When scouring over the landscape of NFL teams and their starting quarterbacks going into 2015, few divisions are more interesting than the AFC South. Andrew Luck is the only locked-in starter inside the division that scares NFL defenses, while it’s possible that three of the AFC South’s teams could be directed by signal callers with a year or less of starting experience. The point? Luck and his Indianapolis Colts could yet again feast on the AFC South if these other young passers can’t find a way to quickly progress.
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, though. First, let’s rank the top starting quarterbacks from the four AFC South squads as we countdown the days to the new 2015 NFL season:
4. Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Bortles had flashes of solid play as a rookie, but overall struggled during a rocky rookie season that involved a lot of turnovers and losses. Bortles exhibited the mobility and arm strength that got him selected as the #3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he struggled with reads, concepts and decision-making. His division is soft on paper and it may not take much to see him take a huge jump, especially given the massive upgrades in talent around him – the team drafted running back T.J. Yeldon and signed tight end Julius Thomas.
It’s anyone’s guess if the added talent and extra year in Jacksonville’s system will give Bortles the time he needs to develops, but it’s certainly possible. However, until we see that steady progress, he’s cemented into the bottom of our 2015 AFC South quarterback rankings.
3. Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans)
Mariota is adjusting from a spread system to an NFL offense, which means he could face a lengthy and rough transition to snaps under center and connecting with wide receivers he’s never played with. We know he can hit on quick, short throws and execute in a system that is largely mapped out, but can Mariota read NFL defenses, make key adjustments and make intermediate and deep throws on a consistent basis? No one can know just yet, but the word on the street already is quite good, as Mariota seems to have a better understanding of the pro game that many believed he would. That’s giving him the early edge on incumbent starter Zach Mettenberger, who is a rock in the pocket in terms of mobility, but can really sling it.
Mariota will have a learning curve, but he was a dominant college player and has the athleticism to get himself out of jams. That won’t get him a stout ranking among passers in the AFC South just yet, but he’s also not dead last.
2. Brian Hoyer (Houston Texans)
Hoyer has jumped in front of Ryan Mallett for the time being, and due to knowing Bill O’Brien’s system and being the more cerebral passer of the two, appears to have a minor leg up in the quarterback competition. Mallett easily has his competition beat when it comes to arm strength, but Hoyer proved last year that he can help his team get wins when he has a solid defense and a strong running game around him. He did fizzle out in Cleveland down the stretch last year, but it’s at least arguable now that Hoyer gives the Texans their best chance to compete in 2015. That may not get them to the playoffs, but it does get Hoyer into second place in our AFC South quarterback rankings.
1. Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)
This isn’t a competition and even if it were, only a handful of passers in the entire league could rival Luck. As it stands, he’s leaps and bounds above the rest of the passers in the AFC South, and his 2014 numbers tell you all you need to know. Luck played his best football to date, as he fired in a career high 40 touchdowns and over 4,700 passing yards, while adding another three scores on the ground. Easily one of the more dynamic players in the league thanks to his ability to kill defenses with his arm or legs, Luck is near the top of the league and the scary part is he’s only going to get better. That means good things for the Colts, who have made the playoffs every year he’s been under center, and even advanced to the AFC title game in 2014. For the AFC South and the rest of the league, that’s obviously bad news.
Think this order is messed up? Spin us your logic in the comments below!
