Is there a more non-descript division in any major sport than the NFC South? Even trying to name all the teams at once is difficult, because they’re so forgettable. Given the results they usually put up each year, it’s easy to see why. This year should be at least competitive mediocrity, as three teams could conceivably win the division (only to inevitably lose in round one).  However, we start the team break downs with the team that won’t compete.

4) Atlanta Falcons

The good news for the Falcons is that it’s a new season and no one got arrested for any major felonies in the off-season. I haven’t checked in a few hours though. The bad news is that this team is very much in rebuilding mode, and nothing shows that better than naming Matt Ryan the starting quarterback.  He gets a new toy is Michael Turner, but there’s still no guarantee he’s even better than the incumbent Small Sample All-Star on the team, Jerious Norwood. Ryan will also have Roddy White, who had a very good season for a guy catching balls from Joey Harrington and Chris Redman.  However, Alge Crumpler has left for Tennessee, and the offensive line was atrocious last year. Have fun, Matt.

If the Falcons have a strength, it should be the pass rush, led by John Abraham and Jonathan Babineaux, which the potential of Jamaal Anderson. However, there’s still no indication Atlanta can stop the run, and with DeAngelo Hall departed, the pass defense has taken a step back. All of this translates into another bad season on the field, with the hope that it at least won’t be an embarrassment off.

Prediction: 3-13

3) Carolina Panthers

Priority #1 on offense is to keep Jake Delhomme healthy so there is no temptation to bring back Vinny Testaverde. Priority #2 is to find Delhomme a target other than Steve Smith. For that, the Panthers brought back Mushin Muhammad and added D.J. Hackett. Those two should be serviceable, which is needed with Smith out the first two games and the rest of the receiving core being a bunch of who-dats. Priority #3 is to figure out how to use DeAngelo Williams and first round pick Jonathan Stewart together in the backfield. No matter what, they should be a better tandem than Williams and DeShaun Foster.

Priority #1 on defense is to figure out what caused Julius Peppers to only have 2.5 sacks last year and fix it. Not helping matters is that Peppers’ usual partners-in-crime on the defensive line, Kris Jenkins and Mike Rucker, are gone. Carolina needs to get back the consistent pass rush they used to have.  On the plus side, Jon Beason and rookie Dan Connor form a very tough linebacking duo, while the secondary is led by safety Chris Harris and his eight forced fumbles last year.

Overall though, the Panthers seem just kind of there, like they always are. Maybe their top priority is to get people to care about them.

Prediction: 8-8

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Under Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay has mostly built the team through free agency.  Recently though, the Bucs have finally realized they need the draft too. Slowly, the defense, while still having stalwarts Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber, has gotten younger.  This is led by Gaines Adams, who has the look of a great pass rusher. This year’s rookie class also has potential, at least when they’re not getting into fights during the rookie symposium.

Youth is starting to reign down offensively too. The Bucs actually have the youngest offensive line in football, filled with solid non-geriatric veterans like Jeff Faine and Davin Joseph. The problem is in the skill players. They are mostly still old. Quarterback Jeff Garcia is 38. #1 receiver Joey Galloway is 36. Ike Hilliard is somehow still the #2 receiver. Earnest Graham is not old, but the Bucs better hope he wasn’t a fluke, since Cadillac Williams’ availability is unknown and unreliable.

With the Bucs, if the skill players stay healthy and productive, they’ll probably win the division. If not, it could get ugly with the drop-off to the other 40 million Tampa quarterbacks and to remains of Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant’s careers at wide out. This prediction splits the difference.

Prediction: 8-8

1) New Orleans Saints

Lost in Tom Brady’s amazing season was that Drew Brees broke the NFL record for completions in a season with 440. Of course, the reason for that is because the Saints’ running game collapsed when Deuce McAllister went down, and the offensive line was unable to stop anyone all year, forcing Brees to throw quickly all the time.

An offense with a lot of weapons already added Jeremy Shockey to it, which should help if Shockey can stay healthy and quiet. Reggie Bush, however, might be a bigger key. Now in year three, Bush must make progress as a running back with Deuce’s career in doubt. He’ll never be a consistent yard churning back, but the Saints would love a little less bust, even if it means a slightly smaller boom. The line also has to improve if Brees ever wants to take more than a three step drop ever again. However, New Orleans brings back the same line, minus center Jeff Faine who signed with the Bucs.

Defensively, the big problem was that the secondary collapsed, as seen right away in Week 1 against the Colts. Did they fix it? Well, Jason David, who was burnt more than toast last year, remains a starter with Mike McKenzie at corner. They also signed Randall Gay and the ancient Aaron Glenn. I’m gonna have to go with no on that question.  A better pass rush would help though, and that is certainly possible with first round pick Sedrick Ellis joining Will Smith and Charles Grant on the line. The linebackers, led by Scott Fujita and Mark Simoneau, seem solid but not spectacular.

This prediction feels optimistic given what I’ve written. I might be projecting my hope that the more exciting Saints make the playoffs over the duller Panthers and Bucs.

Prediction: 9-7

The Saints will be the only team to make the playoffs, meekly losing in the first round. The Bucs and Panthers, though, we’ll be in the hunt all year, at least in that “oh yeah, them” sense. Once again in the NFC South, mediocrity breeds apathy.

FanIQ Prediction System

Falcons
Panthers
Bucs
Saints