Is there a more wide-open division than the NFC South this year?
No longer are these four teams looked at as an easy touch on the schedule.
Thanks to Sean Payton’s return from his one-year exile, the New Orleans Saints will be a much-improved team from last year.
The Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not be there yet, but they’re rapidly improving and should be a tough out.
And how you can forget the Atlanta Falcons?
Led by Matt Ryan and their high-powered offence, the Falcons won the division last year and came so close to beating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
BIGGEST IMPACT ADDITION
Atlanta: Steven Jackson, RB
After eight straight 1,000 yard seasons in St. Louis. Jackson’s powerful running style is a welcome sight in Atlanta. Now when the Falcons are leading late in a game, they can turn to the 240-pound Jackson to grind out the yards and, more importantly, grind out the clock.
Carolina: Jon Beason, LB
This is an impact “addition” for the Panthers because Beason is coming back from two straight years of serious injuries. A tackling machine at the start of his career, Beason played a total five games the last two seasons so the Panthers are expecting Beason to revert his 2010 form when he racked up 121 tackles.
New Orleans: Sean Payton, head coach
With Payton serving a one-year suspension for the Bounty scandal, the Saints struggled through a difficult and disappointing season in 2012. The return of Payton will get rid of any distractions and allow the entire team to focus on what really matters — winning games.
Tampa Bay: Darrelle Revis, CB
When he is 100 per cent, Revis is the best lockdown corner in the NFL. The key part of that equation ishis health. Make no mistake the Bucs desperately need Revis at full strength to contend this season. Tampa had the worst pass defence in the NFL last season and when you face Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Cam Newton six times a year that has to vastly improve in 2013.
BIGGEST IMPACT LOSS
Atlanta: Todd McClure, C
The Falcons have every reason to believe that second-year centre Peter Konz will be able to fill the void of the recently retired Todd McClure. The issue for the entire Falcons offensive line is experience. For a contending team, the Falcons have a lot of young players being asked to protect their meal ticket, Matt Ryan.
Carolina: Louis Murphy, WR
The odd thing about the Panthers was all players that left town were players they could afford to lose. They lose receiver Louis Murphy but more than replaced his potential loss of production with the addition of Dominik Hixon.
New Orleans: Jermon Bushrod, LT
Bushrod was a major reason the Saints only allowed 26 sacks on 671 pass attempts in 2012. Now in his fourth season, Bushrod’s replacement, Charles Brown, has started just eight games in his NFL career.
Tampa Bay: Michael Bennett, DL
For a team that had numerous issues on defence, Bennett won’t be easy to replace on the defensive line. The Bucs tied for 29th last year with a total of 27 sacks. When Bennett signed in Seattle, he took with him nine sacks and three forced fumbles. They don’t have an immediate replacement on their roster.
WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP?
Atlanta: Peter Konz, C
Now in his second year in the NFL, this year will mark the first year for Konz as a starting centre in the league. Konz played guard as a rookie but has returned to his natural position for 2013. Talking to Konz at Falcons training camp, he said blocking for a quarterback (Matt Ryan) who just signed a $100-million contract could potentially have some interesting fringe benefits.
“If we can keep his jersey clean every game,” he said. “I mean that’s going to mean good things for us (the offensive line) down the line; not only on the field, but maybe at Christmas time.”
Carolina: Cam Newton, QB
The Panthers will only go as far as Newton takes them. The question in Carolina is which Newton will show up? When he is on, Newton is a threat with both his arm and his legs and has all the physical tools to be a great one. He needs to have a positive, winning attitude for all 16 games
New Orleans: Rob Ryan, defensive co-ordinator
If Rob Ryan likes a challenge, he sure came to the right place. The 2012 Saints defence ranked last overall and 31st versus the pass. In other words, there is nowhere to go but up. If the flamboyant Ryan can turn this defence around, the Saints will be a legit playoff contender in the NFC.
Tampa Bay: Josh Freeman, QB
After putting up big numbers for most of the season, Freeman really faded down the stretch for coach Greg Schiano. In the final three games, Freeman tossed nine interceptions and only threw two touchdowns. He is in the final year of his frookie contract and before the Bucs sign him to a massive extension, they want to see if he can play with the big boys in the NFC.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
Atlanta: Jacquizz Rodgers, RB
One of the Falcons’ goals this year is to find different ways to get the ball into Rodgers’ hands. Because of his size and running style, Rodgers is an obvious change of pace from Jackson but the scat back is also a talented receiver. Rodgers caught 53 passes last season and according to Pro Football Focus, only dropped two passes. On top of that, Rodgers also averaged 25.8 per kick return.
Carolina: Luke Kuechly, LB
After a slow start in 2012, Kuechly ended up with a league-leading 164 tackles and was voted the AP defensive rookie of the year. Now in his second season, with a healthy Beason beside him, the sky is the limit for Kuechly.
New Orleans: Mark Ingram, RB
If the Saints are going to get back to the post-season, Ingram is going to have to live up to the promise he showed when they drafted him in the first round in 2011. As great as Drew Brees is, he can’t keep throwing 670 passes every year. In 2009 when the Saints won the Super Bowl, Brees attempted 514 passes in 15 regular season games. The Saints need more from Ingram and he will get every opportunity to become the go-to running back in their offence.
Tampa Bay: Dashon Goldson, S
The arrival of Goldson is just what the Bucs need. Goldson was a big part of the league-leading 49ers defence and now he brings that ability and a healthy amount of respect to the Bucs’ locker room. Along with Revis, the 28-year-old is the most experienced and accomplished player on the Bucs’ defence.
KEY ROOKIE
Atlanta: Desmond Trufant, CB
For all of their firepower on offence the Falcons defence is the big question mark in Atlanta. Along with second-round pick Robert Alford, Trufant was brought on to shore up the secondary and help a pass defence that was ranked 23rd last year.
Carolina: Star Lotulelei, DT
Already in pre-season, the 315-pound Lotulelei has proved to be tough to handle for opposing offensive linemen. If Lotulelei can continue to be a disruptive force in the regular season then linebackers like Kuechly and Beason will be allowed to roam from sideline-to-sideline and make plays.
New Orleans: Kenny Vaccaro, S
If the Saints are going to get back to the post-season, Ingram is going to have to live up to the promise he showed when they drafted him in the first round in 2011. As great as Drew Brees is, he can’t keep throwing 670 passes every year. In 2009 when the Saints won the Super Bowl, Brees attempted 514 passes in 15 regular season games. The Saints need more from Ingram and he will get every opportunity to become the go-to running back in their offence.
Tampa Bay: Johnthan Banks, CB
After the horrible year the Saints had on defence in 2012, the selection of Vaccaro was a no brainer. Vaccarro plays with an edge and is known as a heavy hitter from his days at Texas. That kind of nasty attitude on the back end of the defence is exactly what the Saints need in 2013.
NFC SOUTH PREDICTIONS
While the Falcons are still the class of the division, the gap between the four teams is getting tighter and tighter. Known more as a division built around offence, all four teams are serious about making improvements on defence. In the end the Falcons’ depth of talent, especially on offence, will be enough for them to win the division.
1) Atlanta 12-4
2) New Orleans 10-6
3) Tampa Bay 9-7
4) Carolina 8-8
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