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Each and every year, opportunities for a breakout arise on NFL teams. This may be due to a few different factors. The depth chart may be thinner in spots, compared to the year before. Elsewhere, the raw talent or technical refinement cannot be denied in a short span. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the AFC South.
One team is looking to three-peat as division champions after claiming the number one seed in the AFC last season. Another contender is looking primed and ready to pounce on their heels after making a necessary quarterback change. Meanwhile, the other two AFC South squads are simply looking to find their footing during their respective rebuild.
We will be running through all eight divisions, giving our best picks at 2022 breakout candidates. We have already completed ones for the AFC East, NFC East, AFC North and NFC North. Let’s now dive into the AFC South breakout candidates. Kicking things off, is a pass rusher for the Houston Texans.
Houston Texans- DE Jonathan Greenard
Defensive end Jonathan Greenard has quietly worked up the ladder within a scarce Houston defense. Last season, he managed to create eight sacks and 19 pressures in 12 games. Greenard was also rather stout with his technique, as he only had two missed tackles all season. The production was much needed for the Texans. But, can that be trusted from Greenard in a second consecutive season?
The traits that he brings to the table certainly aid his chances. Overall, Greenard is an extremely long and explosive pass rusher from the defensive end position. He appears to work best when looping around blockers with an inside-out technique. Moreover, Greenard takes massive strides, eating up the opponent’s leverage. He can be slippery off of the edge as well, meaning you must strike your hands on him early, in order to win the rep.
Looking at the ever-changing depth chart throughout the Texans rebuild, there are not many young options to turn to in the pass rush. Greenard is possibly a younger piece that the team can hope to lean on for the next couple of seasons. With another strong year of production, that may just be the case for Houston. Can Greenard be a double-digit sack producer in 2022?
Indianapolis Colts- CB Isaiah Rodgers
A former sixth-round pick out of UMass, Isaiah Rodgers enters his third season with the Indianapolis Colts. As a rookie, he was primarily used as a return man, making 24 kick return attempts in 2020. Though last season, Rodgers began to play double duty. He made 19 kick return attempts, while appearing in all 17 games defensively. The cornerback was highly productive in pass coverage out of the gate.
Rodgers finished 2021 with seven pass breakups, three interceptions and allowed just 63.1 percent of passes to be completed against him. To boot, he also had reasonable numbers in items like receiving yards allowed per target (6.6) and in receiving touchdowns allowed (three). Simply put, his instincts and confidence stand out in man coverage.
Rodgers will now be starting opposite of Stephon Gilmore on the outside in 2022. Kenny Moore is also rather stingy as a nickel cornerback. Because of the presence of those two, Rodgers may be tested heavily throughout the season, with an increased amount of targets coming his way. He will need to continue to produce astoundingly and prove he can consistently hang against the opponents’ best wide receivers. If not, the Colts could take a step back defensively and fall short of their goal in the AFC South.
- Ep. 197: Fields to Pittsburgh, Still Available Free Agentsby Full Press Coverage on March 18, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Jacksonville Jaguars- CB Tyson Campbell
Another cornerback who can be rather smooth in man coverage, Tyson Campbell enters his second season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unlike the aforementioned Rodgers, this defender may be a bit more technically sound, compared to the physicality that the Colts’ cornerback brings. Do not discredit his ability to jam at the line of scrimmage in press man coverage, however.
The Jaguars are in a similar spot that Houston is in for the AFC South. Defensively, it has been a revolving door to see who will stick at certain positions. Pass rusher Josh Allen is in need of a bounce back campaign. The middle of the defense looks highly suspect on paper. Whereas with the highly athletic defenders, Jacksonville has yet to see developments from top draft picks like K’Lavon Chaisson and DaVon Hamilton.
Because of those question marks, Campbell is someone who fans should keep an eye on. He was efficient out of the gate as a rookie last year. For instance, Campbell provided the Jaguars with 10 pass breakups, two interceptions and had just 8.2 receiving yards allowed per target. Due to that solid start, Jacksonville may look for him to be a true building block in an uncertain secondary.
Tennessee Titans- CB Elijah Molden
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Another defender, and another cornerback listed here in the AFC South. Like Campbell, Elijah Molden enters his second season with the Tennessee Titans. This is a defender who is slated to spend most of his reps in the slot. Immediately, his feisty style is not the worst thing to have at your disposal in that unique spot, given that Molden is not winning matchups against receivers with his size. The ball skills of this player are relatively polished for such a young player, too. Finally, Molden brings tremendous attention to detail in his pass coverage technique. This makes him out to be a difficult defender to throw at. That is especially true, when he can impose both controlled contact at the top of the route and efficiency within his short area burst to jump routes.
Molden had fine numbers last season. He finished with four pass breakups and one interception. It was just so up and down for his production week to week. Can Molden lessen the dominance that bigger bodied pass catchers showed against him? Will the Washington product be able to make more constant plays on the football? If he does, the Titans can possibly stave off the Colts for another AFC South division crown.
Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis here at Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.