Eagles @ Seahawks, 8:20PM ET, Thursday
Philadelphia is just the latest example of what usually happens to everyone’s preseason chic pick. Granted, there’s still time for the Eagles to turn things around and if they win out, there’s a chance they could sneak in the back door of the postseason. But I’m not so sure they’ll even win tonight against the Seahawks. Although they lost to Washington last Sunday, Seattle is usually tough to beat at home and the Eagles have been sleepwalking all year. That’s a very undisciplined, unfocused team that Andy Reid is running these days.

Raiders @ Dolphins, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
Just when positive things start to happen in Miami, Brandon Marshall finds himself in handcuffs. Apparently police in Broward County, Florida briefly detained the receiver after he was accused of fleeing a $142 cab fee around 5:00AM on November 14. The rest of the details are fantastic. The cab driver said that Marshall “didn’t know where he wanted to go” and “When I woke him up and told him he had to pay, he said he wasn’t and started arguing for me to take him home.” Get this, Marshall blamed the “misunderstanding” on the cab driver’s “accent,” although it sounds as if he wouldn’t have understood anyone given the condition he was in. How good of shape are you when you’re falling asleep in the back of cabs at 5:00AM?

Broncos @ Vikings, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
Von Miller underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair torn ligaments in his thumb and may not play on Sunday for the Broncos. That’s bad news for a Denver team that has had to rely on its defense and the one-quarter of magic from Tim Tebow every week. Miller is a runaway candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and if he can’t go, the Broncos defense will be down one of its biggest playmakers (if not the biggest playmaker). Of course, if Adrian Peterson doesn’t suit up for Minnesota then Denver only really has to worry about Percy Harvin.

Falcons @ Texans, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
Don’t be surprised if T.J. Yates surprises this Sunday. First and foremost, he played in a pro-style offense under John Shoop and Butch Davis at North Carolina and Atlanta will be down two of its top three corners (Brent Grimes and Kelvin Hayden). Christopher Owens, who will start for Grimes (knee), was the poor lad that was repeatedly torched by Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Divisional Round last January and Dominique Franks (who will start at nickel in place of Hayden), has received very little PT the past two years.

Titans @ Bills, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
While I think the Texans can survive thanks to their running game and defense, this is the time for the Titans to take the governor off and amp things up. Tennessee has a legitimate shot of catching Houston in the AFC South because of T.J. Yates’ inexperience. But the Titans need to win, including this weekend against a struggling Buffalo team. The Bills are without Fred Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick is reeling right now. Tennessee has to take advantage.

Bengals @ Steelers, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
It’s put up or shut up time for the Bengals this weekend in Pittsburgh. If they can’t prove that they can beat the Steelers, then nobody is going to consider them legit contenders. On the flip side, if Andy Dalton and Co. pull off the upset then Cincinnati will very much remain in the thick of things in the AFC North. This game could provide a very clear picture of how the rest of the season will play out for the Bengals.

Panthers @ Bucs, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
What a complete role reversal for Tampa Bay. While the Saints and on a smaller scale, the Falcons, improved their rosters this offseason, the Bucs rested on their laurels outside of signing a punter (Michael Koenen). The Tampa front office, which has always been cheap anyway, figured it didn’t need to make any upgrades after the team won 10 games last year and now the Bucs are paying for it. They’re clearly overmatched and lack playmakers to compete with New Orleans and Atlanta in the division. If they lose at home to the upstart Panthers this Sunday, it’ll officially be the lowest point of the season for the Bucs.

Colts @ Patriots, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
There’s really not any point in breaking this game down, right? I mean, not even a little bit. The Colts haven’t played well all season and while a quarterback change may bring a little optimism to Indy’s locker room, the switch is Curtis Painter for Dan Orlovsky. That’s only about a droplet of optimism right there.

Chiefs @ Bears, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
As painful as it may sound to Mike Martz, he’s going to have to design his offense around Matt Forte and then sit back and watch Devin Hester and the Chicago defense win games from here on out. Because Martz obviously can’t run his offense with Caleb Hanie in the same manner as he did with Jay Cutler. Hanie would be okay if Fotre was the focal point of the offense but will be exposed if Martz tries to force the issue through the air. That said, the Bears should eat Tyler Palko alive so as long as Hanie doesn’t throw another four interceptions then Chicago should be fine.

Jets @ Redskins, 1:00PM ET, Sunday
The Jets need to be careful this Sunday. For as inconsistent as Washington’s offense has been this season, its defense will get after the quarterback. Plus, it’s clear that Rex Grossman makes the Redskins a more competitive team than when John Beck is under center, so it probably won’t be a walk in the park for Rex Ryan’s crew this weekend. If Mark Sanchez didn’t find some of his lost confidence last week when he threw four touchdown passes, the Jets could easily lose this Sunday on the road.

Packers @ Giants, 4:15PM ET, Sunday
Normally the Giants play their best football when their backs are against the wall and maybe they will again this Sunday. But what I witnessed on Monday night was an overmatched defense that is really feeling the effects of injuries (which date back to the preseason). Drew Brees and the Saints are explosive but even Sean Payton’s offense pails in comparison to what Aaron Rodgers and Co. bring to the table. It may be another long day for the New York defense.

Cowboys @ Cardinals, 4:15PMET, Sunday
The Cowboys have a golden opportunity to potentially take a two-game lead over the Giants in the NFC East because while they’re playing the 4-7 Cardinals, New York will host the undefeated Packers at the same time on the other side of the country. The Cowboys can’t afford to muck this up, although this is the same team that was nearly beaten by the Redskins and Dolphins, respectively, the past two weeks. With the way Dallas has a tendency to underachieve at times, don’t be surprised if Arizona keeps things close on Sunday.

Ravens @ Browns, 4:05PM ET, Sunday
As they proved last week against the Bengals, the Browns can sneak up on opponents if teams aren’t careful. Cleveland’s offense maxes out at about 17 points but the Browns defense is competitive. With Baltimore coming off a hard-fought win over the 49ers on Thanksgiving night, the Ravens better not get caught sleepwalking this week.

Rams @ 49ers, 4:15PM ET, Sunday
With Jack Del Rio being fired on Monday in Jacksonville, you have to wonder how much longer Steve Spagnuolo has in St. Louis. In defense of Spags, the Rams’ schedule was brutal at the start and injuries have taken their toll in the secondary and along the offensive line. But the team isn’t even watchable right now. Personally, I think Spagnuolo has at least one more year to turn things around in St. Louis but it wouldn’t be a shock if come Monday he were out of a job. I think it would take a blowout loss on Sunday though.

Lions @ Saints, 8:20PM ET, Sunday
Detroit’s playoff hopes could vanish very quickly over these upcoming weeks. The Saints are a solid football team overall but they’ve proven to be unbeatable at home this year. And considering the Lions won’t have Ndamukong Suh (two-game suspension) to rush Drew Brees this weekend, New Orleans may put up 40-plus points again. (Detroit is also down a few players in its secondary, which always bodes well when a team is about to take on the Saints in New Orleans.)

Chargers @ Jaguars, 8:30PM ET, Monday
Somebody had to pay for the complete mismanagement of Blaine Gabbert this season and unfortunately for him, that man was Jack Del Rio. Gabbert should have been holding a clipboard in his first year but instead he’s starting every week despite not being ready. It’s not surprising to see him struggle considering how raw he was as a prospect back in April. As for San Diego, things just keep getting worse and worse for Norv Turner. The Bolts lost left tackle Marcus McNeill to a season-ending back injury earlier this week and had to claim Jared Gaither off waivers from the Chiefs. Now Philip Rivers will have even less time to throw interceptions.

December is when coaches lose jobs or gain big contract extensions for winning big games. And it’s crunch time for coach of the year hype…..

1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots—Sure, the Pats were exposed against Green Bay. But like usual, the Hoodie’s teams find a way to win.

2. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles—He almost dropped five spots for not throwing that challenge flag on an obvious reversal, but he’s still here for two reasons—his teams know how to win, and he had the balls to name Mike Vick as his starting QB.

3. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—No reason to move Mikey from the 3-spot after disposing of the Seahawks in hostile Seattle.

4. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs—Now the Chargers are breathing down his neck; but hey, he probably feels good that Josh McDaniels is watching games from his couch now.

5. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears—Did anyone think the Bears could score 40 points against the Vikings on a frigid December night? Lovie’s defense and Mike Martz’ offense continue to gel and look scary.

6. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—Yes, they are 6-8 and might win a division. But the fact remains the Rams have equaled their win total from the past three seasons combined, and Spags told his team they can win the Super Bowl if they reach the playoffs. Ridiculous, but true.

7. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs—Still hanging on to a possible playoff berth, but either way, a huge turnaround in 2010.

8. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars—Gambled and lost in Indy, but still tied for first in the AFC South.

9. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers/John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens—Two hard-hitting teams are two of the best teams in the NFL

10. Rex Ryan, New York Jets—Backs up against the wall? No problem for this brash leader, whose team did what few teams do—win in Pittsburgh in December.

Getting down to the wire, like when talking heads on NFL Network, etc. actually start pontificating about what we’ve been writing all season…..

1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots—Now we’ve seen everything. Running the score up against the Bears during a Chicago blizzard, while holding them to one special teams TD? Did this team actually lose to the Browns a month ago?

2. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles—Won a critical division game in Dallas, and the Eagles can make a statement against the Giants Sunday. What happens may determine if Reid stays right here or drops a few notches, but he’s still brilliant for how he handled the whole QB situation this year.

3. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—He’s running a well-oiled machine, but that doesn’t happen by accident.

4. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—Nobody is complaining that his Rams lost to the Saints, but they my get a rematch, in St. Louis, in the playoffs.

5. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs—Now the Chargers are breathing down his neck; but hey, he probably feels good that Josh McDaniels is watching games from his couch now.

6. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants—From the hot seat to the cold seat to the warm seat and back to the cold seat. And now the Giants have shot to take over the NFC East, while at times conjuring up visions of the 2007 team that won it all.

7. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars—Winning the AFC South when many thought they’d finish last could turn out to be a top storyline this year. But there are still three games left, including a big one this Sunday in Indy.

8. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers—What a great season this has turned out to be for the Steelers, and look no further than the guy in charge for much of that.

9. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs—No matter how they finish, the Bucs have well exceeded expectations this season.

10. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears—Big hiccup at home against New England, and now they get to play OUTDOORS on Monday night in Minneapolis. Yikes.

Honorable mention: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints—Did you know the Saints were 10-3? Neither did anyone else, but Mike Smith has reason to worry.

Four weeks to go….who will stay on this list and who will drop off. Also, who will be the first coach to get fired? Maybe that’s for another list. For now, here are the best coaches/biggest surprises for 2010 thus far….

1. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs—A two-game lead on the Chargers is nice when you face them in December. Let’s see where this dude sits next week.

2. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—6-6 looks much better than 5-6, doesn’t it? At least it makes the Packers (8-4) and Bucs (7-5) feel better that they’re currently out of the playoffs based on standings.

3. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles—A tough schedule to finish, but that has never scared Big Andy before, and it shouldn’t when Michael Vick is at the helm.

4. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots—If you put up 39 points on the Steelers and 45 on the Jets, you’re doing something right.

5. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—The best record in the NFL should be good for something

6. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears—9-3, and everyone is STILL waiting for the other shoe to drop.

7. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers—Let’s not forget the current AFC North leaders started the first quarter of the season without Big Ben

8. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants—Since being on the hot seat, Coughlin’s Giants have gone 7-2 and have won the last two games despite not having Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and more than half of their starting O-line.

9. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars—Still in the lead for the AFC South in a year when most expected him to be fired

10. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs—Much improved despite having trouble beating some of the better teams

Honorable mention: Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders—Bonus points for beating the Chargers so soundly in San Diego last Sunday

Are the Bucs for real? Who knows, but their coach sure is.

1. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs—Despite how well the Falcons and Saints are playing, the Bucs are making a case for three teams to come out of the NFC South for the playoffs.

2. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs—If he can hold off the Chargers, he’ll stay here. But that’s a big IF.

3. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles—Raise your hand if you picked the Eagles to win the NFC East. That’s what I thought.

4. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—One game out of first, and it’s almost December. Yeah, the NFC West is kind of a joke, but still.

5. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—The current top seed in the NFC. I wonder what Bobby Petrino is doing these days.

6. (tie) Bill Belichick, New England Patriots and Rex Ryan, New York Jets—The mad scientist is probably watching film of the Jets all holiday weekend to get a jump; but don’t think Rex isn’t doing the same.

7. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears—He’ll stay here if his team beats Green Bay again (January 2 at Lambeau).

8. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars—They’re what? Leading the AFC South after Week 11?

9. Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders—Hard to believe this guy was so close to losing his job a year ago, and look at him now.

10. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers—Things were bleak in Pittsburgh after a crappy end to 2009 and not having Big Ben for four games to start 2010. But now they are 7-3 and one of the better teams in the AFC.

2010 NFL Division Previews & Predictions: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | 2010 Question Marks Series

For over a decade, the Colts have been the models for consistency in the NFL. But will things change that the Texans and Titans are strong? Can guys like Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson of Houston, and Vince Young and Chris Johnson of Tennessee help their respective teams overcome Peyton and the Colts?

We’ll find out soon.

Here’s how I see things shaking out in the AFC South this season. Be sure to check out the link entitled “2010 Question Mark” under each team’s preview, which is a breakdown of one or two potential weaknesses that could derail that squad’s hopes in 2010. (If no link is provided, check back because one will be before the start of the season.)

1. Colts

What to Like: First Name: Peyton. Last Name: Manning. As long as Peyton Manning is still playing football, the Colts are going to be contenders – I don’t care if he has to use a walker to get out to the field. The Colts retain a top 3 offense led by Manning, who has a slew of playmakers at his disposal in Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai, Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. The offensive line isn’t the best running blocking unit in the game (or the best in pass protection, for that matter), but it plays well collectively and Manning masks any weaknesses. Defensively, the Colts own two of the best pass-rushing ends in the NFL in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Gary Brackett and Clint Session are solid from their linebacker positions and the return of Bob Sanders (if he can stay healthy) will dramatically help the run defense.
What Not to Like: The defensive tackle position is a huge concern. Daniel Muir and Antonio Johnson are weak as the starters and rookie Fili Moala failed to impress as a rookie. Their play is masked thanks to the ends, but the interior of the Colts’ line is soft and could become a problem come playoff time. At cornerback, Kelvin Hayden struggled with injuries but the bottom line is that quarterbacks were able to complete 65.8 percent of passes on him last season. There’s no excuse for that. On the other side, Jerraud Powers is expected to start but he had surgery to repair his foot in February and missed the final two preseason games.
Keep Your Eye On: Philip Wheeler
The 25-year-old out of Georgia Tech has the physical ability to start at the outside linebacker position – now he just has to prove he can stay there. He enters his first full season as a starter and coaches have already remarked how much he’s improved in his defensive reads. He’ll have the fortune of playing alongside quality veterans like Sessions and Brackett.
The Final Word: Another 10-plus win season is on the horizon for the Colts, who only play five playoff teams from a year ago. The interior of the defensive line, cornerback and special teams are this team’s greatest weaknesses, but the Colts have remained the most consistent team in the NFL for over a decade. They know how to win and with Manning under center, they’re going to challenge for the AFC title once again. That said, they will get pushed by the Titans and Texans in the division.

Indianapolis Colts 2010 Question Mark: Defensive Tackle

2. Texans

What to Like: The passing game will once again be explosive and this is a top 10 unit with Matt Schaub under center. He was outstanding last season and as long as he stays healthy, he certainly has enough weapons in the offense to tear up the stat sheet once again. Speaking of those weapons, Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the game and it was great to see the team reward him with a contract extension this offseason. If Owen Daniels is fully recovered from knee surgery, then he’ll return as one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league. If he doesn’t, then Schaub still has Kevin Walters, Jacoby Jones and David Anderson in the passing game. The Texans also have two young backs in Arian Foster and Steve Slaton to help keep the offense balanced. Defensively, this team has a solid young core in Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, DeMeco Ryans and Zavier Adibi, as well as two playmaking corners in Glover Quin and rookie Kareem Jackson.
What Not to Like: The offensive line still has issues, especially at left tackle in third-year player Duane Brown. He was horrendous as a rookie and while he was very good at the start of ’09, he regressed and is now facing a pivotal third year. Staying on that side of the ball, Daniels’ health is still a major concern. I know he’s expected to be ready by Week 1, but he underwent massive reconstructive surgery on his knee and usually players need a year and a half to recover before they’re effective again. He’s a great player and easy to root for, so I hope he bounces back but questions still remain. Defensively, Quin and Jackson are intriguing young talents but it’s usually never wise to pin so much on a young corner (not that the Texans had a choice after Dunta Robinson signed with the Falcons). The interior of the defensive line is also a concern, especially considering how easy offensive linemen pushed around Okoye and Shaun Cody last season.
Keep Your Eye On: Kareem Jackson
After losing Robinson in free agency, the Texans knew they had to address their cornerback position through the draft. That’s why they targeted Jackson at the No. 20 overall pick and after a great spring and summer, he’ll start on the right side. As I mentioned above, you shouldn’t expect too much out of a rookie too soon, but it’s hard not to love Jackson’s potential. He was a playmaker at Alabama and while he’ll get tested right away in Week 1, it’ll be fun to see how he reacts. He certainly has the talent.
The Final Word: Are the Texans knocking on the door of a playoff berth? Absolutely. Will it be this season? Ehhhh…I don’t think so. I know that’s tough for the Houston faithful to read (not that my opinion will damper their excitement), but I just don’t have enough faith in their defense. Opponents are going to find ways to move the ball through the air and if the Texans are down late in the game, teams are going to be able to wear down that defensive line too. That said, this offense will once again be explosive and if the Texans can score early and often, then the defense does have enough playmakers to be aggressive and force turnovers. But when I look at the rest of the AFC, I don’t see the Texans earning a Wild Card spot and I don’t see them overtaking the Colts in the division. Maybe next year…(cue Houston fans throwing up).

Houston Texans 2010 Question Mark: Cornerback

3. Titans

What to Like: After losing their first six games last season, the Titans rattled off five in a row and won eight of their final 10 games to finish a respectable 8-8 on the year. Most of that was do in large part to the play of Vince Young, who replaced an ultra-brutal Kerry Collins as the starter heading into the team’s Week 7 bye. Thanks to the backfield of Young and dynamic playmaker Chris Johnson, the Titans should have a top 15 offense. Nate Washington and Justin Gage aren’t going to keep defensive backs up at night, but they’re certainly serviceable and Kenny Britt proved last year that he could be a playmaker in the passing game. The offensive line is solid both in run blocking and pass protection, so this offense should move the chains plenty in 2010. Defensively, Tony Brown has made people forget about Albert Haynesworth with his outstanding overall play (especially as a pass rusher). The linebacker corps is also above average, with veterans Will Witherspoon and Stephen Tulloch accompanying youngster Rennie Curran.
What Not to Like: Johnson is a phenomenal player, but I wonder if he’s going to eventually wear down after heavy workloads in his first two seasons. The other question about the offense is whether Young will regress after impressing last season. Don’t forget that he nearly quit football two years ago because he couldn’t handle the expectations and pressures of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. As mentioned above, the offensive line certainly isn’t a weakness but tackle Michael Roos struggled with edge rushers last year, which isn’t good considering he plays in the same division as Dwight Freeney and Mario Williams. The other tackle, David Stewart, is also coming off a rough 2009 and will need to pick up his game as well. Defensively, the team’s biggest weakness is the secondary. Michael Griffin regressed mightily after a solid effort in ’08 and the entire unit failed to make plays last year.
Keep Your Eye On: Kenny Britt
This might seem like an odd choice considering Jeff Fisher recently threatened to deactivate him on game days if he doesn’t start focusing, but keep in mind that Britt is only 21-years old and is going to have some majority issues being that young. Plus, this kid made some plays last year that had most people believing that he can be a No. 1 at some point soon. If he can get out of Fisher’s doghouse, then the sky is the limit.
The Final Word: I was pretty close to putting the Titans second and the Texans third, but Tennessee’s defense scares me. The front seven is pretty good, but the pass defense is a major question mark and like I briefly mentioned above, who knows if Young will soar or once again fail to live up to expectations. That said, this team will be competitive and I wouldn’t be shocked if they headed into the second half with playoff aspirations. If they had a couple of more playmakers on defense, I may have been more inclined to give them the second spot.

4. Jaguars

What to Like: Although his knee has scared most of the people in the Jacksonville area over the last couple of weeks, running back Maurice Jones-Drew returns as the team’s best overall player. And even though he’s well known, he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves as an all-around player and one of the most gifted backs in the game today. He benefits from having a solid run-blocking unit, led by guard Uche Nwaneri and left tackle Eugene Monroe. I realize that David Garrard isn’t the flashiest quarterback and he’s not going to set the world on fire with his play, but the guy is efficient. He’s good under pressure, he can keep the chains moving if he has time to throw and he’s a good complement to MJD. If the front office spent more time getting him some pass protection or more weapons to throw to and less time trying to dump him, then maybe the offense wouldn’t be so ineffective. Defensively, I love the addition of underrated middle linebacker Kirk Morrison, who has been one of the most productive defenders the last couple of seasons (but who has largely been forgotten playing on a bad Oakland team). And speaking of underrated – how good has outside linebacker Daryl Smith been over the years? I love this team’s linebacker corps of Morrison, Smith and Justin Durant.
What Not to Like: The pass protection last year was brutal for Garrard, which is one of the reasons why I don’t get why the front office and coaching staff is always trying to replace him. For as good as Monroe was as a run-blocker, he struggled keeping Garrard upright and fellow youngster Eben Britton was just as bad. Defensively, the Jags finally gave up on former first round pick Reggie Nelson, but that doesn’t mean they have a good replacement for him. Sean Considine struggled with injuries last year and Anthony Smith has done nothing to prove that he should be the full-time starter at free safety.
Keep Your Eye On: Mike Sims-Walker
The 25-year-old out of Central Florida has developed into Garrard’s go-to guy and should be in store for a solid season if the O-line can give the quarterback time to throw. The problem is that he has struggled with injuries in the past and suffered from a shoulder problem before the Jags’ final preseason game. That said, he caught passes of 35, 22 and 7 yards from Garrard in that final exhibition game, so there should be nothing to worry about. Sims-Walker could hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his young career if everything breaks right this season.
The Final Word: As with most teams projected to finish in last place in their division, the Jags lack overall talent. The offense could use another playmaker in the passing game and the O-line will dramatically have to improve its pass protection so Garrard isn’t running for his life every down. The defense’s strength resides at linebacker, but guys like Considine, Smith and rookie DT Tyson Alualu have to make big impacts if this team wants to contend this year. When I look at the Jags, I see a team without an identity and this could be Jack Del Rio’s final year in Jacksonville if the team under whelms again.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, USC has sent Jaguars’ head coach Jack Del Rio a contract and if signed, he would replace Pete Carroll on the sidelines for the Trojans.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio was sent a contract by USC tonight to become the next football coach.

Now comes the tricky part: If Del Rio takes the job, he forfeits more than $15 million in salary from the Jaguars. If Jacksonville fires him, they must pay him the money. Why would Jacksonville fire him if they know USC wants him? Should make Tuesday interesting.

Interesting choice. The general consensus was that USC was going to target a head coach with pro experience because Carroll had spent the decade running the program as if it were a NFL team. Del Rio is a good motivator and I would have to imagine that his style of coaching would suit college football.

In the end, I doubt that money would be that much of an issue. USC has money; the real question is whether or not Del Rio wants to leave the NFL to coach in the college ranks.

Update: Del Rio said on Tuesday that he will return to Jacksonville in 2010.

Photo from fOTOGLIF
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