NFL - First half overachievers and underachievers in the South

At the halfway point in the season, most teams will now have an idea of where their season is headed and how they’d like it to end: whether that be pushing for the playoffs or simply avoiding the dreaded winless season.

Some teams aren’t where they expected to be thanks to disappointing stars, while others have been propelled to the top by great performances from unexpected sources.

In this short series, I’ll suggest one over-achieving player who will need to “keep it up” and one under-performer who needs to “pick it up” for each team, by region, looking this time at the South.

Previous entries: East North

AFC South

SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 14: Robert Mathis #98 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during warm-ups against the San Diego Chargers on October 14, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Houston Texans

Keep it up: Whitney Mercilus, OLB –It’s been a difficult year for the 2-5 Texans. The usually stout D is 26th in the league, averaging 27.2 points per game. Even if you remove the points from the amazing 5 interception return TDs, the Texans still wind up in the bottom half of the league.

A big part of that is an inability to get after quarterbacks, with only 16 sacks so. 2nd year man Mercilus, however, has not been the problem there. His 4.5 sacks tie him with all-world DE JJ Watt for the team lead.

Pick it up: Gary Kubiak, Head Coach/Play Caller – The Texans are hugely talented, and 2-5. They’re running the ball well and passing terribly, and yet they’re passing nearly 60% of the time. Neither of those things adds up to anything but bad coaching.

Indianapolis Colts

Keep it up: Robert Mathis – Hardly an overachiever, Mathis is a 5x Pro Bowler. Still, Mathis had a down year last year, and there were plenty of questions about whether he could be the same player in a 3-4 defense after staring in the 4-3 for his career. Even with no help from the other side, Mathis currently leads the league with 11.5 sacks.

Pick it up: Not-Reggie Wayne, WR – Andrew Luck is playing great this year, but he’s not getting much help. Reggie Wayne was doing a great job until he went down injured. No one else has averaged as much as 4 catches or 60 yards per game and they really need someone to step up as a no.1 target.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Keep it up: Paul Posluszny, LB – The Jags D has not been good. The only unit in football that might be worse is the Jags offense. But Poz is not to blame; he’s looked strong against the run and in coverage even while covering for those around him.

Pick it up: Everyone else – Could the Jags even win against the top college football teams? Maybe not. If I had to pick out one player, I’d say safety John Cyprien. The 33rd overall pick this pick has been good enough against the run, but hasn’t yet looked close to capable of defending the pass at this level.

Tennessee Titans

Keep it up: Alterraun Verner, CB – Simply put, no defensive back has broken up as many passes this year as Verner. He has 4 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and 13 further pass deflections. A difficult man to get the ball past, for sure.

Pick it up: Jake Locker’s hip, leg joint– The Titans have been good enough to win games this year, but backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has not been. If Locker, who’s been more accurate than ever this year, misses any more time, the Titans chances could go down the drain with him.

NFC South

TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head coch Greg Schiano gets a very well needed hug from Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera following a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 24, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Atlanta Falcons

Keep it up: Harry Douglas, WR – It’s not been a good year to be a WR in Atlanta. Roddy White has been bothered by injury all year and is yet to make any real impact. Julio Jones was great, but is now on the injured reserve for the year. Since Jones went down, however, Harry Douglas has really stepped up with 19 catches for 170 yards over the last 2 games. He can’t be expected to keep that kind of pace up, but he needs to be a legitimate no.1 option until White can find his feet.

Pick it up: Jacquiz Rodgers, Steven Jackson, Jason Snelling, RB – With all the issue at wide receiver, what QB Matt Ryan really needs is a solid run game to take away the pressure. Sadly for him, the above collection has only managed 3.35 yards per carry and 3 TDs so far. A pretty disappointing return.

Carolina Panthers

Keep it up: Ted Ginn jr., WR – Few in the league can top the 17.8 yards per catch achieved by the former highly drafted Miami Dolphins bust, who is currently his teams primary kick and punt returner, and is just 3 receiving yards shy of the team lead. The Panthers have had several other great performances so far from the likes of Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly and Star Lotulelei, all of whom were drafted in the first half of the first round in the last few years.

Pick it up: Josh Thomas, CB – He’s not been bad, exactly, as a starting corner, but 0 interceptions and 0 passes deflected is the definition of a lack of impact at the position. The defense around him is good and opposing QBs are usually under pressure. Thomas needs to take advantage and make more positive plays.

New Orleans Saints

Keep it up: Cameron Jordan, DE – Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham and the saints offense are putting up big points. But that’s to be expected at the point. The real question mark for the Saints was could their D slow other teams down enough. The Saints are 4th in the league with only 17.1 points given up per game. Cameron Jordan has been a huge part of that. His strength, as with most 3-4 Des is against the run, but he’s already made his mark this year in the pass game with 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

Pick it up: Marques Colston, WR- Jimmy Graham has been unstoppable so far, but the Saints have needed him to be, as no other pass catchers have really stood out. Colston is on pace for 62 catches for 782 yards, both of which would be his lowest since 2008, when he only made 11 appearances and 6 starts after struggling with injuries. He still caught 5 TDs that year, but has just 1 through 7 games this year. Comfortably a career low.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Keep it up: Lavonte David – Not much has gone right for the winless Bucs on any phase of the game, but David has been a bright spot. The linebacker is 3rd in the league in tackles for a loss, behind only the Rams’ breakout DE Robert Quinn and superhuman JJ Watt.

Pick it up: Greg Schiano, HC – Who to chose from a team like this? Someone from the 31st ranked offense? Someone from the talented but underperforming D? Whoever is responsible for the MRSA outbreak? I’ll cop out and go for the Head Coach, despised by players and fans alike.