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Houston Texans

The Texans don't plan to hand the starting kicker's spot to rookie Randy Bullock, drafted out of Texas A&M in the fifth round. Rather, special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano told SportsRadio 610, Bullock will have to beat out veteran Shayne Graham. "He has to compete to make the team first," Marciano said, per the team's official site. "If he can beat Shayne out, then I think he’s going to be very good for us."

Defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo, a free-agent signee from BYU, hopes to impress coaches during upcoming rookie camps. “I’m excited to compete with a top-notch offense and defense,” Fangupo said. “I’m ready to learn all I can from coaches and players, and I believe being able to compete with such great players can help my game tremendously.”

Indianapolis Colts

Owner Jim Irsay, on Twitter, said he sees the franchise "taking shape" and that the Colts' defensive front seven "could impress" in the new 3-4 defensive scheme.

Indianapolis grabbed tight end Andre Smith off waivers from the Bears; he's expected to be part of new coordinator Bruce Arians' five-tight end offense, Brad Wells notes for Stampede Blue. The Colts also waived cornerback Mike Holmes.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, absent from the Jaguars' voluntary workouts, wants a contract extension, coach Mike Mularkey said. "I wish he was here. He knows we wish he was here," Mularkey said. "His teammates have talked to him about it. It's a personal decision. There's nothing I can do about it."

Tuesday's first day of organized team activities saw Jacksonville's first-round draft pick, receiver Justin Blackmon, going full speed with quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the first team, according to the Jags' official site. A sore foot that bothered Blackmon during rookie minicamps seems to have been helped by new cleats.

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton apologized Tuesday for the club incident last month in which he suffered an eye injury that has kept him out of offseason workouts. Knighton said the vision in his injured eye has improved substantially. “It’s progressing a lot faster than they thought it would,” Knighton said. “I plan on being ready by training camp."

Tennessee Titans

A number of players, including quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker, have signed on for coach Mike Munchak's "Strikes to Stop Diabetes" charity bowling event, set for June 14. The tournament will pair a Titans player or coach with a four-person team, with proceeds going to the American Diabetes Association, the team's site reports.

Center William Vlachos, a free-agent signee from Alabama, has been impressed with the Titans' O-line after doing some film study. “I've been watching film for a couple days and my jaw's on the floor,” Vlachos said. “They're just so physical, the effort they bring every play is outstanding.”

1. Houston Texans: Wade Phillips did some great things with this defense a year ago. But he’s not the only member of the Texans’ organization who deserves credit for an incredibly improved defense from 2010 to 2011. Houston’s front office was very aggressive in addressing the defensive side of the ball last offseason. Now, Houston has big-time players at each level of its 3-4 defense.

For those who don’t yet know, J.J. Watt immediately established himself as one of the up-and-coming defensive players in this league. Not only is Watt is a fantastic hustle player, but he has ideal size and length for his 3-4 defensive end position to go with well above-average athletic ability. Watt will be a star. Like Watt, Brian Cushing did everything asked of him really well from his inside linebacker spot last season and has established himself as one of the better second-level defenders in the league.

Before last season, the Texans paid a premium to sign him, but simply put, Johnathan Joseph is one of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL today. He is the total package and probably the best player on this excellent defense -- which is really saying something. The Texans could use one more cover man to step up, though. Overall, Houston is well-equipped in coverage and of course the pass rush helped a lot in that capacity.

Maybe what the Texans’ defense did best in Phillips’ first year was rushing the quarterback -- even without Mario Williams for much of the season. The Texans did add Whitney Mercilus to further enhance their threat off the edge and Connor Barwin could be knocking on the door of stardom.

Besides the first-round selection of Mercilus, who is in an ideal position to learn the outside linebacker position slowly, the Texans mostly stuck to improving their offense in the draft. However, Houston did land an intriguing prospect to play behind Watt and the underrated Antonio Smith in late fourth-round pick Jared Crick, who is an ideal fit for this defensive scheme. Only the Steelers, 49ers and Raves allowed fewer points than Houston last year. Don’t expect much of a drop-off this year.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: The AFC South has a shot to have two top-five defenses in 2012. Mike Malarkey takes over as the Jaguars’ head coach, but his focus will be getting quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s career straightened out and improving a dismal Jacksonville passing game.

The defense will be in Mel Tucker’s hands. Tucker wants a fast-flowing, physical and aggressive defense that doesn’t blitz a lot and gets most of its pressure from the defensive linemen. The Jaguars found a gem in Jeremy Mincey, who’s excelled in all facets of playing defensive end in their 4-3 scheme. But this defense really lacked a complementary end to Mincey, especially as a pass-rusher. Jacksonville used the No. 38 pick in this year’s draft on Andre Branch, who could help immediately on passing downs but offers little against the run.

One guy who let this defense down last season is Tyson Alualu, who really had a down 2011 season in all regards. Still, only three teams bettered Jacksonville in rushing yards allowed per attempt in 2011. A vastly underrated positional group in the NFL is the Jaguars’ linebacker corps, especially Daryl Smith, who does everything well on the second level. Paul Posluszny isn’t much behind Smith and was a fine addition to Jacksonville’s defense in free agency a year ago. The Jags’ secondary lacks star power but it is pretty solid at each position. The Jaguars were 10th in the league in points allowed last year. They could improve upon that in 2012.

3. Tennessee Titans: There isn’t a lot of star power here, but the Titans are very young on defense and could be poised to improve. Youngsters Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug, Alterraun Verner, Jason McCourty and others are much better players than many casual NFL fans know. Third-round pick Mike Martin should be the perfect complement to the run-stuffing Casey and the lighter pass-rushing Klug in the Titans’ defensive tackle rotation.

The Titans’ pass rush was a huge problem last season, as only Tampa Bay recorded fewer sacks than Tennessee, but it should be much better this year, especially with the addition of Kamerion Wimbley. Former first-round pick Derrick Morgan also should finally be healthy. This is a key season for Morgan -- and the Titans need more from him.

On the second level, the Titans are now very young and active. Colin McCarthy is a tackling machine and should quickly establish himself as a leader of this defense. Tennessee lost Cortland Finnegan to the Rams in free agency, but overall, their coverage people were above average last season -- despite that suspect pass rush. Finnegan had an excellent season, though, and will be difficult to replace.

The Titans look to be improved up front in their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, but not as strong on the back end in coverage. Only seven teams allowed fewer points than Tennessee during the 2011 season. Maintaining that standard could be difficult, but overall, this is a pretty solid group in just about all areas.

4. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts might have the worst defense in the NFL this season. Their run defense was abysmal last season. Indianapolis has nowhere to go but up in this department and additions such as Cory Redding, Brandon McKinney and Josh Chapman should help shore up the run defense at the line of scrimmage. Still, such a drastic scheme change really leaves Indianapolis in a bind on this side of the ball for 2012.

Although the Colts surely will not be playing with the lead as much as they did when Peyton Manning was behind center, the edge pass-rush presence of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis should still rank among the best in the NFL. Mathis was probably the Colts’ best defensive player last season. He can still get it done. I believe the same is true with Freeney. As good as Freeney and Mathis still are, just the Titans and Buccaneers sacked opposing quarterbacks less than Indianapolis.

Besides Freeney and Mathis, Pat Angerer and especially Antoine Bethea are above-average starters for their respective positions. But outside of these four, the remaining prevalent members of the Colts’ defense are littered with flaws. One player I am very high on is Drake Nevis, but Nevis was drafted to be an upfield disruptive three-technique. The problem here is that if Indianapolis goes with a predominantly 3-4 alignment, Nevis’ great penetrating abilities could be wasted. That is the problem with switching schemes -- players from the former philosophy aren’t well-suited for what the new coaching staff has in mind. This applies to many members of the Colts’ defense, which up until now was a fast-flowing undersized unit built on speed. Now this unit will be building to be much like what Chuck Pagano coached in Baltimore -- and Nevis is one of many examples of the problems with making such a change.

The Colts were not strong at all in coverage last year -- and it doesn’t look as though they will be much improved in 2012. They are particularly weak at cornerback. Indianapolis also had the fewest interceptions in the league last year. Pagano and his defensive staff will be more creative with their looks and pressures, which he hopes will leads to more turnovers created. Getting more Ravens-type of defensive players will be a massive priority for Indianapolis next offseason.

Houston Texans

Houston has signed five members of its 2012 draft class: center Ben Jones, receiver Keshawn Martin, defensive end Jared Crick, kicker Randy Bullock and tackle Nick Mondek.

Coach Gary Kubiak told James Casey that the team plans to use him as both a fullback and tight end this season, reports the Houston Chronicle's John McClain. "He’s going to play everywhere,” Kubiak said. “He’s our starting fullback. He’s a starting [tight end] if we go to two tights. It’s still about versatility with James.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts begin organized team activities Tuesday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Complex.

The Colts suffered more than their fair share of injuries in 2011, continuing a trend going back to 2006, writes Stampede Blue's Brad Wells.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coach Mike Mularkey likes Blaine Gabbert's ability to deal with criticism, something he had to do a lot during his rookie season. Mularkey: "I give him credit for handling the negativity -- I haven't seen it affect him."

With Josh Scobee out in a contract impasse, the Jaguars signed former Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu for a look during OTAs, which begin Tuesday.

Scobee and running back Maurice Jones-Drew are not expected to attend OTAs, reports the Florida Times-Union's Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans reportedly hosted veteran safeties Yeremiah Bell and Chris Crocker on Tuesday, reports the Tennessean's Jim Wyatt.

Coach Mike Munchak said receiver Kenny Britt, who's recovering from ACL and MCL surgery, may need a second procedure on his knee before he's ready to play this season, reports Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.

Kicker Rob Bironas, coming off one of his best seasons, credits his consistency on the field to plenty of rest off of it, writes Wyatt.

Houston Texans

Former Texans left guard Chester Pitts is working to become a certified financial planner in order to help current NFL players deal with their sudden fortunes, the Houston Chronicle's Dale Robertson reports.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Star's Phillip B. Wilson and Zak Keefer break down the many questions that remain after the Colts held their first rookie camp.

If Colts quarterback Andrew Luck wants to travel across the country, he'll have to do it without owner Jim Irsay's private jet.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton could be cleared for full workouts soon, and his recovery has been nothing short of miraculous, according to a report in Big Cat Country.

Tennessee Titans

Plenty of NFL hopefuls flip-flop their positions with the hopes of landing on a team. But for highly touted defensive end Taylor Thompson, a switch to tight end caught the attention of many NFL scouts, writes John Glennon of the Tennessean.

Meet Titans rookie Mike Martin. "He plays the saxophone. He shows dogs. He’s an Eagle Scout. He produced a video series chronicling his senior season at Michigan," reports The Tennessean's David Climer.

Marcus from Houston writes: I just wanted to mention that the Texans NEED a better CB. I was so angry with them for not getting Carlos Rogers, or Asante Samuel. Michael Jenkins is available for trade, we need to get SOMEBODY. Kareem Jackson is awful, he is the reason we lost to the Saints last year, Lance Moore was such an easy target for Brees. Jackson gives everyone SO much space. I don't care how good your pass rush is, if Kareem Jackson is your second best CB, then good luck beating guys like Peyton Manning, Matt Hasselbeck, Tom Brady, etc. Jackson is AWFUL. My main focuses were getting rid of Jones (which we finally did),getting a better WR to back up Andre (which we did), getting a corner (got rid of one), aiding the pass rush (which we did), and signing Keenum after the draft (which we did). No one I know is saying we need a CB, I just want to know that I'm not the only guy in this city that realizes this.

Paul Kuharsky: So you had a five-item wish list. Your team gave you four of the five things you wanted (including a third- or fourth-string QB unlikely to be relevant any time soon) and you’re upset?

The Texans think Jackson is a starter. Certainly they can upgrade, but it’s time to come to terms with the fact they aren’t seeking a new starting corner. I’d change your focus to hoping Brandon Harris or Roc Carmichael can become the sort of safety blanket Jason Allen was or that someone else can emerge in that role.

Jackson can still get better. And the Texans aren’t going to brand him a mistake in his third year.

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David from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., writes: I know it's hard but I'd appreciate it if you would continuously research information about each team so you don't have to repeat the same information in each of your blog posts.(Anger and O-line needs) I know the Titans are your exception, but as for the Jaguars no OT would have filled a need except to be a jar on a shelf.(although they did get Brewster from Ohio State) Please take the "jaguars always are an easy target" out of your head because of one mid round draft pick who is going to start next year. If the Jaguars want respect i know it starts with winning but blowing up non important stories based on your own perspective only serves to be a laser pointer to direct others towards your self serving prophecy/laughathon. I like your hard working analysis but would appreciate it if your changed your attitude, so it can change your behavior for the equal balance of all teams in this division blog.

Paul Kuharsky: Themes emerge for teams and get revisited. Blaine Gabbert needs to be better for the Jaguars in 2012 for them to get any better. It’s hard not to hit on that regularly.

Similarly, the choice of a punter such as Bryan Anger in the third round remains a conversation topic. I field questions about it. It comes up in draft review.

I disagree that a third-round offensive lineman would be a jar on a shelf. If Eben Britton gets hurt again -- and he’s been hurt a lot -- you’re looking at Guy Whimper playing again. If you don’t think they could have made a significant upgrade on Whimper with a third-round pick, you and I have a fundamental disagreement.

I think you’re doing what you accuse me of doing and not researching your information if you think I default to the Jaguars being an easy target.

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone regional or national who regularly defends the team as I do -- on Gabbert (too soon to call him a bust), on the tarps (EverBank is still bigger than Soldier Field), on the team’s stability (beating down the lazy Jags-to-L.A. talk), on the quality of the defense (which I think can be excellent), etc.

As for the blog being heavy on my perspective ... my own perspective is what is offered here. That’s why my name and picture are on the page, right?

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Josh in Houston writes: I keep hearing a lot of people say that Rashad Butler will be better suited for RT than he was as LT filling in for Duane Brown in 2010. I also keep hearing a lot of people say that he may be an upgrade in pass protection, but a downgrade in run blocking compared to Eric Winston. Do you know what the reasoning is behind these suggestions? Thanks!

Paul Kuharsky: The left tackle is usually the more technically sound tackle. He might be a bit smaller and a bit more finesse than power. The right tackle tends to be more of a physical guy.

Winston fit with that. The hope is that Butler does, too. I am not so sure.

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Gerald Ball from parts unknown writes: Your "the NFC North is better than the NFC East ... look at the QBs" comment was ridiculous. Eli Manning with 2 Super Bowl wins versus Aaron Rodgers with 1. Advantage: NFC East. Michael Vick's 4 Pro Bowls and 2 playoff wins versus Jay Cutler's 1 of each. Advantage: NFC East. Tony Romo's 3 Pro Bowls and 3 playoff appearances versus 0 and 1 for Matt Stafford. Advantage: NFC East. (Romo wins head to head over Jay Cutler also.) And as for Christian Ponder, he'd lose a head to head competition for a starting QB job to Rex Grossman AND for draft position to Robert Griffin III. Granted, the NFC North QBs are generally younger so there is more potential down the line for that group, but the NFC North has a better, more accomplished group of QBs TODAY.

Paul Kuharsky: I’ll take Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler as my divisional quarterback trio over Eli Manning, Michael Vick and Tony Romo or Robert Griffin. Overall they are younger, have more upside and are tougher to defend. (Manning’s excellent, obviously.)

But I’ll take the NFC North over the NFC East. The Giants went on a fantastic run last year and deserve full credit. But the Packers are a better team as we start 2011. Detroit, and probably Chicago, look better to me now than Philadelphia or Dallas.

I can’t help how I feel.

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Rick Grayson from Spring Branch, Texas, writes: How do you keep your job? I just told ESPN to hire bloggers for each individual team instead of biased cue balls like you. Titans this and Titans that.... blah, blah, blah.

Paul Kuharsky: I'll try to be better.

Particularly appreciate how you brought specifics for me to consider.

Thanks, to you and everyone, for reading and taking the time to write.

Houston Texans

The Texans are no longer in the market for a veteran quarterback after agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with John Beck.

Chris Burke of SI.com analyzes what kind of contribution the Texans can expect from rookie receiver DeVier Posey.

Indianapolis Colts

Last weekend the Colts welcomed about 40 rookies, including the team’s 10 draft picks, for a three-day orientation that pleased GM Ryan Grigson.

Florida International product T.Y. Hilton, an explosive 5-foot-9, 183-pound receiver, hopes to bring a spark to the offense and special teams, writes Craig Kelley of the team's website.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tania Ganguli offers insight on the Jaguars' decision to release defensive back Drew Coleman last week.

Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country takes a look at undrafted college quarterback Mike Brown, who is trying to make the Jaguars as a wide receiver.

John Oehser of the team's website has the story of safety Jeremiah Brown, who made an impression at the team's three-day rookie tryout camp.

Tennessee Titans

Receiver Kenny Britt says he has matured, and he's been all smiles this offseason, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.

The Titans welcomed their seven draft picks and several undrafted signees for a rookie minicamp that begins Friday.

Wonderful chat Thursday. Crisp. Efficient, Snappy.

I had fun.

Among the subjects we covered:

• When the Titans should play Jake Locker.
• A leap to average for Blaine Gabbert.
• Drafting centers.
• The Colts' standing at running back.
• Game-day roster size.
• My feeling about video games.
• Matt Schaub's ranking and comparing him to Ben Roethlisberger.

We continue to provide chat transcripts, gratis, like this one. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to click on it over and over.

Earlier this week, Texans owner Bob McNair talked about negotiating contract extensions for coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith.

That got me thinking: Who are the AFC South players who need contract extensions before they get anywhere close to an expired contract at the start of the 2013 league year?

Here are my top six:

1) Matt Schaub, Texans quarterback

I understand there are some non-believers. In five seasons with the Texans, Schaub has played a full slate of games only twice. He’s not been consistently clutch in big moments.

Still, I see him as a quality engineer of Kubiak’s offense. I think the team loves him and has faith in him. And although rookie T.J. Yates did some good work while filling in for Schaub last season, I don’t think the Texans would be comfortable handing the team over to Yates after he's been in the league only two seasons, especially if he plays only a little or not at all this season because Schaub is in the lineup.

I’d make sure Schaub’s fully recovered from the serious right foot injury that ended his 2011 season. If he plays well in the first month of the season, I’d talk to his agent. Even if they wait until after the 2012 season plays out, gauging his health and seeing how far he can take them, Schaub is their guy.

He’s not the best player on this list, but as a starting quarterback, he goes to the head of the line. Is he a top quarterback in the league? My count says he’s 13th or 14th among current starters. You’d like better, but can do far worse and I don’t think you can project Yates to rank any higher. The Texans aren't going to be drafting at the top of the first round, and none of the guys better than Schaub are going to be hitting the market. So there is no place to go to upgrade.

2) Connor Barwin, Texans outside linebacker

The Texans projected Barwin could be a quality pass-rusher when they drafted him out of Cincinnati in 2009 with a second-round pick. Last year, in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense, Barwin was a consistent pass-rushing force, playing nearly 95 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and recording 11.5 sacks.

Barwin is part of the reason the franchise could afford to let Mario Williams depart as a free agent. The Texans simply cannot allow Barwin to follow Williams out of town. And with the increase in 3-4 defenses around the league, there are a lot of teams that would make a play for Barwin if he came free.

3) Daryl Smith, Jacksonville linebacker

Smith’s known for being an underrated player.

He’s an anchor for the Jaguars, and I expect he’ll shine in a healthy defense in 2012. The unit has a chance to be great, and Smith will shine if the coverage behind him is good and the rush in front of him can be consistent. They have the people for both of those elements to be in place.

The Jaguars would certainly like to keep a starting linebacker corps of Smith, Paul Posluszny and Clint Session together.

4) Duane Brown, Texans left tackle

I don’t think he’s regarded around the league as a premier guy who would draw a ton of interest if he became a free agent. But he is regarded as an excellent player in the Texans' line scheme. The team is moving forward, replacing Mike Brisiel at right guard and Eric Winston at right tackle.

The Texans did what they had to in order to keep center Chris Myers. They will need to do the same with Brown. They must hold together the key pieces of what was an excellent group in 2011. Brown is vital for the success of Schaub, or Yates, as well as running back Arian Foster.

5) Jason McCourty, Titans cornerback

He’s a solid player on the rise. He plays a position where he will have a chance to establish himself as a productive leader who needs to be in place for the long term.

Cortland Finnegan is gone. And the team is weak at safety, where Michael Griffin is getting one last chance under the franchise tag and Jordan Babineaux owns a starting spot at least in part because the Titans don’t have other options.

McCourty is a smart player who should be the best member of the secondary in 2012 and beyond provided they are able to keep him.

6) Terrance Knighton, Jaguars defensive tackle

He suffered a serious eye injury in a bar incident not long ago, but indications are he should be OK for training camp. Knighton has had weight issues since he came into the league. He seems to have gained better control of that, and general manager Gene Smith made it clear to Knighton that if he proves he can remain fit he’ll be taken care of in the long run.

Knighton moves very well for a very large man, and the Jaguars believe if their defense will be good, it will be because Knighton and Tyson Alualu anchor the middle, stuffing the run and moving the quarterback off his spot.

Also not under contract for 2013 and likely worthy of new deals: Texans safety Glover Quin, Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers, Jaguars cornerback Derek Cox, Titans tight end Jared Cook and Colts receiver Austin Collie.

So many of you jump right into your weekend as soon as the AFC South chat ends on Thursday afternoon.

It's an exciting time for all of us.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

First, you need to show up, get your ID checked and your hand stamped, be interesting and clever.

Then at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT, head here.

We'll have a blast for an hour, then you tell your boss you're heading out.

Sounds like a deal to me. See you there.

Rivers McCown of Football Outsiders covers the AFC South in today’s installment of remaining needs around the league.

Here are snippets with my thoughts.

Houston Texans: Right tackle

“[Rashad] Butler, who was actually [Eric] Winston's replacement at tackle at the University of Miami as well, does have a decent pedigree as a former third-round pick with the Carolina Panthers, but he doesn't have much in the way of NFL experience. He saw some snaps in 6-OL sets in 2010 and got four starts on the left side when Duane Brown was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. While he wasn't a disaster replacing Brown, and may even offer a slight upgrade on Winston in pass protection, it would be a surprise if he brought quite as much to the table in the running game. The only other in-house options are 2011 seventh-rounder Derek Newton and 2012 sixth-round pick Nick Mondek, both of whom are considered projects. Since Houston is also handing over right guard to Antoine Caldwell, a new right side could lead to some awkwardness as the offensive line learns to work together in game conditions.”

My thoughts: This is the biggest question on the roster in my eyes. Butler played four games at left tackle when Brown was suspended in 2010 and was only OK. Supporters say he’s more suited to playing on the right.

Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback

“Indianapolis left the draft with no new cornerbacks and now has a logjam of unproven mediocrity at the position. Last season, Indianapolis finished 26th in DVOA against No. 1 wide receivers, 27th against No. 2 wide receivers and 31st against other wide receivers. And the only change in personnel from then to now was the exile of Jacob Lacey, who played poorly enough last year to lose his starting job to the guys who are still in town. Jerraud Powers has always done well by our metrics and will be back on the field after being bothered by a hamstring injury and shutting it down following a dislocated elbow in Week 13... As the NFL continues to shift into a passing league, really good defenses are finding that having three credible cornerbacks is a necessity. The Colts are still stuck on one at this point.”

My thoughts: Something had to suffer based on the depth of needs, and the secondary certainly was not covered the way it needed to be. We're going to see a patchwork group and the Colts could be ready to pounce if and when quality options get cut at the end of camp.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Offensive line

“A strong run-blocking unit … did Blaine Gabbert no favors over the course of his nightmare rookie season. Guy Whimper was one of the worst offensive tackles in the league last season -- FO's J.J. Cooper had a scathing column on his play last year -- and the only obstacle to keep him from starting at tackle again is Eben Britton, whom the Jaguars wanted to turn into a guard last season. Will Rackley, a third-round pick in 2011, won the starting nod at left guard. He showed some flash in the running game, but also allowed 6.5 sacks and looked every bit as lost as Gabbert did in a few games. Eugene Monroe is solid at left tackle but lacks the edge speed to match the best rushers in the NFL. Brad Meester is 35, and not the type of 35 that gets you "wily old vet" mentions like Matt Birk or Jeff Saturday. This is a unit that could have used some more solidification rather than the blind hope that Britton's return from a back injury will heal all.”

My thoughts: A great place to find a guy who could be in the mix in a situation like this is the third round. But the Jaguars preferred a punter. (It’s still funny. I’m sure it’ll wear off eventually. Right?)

Tennessee Titans: Defensive end

“[Kamerion] Wimbley isn't a bad player at all -- in fact, he's picked up 42.5 sacks in six years, which is pretty impressive. However, he's never played exclusively as a 4-3 defensive end, and as our own esteemed Tom Gower noted on his Total Titans blog, four of his seven sacks in 2011 came against woefully overmatched Chargers backup tackle Brandyn Dombrowski. Wimbley was a smart signing in light of the other options, but he's not exactly a sure thing. If the Titans can get some production from either Wimbley or third-year end Derrick Morgan, that would go a long way toward shoring up their 31st-place ranking in Adjusted Sack Rate from 2011.”

My thoughts: It’s possible Wimbley and Morgan with veteran Dave Ball and rookie Scott Solomon could be a good enough four pack. But I don’t like the odds for them all staying healthy and I don’t think it’s good enough.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Owner Bob McNair’s challenge is to keep contract extensions for coach Gary Kubiak and GM Rick Smith at a manageable length “so that he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger if the time does come that he has to make a move,” writes Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle.

Recently cut receiver and return man Jacoby Jones signed with the rival Ravens, says John McClain of the Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts

The rookie wage scale that was part of the new collective bargaining agreement means the contract for No. 1 pick Andrew Luck won’t be difficult, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback Jordan Palmer doesn’t see as much Bob Bratkowski influence on the Jaguars’ offense as he expected, says Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Matt Hasselbeck and Michael Roos have built a close friendship based on mutual respect, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Hasselbeck jokes that two bald guys spend a lot of time discussing hair styles.

Let’s set aside Andrew Luck for the purposes of this post. Provided he’s not injured, the Colts rookie quarterback will start all season, and a starting quarterback is likely to be more impactful than people who play further away from the football.

So, beyond Luck, what rookie stands to make the biggest impact in his first season?

I’m looking for your vote and your case for the preseason AFC South Rookie of the Year BL -- Besides Luck.

I only get five slots in the poll, and went with the highest-ranking guys from the draft.

Justin Blackmon will be in line to make a big impact lining up outside provided Blaine Gabbert proves able of getting him the ball.

Kendall Wright would seem less likely to post big numbers, given he’s got a better group of receivers to compete for catches against.

Whitney Mercilus should add to the Texans' pass rush, but he’s third in line where they will have two on the field at a time.

Coby Fleener could be Luck’s top target based on Bruce Arians’ system and the pre-existing relationship between the tight end and quarterback.

Andre Branch has a chance to be the final piece to a very good defense in Jacksonville if the end can effectively and consistently rush the passer.

Like somebody drafted lower better?

Make your case below.

Reading the coverage ...

What to expect from the cornerbacks drafted into the AFC South, from Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Houston Texans

Moving on from Neil Rackers, the Texans signed veteran kicker Shayne Graham to compete with draft pick Randy Bullock, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. He’s been with four teams the past two seasons and clearly the hope would be that the rookie can seize the job.

Wade Phillips is optimistic about the pass rush the Texans will field this fall, says McClain.

Who is the Texans’ No. 2 receiver? Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report considers the question.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck isn’t going to be able to use Jim Irsay’s plane to help him get together with other Colts before the class of 2012 is finished at Stanford, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

The Colts will return to Anderson University for training camp, with players reporting July 28, says the Star.

What the Colts need to accomplish in 2012 to consider the season a success, from Dunlevy. I’m big on his first point, developing a defensive identity.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jordan Palmer is in line to be the Jaguars’ No. 3 quarterback, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. Palmer was one of the players the team signed after a minicamp included a bunch of tryout guys.

The Jets, Lions and Titans have expressed interest in recently released cornerback Drew Coleman, according to Kimberley Martin of Newsday. Rex Ryan acknowledged the Jets would look at Coleman, who played well for them before he moved on to Jacksonville.

Tennessee Titans

Running through the post-draft roster and assessing if the Titans got better, stayed the same or got worse through free agency and the draft with Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Wyatt takes a closer look at fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson.

Three Titans who should be extended in the opinion of Zach Law from Bleacher Report. I’d hold off on Jared Cook.

Mike Mularkey and his wide receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan, have had some time to consider their group and decided in the past couple days that Jarett Dillard is not part of the solution at a spot where the team is looking to upgrade.

That’s two players the Jaguars once thought would be a help at receiver they’ve dumped. Kassim Osgood, a quality special-teamer Gene Smith thought could grow into an effective receiver did not do so after he was signed in 2010 and was cut earlier this offseason.

Now Dillard is gone. He was drafted in the fifth round in Gene Smith’s first draft in 2009 when the Jaguars put a lot into receiver. Mike Thomas was a fourth-round pick, Dillard a fifth-rounder and Tiquan Underwood a seventh.

Only Thomas remains.

No. 5 pick Justin Blackmon should lead the group with free-agent addition Laurent Robinson. Thomas should now be the No. 3, which is the best role for him. They’ll round out the group with Taylor Price, Brian Robiskie, Lee Evans and Cecil Shorts in line for the fourth spot and beyond.

As for Dillard, he dealt with some injuries and never really flashed. A fifth-rounder is hardly a guarantee and has to have done more to stick heading into his fifth season considering he was due about $1.3 million this season.

The Jaguars cut five others in addition to Dillard: quarterback Dan LeFevour, safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, receiver Nelson Rosario, receiver Jarrett Boykin and defensive end Frank Trotter.

They added seven who were part of the recent minicamp on a tryout basis -- quarterback Jordan Palmer, fullback Naufahu Tahi and defensive tackle Odrick Ray, receiver Mike Brown, receiver Chris Forcier, linebacker Donovan Richard and defensive back Jeremiah Brown.

A look at what came out of the Jaguars' rookie minicamp:

• Receiver Justin Blackmon didn’t practice Sunday because of a sore right foot, says Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. Coach Mike Mularkey praised Blackmon’s ability as a “natural catcher” and the way he adjusts to the ball.
• Mularkey said the Jaguars will sign two to five of the players who participated on a tryout basis. Stellino reported that fullback Naufahu Tahi will be one of them. He has spent parts of five seasons with the Vikings.
• Like veteran corner Rashean Mathis, rookie defensive end Ryan Davis is trying to make the Jaguars after playing at Bethune-Cookman. Davis feels a connection with defensive line coaches Joe Cullen and Paul Spicer, says Stellino.
• There’s no progress on a new contract for kicker Josh Scobee, who’s not signing his franchise tender, says Tania Ganguli. Scobee’s agent denies that Sebastian Janikowski’s contract is an issue. The team will have to keep another kicker for OTAs while Scobee remains unsigned. Ultimately, they’ll strike a deal or Scobee will sign the tender.
• Controversial draft pick Bryan Anger consistently hung his punts in the air for 5.1 seconds, reports Stellino. Anger had good humor about all the grief the Jaguars have taken for drafting him in the third round. Obviously, he hopes to quiet those critics with his performance.