Knox Talks: NFC South Mailbag, 5/11 Edition

Every Friday I'll ask for NFC South questions to be submitted via e-mail or Twitter. I'll post the best ones here, and answer the rest in a personal response. So, like Pat Benatar so wonderfully said, "Hit me with your best shot."

What's on your mind?

Kasy,

Barring injury, or a complete meltdown, LeGarrette Blount will be the starting running back in Tampa Bay for its Week 1 game against Carolina.

Doug Martin is going to come in and share time with Blount this season, and that timeshare could be as even as 50-50. However, the Buccaneers don’t have any reason to completely hand over the job the rookie.

Sure, Blount’s numbers declined in 2011, but let’s not forget that he still averaged 4.2 yards per carry. That placed Blount at No. 18 on the list of ball carriers with at least 150 carries. You just don’t throw that kind of work results away, or relegate it to second string.

Jon Paul,

In my opinion, the only real question was whether or not the team should have grabbed Fletcher Cox in the first round instead of Luke Kuechly.

I’m a huge fan of the belief that Kuechly can be a game-changing linebacker for Carolina, even during his rookie season. That said, I think Carolina will be OK with the decision to pass on a top-notch defensive tackle.

I wrote yesterday that Ron Rivera feels the two tackles drafted last year in the third round, Sione Fua and Terrell McClain, were showing signs of coming around late last year. He’s hedging his bets on them, and you can’t fault the numbers that backed up his claim.

Ron Edwards is entering his 11th season in the NFL and coming off a season-ending triceps injury from 2011. I’m not sure at his age, he can dominate the interior of the defensive line like Carolina is expecting him to. I’m more ready to believe that Fua or McClain will step up to be special.

So, to answer your question, I don’t believe Carolina will regret taking Kuechly instead of Cox. I do think it would have been wise to grab another tackle, though, to hedge General Manager Marty Hurney’s bet of Sua, McClain and Edwards all exploding on the defensive-line scene in 2012.

Amanda,

The only real answer here is the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta was just a step behind New Orleans before the bounty scandal rocked the Saints. Now I believe the division is Atlanta’s for the taking.

Atlanta did more in the draft, and has done more in the offseason through free agency than New Orleans and could have won the NFC South without any repercussions from Bountygate.

Now, if I may expand upon my answer a bit.

The Carolina Panthers might be the biggest benefactors of any slide by the Saints.

The Panthers are getting good in a quick way. Quarterback Cam Newton revitalized hopes in Panther Nation. If he has another season like 2011, or even better improves on his numbers, Carolina can take a huge step forward.

I personally don’t believe the Saints will fall off because of these suspensions as much as most. I think they’ll have trouble winning the division, but are still a playoff team.

But there’s no room for error. If the Saints falter more than I expect, and Cam Newton leads the Panthers further forward, Carolina could leapfrog New Orleans and grab a Wild Card spot.

Steve,

Rookies from last season are welcomed by the Falcons—but not required—to come to this season's rookie minicamp. Remember, because of the lockout they didn't get a rookie minicamp.

Six non-rookies will attend this weekend's rookie minicamp.