An April Discussion Of The NFC South Landscape

by Dave the Falconer on Apr 3, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Editorial Comment 7 comments

Some would say it's way too early to look at how the NFC South may shake out this season. Some would also say it's too early to start drinking, but my good friend Jack Daniels and I would respectfully disagree. So there.

Rather than do a comprehensive breakdown, though, I'm going to open it up to my far more sober and intelligent readers following a glance at each team.That's right, you guys get to comment for a change. Down with censorship!

Personally, I believe that the Panthers are going to be the weakest team in the division this year. Jake Delhomme hasn't found a magical potion to reverse the aging process or his own decline, Julius Peppers wants out of dodge, and the defense is not the fearsome machine it once was. The team's best hopes for success hinge on their extremely potent rushing attack, but I don't think it'll be enough to save them from a sub-.500 season.

The Saints, on the other hand, should be able to rebound. They've still got one of the best passing attacks in the game with Drew Brees at the helm. They're rolling the dice on low-risk, high-reward defensive players like our old friend Rod Coleman, and they fired notoriously crappy defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Games against the Saints have been dogfights in recent years, and I see no reason why that will change in 2009.

Our biggest competition, however, may just end up being the Bucs. Sure, they don't seem to have a quarterback, but the addition of Derrick Ward to an already varied corps of running backs. THe Bucs have an uncanny talent for re-loading their defense, and if they manage to pick up a top-tier wide receiver or a franchise quarterback (Josh Freeman?) before their draft day is over, they'll be gunning hard for the Falcons. Oh, and Jon Gruden was a tool.

Where do the Falcons fit in here? I'm not foolish enough to jinx us by saying anything more than that I think we'll be in the running for the division lead most of the season. Ask me again after the draft and you'll get a clearer answer.

Your thoughts?

Poll

Pick a division winner, any division winner!

Falcons!

301 votes

Bucs :(

19 votes

Saints....

191 votes

Panthers =0

72 votes

583 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Honestly, I see the Panthers being the stiffest competition

The Bucs are on the rebound but I don’t see an immediate turn-around. The Saints are the wild card in my mind.

The Panthers will be held down by Delhomme but Smith is still a threat and a threat of air TDs is still scarier than other aspects of the game.

I still say our Birds will probably top the division. But if the division averages under .500, then that won’t be saying much. We’ve got a tough tough schedule this year; that won’t help our chances.

"If the Falcons ever manage to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime, I'll french kiss a toilet." - a friend.

by tlozwarlock on Apr 3, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We were a field goal away from winning the divison last year, which would have been huge. The Dome Field advantage is too much to handle (see 3 false starts leading to Punt Return for a TD by HD against the Panthers) for a lot of teams.

Looking at this list, the Panthers still have a great O-line and that two headed monster of running backs. I think Dave could do a better job a QB than Delheezy, but then again Steve Smith makes Vinny Testeverde look good. Wait. No he didn’t.

The Bucs, are the wild card in my mind. Like the Panthers, have a great O-line and a talented set of running backs (especially if Cadillac comes back) and a very good receiver and mediorcre QB play. The big question for both of those teams is whether or not their defenses will show up.

The Saints, IMO, will be the toughest team in the division. We have a young Defensive backfield against a talented arial attack to to mention that we couldn’t adjust when they came out in the SuperDome and can ALL over us. It was embarassing! Couple that developing rushing game with a defense that could be decent and they will give any team in the NFL a run for their money. But thats just my opinion.

If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson

by Pregame with Pabst on Apr 3, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Saints are the toughest competition, in my mind...

And honestly, given our schedules, I see New Orleans taking the division, with us grabbing the wild card. If anybody else in the South jumps up, it will be Carolina.

I’ve been wrong before, but I see Tampa Bay being 6-10 at best.

by joshmassey on Apr 3, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think a wild-card is gonna happen for NFC South

I think the only NFC South team going to the playoffs this year is going to be the Division winner. The schedule is ridiculously difficult this year. Every team in the division has a questionable defense this coming season and they all have to face the always offensively aggresive NFC East.

Unless we can figure out a way to stuff the run and turn the ball over every once in a while on passing plays, we aren’t going to fair too well in our division either.

I think we have a very tough division and even though we have one of the most lethal offenses in it, our defense is probably the most questionable (my hopes will hopefully change after the draft, Tampa might currently be in worse shoes than we are in this department though).

Until the draft changes my mind (which I hope it does – if not, maybe it will be like last season when the opening game showers me with miracle optimism)… I see NO as the most formidable foe in the South.

by MentallyMIA on Apr 3, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Julius Peppers and there running game are threats but if we do the right thing in the draft with a DT,linebacker,and offensive lineman we can be fine and if Jp prob wont be there whats to fear with pass rush

and the saints wow they have alot of running backs and i hear they still want another one so i have got to ask if we have a monster line linebacker and a big DT will abe still get double teamed? and if he does then chauncy, our linebackers, and maybe even our DT will be open for a sack.

and Tampa bay they may have a running game but no passing game and even if they they do a QB in the first the only good one left will be josh freeman if he even makes it that far (my thoughts are on him and the jets) josh is good but they will be just like he was in college no receivers

which leaves us our offense is nearly somthing to be proud of although I wouldn’t call us the arizona cardinals when it comes t receivers we have roddy white thats it sure we pass it to other receivers some times but if its a second down pass it’s a 99% of going to roddy so we are to prodictable then there defense its a sad sight i heard that mike smith was going to create a sort of steelers game plan have a elite defense great QB and keep a key receiever now thats a game plan

by mistab50 on Apr 3, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

THE FALCONS............

I would like to wait until after the draft and see who we pick up before I make any decision. Yes, teams will be gunning hard for us and our schedule will be more dificult than last year but I believe we have a solid core and with some key additions and minimal injuries we can repeat and go further than we did last year.

by Pharoah_Rah on Apr 5, 2009 6:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs