Sanders: key man for the Colts

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The AFC South once again looks a formidably tough division, probably the strongest in the NFL.

Last season both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans earned play-off wild cards with respective 11-5 and 10-6 records, while the improving Houston Texans had to settle for last despite going 8-8.

Indianapolis Colts (13-3)

The Tony Dungy-Peyton Manning head coach-quarterback axis enters its seventh season in 2008 and there is little to suggest it will be anything other than business as usual.

Manning underwent surgery to remove an infected bursa sac on his left knee on July 14 and has not taken part in any pre-season matches.

However, the 32-year-old is almost certain to be fit for opening day and, in the process, will keep alive his unbroken streak of 160 starts since being drafted first overall in 1998, a run that is second among quarterbacks in NFL history behind Brett Favre.

Of more concern to Dungy is the number of key players in his squad who are only just returning after major fitness problems, a group that includes wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), run-stuffing safety Bob Sanders (shoulder) and pass-rushing menace Dwight Freeney (foot).

The Colts traditionally come out of the blocks fast, they have not lost in September or October since 2004.

It appears likely that they will be once again sitting pretty atop the AFC South at the end of the regular season and, with a bit of luck on the injury front, ready to go deep in the post-season.

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)

Can the Jacksonville Jaguars take the final step and overtake the Colts as the class of the AFC South in 2008?

The defence has shown over the last two seasons that it can hold its own with anyone, anywhere.

Even with Marcus Stroud gone to Buffalo they look solid down the middle and have a strong secondary to protect against the pass.

And with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor providing a superb one-two punch at running back, they are able to play coach Jack del Rio's favoured brand of ball-control football.

To surpass the points-happy Colts, they are likely to need at least a 13-3 record and, to achieve that, it would help if they developed a vertical element to their passing game.

Quarterback David Garrard proved himself a sound decision-maker, capable of looking after possession during his first season as the starter.

But he lacks deep-threat receivers, an area of weakness that has not been rectified during the off-season.

Jerry Porter and Reggie Williams, both of whom are struggling with injury, are the top wide receivers on the depth chart, but are not likely to cause too many sleepless nights for cornerbacks around the NFL.

Tennessee Titans (10-6)

A lot depends on Vince Young if the Tennessee Titans are to make the fight for AFC South supremacy a three-way battle.

Young, the Titans' first-round draft pick in 2006, was inconsistent at best during last year's 10-6 campaign.

Particular concern centred on his inability to find receivers in the end zone - Tennessee's offence was the worst in the entire NFL at converting red-zone possession into points.

Debate rages on whether the problem is Young's slow reads and innacurate throwing, or his below-par receiving corps. Either way it cost offensive co-ordinator Norm Chow his job.

Head coach Jeff Fisher has turned back the clock by re-hiring Mike Heimerdinger as Chow's replacement. Heimerdinger was also Chow's predecessor.

The main off-season personnel move was the recruitment of tight end Alge Crumpler from Atlanta. Crumpler is a Pro-Bowl calibre talent coming off a poor season and should provide Young with a much needed short-yardage passing option.

It had been expected the Titans would use the draft to strengthen their receiving options, instead - for the third time in as many years - they took a running back early.

Chris Johnson has the blazing speed - 4.24secs for the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine - to make an instant impact and, despite worries about how his slender frame will cope in the pros, should combine nicely in the backfield with power runner LenDale White.

Houston Texans (8-8)

The Houston Texans enter the third year of Gary Kubiak's tenure as head coach needing to turn potential into results.

In most other divisions, the Texans would enter the season with hopes of mounting a challenge. However, in the stacked AFC South, that still looks beyond them.

Counting in their favour is the situation at quarterback - Matt Schaub looked an assured pocket presence last year before injury cut short his season, while back-up Sage Rosenfels also had his moments after taking over.

Andre Johnson, in his fifth year in the NFL, is a candidate to enjoy the type of campaign that could see him mentioned in the same breath as the league's elite wide receivers, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

The running game looks less promising - Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Chris Taylor and Steve Slaton are all in the mix for carries, a situation that reflects less-than-total faith in any of them to get the job done on a regular basis.

Defensively, the Texans will be looking for Mario Williams - the first overall selection in the 2006 draft ahead of Reggie Bush and Young - to build on a promising sophomore season.

The defensive line and linebackers look an accomplished unit - they will have to be in this division - although of more concern is the secondary, which is a weakness.