The NFL has played 2 weeks so far, and just like with our 2020 Divisional Draft Grades, we give you NFL Report Cards by division. So you can see where your favorite team stands heading into Week 3.
Here are our AFC South Grades:
Indianapolis Colts (1-1, Tied for 2nd)
Graded by Drew Mitty
QB: C+
Philip Rivers has a high QB rating, but he’s throwing the ball for a lot of quick
dump-offs to his receiving corps with 2 TD’s/3 INT’s. Rivers is still capable, but he needs good
protection consistently and the complementary run game.
RBs: B+
Jonathan Taylor, the rookie out of Wisconsin admirably replaced Marlon Mack (out for
the season) in week #2. Taylor ran for 101 yards and his first career TD.
WRs & TEs: B+
Former VCU basketball star, TE Mo Alie-Cox, was deployed by Coach Frank
Reich on Sunday. Alie-Cox finished with single-game career-highs in receptions (five) and
receiving yards (111) for an impressive yards-per-catch average of 22.2. Rivers may have a
target like Antonio Gates again to improve his fortunes!
OL: A-
The team has all five starters from 2019. Anthony Costanzo remains one of the best
left tackles in all of football and will let Rivers and Reich breathe easier in the pocket,
DL: B-
DeForest Buckner is a very strong interior lineman for this team. He constantly disrupts
the run and the passing pocket.
Edge-Rushers:D+ Denico Autry has 2 sacks thus far but the power blitz off the edge has not
really materialized yet.
LBs, Non-Pass Rushers: B+
Darius Leonard has 16 tackles in 2 weeks. He’s a solid and
consistent performer for the Colts with a nose for the football. Leonard seems equally adept
playing both run and pass defense schemes.
Secondary:C+
CB Kenny Moore is a pretty consistent defender but the whole secondary may
be the team’s biggest liability. Holding MIN to 11 points was a good performance, but they
could be vulnerable in weeks ahead.
Tennessee Titans (2-0, 1st)
QB: A
Whether the scouts or critics want to label Ryan Tannehill a game manager or
an underrated QB, he has 6TD’s/0INT after Week #2. With a 120+Passer rating, he is doing a
good job spreading the ball around, using all his weapons to drive the Tennessee offense.
RBs: B+
Derrick Henry The AFC Playoff super-back of 2019 has 200 yards after Week #2. At
this juncture, Henry’s YPC are at 3.8 with no rushing TDs as of yet. However, with 100 yards
per game, we could see a rushing title and hardware for DH in his future.
WRs & TEs:A
Corey Davis WR/Jonnu Smith TE are playing very well, and
Jonnu already has 3 TD’s. They might not have 10 catches per game, but are making the most
of their opportunities. It’s not one guy with the Titans, and Smith and Davis along with Adam
Humphries make up an excellent receiving corps.
OL: A
Taylor Lewan LT/Rodger Saffold LG finished with a flourish after
struggling early in 2019 and they look to be building well on that success. The big line has a left
side that continues to get stronger. Time gives Tannehill time to work through progressions and
spring Derrick Henry for a formidable ground attack.
DL: B-
Daquan Jones needs to play up his potential this year and show his presence
inside.. Still, the Titans defense gave up 30 points to the Jags WITHOUT Leonard Fournette, so
the DL can get a lot better.
Edge-Rushers: C-
Jadaveon Clowney’s stats don’t exist within a vacuum, as he
draws extra attention with his athleticism and playmaking capability. Still, no sacks, and the
pass rush has been unimpressive the first two weeks for the Titans
LBs, Non-Pass Rushers: B
Jayon Brown and company are in the 3-4 Titans
defense. The unit can even be stronger as the season progresses. They play every down hard.
Secondary:B-
Malcolm Butler/Kenny Vaccaro CB/S These two are experienced and Butler
has a championship pedigree, winning two with the Patriots. After a poor Week #1 showing vs.
JAX, they played better vs. Denver.
Houston Texans (0-2, 4th)
Graded by Josh Davis
QBs: C+
Deshaun Watson is one of the best QBs in the game at the moment, but hasn’t been able to get a lot going thus far. He was sacked 8 times by Kansas City and Baltimore. Good completion percentage, 45-68, for 528 yards, but only 2TDs, and 2INTs. He’s played well, but to get a better grade, you gotta be able to put the team on your back and overcome adversity. He’s not to blame for it all, but we know Watson can do this.
RBs: C-
David Johnson had a good Week 1 (over 100 APY and 1 TD), but could not get anything going against the Ravens, (50 APY, 0TDs). A complete non-factor in Week 2. Making the team one-dimensional. He’s a weapon in both facets, has to improve.
WRs & TEs: D
Week 1 Will Fuller had the best of the corps, 8 catches for 112 yards, but no ones else on the team had more than 2 catches. Newly acquired Brandin Cooks had a good game in Week 2, 8 catches for 95 yards, and TE Darren Fells scored the TD. But Fells only had 2 catches. Randall Cobb, another new addition to hopefully make up for the lost production from the DeAndre Hopkins trade, had 5 catches for 59 yards. The incumbent receivers, Kenny Stills and Will Fuller were also non-factors in Week 2. They have to play better.
OL: D
Watson has already been sacked 8 times this year. Starting RT Max Scharping missed snaps in Week 2, leaving that side vulnerable. But the 4 sacks against Baltimore came from all over the place. The line is dead last in pass protection, but 13th in run blacking, due mostly to the Week 1 game versus the Chiefs.
DL: C–
DE JJ Watt is gonna thrive regardless. He ended up getting 2 sacks on QB Lamar Jackson, along with 3 other hits on him. But DT PJ Hall was the only other defensive lineman to get in Jackson’s space. Yes, they play a 3-4, but the front has to do better. They give up far too much in the running game, and only get this grade for the 2 sacks by Watt. In total, they have 5 sacks as a team, by 4 players. 20th in yards given up, 27th in points.
LBs, Non-pass rushers: C
Zach Cunningham and Benardrick McKinney lead the team in production, but you expect that out of your 3-4 ILBs. Cunningham has allowed every pass that has come his way get caught, given up 82 yards and a score in 2 weeks. That’s not what you want from him. He’s better than that, but not showing it so far.
Secondary: C
They have given up 4 TDs already in the passing game, but none have been on big plays, those have come against the run (30 yards by Edwards-Helaire in Week 1, 27 yards by Gus Edwards in Week 2). They’ve allowed a total 75% completion percentage to the Chiefs and Ravens. Three of the 4 have given up a TD, but the stat that scares me the most is that every DB has given up more than 60%, and over 50 yards each, much of that in YAC.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1, tied for 2nd)
QBs: B
Gardner Minshew has a 75% completion rate, 512 yards, 6 TDs and 2INTs over the first 2 weeks. Week 1 against the Colts he had more TDs than incompletions, and led them to a 4th quarter comeback victory. But it was Week 2 where he really played well. If not for s pecial teams blunder in the kicking game, the Jags could be 2-0.
RBs: C
The RBs would be getting a worse grade after Forunette was released, but surprise rookie James Robinson has played well in both games. The stingy Colts defense gave up 62 yards on the ground to Robinson, but it was Week 2 where he really shined, going for 102 yards on 16 carries and a score. Gardner Minshew and WR Laviska Chenault are the next 2 on the rushing leader list for the team, so, as a positional unit, they get a lower grade than I’d like to, considering Robinson is averaging over 5 yards a carry, and 80 yards a game thus far.
WRs & TEs: B
The Jaguars really don’t have a #1 receiver, but Keelan Cole has been playing great. Through the first 2 weeks he has 11 catches for 105 yards and 2 TDs, while DJ Chark has 7 for 109 and a score. As for the TEs, newly acquired Tyler Eifert has 4 catches for 44 yards and a score, while James O’Shaugnessy has 5 catches for 50 yards. This unit has over achieved, but with Minshew at the helm, I’m not surprised.
OL: C
This unit is 10th in the rushing game, but 23rd in passing, allowing 6 sacks. Not the worst in the division, but, close. The running game is why I give them this grade. They’ve not suffered any major injuries yet to the line, but the center position been an issue. Starter Brandon Linder was hurt, and won’t play Thursday against the Dolphins, but is week-to-week. Jawaan Taylor is expected to be better at this point, but pressure has come from all over. They did play better versus the Titans.
DL: D+
This defensive line has had an overhaul in the last 2 years. Stud DE Yannick Ngakoue forced himself out, Calais Campbell is gone as well, but Josh Allen is still there, but we’re waiting for the rest of the line to show up. Against the run they’ve done well, only allowing 3.6 YPC, and that’s with Derrick Henry’s 82 yards. Passing, though, nobody has gotten a sack from the line yet, and that’s troubling. They’re 27th against the pass, which is not good at all, but being able to key blocking schemes against Allen, and not having anyone else step up, it’s not surprising.
LBs, Non-pass-rushers:
Myles Jack is a beast. He’s doing beast things. Only allowing 3 yards per completion against him. Joe Schobert is 2nd on the team in tackles, as these LBs should be. But, Schobert is allowing 7.4 yards per completion and has given up a TD. It’s not terrible, but he can be better.
Secondary: B-
CJ Henderson has been a standout corner thus far, even though he has been targeted the most out of any in the defensive backfield. He has an INT, and a completion rate of 56% out of 16 total targets. Tre Herndon, on the other side, also has a low completion rate at 60%. Because the line has had trouble getting to the QBs, the DBs have had to pay the price. They have given up yards, and some points, but despite that, they’ve played well. Especially considering the underwhelming line play.
