By Sascha Bartels
Published: August 20, 2008
Updated: August 20, 2008 PrintEmail
Welcome, as we are yet another week closer to kickoff, it is time for part six in the series of division previews. I hope you were able to tune in earlier tonight, as Rob “My Peyton’s back (kinda)” Freet returned to join Chris “oh uh, I think the Browns may suck” Grewe on PSH radio, and this week’s preview was debuted.
So, we are going to talk about the NFC South, and I’m trying really hard not to look like a Homer, but every time I look at the Buccaneers’ roster and current play, I think the team is better than last year’s division championship team. Last year’s turnaround was almost too good to be true; I don’t think any Bucs fan had high hopes of the playoffs at this time in 2007. The team has just come off a horrible 2006, and it became quite apparent that patches in the defense were highly needed. And while those patches came, I don’t believe anybody could have had an idea of how effective they would be, and quickly.
The defense featured six new starters last year, two of who were rookies, and 3 who had never played a big role before. Four of them have never donned the Bucs jersey before. Jovan Haye became a force at DT alongside Chris Hovan, and defensive end Greg White was a virtual 28 year old rookie, having played Arena ball until last year. Gaines Adams and fourth round safety Tanard Jackson both started as rookies, Barrett Ruud took over the middle for Shelton Quarles and Cato June was acquired from the Colts. This season, you can add Aquib Talib and probably Sabby Piscitelli to the list of this renewed defense, one that finished at the top of the 2007 stats sheets. With the veteran leadership provided by Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber, this defense is ready to take on the next decade.
But there are question marks offensively, and they begin and end with Jeff Garcia, and whether he is happy and motivated enough to play well. Garcia has grumbled all spring about wanting a bigger contract, and he has yet to receive it. And the talk of trading for Brett Favre didn’t sit too well with Jeff either. The Bucs need Garcia to be in the right frame of mind. But, say what you want about the number of QB’s on the roster, at least the team is prepared for the worst case scenarios with some high quality back-ups, which, if you saw Sunday’s pre-season game, is way more than the Patriots can say right now. The next offensive question mark is Joey Galloway. First, and most obvious, he filed for AARP membership last week. Galloway has yet to play or practice this pre-season, and the Bucs need him to have at least a week or two to get into playing shape, or they are screwed at receiver. The battle for number two looks promising right now though, as both Antonio Bryant and Maurice Stovall have played well over the pre-season, and Michael Clayton is still in the mix as well. But without Galloway, none of those other guys will scare anybody. The offensive line is young and very solid, bolstered by the addition of Jeff Faine, and the running back pool is deep, even without Carnell Williams, with Graham, Dunn and Bennett all expected to handle a good part of the load. I see this team as winning anywhere from nine to twelve games, and I’ll pick ten for the moment. Which brings up the question of who will challenge them?
We know for sure that it won’t be Atlanta. The weirdest streak in football, that of the previous year’s last place team winning the division, will end this season. The Falcons do look to be improving, but there is nothing there currently that tells me that the product is finished. If Joey Harrington is the opening day starter, well whoop-di-freakin’-doo, and if it’s Matt Ryan, then you have a rookie leading a group lacking in talent. They do have some however, and the addition of Michael Turner will do wonders for Atlanta. And isn’t it mildly ironic that they get the back-up to Ladainian Tomlinson, who happened to be drafted with the pick the Falcons traded away to get Michael Vick? No? Ok, fine, let’s move on. Roddy White is turning into an efficient pass receiver, but Michael Jenkins has yet to prove himself consistent. Crumpler is gone trying to make Vince Young look good, and in his place is, well, who cares? Joe Horn is old and disgruntled. But at least the team is making strides in improving the offensive line, which is really where you have to start anyway.
On defense they lose DeAngelo Hall, who may be talented, but the Falcons are not crying over that loss. That being said, there isn’t much on the defense to write home about, the most notable exception perhaps being LB Michael Boley. Brooking is still good, but no longer very good, and John Abraham has yet to stay on the field long enough to prove his worth. But the team should still have high hopes for second year players Jamaal Anderson and Chris Houston. Atlanta will continue to be home to one of the worst teams in the league, as the Falcons win four games this season.
While some are believing in the Panthers again, I think that is mostly wishful thinking. Carolina is led by a quarterback who just isn’t getting it done anymore, and they have failed so far in developing a solid future replacement for Delhomme. Do the names Matt Moore, Brett Basanez and Lester Ricard actually scare anybody? Steve Smith is unhappy, and suspended, but hopefully Dwayne Jarrett and D.J. Hackett can pick up some of the slack left. A couple years ago, they spend a first round pick on DeAngelo Williams, who hasn’t been great, but has been good. And now they spend another on Jonathan Stewart? There was no bigger need to fill than running back? Especially when a LaBrandon Toefield can step in and play well? That pick didn’t make much sense to me, especially when I can’t help but look at the offensive line and leave unimpressed, even though the later addition of Jeff Otah was a good one.
Defensively, they lost the plug in the middle in Kris Jenkins. In his place, Damione Lewis? Again, I must say I’m not too impressed. Jon Beason plays a mean middle linebacker, but his mates are nothing more than a couple of guys who’ll get some tackles here and there. In the secondary, Chris Harris is a good, not great safety, and the corners are perhaps a bit better than average. Other than the two picks I mentioned earlier, the only other one to worth mention right now is Dan Connor, which brings up a dilemma with Beason. Who ends up playing the middle spot and who goes to the strong side? All in all it’s not an overly impressive team, and it won’t become one until they find a new QB. I say Carolina ends with six wins on the year.
That leaves us with everyone’s current favorite, the New Orleans Saints. The Saints followed up a dream season in ’06 with last year’s disaster, but I think this year’s version will again be closer to the one we saw two years ago. Offensively, they are stacked, and could be among the best in the league. Drew Brees has more than proven himself to be a great quarterback, and his favorite target, Marques Colston, looks to be back at 100%. Add to that the duo of Bush and McAllister, and possible Pierre Thomas, and the running game looks to be solid as well. On the line, the team has perhaps the leagues’ best, and perhaps most unheard of tackles duo, in Jamaal Brown and Jon Stinchcomb. The only question mark is at center, where Jeff Faine is no longer calling the shots. I suppose if Jonathan Goodwin can’t become the man, the team can always rely on a crafty veteran like Matt Lehr to take over. Behind Colston, the team is set well at receiver as well. But despite all the debate over whether it would be Devery Henderson or Terrence Copper that plays alongside Colston, the choice may actually end up being fourth year player Lance Moore. Also, last year’s early draft pick Robert Meachem is in the discussion. But in the end, the offense will benefit most from the addition of Jeremy Shockey. I still consider him one of the better weapons at TE in the league, and I do so because the attention he receives makes things easier on the other receivers. Offensively, the team looks really good.
But it was the defense that ultimately led to the Saints’ demise last season. And it’s defense to which the Saints paid the most attention during the off-season. First came the signings of Jonathan Vilma, Randall Gay and Bobby McCray, later the drafting of Sedrick Ellis, Tracy Porter and DeMario Pressley. All of whom will look to contribute to the defense this year. Will it work? Yeah, I think so. The defense does not need to become the Steel Curtain in order for this team to have success, and I think the additions they made are tailor-made to fit to the biggest holes they had. Last season the Saints had a new trio of veteran linebackers, but none with the pedigree of Vilma. With Fujita, Simoneau and Shanle now playing aside Vilma instead of without him, the group looks to be very good. McCrary makes a great third man in on a rotation that already includes Will Smith and Charles Grant. Sedrick Ellis should join the middle of that line sooner than later, and Gay will help McKenzie and Josh Bullocks pick off passes. On paper, the defense looks much improved, and I do think that it will translate to the field quickly. As with Tampa Bay, I see the Saints winning anywhere from nine to twelve games this season, and since I hate predicting ties, I will give the Saints the division with 11 wins.
Join me next week, as I’m sure the conversations between Chris Grewe and Nino Colla will get quite interesting, as we preview the AFC North.
11-5
10-6
6-10
5-11
