1st round pick Kareem Jackson is ready to go. I wasn’t high on Jackson coming in, but reports I’ve heard say that the Texans still feel he’ll develop into a shutdown cornerback. It looks like Jackson is the future, with Quinn and McCain the favorites to be his co-piolet by season’s end.
Tennessee Titans
Justin Gage vs. Kenny Britt vs. Nate Washington vs. Damian Williams
Usually when you have a four way battles for your top receiver, your not in good shape. With Vince Young at quarterback, the receiving corps doesn’t need to be outstanding because he’s more of a creater than a drop back passer, but it does need to have the ability to get open and have consistent hands.
If hands were the only factor, then it would be Justin Gate and Nate Washington for sure. Gage is slotted as the top guy as of now, and he is the most experienced and has been a solid contriubtor for this team in the past. Washington was brought in last season and while he hasn’t lived up to starting expectations consistently, he’s a stable receiver.
Kenny Britt came on last season at times, but his sketchy hands and lack of developed route running means he has some work to do to lock-up a starting job. Rookie Damian Williams is the best deep threat of the group, but he isn’t that close to be a number one guy. He could develop into a nice deep slot man for this team.
David Thorton vs. Rennie Curran
Since coming over from Indianapolis, Thorton has been a perfect fit for this defense and has been a solid starter, averaging just under 100 tackles the past three seasons.
However, coming off a shoulder injury that could hamper him until well into the pre-season could open the door for rookie and perfect fit in the defense Rennie Curran. Curran is a bit undersized, like Thorton, but has a non-stop motor and is a relentless tackler. On film he didn’t show he was entirely NFL ready when it came to coverages and blitzes, but in the Titans offense, blitzes aren’t asked much and he’s athletic enough to drop back. For now, it’s Thorton’s job, but Curran could turn heads and challenge Thorton by Week One.
Jason McCourtey vs. Alterraun Verner vs. Ryan Mouton
With Nick Harper out of the picture, the cornerbackspot opposite Cortland Finnegan is a position where the Titans need to find a playmaker. The Titans system is based around press coverage from the cornerbacks and taking advantage of off-balance quarterbacks.
McCourtey played last year andsurprisingly played well enough to be named the starter to begin training camp for the Titans. However, he’s like his brother, Devin (1st rounder for New England this year) in that he’s adequate at everything but not great in any one area. McCourtey isn’t a guy that, so far, I would want to be my long term starter.
Verner and Mouton are both very young, with Verner being a physically, bigger sized cornerback and Mouton being a more aggresive type of cornerback. Because of Verner’s size and ball skills, I might give him the edge, and he could overtake McCourtey sometime during the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars 
Jarett Dillard vs. Troy Williamson vs. Kassim Osgood vs. Tiquan Underwood
In a battle to be the team’s 3rd receiver, the Jaguars can’t be happy that this is their crop to choose from. Williamson is a former bust, Osgood is a former special-teamer, and Dillard and Underwood are very unproven.
As of now, Dillard has to be the favorite because he is the prototypical slot receiver. He’s quick out of his breaks, he has reliable hands, and enough speed to make a team pay for a missed coverage. Osgood was basically promised a near starting job, but it looks like he may have his hands full getting any playing time at all.
Williamson, though not consistent at all, is a speed receiver who can get vertical, and can help this team on special teams. And while Underwood is the likely odd-man out, he has shown the past few years in training camp and pre-season that he is an NFL receiver.
Derrick Harvey vs. Reggie Heyward vs. Austen Lane
The Jaguars are in the process of switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4, and they need versatile type players. In this battle, it may come down to scheme over overall talent.
Derrick Harvey was a reach at #8 when the Jaguars selected him two years ago, and has yet to prove any doubters wrong. The talent is still there, but he’s one more non-starting season from being possibly off the team. Reggie Heyward can still be productive and is likely their safe bet if they want to move him to 3-4 defensive end.
Austen Lane was one of my favorite sleepers in the 2010 NFL draft, and at 6’6, 270, he’s a great fit for either a power 3-4 outside linebacker or, in this case, a long 3-4 defensive end. He’s still a bit raw and will have to adjust to NFL schemes and competition, but he’s got the most upside at this position.
Terrence Knighton vs. D’Anthony Smith
For all the 1st round mistakes the Jaguars have made over the past few years, finding Derek Cox and Terrence Knighton in the 2009 draft was huge to maintain their defense. Knighton hasn’t been a Pro Bowl player as of now, but he has ingrained himself as a starter and played well enough to earn the starting job coming into 2010.
However, they added rookie D’Anthony Smith from Louisiana Tech in the draft, and he’s a great fit for the nose tackle slot in this scheme. Though he’s young and likely not who they want to be the answer moving forward, Knighton will need to learn the 3-4 nose tackle position before he’s given the starting job automatically.
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