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AFC SOUTH - TENNESSEE TITANS (13-3)
OPEN CAMP: July 31, Baptist Sports Park, Nashville, Tenn.
LAST YEAR: The Titans started 10-0 and won the AFC's No. 1 seed after veteran QB Kerry Collins took over for an injured Vince Young in the opener. But the Titans lost 13-10 to Baltimore in the divisional round after losing Pro Bowl rookie RB Chris Johnson to a sprained ankle late in the first half.
KEY CHANGES: DT Albert Haynesworth left for big money in Washington, while defensive co-ordinator Jim Schwartz now is the head coach in Detroit. KR Chris Carr joined Schwartz, and WR Brandon Jones signed with San Francisco. He was replaced by WR Nate Washington, who already is in a starting spot. DT Jovan Haye was signed for depth along with QB Patrick Ramsey. Draft picks WR Kenny Britt and DT Sen'Derrick Marks will be asked only to provide depth. Chuck Cecil was promoted to defensive co-ordinator.
CAMP NEEDS: Work All-Pro C Kevin Mawae back onto the field after surgery to fix a tendon in his right, snapping arm. Lots of playing time to see how much Young has learned heading into his fourth NFL season, and whether Ramsey can take the backup job away from the 2006 top offensive rookie. Get Cecil comfortable calling the defence before the opener at Pittsburgh.
EXPECTATIONS: The Titans feel Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl they failed to grab. With 13 players hitting free agency after this season, 2009 may be their best shot at the franchise's first Super Bowl trip in a decade. Jeff Fisher, the NFL's longest-tenured coach with one team, has a lighter camp schedule he hopes has Tennessee ready to open strong.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (12-4)
OPEN CAMP: Aug. 2, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind.
LAST YEAR: Peyton Manning's knee injury led to a slow start. But when Manning got healthy, the Colts returned to form. They produced a sixth straight 12-win season, and Manning earned his third MVP award before losing to San Diego in a first-round playoff game.
KEY CHANGES: Former coach Tony Dungy retired, record-setting receiver Marvin Harrison was released, punter Hunter Smith left in free agency. Jim Caldwell, groomed for the job, replaced Dungy.
CAMP NEEDS: Improving the run defence, finding a third receiver, getting rookie RB Donald Brown involved in the offence, and getting acclimated to Caldwell.
EXPECTATIONS: One of the league's most stable franchises certainly didn't look like it this off-season. Caldwell brought in a new defensive co-ordinator, a new special teams coach and then heard Manning vent about the possible loss of two key offensive assistants, co-ordinator Tom Moore and line coach Howard Mudd. The Colts also got bigger along the defensive line, something they desperately needed after struggling against the run. But make no mistake -- a healthy Manning makes the Colts an annual Super Bowl contender.
HOUSTON TEXANS (8-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 31, Houston.
LAST YEAR: Rebounded from 0-4 start to finish 8-8 for the second straight year, but failed to make the first playoff appearance in the team's seventh season. Andre Johnson finished with a career-high and NFL-best 1,575 yards receiving and rookie Steve Slaton rushed for 1,282 yards, giving Houston the No. 3 offence in the league. DE Mario Williams continued to improve, making his first Pro Bowl, but Houston's defence remained one of the league's worst, leading to the firing of co-ordinator Richard Smith.
KEY CHANGES: DE Antonio Smith replaces Anthony Weaver at LE. First-round draft pick LB Brian Cushing replaces Morlon Greenwood. Frank Bush replaces Richard Smith as defensive co-ordinator. Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels was traded to Minnesota and replaced by Dan Orlovsky and Rex Grossman. Added DT Shaun Cody and veteran LB Cato June.
CAMP NEEDS: CBs Fred Bennett and Jacques Reeves need to show they can handle the starting duties if Dunta Robinson's holdout extends into the season. Cushing has to get comfortable with the defence after being made a starter soon after the draft.
EXPECTATIONS: The offence will likely be more potent with an experienced Slaton -- that is if QB Matt Schaub and Johnson remain healthy. Schaub missed five games in each of his first two seasons in Houston. Williams should be helped by the addition of another legitimate pass rusher in Smith, but the rest of the defence will have to improve if the Texans hope to finally make it to the playoffs in the difficult AFC South.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-11)
OPEN CAMP: Aug. 2, Jacksonville, Fla.
LAST YEAR: Injuries, defensive lapses and chemistry issues led to the team's worst record in five years. After losing four offensive linemen for most of the season, the Jaguars couldn't run consistently -- a huge problem for a physical team built to pound opponents on the ground. The defence, meanwhile, struggled to generate pressure on quarterbacks, resulting in some of the worst performances in coach Jack Del Rio's six seasons. And the team's top free agent signings, WR Jerry Porter and CB Drayton Florence, were blamed for dividing the locker room.
KEY CHANGES: Owner Wayne Weaver cleaned house in the off-season, parting with a few coaches and nearly a dozen starters, including team captains Fred Taylor, Mike Peterson and Paul Spicer. Jacksonville signed veterans LT Tra Thomas and WR Torry Holt, but rebuilding plan is focused on adding young talent through the draft.
CAMP NEEDS: With Porter, Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Dennis Northcutt gone, receiver position is a concern. So are both lines. OGs Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams are returning from injury, and rookie OTs Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton could earn starting spots. DT John Henderson, coming off consecutive disappointing seasons, hopes to prove he's committed and return to Pro Bowl form.
EXPECTATIONS: Another long season, although Del Rio believes he has enough talent to surprise everyone in the AFC South.