Last year's record: N/A (expansion team)
Head coach: Dom Capers (1st year with Texans, 30-34 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - David Carr (6-2, 230, starting rookie year), RB- James Allen (5-10, 215, 5), FB- Jarrod Baxter (6-1, 245, R), WR- Corey Bradford (6-1, 197, 5), Jermaine Lewis (5-7, 180, 7), TE- Rod Rutledge (6-5, 265, 5), LT- Tony Boselli (6-7, 322, 8), LG- Matt Campbell (6-4, 300, 8), C- Steve McKinney (6-6, 301, 3), RG- Fred Weary (6-4, 308, R), RT- Ryan Young (6-5, 320, 4).
Key offensive reserves: WR Jabar Gaffney (6-1, 193, R), RB Jonathan Wells (6-1, 243, R), G-T DeMingo Graham (6-3, 310, 5).
Offensive strength: Boselli and Young are nice bookends at tackle. They'll help protect the waves of defenders opponents will send at Carr. McKinney will be converting to center from guard.
Offensive weakness: Carr may have been the No. 1 pick, but he's still a rookie quarterback. That means interceptions and other rookie mistakes. Allen is hardly the lead horse for an NFL offense.
Defensive starters: DE- Gary Walker (6-2, 305, 8), Seth Payne (6-4, 303, 6). NT- Jerry DeLoach (6-2, 315, 2). OLB- Kailee Wong (6-2, 250, 5), Jeff Posey (6-4, 249, 5). ILB- Jay Foreman (6-1, 240, 4), Jamie Sharper (6-3, 240, 6). CB- Aaron Glenn (5-9, 185, 9), Marcus Coleman (6-2, 210, 7). S- Kevin Williams (6-0, 192, 4), Matt Stevens (6-0, 205, 7).
Key defensive reserves: CB Jason Simmons (5-9, 198, 5), S Chris Carter (6-2, 212, 6), LB Keith Mitchell (6-2, 245, 5)
Defensive strength: Coleman and Glenn both started for the Jets last year and have credibility. Facing Indianapolis' high-powered offense twice a year, they'll have to be on their toes.
Defensive weakness: The line is mediocre, as are the linebackers. Allen Aldridge's sudden retirement didn't help at all in the latter area.
Crystal ball: Be glad that the NFL is back in Houston but expect some growing pains. Capers may have taken Carolina to the NFC title game in its second year, but that clearly was a fluke. Don't expect a similar miracle here.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Last year's record: 6-10
Head coach: Tony Dungy (1st year with Colts, 54-42 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Peyton Manning (6-5, 230, 5), RB- Edgerrin James (6-0, 214, 4), WR- Marvin Harrison (6-0, 178, 7), Qadry Ismail (6-0, 200, 10), Reggie Wayne (6-0, 203, 2). TE- Marcus Pollard (6-3, 248, 8), LT- Tarik Glenn (6-5, 332, 6), LG- Rick DeMuling (6-3, 304, 2), C- Jeff Saturday (6-2, 293, 4), RG- Ryan Diem (6-6, 332, 2), RT- Adam Meadows (6-5, 289, 6)
Offensive strength: Points, points, points. With Manning, James and Harrison, the Colts are loaded at the skill positions. Tom Moore, the offense's mastermind, is back, so there should be no dropoff there.
Offensive weakness: They lost both starting guards to free agency.
Defensive starters: DE- Brad Scioli (6-3, 280, 4), Chad Bratzke (6-5, 272, 9). DT- Josh Williams (6-3, 284, 3), Ellis Johnson (6-2, 288, 7). OLB- Marcus Washington (6-3, 255, 3), Mike Peterson (6-1, 232, 4). MLB- Rob Morris (6-2, 243, 3). CB- Walt Harris (5-11, 195, 7), David Macklin (5-9, 193, 3). S- Cory Bird (5-10, 216, 2), Idrees Bashir (6-2, 198, 2).
Defensive strength: It's not a player, but Dungy himself. He built top-flight defenses in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Bratzke and rookie DE Dwight Freeney, who should be starting by midseason, are nice pass rushers.
Defensive weakness: The secondary has been an eyesore for years. Free agent Harris may help.
Crystal ball: A return to the playoffs is a near-certainty given the division they're in. A Super Bowl run is probably out of the question, but Dungy will bring positive results to his new squad.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Last year's record: 6-10
Head coach: Tom Coughlin (8th year with Jaguars, 62-50 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Mark Brunell (6-1, 217, 10), RB- Fred Taylor (6-1, 231, 5), FB- Detron Smith (5-10, 230, 7), WR- Darnay Scott (6-1, 204, 9), Jimmy Smith (6-1, 213, 10). TE- Kyle Brady (6-6, 277, 8). LT- Mike Pearson (6-7, 304 R), LG- Zach Wiegert (6-5, 310, 8), C- Brad Meester (6-3, 308, 3). RG- Chris Naeole (6-3, 313, 6), RT- Maurice Williams (6-5, 307, 2).
Offensive strength: If Jimmy Smith actually plays (he's threatening a holdout), receiver should be a strong point. Mack was a pleasant surprise while Taylor was out last year, giving the Jags some depth.
Offensive weakness: Brunell is in for a tough year minus bodyguard Tony Boselli and favorite receiver Keenan McCardell. The line was wretched last year and given Boselli's departure, figures to be even worse.
Defensive starters: DE- Marco Coleman (6-3, 270, 10), Tony Brackens (6-4, 265, 7). DT- John Henderson (6-7, 318, R), Marcus Stroud (6-6, 321, 2). OLB- T.J. Slaughter (6-0, 239, 3), Danny Clark (6-2, 240, 3). MLB- Wali Rainer (6-2, 245, 4). CB- Fernando Bryant (5-10, 180, 4), Jason Craft (5-10, 178, 4). S- Donovin Darius (6-1, 216, 5), Ainsley Battles (5-10, 200, 3)
Defensive strength: It's not really a strength, but the best of a bad unit. The linebackers are serviceable, but will hurt with the cap-casualty losses of Hardy Nickerson and Kevin Hardy.
Defensive weakness: Brackens is solid, but the rest of the line is green. Darius is the only reliable cog in the secondary.
Crystal ball: The salary cap has ravaged the team that played in two AFC title games from 1996-99. The Jaguars will be lucky to better last year's record.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Last year's record: 7-9
Head coach: Jeff Fisher (9th season with Titans, 65-53)
Offensive starters: QB - Steve McNair (6-2, 225, 8), RB- Eddie George (6-3, 240, 7), FB- Greg Comella (6-1, 248, 5), WR- Kevin Dyson (6-1, 201, 5), Derrick Mason (5-10, 188, 6). TE- Frank Wycheck (6-3, 250, 10). LT- Brad Hopkins (6-3, 305, 10), LG- Zach Piller (6-5, 315, 4), C- Jeff Smith (6-3, 316, 7), RG- Benji Olson (6-3, 315, 5), RT- Fred Miller (6-7, 315, 7).
Offensive strength: George is a workhorse and if he's healed from the toe injury that dogged him, he'll be a major factor.
McNair had his best season (3,350 yards) last season.
Offensive weakness: The line will be without Bruce Matthews, so there'll be some adjustment. There's not much depth at receiver behind the starters.
Defensive starters: DE- Kevin Carter (6-5, 280, 8), Jevon Kearse (6-4, 265, 4). DT- Henry Ford (6-3, 295, 9), Albert Haynesworth (6-6, 320, R). OLB- Keith Bullock (6-3, 232, 3), Peter Sirmon (6-2, 246, 3). MLB- Randall Godfrey (6-2, 245, 7), CB- Andre Dyson (5-10, 187, 2), Samari Rolle (6-0, 175, 5). S- Tank Williams (6-3, 223, R), Lance Schulters (6-2, 207, 5).
Defensive strength: Godfrey and Bullock are solid linebackers, while Carter and Kearse have the potential to be the league's top pair of ends.
Defensive weakness: The Titans were last in the league against the pass last year and don't figure to be much better.
Crystal ball: Probably another middle-of-the-road finish. The key will be George. If he's healthy, the Titans could make some noise. If he's not, too much of the burden will shift upon McNair, like it did last year.
- Greg Rajan
