HOUSTON TEXANS

HOUSTON TEXANS
2002 record: 4-12.
Coach: Dom Capers.
Key additions: WR Andre Johnson (D-1), TE Ben Joppru (D-2), LB Antwan Peek (D-3), T Seth Wand (D-3), QB Dave Ragone (D-3), G/C Zach Wiegert (UFA-Jaguars), RB Stacey Mack (UFA-Jaguars), LB Charlie Clemons (UFA-Saints).
Key losses: LB Jeff Posey (UFA-Bills), T Ryan Young (UFA-Cowboys), KR Jermaine Lewis (UFA-Jaguars), LB Keith Mitchell (UFA-Jaguars), T Tony Boselli (retired), FB Jarrod Baxter (injured-out for season).
Profile: On balance, a disappointing first season, which was filled with injuries. They won't have Boselli, who retired, and that doesn't help protect QB David Carr (76 sacks). Despite the sacks and the ever-present pressure, Carr had a remarkable rookie season. With 444 attempts, he got important experience running a young offense. He showed over the course of the season he can make all the throws.
Key stat: Chad Stanley punted 114 times (two blocks).
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Miami1
Sept. 14 -- at New Orleans1
Sept. 21 -- Kansas City1
Sept. 28 -- Jacksonville1
Oct. 5 -- Bye
Oct. 12 -- at Tennessee1
Oct. 19 -- New York Jets4:05
Oct. 26 -- at Indianapolis4:15
Nov. 2 -- Carolina1
Nov. 9 -- at Cincinnati1
Nov. 16 -- at Buffalo1
Nov. 23 -- New England1
Nov. 30 -- Atlanta1
Dec. 7 -- at Jacksonville1
Dec. 14 -- at Tampa Bay1
Dec. 21 -- Tennessee1
Dec. 28 -- Indianapolis1
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
2002 record: 10-6.
Coach: Tony Dungy.
Key additions: TE Dallas Clark (D-1), S Mike Doss (D-2), DB Donald Strickland (D-3), WR Brandon Stokley (UFA-Ravens).
Key losses: LB Mike Peterson (UFA-Jaguars), WR Qadry Ismail (released-Colts), FB Donnel Thompson (injured-out for season).
Profile: That playoff pasting by the Jets is still fresh. While the offensive potential is great with QB Peyton Manning, WR Marvin Harrison and RB Edgerrin James, the defense is not as good as they thought and now also badly needs an infusion of speed with Peterson's departure. They also have major secondary needs at cornerback. Safeties Cory Bird and Idrees Bashir logged a lot of injury time in 2002. No problems with the offense if James makes a full recovery from surgery. WR Reggie Wayne had a 104-yard game vs. the Giants late in the season.
Key stat: James had no run longer than 20 yards.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Cleveland1
Sept. 14 -- Tennessee1
Sept. 21 -- Jacksonville1
Sept. 28 -- at New Orleans8:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 -- at Tampa Bay9
Oct. 12 -- Carolina1
Oct. 19 -- Bye
Oct. 26 -- Houston4:15
Nov. 2 -- at Miami1
Nov. 9 -- at Jacksonville1:00
Nov. 16 -- New York Jets4:05
Nov. 23 -- at Buffalo1
Nov. 30 -- New England1
Dec. 7 -- at Tennessee1
Dec. 14 -- Atlanta1
Dec. 21 -- Denver8:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 -- at Houston1
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2002 record: 6-10.
Coach: Jack Del Rio.
Key additions: QB Byron Leftwich (D-1), CB Rashean Mathis (D-2), G Vincent Manuwai (D-3), WR Donald Hayes (released-Patriots), LB Mike Peterson (UFA-Colts), DE Hugh Douglas (UFA-Eagles), FB Marc Edwards (UFA-Patriots), KR Jermaine Lewis (UFA-Texans), LB Keith Mitchell (UFA-Texans), WR J.J. Stokes (released-49ers).
Key losses: G/C Zach Wiegert (UFA-Texans), C John Wade (UFA-Bucs), WR Patrick Johnson (UFA-Redskins), RB Stacey Mack (UFA-Texans), LB Wali Rainer (UFA-Lions).
Profile: They've had an exceptional offseason, and with two early picks in the first and second rounds they got a fine young quarterback and a coverage corner. They're strong up the middle with emerging star DT Marcus Stroud. Pressing need is at wide receiver, where the loss in 2002 of Keenan McCardell reduced the effectiveness of WR Jimmy Smith, who is now lost for the first four games with a drug suspension.
Key stat: John Henderson and Stroud, both tackles, led the club with 6.5 sacks each.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Carolina1
Sept. 14 -- Buffalo1
Sept. 21 -- at Indianapolis1
Sept. 28 -- at Houston1
Oct. 5 -- San Diego4:05
Oct. 12 -- Miami1
Oct. 19 -- Bye
Oct. 26 -- Tennessee1
Nov. 2 -- at Baltimore1
Nov. 9 -- Indianapolis1
Nov. 16 -- at Tennessee1
Nov. 23 -- at New York Jets1
Nov. 30 -- Tampa Bay8:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 -- Houston1
Dec. 14 -- at New England1
Dec. 21 -- New Orleans1
Dec. 28 -- at Atlanta1
TENNESSEE TITANS
2002 record: 11-5.
Coach: Jeff Fisher.
Key additions: CB Andre Woolfolk (D-1), WR Tyrone Calico (D-2), RB Chris Brown (D-3).
Key losses: DT Henry Ford (released), C Gennaro DiNapoli (released), DT John Thornton (UFA-Bengals), WR Kevin Dyson (UFA-Panthers), LB Randall Godfrey (released-Seahawks).
Profile: GM Floyd Reese doesn't like tinkering in free agency, and so the concentration has been on retaining most of the major players. They kept the offensive line intact; bouquets to Eddie George for gutting out a 1,165-yard season. But they need a young pair of legs and that's where Brown comes in. WR Derrick Mason needs a counterpoint on the other side of the field. The offensive line needs depth. Defensively, they're filled with big hitters -- SS Tank Williams, FS Lance Schulters, LB Keith Bulluck. This is a team with a suspect offense, despite the great leadership of QB Steve McNair.
Key stat: McNair was sacked only 21 times, or once every 24.4 attempts.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- Oakland8:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 -- at Indianapolis1
Sept. 21 -- New Orleans1
Sept. 28 -- at Pittsburgh1
Oct. 5 -- at New England1
Oct. 12 -- Houston1
Oct. 19 -- at Carolina1
Oct. 26 -- at Jacksonville1
Nov. 2 -- Bye
Nov. 9 -- Miami1
Nov. 16 -- Jacksonville1
Nov. 23 -- at Atlanta4:15
Dec. 1 -- at New York Jets9
Dec. 7 -- Indianapolis1
Dec. 14 -- Buffalo1
Dec. 21 -- at Houston1
Dec. 28 -- Tampa Bay1
-- South Florida Sun Sentinel