Continuing the preseason previews we'll start this week off with the NFC South. A lot of changes have taken place, unless we're looking at Tampa Bay. Without further ado, let's get into it!
Atlanta: The Flacons have had a very interesting offseason. Having been one of the worst teams to bet on for the last few years, I'm happy to see the team make wholesale changes along the coaching staff. Matt Ryan is still running the show, which is going to earn a very strong "eh?" from me on how I feel about it. With Arthur Smith taking over as the head coach, the offense should look much better this year, but the biggest question has been, and will remain the defense.
Record Prediction: 10-6 2nd in the NFC South
Offense: Atlanta has made some major changes on the offensive side of the ball this year. I've already mentioned the hiring of an offensive minded head coach in Smith, but the team then traded legendary wide receiver Julio Jones to the Titans. As much as this move may have surprised some people, it makes a ton of sense if people look below the surface. The Falcons are in one of the worst positions in the league in terms of salary cap, Jones takes up a ton of salary each year, and frankly he's just not as good as he once was.
Outside of Jones, Matt Ryan remains the teams quarterback, which is ok? I guess? The running game is headlined by Mike Davis, who did a stellar job of filling a role in Carolina after Christian McCaffrey got hurt, but is far from a headliner. The Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts with the #4 overall pick this year, and by all reports he should be an absolute monster this season. With a lot of shuffling of roles, many would predict this team to have an underwhelming season, but I actually see the opposite. We've seen what can happen when Matt Ryan is paired with an excellent offensive mind, and I think that Arthur Smith fits that bill after witnessing what he did with Ryan Tannehill the last few years in Tennessee. I'm not hot on Ryan on his own, but pair him with that kind of catalyst on the coaching staff and I feel there will be surprises aplenty.
Defense: Atlanta's defense has been their downfall over the past few years. The offense is good enough to get a decent lead, but has needed a defense that can come up timely stops through the course of a game, and they just haven't gotten that. I can't even get into the talent of this group, which there isn't much of if I'm being honest, until the team shows how to handle situations mentally. When the pressure comes, the Falcons tend to not just crack, but crumble. I expect the team to make a push forward from where they've been, and I think it largely has to do with a set of fresh voices directing the defense.
Who knows, maybe I'm off by a year if the team drafts a ton of impact on the defensive side of the ball after this season. I feel my prediction will either be spot on, or a comedy of errors. There is no in between with Atlanta.
Carolina: I'm extremely jealous of Panthers fans that their team was able to trade for Sam Darnold this offseason, and Washington wasn't. I don't know if Darnold will turn into some insane player that makes his former team in NYJ look even more incompetent that usual, or if he'll stay the same as he's been the past few years, but even that would be a clear improvement for Carolina. The offense remains skilled, though I'm iffy on the offensive line, and the defense continues to add talent. That said, I need to see Darnold, and McCaffrey stay healthy for the whole season before I can predict good things in Charlotte.
Record Prediction: 6-11, 4th in the NFC South.
Offense: The Panthers offense was in a tough spot for most of the 2020 season. Teddy Bridgewater was a good QB, but lacked a dynamic element to his game that certainly played his out of winnable games. Christian McCaffrey was hurt for nearly the entire season, which was a clear monkey wrench in Matt Rhule's game plans that is so hard to overcome. Hopefully health is a non-issue this year, but this is the NFL, health is always an issue. If things work out though, the Wide Receiving group has playmakers across the board and Darnold is both able, and more willing to push the ball downfield that Bridgewater ever was. Carolina could be extremely explosive this season.... as long as the offensive line holds up.
Defense: The Panthers took Jaycee Horn with their first-round draft pick this season, a move I'm still not very high on. Horn looks to be a great talent at the cornerback position, but Rashawn Slater was still on the board, and Sam Darnold needs and deserves as much protection form his line as possible. That said, part of me thinks I'm able to understand why Matt Rhule would want more talent of the defensive side of the ball.
Rhule is an offensive coach, and a damn good one at that. He also has Joe Brady on his staff, who was responsible for turning Joe Burrow into a top draft prospect, and keeping the Panthers offense from totally sinking last year. I could see him thinking that the more talent that his defense has at its disposal, the more likely they could become a very strong unit without a ton of his involvement since its not his area of expertise.
One big area of concern I have for the Panthers will be their ability to rush the passer. Haason Reddick, Brian Burns, Bravvion Roy and Derrick Brown do not seem like world-beaters in the trenches. Granted, I am currently spoiled getting to watch Washington's defensive line and I do understand that they are a cut above the rest of the league. That said, all three of their division rivals had immobile quarterbacks last season, and Carolina never seemed able to take advantage of it. Unless something crazy happens, I can't see that changing this year.
New Orleans: Easily the biggest question mark of the NFC South, it's the beginning of a new era in New Orleans. Drew Brees has retired, and Sean Payton seems incapable of picking and sticking to one QB. Jameis Winston is and should be the betting favorite to be the Saints starter this year, but Payton has an odd obsession with Taysom Hill that both baffles and infuriates me. Mike Thomas will start the season recovering from surgery, and the offense looks questionable at best as things stand. New Orleans will have to rely on its defense, which isn't much different from years past, but the level at which they'll need them to play is intense.
Record Prediction: 7-10 3rd in the NFC South
Offense: Oh man, where do I even start. I guess I'll start with a positive and say that the Saints O-line has been incredible the last few seasons, having to protect old-man Brees who moved slower than a parked car, and I expect them to have another stellar year no matter who the new QB is. Speaking of: dear Sean Payton: DO NOT WASTE OUR TIME BY STARTING TAYSOM HILL. Hill is not a QB, much less a starting QB. He's what Tim Tebow would be, if Tebow had the natural talent to match his work ethic. As odd as this feels to say, Jameis Winston is the one the team needs throwing the ball around the yard this year. He's better than Hill, hard stop.
If I'm a fantasy football owner I would put a lot of stock in Alvin Kamara this year. With Mike Thomas expected to be out for several weeks, Kamara will the crutch the offense leans on... heavily. The Saints really don't have much at Wide Receiver with Thomas on the shelf. Don't believe me? The team signed Chris Hogan away from the Premier Lacrosse League out of desperation for talent and depth. Not to mention the team is trotting out something called Adam Trautman as their TE1. Who is this guy, and why should I believe in him?
Of all the offensive units across the league, New Orleans terrifies me because it feels completely unpredictable.
Defense: New Orleans' defensive unit has been their saving grace the last few years, and they'll need to continue that this year in order for the team to have any success. Oddly enough, the Saints feel like the exact opposite of Atlanta in this regard; how appropriate that they're in the same division. Cam Jordan headlines a stout defensive line, but if I had to find a question to ask, I'd wonder who can be the Robin to his Batman along the line. Can Marcus Davenport finally live up to his high draft status? Honestly, I doubt it, but I hope I'm wrong.
The headliners of the Linebackers and Secondary will continue to be Marshon Lattimore and Malcolm Jenkins. Both are veterans of the league, and even if Jenkins is getting up in age, he continues to prove that natural instinct and knowledge of the game can make up for a lot of deficiencies in his role. I would like to see a stronger unit with the linebackers, but Demario Davis is of enough quality that I don't forsee any signs of problems with communicating and coordinating where everyone needs to be.
If the Saints struggle this season, as I have predicted, it will be because of the offensive side of the ball, the defense is more than capable of holding up their end of things.
Tampy Bay: I feel like I can't go into too much depth with Tampa this year because they return everyone. No seriously, everyone is coming back. Tom Brady is going to lead the Bucs back to the Super Bowl because, well, he's Tom Brady. Until I see something else happen, I refuse to bet against him. I don't know what else I can tell you about Tampa that will be new to you, or of interest. This team is honestly going to be one of the most boring follows all season because we'll just be watching a continuation of 2020.
Can someone convince Brady to hang up his cleats? Please? Let the league move on from you dude, you've already done enough.
Record Prediction: 12-5, 1st in the NFC South.
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