Tuesday, August 24, 2010

2010 NFL Preview Part 6: NFC South

Ah... this should be fun...

  1. New Orleans Saints (12-4) - The first-ever back-to-back champion in the history of the NFC South? I say yes... The gang is back on offense... Brees is an unquestioned top-3 QB, I really like Pierre Thomas, and the receivers are 100% healthy and talented... and while no one talks about him, they may have the best O-lineman in the league in G Jahri Evans... on defense, they made an absurd amount of big plays last year (mostly by 100-year-old safety Darren Sharper) and while that will come back to Earth most likely, you'll see a progression to dominance from DT Sedrick Ellis, and an emergence of cornerback depth with rookie CB Patrick Robinson... there is tons of talent, an upper-level head coach, and a supremely gifted QB... division champs...
  2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) - I've wrestled with the record... but I'm encouraged overall... I could 5,000 words on the Falcons but I'll dial it down for this... Matt Ryan is better than he was in 2009... I'm convinced of that... how much better? I have no idea... but he's healthy, Michael Turner is healthy and ready to return to 1500 yard form, and they have a legit duo of receiving threats in White and Gonzalez... on defense, they were porous at best last year... there will be a step forward on the basis of newly acquired CB Dunta Robinson, as well as 1st-rounder Sean Weatherspoon, and 2009 1st-rounder Peria Jerry (now healthy)... the kicker spot killed them last year (lost at least 2 games because of it) and it's still unsettled with Matt Bryant, but he's been handed the job as of this post, and he won't be worse than Elam was last year... I see a split with the Saints, and a wild card spot
  3. Carolina Panthers (6-10) - Count me in on the Panthers demise... Matt Moore isn't good... in a small sample size, he was okay in 2009... but that's really only in comparison to Jake Delhomme... and the other option is Jimmy Clausen? hahaha.... That's my response... the running back tandem is the best in the league with Deangelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart... and Steve Smith is still Steve Smith, but they have NOTHING opposite him (Dwayne Jarrett? Really?)... on defense, Jon Beason is a man among men... but there are big question marks on the D-line, and mostly average play in the secondary (always liked Chris Gamble though, except for the Ohio State thing)... in the end, I don't see how you can win more than 6-7 games with a wretched quarterback, exactly one wide-out and an average-at-best defense...
  4. Tampa Bay Bucs (3-13) - Back-to-back 3 and 13's... yikes... Josh Freeman may be their QB of the future (I'm skeptical of that, but alas) but even he is out right now... their RB rotation is uninspiring (Ward/Cadillac/Graham, bleh), and the receivers are painfully young... their best offensive player is probably Kellen Winslow Jr. at tight end... it's ugly... There some legit young talent on defense led by Gerald McCoy, Barrett Ruud, and Aqib Talib... but not enough depth/consistency to be an above-average unit... I don't think they score... and that's how you end up with 3 wins...

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