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2009 NFC South Preview
Published by JM Van Horn on August 22, 2009
Some would argue that in 2008, the NFC South was the most competitive division in the NFL. Whether you agree or not, one thing is for sure, there are some questions that need to be answered in 2009.
Can the New Orleans Saints actually provide Brew Brees with a defense so he does not need to throw the ball 50 times per game? Will the Atlanta Falcons be able to avoid a hangover from last year’s success?
Can the running back tandem in Carolina be just as dominant in 2009? Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a playoff caliber team or are in they in the rebuilding process.
Here is the preview of the NFC South for the 2009 NFL season and where they will finish, from first to last.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are coming off a disappointing 2008 season where they finished with a .500 record despite having one of the top passers in the NFL.
Quarterback Drew Brees will be leading the Saints offense as he tries to match his 2008 production; 65 percent completion rate for 5,069 yards with 34 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
The key to his success will be if the Saints running game will be able to carry their load.
The Saints will be relying upon running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush to provide a solid one-two punch. If they can find the room to run, the opposing defenses will be unable to cheat against the pass.
The Saints wide receiving corps of Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Lance Moore should all have a good chance of breaking 1,000 receiving yards when it is all said and done.
The biggest change for the Saints came on the defensive side of the ball. They brought in free agents like Darren Sharper and Jabir Green, along with selecting Malcolm Jenkins in the first round, to help strengthen the unit with a more aggressive scheme.
The linebacker group, led by Jonathan Vilma, should be free to make more plays thanks to the improved pass rush from the defensive line.
If Pierre Thomas is able to run the ball like he did at the end of the 2008 season, the Saints will have one of the best offensives in the NFL. Their new defensive scheme will be enough to help them compete and win the NFC South by a narrow margin.
Carolina Panthers
Despite looking like a dominant force throughout the 2008 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers fizzled out in the playoffs against the Cardinals.
In 2009 the Panthers look to rely upon the strength of their running game once more, led by DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart. Last year, these two ran for over 2,300 yards with 28 rushing touchdowns.
The Panthers offense should continue to thrive in 2009 under the guidance of quarterback Jake Delhomme. Though his numbers were not earth shattering in 2008; 59 percent completion rate with 3,288 yards 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, Delhomme kept the offense focused on moving the ball every week.
And in case you missed it, wide receiver Steve Smith had another outstanding season after missing the first two games. By the end of the season, he had 78 receptions for 1,421 yards and six touchdowns.
The Panthers defense was better than average in 2008, ranked 12th in the NFL in points allowed. They did allow the opposing runners to gain 120 yards on the ground per game and is a concern if they want to compete in 2009.
Julius Peppers will continue to dominant like he did in 2008 and should improve upon his 16.5 sack total. Fans should keep an eye on the Panthers linebackers, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, who are turning into something very special.
The Panthers will find it hard to repeat as division champions. The title will not be determined until the final week of the season when they play host to the Saints. In the end, the Panthers will not win the NFC South, but will still earn a wildcard berth to the 2009 NFL playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons
Last year, the Atlanta Falcons were the surprise story of the NFC. Led by a rookie head coach and quarterback, the Falcons were able to bounce back from a dismal 2007 and return to the playoffs.
Quarterback Matt Ryan showed he was more than ready to join the ranks of the NFL by completing 61 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a rookie.
Ryan will be looking to avoid the sophomore slump and will have to rely upon wide receiver Roddy White and newly acquired tight end Tony Gonzalez to help him. The pair should provide Ryan enough opportunities to fine tune his passing skills.
If the opposition decides to focus on the passing game of the Falcons, running back Michael Turner will be sure to remind them about his presence. In 2008, Turner exploded onto the scene as the starter, carrying the ball for 1,699 yards with 17 touchdowns. Each time he touched the ball, Turner averaged 4.5 yards on the ground.
The biggest question for the Falcons centers on their defense. The team lost several key defensive personnel, like team leader Keith Brooking, among others. To help fill the voids created, the Falcons drafted defensive tackler Peria Jerry and safety William Moore.
If they can step up and produce, the Falcons defense, led by a healthy John Abraham, should end up better than average.
The Falcons will not be able to catch any teams by surprise in 2009 and will experience a slight drop off in terms of wins. The Falcons will be in the playoff hunt throughout the season but will fall just short and end up in third place.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Jon Gruden era was over in Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers lost their last four games of the season to finish 9–7 and out of the playoffs. The team released familiar faces, from Warrick Dunn to Derrick Brooks, in an effort to revitalize the team in the competitive NFC South.
The biggest concern for the Buccaneers centers on the offensive side, specifically the quarterback position. The team decided to have an open competition between their first-round draft pick Josh Freeman and veteran Bryon Leftwich.
In an effort to help the quarterbacks, the Buccaneers resigned wideout Antonio Bryant who had a career year in 2008 with 83 receptions for 1,048 yards and 7 touchdowns.
To say the Buccaneers had health issues with their running backs last year would be an understatement. Both Carnell Williams and Ernest Grahamn missed significant time and were not at 100% on a weekly basis.
To help improve their backfield, they brought in the speedy Derrick Ward from the New York Giants. If the three backs can stay healthy in 2009, this backfield has the potential to be a dominant force in the NFC South.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Buccaneers were outstanding against the pass, but were only mediocre when it came to stopping the run. Defensive end Gaines Adams continues to improve and should become a dominant force in 2009.
When it came to turnovers the Buccaneers were ranked fourth in the league with 22 interceptions and should continue this trend with their Pro Bowl cornerbacks Rhonde Barber and Aqib Talib.
The Buccaneers are banking on Freeman to have a season like Flacco or Ryan did last year and that is a mistake. Though Freeman has potential to be a starter, 2008 was a once in a lifetime situation. The defense should keep their games close, but the lack of scoring will plague the Buccaneers again and keep them below .500 for the season.
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Tagged with: 2009 NFL Predictions, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Drew Brees, Football, JM Van Horn, Julius Peppers, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, New Orleans Saints, NFC South, NFL, Reggie Bush, Steve Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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