NFC South Preview

The NFC South is a very interesting division comprised of some very solid football teams.

Last year the Panthers took home the division with a 12-4 record, 2nd place was the surprise Atlanta Falcons at 11-5, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 9-7 and the New Orleans Saints were 8-8. Overall last year we saw a very competitive division with a lot of solid teams. They sent two teams the playoffs, and if I am not mistaken they had a chance for a third with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they didn't lose the last week of the season to the Raiders no less. This year should be another tight race.

1. Carolina Panthers (11-5)

As much as the Panthers bore me, and they seem to continue to age every year, they always play consistent football. If Jake Delhomme can not fall apart the way he did last year, specifically in the playoffs they should be the favorite over the Falcons to win the division again. They have a great offensive line with Jordan Gross and Jeff Utah anchoring the tackles. D'angelo Williams had a torrid 2nd half of the season last year and has vaulted himself into a top 5 running back in many fantasy drafts. His backup, and former Oregon Duck (bet they are missing him now after being running backless after there starter dropped a bomb on Boise St.) is limping into the season, but should be ready to roll fairly soon.

Steve Smith has shown no reason he won't continue to be the unbelievable WR he has been over the past 5 years, but for some reason he has not been hyped up as one of the best WR going into the season. He has slid to the 2nd or 3rd tier of receivers and lets see if that is enough to motivate him to come out hot. He did last an entire training camp without punching a teammate, so we are off to a positive start with him. Not much other WR depth as the ageless Mushin Muhammed and the bust(?) Dwayne Jarret are nothing more than average 2nd and 3rd receivers.

Carolina doesn't seem to intimidate to much defensively outside of Peppers (who had a very strange offseason). They do however play solid football and though I don't think they are a contender, and ultimately, I think the Falcons could do more damage in the post-season, I think over 16 games they take the NFC South.

2. Atlanta Falcons 10-6

So I guess its time to figure out what the heck was going on with this Falcons team last year. Is Matt Ryan and Turner that good, or was this just the football Gods paying back the city of Atlanta for the hard times with Vick and Bobby the rat Petrino.

Strike one: The Falcons offensive coordinator is Mike Mularkey. Yuck. Strike Two: Coy Wire played significant time at MLB for this team because of injuries last year. Strike Three: Sophomore Slump? Okay those aren't really good reasons for the Falcons coming back down to earth this year, but I don't really think they will. They will be in contention for the division and wild card this year and they just have some really good skill guys. Matt Ryan is the truth, what he did last year was unbelievable. Michael Turner is a bulldozer and as long as he can stay healthy and on the field he will continue to run all over defenses. Roddy White has turned into a legit tier 2 receiver and Tony Gonzalez adds a excellent safety valve for Ryan over the middle. This offense, if not slowed by Mularkey's play calling, can be dangerous.

3. New Orleans Saints: 8-8.

This Saints team has .500 all over it. I expect the offense to come back down to life a bit. How could they not after losing offensive coordinator Doug Marrone to the Syracuse Orange. Marrone actually had Syracuse playing a competitive game last Saturday against Minnesota and it was really interesting to see Paulus on the field. You heard it here first. Syracuse over Penn State this Saturday. Mortal Lock.

Anyways, Drew Brees and the offensive will continue to put up points no doubt. Colston and Lance Moore are good receivers who will help Brees be a top 3 fantasy QB when its all said and done. I will say that he finishes with the best stats of the big three (Brady, Brees, Manning....and that Peyton, not Eli who will be throwing to one sorry group of receivers). The running game scares the heck out of me. Pierre Thomas was a 6 game flash in the pan and all of the sudden he is a reliable back who can shoulder the load? Is he a Black French man with a name like Pierre, someone research this for me. Dirty Pierre was a marginal RB last year who stole Td's from Reggie Bush. Reggie is hurt (not sure if he really is...I just assume so) and will give you a solid 3 yards a carry. He is a touchdown machine, so for those Reggie Bush haters I think we can agree he isn't a conventional every down RB, but the man can score and strike fear in defenders ground, air, or special teams.

The defense will be bad as usual. It also can't help that DC Rapper Walle is dropping lines in his raps about Jeremy Shockey..."Get so much cut disc jockeys jock me
You ***** mad that you not me
I remain a Giant and your Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey had so much promise, not really sure what happened to this guy. Too Busy passing out at Vegas Pools to be the dominate TE we all thought he would end up being.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-13

I can't see any way this team isn't flat out bad. Let's get rid of our QB this offseason. Hey we mind as well have John Gruden leave. Lets draft a QB out of Kansas St who really isn't NFL ready, or a great talent (on paper). Does anyone mind if we just have a 30 year old Coach our team? Yeah that should work. You know what? This whole offensive coordinator thing isn't going to work, I know we have a game in like 5 days, but your gone. Who else does this (Kansas City, Buffalo) some really strong caliber teams there. Oh one more thing, can we get rid of the face of our franchise Derrick Brooks?

I don't even think this team warrants going into detail of the players they have on their roster and 3 wins might be generous. Poor Ronde Barber. Only Saving grace is if they play so bad this season they might return to the glory days of the creamiscle orange uni's.