ESPN Insider Projections: NFC South

[brothers11]

Projected order of finish




1. Carolina Panthers (9-7)
The running game (152.3 yards per) is still dangerous and even if history says Jake Delhomme will follow up his January disaster with a poor 2009, Julius Peppers' return should help the D (20.6 points allowed per game in 2008, good for No. 12 in the NFL) stay strong enough for another South title.


2. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Drew Brees and the high-flying passing game are back. So is the porous defense (221.7 passing yards allowed per game). New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams brings a more aggressive blitzing style, but he can't suddenly turn the Saints' corners into Champ Bailey and Nnamdi Asomugha.



To continue reading ESPN The Magazine's NFC South preview, you must be an ESPN Insider.


3. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
On average, teams that improve by seven or more wins in one season decline by four wins the next. Then again, there's no precedent for a team trading for the greatest tight end ever (Tony Gonzalez) -- and the last rookie QB as good as Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, won a Super Bowl as a sophomore.


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Most fans expect a crash. But the additions of playmaker Kellen Winslow and slasher Derrick Ward behind a new zone-rushing attack should improve the 19th-ranked offense, compensating for a patchwork defense that lacks heft inside and is full of holes in the secondary.



Jaws vs. Gruden




Gruden:
Jaws, did you know that since the NFL realigned to eight divisions in 2002, five NFC South teams have gone from last to first in one year? It's going to happen again. The Saints are going to steamroll everyone with their ability to score on every possession.


Jaws:
I didn't know that. But with Gregg Williams' attack-style defense, New Orleans will leave its cornerbacks in one-on-one matchups. Add that to a group of safeties that have struggled mightily and you've got a huge liability.


Gruden:
Sounds an awful lot like the Falcons. At least they have John Abraham, who is borderline unblockable at times.


Jaws:
After that, you've got Carolina, which I think needs more than just a serviceable quarterback to balance its stellar rushing game.


Gruden:
I have a hard time rooting for the Panthers. They broke my heart so many times.


Jaws:
So did the Buccaneers. They just lost a certain Super Bowl-winning head coach.


Gruden:
Seriously! How could they fire a coach with a winning record?

[bipolarboy]

Carolina!?

Maybe, but.... no.


It will either be New Orleans or Atlanta, whichever team can discover a reliable pass rush first.

[Luffsta]

Originally Posted by bipolarboy

Carolina!?

Maybe, but.... no.


It will either be New Orleans or Atlanta, whichever team can discover a reliable pass rush first.

Unless the Panthers suddenly figure out how to tackle someone I agree totally with you Bipolar. Their Defense looks pitiful right now. Everyone here in the Carolinas was excited about Switching defensive coordinators from Mike Trgovac to Ron Meeks. So far not so good. While I still feel that Meeks seems to know what he is doing more so than Trgovac so far the Panthers look very soft on D. They look like they couldn't tackle my 3 year old son on the playground much less an NFL caliber RB. The loss of Kemoeatu was big but it still doesn't explain why they can't tackle anyone. The last "dress rehearsal" game against the Ravens they added to my concerns by making Joe Freakin Flacco look like a clone between Joe Montana & Dan Marino. Needless to say if things don't turn around quickly McNabb may throw for about 700 yards in week 1.

Thatbeing said I still think the South is pretty wide open and has gone from a strong defensive division to a sieve. There are going to be a lot of shootouts in the South. While I think the Panthers O will be good again I have a feeling it won't be as good as the Saints or Falcons O. I have a feeling the Falcons will win the South when all is said and done. There you are Bipolar. I have officially cursed your team by picking them to win the South. Matt Ryan & Michael turner will probably be out for the seasonwithin the first month because i predicted them to win.

Sorry dude.

[bipolarboy]

Originally Posted by Luffsta

Unless the Panthers suddenly figure out how to tackle someone I agree totally with you Bipolar. Their Defense looks pitiful right now. Everyone here in the Carolinas was excited about Switching defensive coordinators from Mike Trgovac to Ron Meeks. So far not so good. While I still feel that Meeks seems to know what he is doing more so than Trgovac so far the Panthers look very soft on D. They look like they couldn't tackle my 3 year old son on the playground much less an NFL caliber RB. The loss of Kemoeatu was big but it still doesn't explain why they can't tackle anyone. The last "dress rehearsal" game against the Ravens they added to my concerns by making Joe Freakin Flacco look like a clone between Joe Montana & Dan Marino. Needless to say if things don't turn around quickly McNabb may throw for about 700 yards in week 1.

Thatbeing said I still think the South is pretty wide open and has gone from a strong defensive division to a sieve. There are going to be a lot of shootouts in the South. While I think the Panthers O will be good again I have a feeling it won't be as good as the Saints or Falcons O. I have a feeling the Falcons will win the South when all is said and done. There you are Bipolar. I have officially cursed your team by picking them to win the South. Matt Ryan & Michael turner will probably be out for the seasonwithin the first month because i predicted them to win.

Sorry dude.

Everyone has a tough out of division schedule, so this year it should come down to who wins their intra-divisional games. Who knows what could happen there?

[Luffsta]

Originally Posted by bipolarboy

Everyone has a tough out of division schedule, so this year it should come down to who wins their intra-divisional games. Who knows what could happen there?

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if 9-7 won the division. The schedule is disturbingly hard for all the South teams. If the Panthers figure out how to play D again I think they can be a factor. I don't know if that is going to happen though.

[i81b4i8u]

While you are right about the defense looking soft, I still think things can get better. Hey look detroit went 4-0 in the pre season last year and we know how that turned out. Thomas Davis has been out and he is a speedy LB the Panthers miss. If we can get thomas back and get a suitable replacement for Kemo things might get better. I don't see this team going no better than 9-7 though. Looks like San Fran's gonna have a great draft pick next year to go along with their own.

[bipolarboy]

Originally Posted by i81b4i8u

While you are right about the defense looking soft, I still think things can get better. Hey look detroit went 4-0 in the pre season last year and we know how that turned out. Thomas Davis has been out and he is a speedy LB the Panthers miss. If we can get thomas back and get a suitable replacement for Kemo things might get better. I don't see this team going no better than 9-7 though. Looks like San Fran's gonna have a great draft pick next year to go along with their own.

If Carolina can't stop the run without committing 8 men to the box, then the defense probably won't hold against New Orleans and Atlanta.

And if Carolina has to play from behind, then it takes the rushing attack out of the game and forces Delhomme to throw forty times a game, which usually means a couple turnovers.

I don't think Carolina is looking at top 10 slot in April, but I do think that with the injuries they're really going to have to duct tape some things together to steal a few games.