5 Dogs, 1 Bone, and a Cat: Strength of NFC South Trouble for Panthers

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Mysteries are unfolding in the NFC South.  And, that could spell either success or failure for the Carolina Panthers in 2009.

The Atlanta Falcons gave them a run for their money last year with a rookie quarterback and a new head coach.  Now, they’ve scored a coup:  they went out and got Tony Gonzalez. 

Arguably one of the best tight ends in the game, Gonzalez could be a death blow to the Panthers who’ve always had difficulty defending the middle of the field. 

Think back. One of the ways former Falcons’ quarterback Mike Vick was able to be effective against Carolina was with the short pass to then Falcons’ tight end Alge Crumpler.

The Panthers will be looking to neutralize the Falcons’ add-on by implementing a defensive scheme that utilizes defensive ends that match Julius Peppers’ speed and agility.  But judging from the prospects they’ve brought in, they’ll be sacrificing size in doing so.

Then, there’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

They could be the wild card of the NFC South.  They could legitimately spoil the playoff chances for both the Falcons and the Panthers.

While much of the attention is being given to first-time head coach Raheem Morris, it should be on the battle for quarterback.

“There’s 5 dogs and 1 bone…”  That’s how Morris described the battle to NFL Network. 

If one of those hounds can prove itself to be the alpha-male—before the preseason—it could spell the difference between the Buccaneers losing two games to the Panthers or splitting the series.  The same goes for their series with the Falcons.

If the Panthers want to assure themselves of a spot in the playoffs, they can’t afford to split the series with Tampa Bay or lose two games to them.

Historically speaking, it’s a foregone conclusion that Carolina will most likely lose at least one of the games against Atlanta.  And, in reviewing the Panthers’ 2009 season schedule there’s a good likelihood for at least three more loses.

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