Keys to Training Camp - AFC South
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Posted 7/30 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com
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Houston Texans
Link: http://www.houstontexans.com/news/news_detail.php?PRKey=780
Location: Texans Practice Facility (Houston, TX)
Dates: July 30 - August 23
Open to the public? - Limited (see website for details)
- Will LT Seth Wand be final cog in the offensive line? - The Texans
enter their 3rd training camp with very few questions regarding personnel.
While the offensive line improved markedly last season, management prioritized
the line again this offseason by signing RT Todd Wade away from the Dolphins.
Wade is a proven road grader, who can play either LT or RT, but the team is
counting on Wade at RT provided Seth Wand can earn his keep at LT, where he
enters camp as the starter. Should Wand hold up in camp, the line will fall
into place with Chester Pitts moving inside to guard. What used to be a weakness
could now be a strength.
- Can Domanick Davis build off his improbable rookie year? - There
was uncertainty surrounding the Texans RB situation last training camp but
few pundits predicted that Domanick Davis would emerge from the pack. Yet
it was Davis, not Tony Hollings or Stacey Mack, who put together almost 1,400
yards and 8 touchdowns. This year, Davis enters camp as the clear workhorse,
and the team plans on implementing a new zone blocking scheme in an effort
to create more cutback lanes for Davis. Add in TE Mark Bruener and this could
be a potent running attack.
- How good is Andre Johnson? - Johnson's rookie season was one of the
best rookie showings in the history of the league, but he was overshadowed
by fellow rookie Anquan Boldin's historical campaign. Nevertheless, Johnson
almost achieved the 1,000 yard mark despite catching passes from Tony Banks
for part of the season. This year, with a better offensive line, Johnson should
be ready to ascend into the upper echelon of NFL receivers; we see
him as a viable WR2 for fantasy purposes.
- Competition at tight end - Billy Miller is no longer the every down
tight end by default; he will be used in conjunction with Bennie Joppru and
Mark Bruener To what degree each will be utilized is something to monitor
in camp, particularly for those counting on Miller as a late round fantasy
option.
Indianapolis Colts
Link: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=2073
Location: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, IN)
Dates: August 1 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
- Pollard or Clark? - The Colts are a rare breed in that they utilize
two-TE sets in their base offense. Dallas Clark and Marcus Pollard should
be see plenty of targets and are viable fantasy options,
but watch in camp to see if the coaching staff expresses a preference for
one over the other; particularly whether the team plans on keeping Pollard,
the better blocker, into block more than his fantasy owners hope.
- (IDP) Who is going to replace Marcus Washington? - Strongside linebacker
Marcus Washington left via free agency and entering training camp, the coaches
expect David Thornton, last year's weakside 'backer to fill the hole. Replacing
Thornton will be Cato June; watch in camp whether these changes take hold.
Our IDP team is very high on June, projecting
him 29th among fantasy LBs.
- (IDP) The new look secondary - The Colts will have at least two new
starters in the secondary and possibly three if S Bob Sanders beats out incumbent
Idrees Bashir. Our IDP team expects Mike Doss, the lone returning player not
fighting for his job, to be a fantasy factor (35th ranked DB) and believes,
of the new guys, Joe Jefferson is the one most worth keeping an eye on.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Link: http://www.jaguars.com/Story/3717.asp
Location: Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville, FL)
Dates: July 31 - August 24
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
- Is Leftwich ready to shine? - Byron Leftwich enters this training
camp as the unquestioned starter for the first time, with Mark Brunell gone
on to Washington. Leftwich is one of the quarterbacks most often mentioned
as breakout candidate in 2004, yet is that reasonable? Leftwich much show
in camp that he's fit, and he's got command of the offense in order to justify
his current draft position.
- Does Jimmy Smith have his head on straight? - For many years, Jimmy
Smith was consistently one of the best receivers in the league. Yet, last
year he was forced to sit out the first 4 games due to substance abuse issues
and upon his return, failed to produce in the manner most fans have become
accustomed to. In minicamps, observers suggested Smith looked like his Pro
Bowl self, but they may be asking too much of a 35 year-old getting acclimated
to a young quarterback. Our team expects
Smith to be among the top 25 fantasy WRs this year.
- Will Fred Taylor reclaim the "every down" role? - Fred
Taylor rushed for almost 1,600 yards last year and will again be the focal
point of the team's ball-control ground attack. However, Taylor was benched
in obvious passing downs last season after dropping too many passes (he led
the league with 12 drops), and the coaches have suggested that Taylor must
win their confidence back as a receiver.
- Will Salaam or Pearson win the battle at left tackle? - Third year
Mike Pearson opens camp as the starter but the team signed veteran Ephraim
Salaam to compete for the job.
- Is Reggie Williams ready to contribute out of the gate? - Reggie
Williams will be given every opportunity to start alongside Jimmy Smith. The
Jaguars offense was handcuffed by the lack of an effective second option in
the passing game last year, and Williams immediately becomes the team's second
best wide out.
- (IDP) Do Hugh Douglas and Tony Brackens have any gas left in the tank?
- Hugh Douglas was a huge disappointment in his first year with the Jaguars
and Brackens was ineffective due to injuries. Our IDP team expects
both to be more effective; with Brackens being marginally valuable in deep
IDP leagues.
Tennessee Titans
Link: http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_00208.shtml
Location: Baptist Sports Park (Nashville, TN)
Dates: July 30 - August 26
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
- Will Chris Brown emerge as an every down back? - The departure of
Eddie George was supposed to be the beginning of the Chris Brown era in Tennessee;
yet the team's decision to sign veteran Antowain Smith a day later raised
new questions about whether Brown is capable (and being given the opportunity)
of carrying the load. Our current projections
assume Brown gets about 2/3rds of the carries, but that could change as camp
developments unfold.
- Assessing the loss of Justin McCareins - Justin McCareins, one of
several Titans WRs that contributed mightily to Steve McNair's MVP season,
has departed for the Jets. Drew Bennett returns as the starter opposite Derrick
Mason, and Tyrone Calico will be given the opportunity to earn a larger role
in McCareins absence.
- Erron Kinney, Ben Troupe, or Shad Meier? - With the departure of
TE Frank Wycheck, the team has a hole to fill, and all three young TEs will
endeavor to step into the role. Kinney probably has the leg up based on his
playing time from a season ago, whereas Ben Troupe, a 1st round pick in the
2004 draft, is the long-term answer.
- (IDP) Filling the gaps on the D-Line - Gone are Jevon Kearse and
Robaire Smith, in their place will be some combination of rookies Travis Laboy,
Antwan Odom, Bo Schobel and 3rd year veteran Carlos Hall. The team is moving
Kevin Carter inside to tackle, provided the collection of young ends show
reasonable ability during camp. Our IDP team recommends
avoiding the entire Tennessee D-Line
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