Saints Face Tall Task in NFC South

The bad news for the Saints is that they play in arguably the NFL’s toughest division.  The NFC South is certainly the league’s most competitive: Each of the four member franchises has won the division crown at least once in the past five seasons. 

New Orleans’ 8-8 record, which was good for last place in the division in 2008, would’ve earned them a share of the title in the AFC West. 

The good news is that “worst to first” is the norm in these parts.  In five out of the first six years of its existence, the NFC South’s last place finisher turned around and captured the division the following season. If not for a last second field goal in the final week, Atlanta would’ve turned the trick again in 2008.

It looks to be another rough and tumble year in the NFC South as each team has reason to be at least cautiously optimistic.

With John Fox and company returning the heart of a Carolina Panthers team that went 12-4 en route to the NFC South championship last year, the road to the 2009 division title must go through Charlotte. 

That will be a tough one to hoe for opponents: Carolina was 8-0 at Bank of America Stadium during the regular season last year.  Under Fox, the Panthers’ success has been marked by a punishing defense and a run-heavy, ball control offense. 

The Panther defense got a scare over the off-season when All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers requested to be traded in response to the club’s tagging Peppers as its “franchise player.” 

While the team’s all-time sacks leader remains in Charlotte going in to 2009, it’s likely he’s not overly excited to get the season underway.  Peppers is clearly the centerpiece of the defensive unit, but - fortunately for Fox - Carolina is stockpiled with young talent.  Burgeoning linebacker Jon Beason broke out with 138 tackles last year. 

Behind a big, brooding offensive line, the Panthers’ running back duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart chewed up yardage with abandon in ‘08, leading the league in rushing scores (30) and finishing second in yards per carry (4.8).  Williams’ 1,515 rushing yards set a team single season yardage record. 

A five interception playoff appearance against Arizona notwithstanding, Jake Delhomme’s deft ability to minimize mistakes bolstered the Carolina offense throughout the year.  The veteran QB showed no ill-effects from 2007’s season ending elbow injury, returning to form with over 3,200 passing yards. 

Carolina doesn’t need Delhomme to go out and win games for them.  As long as he can do a decent job of protecting the ball, the Panthers remain the favorite to repeat in 2009.

The Atlanta Falcons were undoubtedly the NFC South’s biggest surprise last year.  With a rookie coach, fresh out of college quarterback, and the Michael Vick controversy continuing to linger, 2008 was generally expected to be a “rebuilding” (i.e. “losing”) season for the Falcons.  Coach of the Year, Mike Smith, and rookie gunslinger Matt Ryan had different plans. 

Ryan, the third overall draft pick who signed a monster contract before throwing a single pass in the pros, was expected to be good.  What wasn’t expected is that he'd be this good, this soon. 

The Boston College product got off on the right foot—Ryan’s first NFL pass was a 62-yard touchdown strike to Michael Jenkins—and never looked back.  3,440 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and a playoff appearance later, he’s poised for a spot among the league’s elite quarterbacks. 

The addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez (whose departure from Kansas City still has Chiefs fans scratching their heads) gives Ryan a shiny new toy to add to his arsenal. 

The 2008 Rookie of the Year made Roddy White and Jenkins look like Jerry Rice and John Taylor; Ryan must be foaming at the mouth to see what he can do with Gonzalez, a legitimate star, lining up at tight end.     

Raheem Morris is the new sheriff in Tampa.  Following a tumultuous off-season, which saw former coach Jon Gruden trade in the hot seat for a cozy spot in the Monday Night Football booth, along with the exodus of Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, and Derrick Brooks, questions abound on both sides of the ball for the Bucs.

Despite the new brain trust in pewter and red, Tampa Bay continued its long tradition of stockpiling mediocre quarterbacks, picking up Byron Leftwich and drafting rookie Josh Freeman during the off-season. 

The Garcia era is officially over; the new additions will compete with Brian Griese and self-appointed starter Luke McCown for the starting spot under center. 

None of these guys is likely to strike fear in the heart of an opponent and each would benefit greatly from a healthy running game.  While Derrick Ward, who came over from the Giants via free agency, will bolster the running attack, he’s untested as a feature back and Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham have been unable to stay healthy. 

With the departure of longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and future hall of famer Brooks, Tampa Bay’s perennially stout defense will also look a bit different this year. 

Nevertheless, last year’s 10th ranked defense returns a staunch secondary, including the ageless Ronde Barber, who went to his fifth Pro Bowl in 2008.   Expect the defense to keep the Bucs in most games in 2009. 

And then there are the Saints.  The division favorite and a sexy Super Bowl pick entering the year, New Orleans didn’t exactly go marching into 2008.  The team sputtered to a 1-2 start and never really got on track at any point in the season. 

It wasn’t for lack of offense: In his eighth year, Drew Brees put up huge numbers (5,069 yds; 34 TD's) at the helm of the NFL’s most productive passing attack.  But what the team bubbled over with in the passing department, it lacked in rushing (28th in the league in yards per game) and defense (26th in points allowed). 

New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has vowed to make the defensive unit, one that gave up over 339 yards and 24 points a game in 2008, much more aggressive.  It better be: If you listen closely, offensive coordinators across the NFC are already licking their chops. 

Despite Brees’ prolific arm, the Saints need to establish a steady running game in order to keep opposing defenders honest.  New Orleans will enter the season with a new look running attack, one that no longer features Deuce McAllister.  The career 6,096 yard rusher was let go in the spring after being slowed by knee injuries. 

It appears that the Saints will seek to replace McAllister—the club’s all time leading rusher—with Edgerrin James—the NFL’s active rushing leader.  New Orleans is reported to be showing the most interest in signing the veteran free agent. 

James, like McAllister, has also seen his production slow in recent years.  Regardless of whether the Edge is brought in, Pierre Thomas (4.8 yards per carry) and Reggie Bush are likely to get a lot more touches.  If Bush can stay healthy, that is; he missed six games due to injury last year.

While Carolina enters the season an early favorite, the NFC South’s history dictates that it will be yet another wide open race in 2009.  If the Saints are to compete, they’ll need to find a way to stop opponents more often and get the ball into the hands of Brees and his highly potent offense.