Dang and Doc continue their weekly previews for the 2010 NFL season by looking at the division home to the reigning Superbowl champion New Orleans Saints. Can Sean Payton and Drew Brees do the unthinkable and take them to back-to-back championships? Will they be challenged by a resurgent and revamped Panthers, or will the Falcons come back strongly from a season that saw them miss out on the playoffs? Elsewhere, the Buccs have struggled of late; do we see anything other than another disappointing season for them?
Atlanta Falcons Last season 9-7 Key additions – Dunta Robinson (CB – Houston) Key losses – Chris Houston (CB – Detroit) Draft picks include R1 – Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Missouri), R3 – Corey Peters (DT, Kentucky), R3 – Mike Johnson (G, Alabama)
DOC: Most of the pieces are in place in Atlanta. Matt Ryan at quarterback, Michael Turner running the ball – providing he can remain injury free because there were times when he was simply carrying the load – and it looked to be grinding him down at times. At receiver they have Roddy White and Harry Douglas. Douglas in particular, if he comes back fully healed from his injuries then he could have a very strong season.
And then they’ve got Tony Gonzalez who, it feels like has been around forever, but still remains one of the elite tight ends in football. Defensively, they arguably had slightly more problems last year. Their secondary could be exposed at times, and the acquisition on Dunta Robinson suggests they know this all too well. Whether Robinson (who got a six-year contract, reported to be the second highest contract dished out ever to a cornerback) is the man to help with that will have a major factor on the Falcons season. Whilst unquestionably talented, Robinson has spent a lot of time out with some serious injuries and despite playing 16 games in 2009 failed to record a single interception. In front of him, Mike Smith added a strong presence to his line backing crew in the form of Sean Weatherspoon from Mizzou. Smart, talented and always around the ball, he was a Mike Smith pick all the way. So, I do really think the Falcons are a strong and talented side. The problem I really see ahead of them is that they’re probably just not good enough to topple the Saints. This means that they are in the mass of at least half a dozen teams who are all equally as good as each other, scrapping for those wild card places. They could emerge from it in either the fifth or sixth seed but I just don’t see it happening.
DANG: Following his superb rookie season, 2009 was somewhat of a down year for Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan, suffering with injuries in Atlanta’s first back-to-back winning seasons in Franchise history. The O line is pretty handy, particularly the Right Hand side, whilst Todd McClure remains as one of the better veteran Center’s in the league. If this unit of guys can remain fit for the year, improving on 2009’s performance’s, then the Falcons could be set to challenge for a Wild Card spot behind the Saints. Certainly the rest of the offense is looking pretty good, with Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez at Tight End, explosive receiver Roddy White alongside fit-again Harry Douglas and Michael Jenkins. Jenkins certainly needs to step it up in 2010 or lose his #2 spot to Douglas.
Defensively, I really like Sean Weatherspoon, the first round draft pick out of Missouri, he’s certainly going to be a player to look out for, contending for Defensive Rookie of the year honours come the end of the season. Is Dunta Robinson from Houston the answer to the secondary getting burned? I don’t think so, but if the Defensive line can play better than they did in 09 then he will certainly help. Peria Jerry could be a massive boost on that Defensive line if he can return to full fitness in time for the season opener. Can the Falcons conquer the Saints? Not for me.
Carolina Panthers Last season 8-8 Key additions – Maake Kemoeatu (DT), Jamar Williams (LB – Chicago) Key losses – Jake Delhomme (QB – Cleveland), Julius Peppers (DE – Chicago), Chris Harris (SS – Chicago), Muhsin Muhammad (WR – Retired) Rhys Lloyd (K – Minnesota) Draft picks include R2 – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame), R3 – Brandon LaFell (WR, LSU), R3 – Armanti Edwards (QB, Appalachian State)
DOC: The Panthers started the season so appallingly, with Jake Delhomme as the new Intercept-saurus and realistically after his abysmal showing in that playoff game against the Cardinals previously, his time in Carolina was doomed. He has now departed to try and avoid doing the same in Cleveland, and in his place – well, we’re not sure what and who is going to come in. Matt Moore I like, going back to the time the Cowboys took him as an UDFA, only to lose him to Carolina when they tried to sneak him onto the practice squad. He’s never going to set the world alight but he looks able to make smart decisions and be an effective game manager. I would expect him to start the season. And then there’s little Jimmy from Notre Dame. He fell all the way into the middle of round two but really, whilst it cost him a lot of money could he have gone anywhere better? The Panthers need a QB for the future; Matt Moore might not be that guy and Clausen could (emphasis: could) become one of the better trigger men in the league. There’s not a vast amount of difference between the two in all likelihood so the Panthers game plan really won’t be all that different. This team will always be first and foremost a rushing team behind its offensive line. Stewart and Williams remain one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the league and will continue to spearhead the offence. Steve Smith, still realistically doesn’t have any help at the receiver position and providing he recovers from the injury sustained in the off-season will no doubt be as effective as he always is. Defensively much like the Falcons has been where most attention has gone in the off-season. Again, however (and apologies for sounding like a broken record) much like the Panthers they’re amongst the teams who are in the mix for a wild-card berth but are likely to miss out in the shuffle.
DANG: It’s quite easy to jump on the “Delhomme is rubbish argument when discussing the 2009 Carolina Panthers and some might argue, the 2008 and back Panthers. I’d tend to agree, I saw a guy last year, rewarded with a huge contract after one of the worst playoff performances you are likely to see from a Quarterback, continuing to suffer mentally and physically with the prospect of failing again, he was broken, in more ways than one, his days are done as a starter. Cleveland really could see him rot away into nothingness. Matt Moore was pretty steady when replacing Delhomme, he should receive the nod when the starting Quarterback is selected over the next 2-3 weeks, with Notre Dame 2nd round draftee; Jimmy Clausen continuing to take time out to familiarize himself with the playbook until needed. Other than Center Ryan Kalil, there really isn’t much that excites me about the Panthers O-line, Otah and Gross are decent run blockers, but will have to help protect their Quarterback(s) better or they will suffer in the same way we saw Delhomme suffer, however, If the two headed monster of Jonathon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams remain fit for 16 games then we’ll definitely see the Panthers improve on 8-8. Steve Smith could be set for a return to 1000+ yards with consistency at Quarterback.
The Panthers also receive a favourable schedule, so I expect them to go near to double digit wins, but fall short of appearing in the post-season.
New Orleans Saints Last season 13-3 NFL Champions Key additions – Alex Brown (DE – Chicago), Clint Ingram (LB), Jason McKie (FB) Key losses – Jamar Nesbit (OG), Jammal Brown (OT – Washington), Bobby McCray (DE), Charles Grant (DE – Miami) Draft picks include R1 – Patrick Robinson (CB, Florida State), R2 – Charles Brown (OT, USC), R3 – Jimmy Graham (TE, Miami)
DOC: And so onto the reigning champions. I’ll state from the outset that I see them repeating as divisional champions but they won’t get any further than the Divisional playoffs. Teams simply don’t repeat any more and whilst they were excellent last year it just won’t happen. Drew Brees will continue to flourish in this offence and all the tools he has at his disposal. There isn’t an awful lot wrong with the offence so unsurprisingly, Sean Payton has resisted the urge to tinker with it too much. After all, why fix what isn’t broken? Defensively, it was the secondary that used to be seen as the weak link. But I think the Superbowl proved that actually they’re one of the under-rated groups in the league. The Saints aren’t a defence who has that many stand out names but still manage to get through. The image of the team who will just out-score you no matter how many points you hang on them simply isn’t true. Gregg Williams has seen to that. So, I see the Saints comfortably regaining the NFC South and moving into the playoffs, but the Vikings, Packers and Cowboys are all better bets in 2010 for me.
DANG: 2002. The last time somebody in the NFC South retained their crown.
Gregg Williams out-gunned Peyton Manning in last year’s Super Bowl, deserving a hell of a lot of the credit as to just why this team actually went all the way and won it.
It’s hard to look beyond the Saints going all the way again this year, the team is stacked throughout with no obvious weaknesses, other than at linebacker. Even without Pro Bowl Left Tackle Jamaal Brown (who has since been traded to Washington) last season the Saints plugged in Jermon Bushrod, (who seems to get a lot of praise in some places, but from what I saw, I don’t believe he’s even in the top 20 Left Tackles in the league) and won the Super Bowl, no mean feat at all, losing such a key player at a most key position. The Saints could regret that decision this season if Bushrod continues to stink up the league, not looking after its face of the franchise Drew Brees.
Brees could well be the first Quarterback taken in fantasy drafts this year, unsurprising when you look at the numbers the Saints have put up over the last couple of seasons. Brees had more Touchdowns than any other Quarterback, the highest passer rating of all Quarterbacks, whilst only 6 starting quarterbacks tossed more picks. The Saints will continue where they left off. Along with Green Bay, this will be the team to beat in the NFC. The road to the Super Bowl could well go through New Orleans again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Last season 3-13 Key additions – Reggie Brown (WR – Philadelphia) Sean Jones (SS) Key losses – Antonio Bryant (WR – Cincinnati), Byron Leftwich (QB – Pittsburgh) Draft picks include R1 – Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma), R2 – Brian Price (DT, UCLA), R2 – Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois), R3 – Myron Lewis (CB, Vanderbilt)
DOC: And so we come onto the Buccs, who I doubt I will be surprising or offending everyone by stating from the outset that my prediction is; that they will finish bottom of the South. They simply are not up to the level of the other three sides. Offensively, they will be better – they have to be.
Why they never made a move, especially when considering the cap space they have for Brandon Marshall I will never know. Having him for Freeman would have been a god send for the young quarterback. Perhaps the Glazer family really are struggling with their finances? Instead they took Arrelious Benn who if nothing else will stretch the field and acquired Reggie Brown from the Eagles who isn’t going to really scare any defence. They remain a running team and Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams can expect their fare share of carries and having to eek out what I expect will be very tough yards. The addition of McCoy and Price to shore up the gut of the defence was a very sound pair of picks for the draft and shows you just where the problems for the Buccs start on defence. To pick up Price who was tipped by many pre-draft mocks to be selected in the first round represents a good bit of value for the organisation, and going forward I can see these two becoming one of the more effective units in football. They’ve got a mountain to climb to begin to build up what still remains quite a young side. I’m optimistic progress will be there, but it won’t be easy and its going to be another long hard season I’m afraid.
DANG: 3-13 in 2009 and destined for the bottom of the South again in 2010. Shoring up the D line in the draft by taking Anthony McCoy and Brian Price will go some way to improving 2009’s worst rushing defense. However, the problems are going to lie with it’s offense trying to move the ball.
Josh Freeman only really has rookies in Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams with Tight End Kellen Winslow II to throw the ball too. Reggie Brown won’t have the desired impact, he may get some inflated garbage time numbers, but I can’t see him as being the answer. Winslow will have to be the go-to-guy, but he will have to stay fit.
The running game will keep them in tough close games, Derrick Ward will surely improve this season after a dismal 2009 effort, but when they have to start airing it out, Josh Freeman’s lack of weapons will be exposed and teams will close them out.
The defense should improve this year. Certainly those 2 D Line rookies will relieve some pressure on its secondary. It’s not going to be an enjoyable season in Florida for the Bucs. They’ll probably win a game or two they are expected to lose, whilst losing games they’re expected to win, with fluctuating numbers from week to week in both the passing and running games.
A Top 5 pick beckons in 2011’s draft once again, which isn’t all bad news for the Bucs, because with the young players filling the roster finding their feet in 2010, 2011 could well promise to be a much more improved Bucs team
DOC: Most of the pieces are in place in Atlanta. Matt Ryan at quarterback, Michael Turner running the ball – providing he can remain injury free because there were times when he was simply carrying the load – and it looked to be grinding him down at times. At receiver they have Roddy White and Harry Douglas. Douglas in particular, if he comes back fully healed from his injuries then he could have a very strong season.