NFC South Preview

Let's go down to America's southeast to take a look at how the NFC South is shaping up entering the 2008 season.  As usual, it should be a pretty wide open race.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (projected record: 10-6)

Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

Head coach: Sean Payton (3rd year)

Projected skill starters: QB Drew Brees, RB Deuce McAllister, FB Mike Karney, WR Marques Colston, WR Devery Henderson, TE Jeremy Shockey, K Martin Gramatica, P Steve Weatherford

If I recall correctly, I picked the Saints to make the Super Bowl one season ago.  Instead, they started 0-4, struggled all year to get back into the race, and ended up a disappointing 7-9.  Offense was not a problem in 2007, and with Jeremy Shockey joining the fold, it gives Drew Brees one more target to look for.  This offense will be as close as an NFL offense can be to unstoppable.  The defense was one of the worst in the league, and went out and acquired guys such as Jon Vilma and rookie Sedrick Ellis to take a lot of pressure off the offense.   Assuming the new defenders gel together rapidly and Deuce McAllister can return successfully from an ACL tear (if not, they still have Reggie Bush), the Saints' 2008 mark should more closely resemble their 2006 record than their 2007 final standing.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (9-7)

Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)

Head coach: John Fox (7th year)

Projected skill starters: QB Jake Delhomme, RB DeAngelo Williams, FB Brad Hoover, WR Steve Smith, WR D.J. Hackett, TE Jeff King, K John Kasay, P Jason Baker

 
It was also a letdown year in Charlotte, and barring improvement in 2008, one has to wonder about John Fox's job security.  The Panthers have made some nice acquisitions to bolster the receiving corps and offensive line, in addition to picking up RB Jonathan Stewart in the draft.  Carolina is a run-first team and should have more success on the ground this season, but they need Delhomme and his surgically-repaired elbow to remain healthy.  That could be the difference between ten and six wins.  Defense is usually a strength for Fox's teams, but both Julius Peppers and the unit as a whole slipped to average last year.  There are a lot of questions entering the new year, and if they can be answered, the Panthers should make a run at the postseason.  If not, it will be a long 16 games.     

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-9)

Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)

Head coach: Jon Gruden (7th year)

Projected skill starters: QB Jeff Garcia, RB Earnest Graham, FB B.J. Askew, WR Joey Galloway, WR Ike Hilliard, TE Alex Smith, K Matt Bryant, P Josh Bidwell

Jon Gruden's team is one of those you can never figure out.  Good one year, bad the next.  Seeing how they went 9-7 and won a weak division a year ago, it's probably a good bet to say Tampa Bay will take a step back in 2008, especially with the improvement efforts in New Orleans and Carolina.  Garcia and Galloway are a year older, and the Cadillac spends a lot of time in the shop.  There are certainly a lot of questions on offense entering the new campaign.  The defense should keep the Bucs in contention though, as the unit was 2nd in the NFL one year ago.  While there are a few old guys on that side of the ball as well, Gruden and company have made a concerted effort through the draft to get younger in the past couple of seasons, with huge dividends.

ATLANTA FALCONS (2-14)

Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)

Head coach: Mike Smith (1st year)

Projected skill starters: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, FB Ovie Mughelli, WR Roddy White, WRMichael Jenkins, TE Ben Hartsock, K Jason Elam, P Michael Koenen

Atlanta will still be feeling the effects of the Vick fallout and Petrino bailout in 2008, so first-time head coach Mike Smith will have a very difficult job.  This team does not possess a great deal of talent on either side of the ball, and lost their best defender, De'Angelo Hall, to the Raiders.  Warrick Dunn went back to Tampa Bay as well.  The Falcons will obviously be rebuilding for quite some time, and would be wise to go ahead and start first-round pick Matt Ryan from the get-go.  Let him take his lumps and see what he is made of now instead of trotting Joey Harrington or Chris Redman out there each Sunday.  It appears as if Arthur Blank has a plan for getting his franchise back to respectability, but the results will be few and far between this year.