AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Titans

Colts

• According to Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan, Colts offensive linemen Le’Raven Clark and Jeremy Vujnovich could both be on the outside looking in for a roster spot in 2018.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Bowen lists Margus Hunt, Chris McCain, Hassan Ridgeway and Rakeem Nunez-Roches as some defensive linemen competing for jobs this summer.
• Colts GM Chris Ballard has stressed the importance of improved offensive and defensive line play: “The fronts will always be important to me. Defense and offensive line will always be very important to us. “It’s hard to win in this league when you’re not good up front. It shows over 16 games and when you get into the playoffs on both O-line and D-line.”

Jaguars

Jaguars QB Blake Bortles says that he’s never really been bothered by the criticism he’s received over the years.

“There’s times when I deserve it,” Bortles said, via NFL.com. “And I don’t have a problem admitting that I didn’t play good. And I don’t have a problem with people critiquing me when I don’t play good. It’s just never really bothered me. I love going to work every day. I love playing football, and the locker room, so why let something affect me that I have no control over?”

Bortles added that he believes they can draw from the experience they gained last season after a deep playoff run.

“The experience we got, playing in a playoff game — a home playoff game for the first time in a decade in Jacksonville — being able to win. Kind of an ugly win, but it was a win at home in front of our home fans and first playoff game in a long time,” Bortles said. “Then go up to Pittsburgh, in a hostile environment, (against) a good organization, (with) tradition, that is extremely good. And to go in there and beat them for the second time. Then to go to Foxboro. I think it’s just a bunch of experiences that we can draw from as a team throughout. I think it also gave us a bit of a taste of where we want to go every year and how much further we want to go.”

Titans

• Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com writes that the plan for the team’s backfield is to have Derrick Henry be their lead running back, but he’s going to have to perform in order to maintain a larger share of carries than free agent addition Dion Lewis.
• Regarding Lewis, Wyatt mentions that his role will likely be matchup dependent, but he should still see plenty of work, considering the different dynamic he brings to the team’s offense.
• Wyatt adds that he’s keeping an eye on the camp battle between David Fluellen and Akrum Wadley for the team’s No. 3 running back job.
• According to Wyatt, he would be surprised if someone is able to beat out Fluellen for the No. 3 job, but it’s possible Tennessee could keep four running backs on their active roster.