Division Standings Pre-Analysis

[Mol3m4n]

This is my first article, so bear with me and excuse the errors. There are bound to be plenty.

 

Many polls and forums around the league have cast polls or made topics on who will finish where in the NFC South. My favorite could possibly be on the "BucsNation" board where 90% of their fan base has the Panthers being last. However, the NFL is a league that is unpredictable, and varies year from year. An example is how the Houston Texans were picked to go to the Super Bowl last year but followed up with a 2 win season. Much more varied is the NFC South, where no team has won the division twice in a row. More times than not, the first place finisher will move to last in their division. Yet if we know anything, the NFCS is the second best if not THE best division in football, and the Panthers could be primed for the first repeat. I do not take into account strength of schedule.

 

Panthers:

The Panthers have not had the most glamorous of offseasons. Being cap-strapped is enough to make the most manly of football fans cry. The Panthers have lost a lot of talent this year, true. But then again it was talent that could easily be replaced. Hundreds of times I have heard the quip "The Panthers won't be good because they lost all four of their starting wide receivers". Although this is true, the playmakers in that 29th ranked passing attack are easily replaced. Although Smith's fire and aggressiveness will be missed, his production on the field was slipping. Brandon Lafell was plagued by dropped balls, especially in needed situations. Ted Ginn was a deep threat, but his hands were unsure and gave up big plays. These players were replaced by sure handed veterans Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery. Ginn was replaced by Tiquan Underwood. The Panthers drafted a colossus in Kelvin Benjamin. Also, people tend to forget about the unproven talent hidden on the roster in King, Mcnutt, and some would now argue "Philly" Brown. The only terrible blow to the offense was losing left tackle Jordan Gross. However, the coaches seem confident in tackles Bell and Chandler toreplace the franchise player. The Panthers also added a pass cathcing tight end, drafted a guard capable of starting right away, and added another back to their expensive but semi-effective backfield. Look for the Panthers run game to be improved this year.

 

Where someone could argue that the offense has regressed, a scoff should be presented to those who think the defense is worse than last season. A key term to remember for the Panthers defense is experience, which Lotulelei and Short dide not have last year. And although Roman Harper isn't the best in pass coverage(and most fans despise him), he and Decoud make a good pairing with plenty of experience. This isn't to mention two up and coming safeties in Robert Lester and Boston. My favorite signing has to be Antoine Cason, who a couple years back was a pro-bowler. Not to mention a surprise from last year in Melvin White, a returning Charles Godfrey, and a draft pick that has been impressing in Benwikere. Munnerlyn should not be missed in this larger group. Tehe linebackers are still led by arguably the best one-two tandem in the league, add to that Chase Blackburn and Kuechly 2.0 (Klein) with added experience. Our D-line even got better with the pick of Kony Ealy. What helped win last year's division is even better this year.

 

Saints:

The Saints are the favorite to win the South. Why? Because they made a blockbuster move in free agency by signing safety Jairus Byrd. The Saints should be better, if not exactly the same. This offseason proved that the Saints are in win now mode with an aging Brees. They know the window is closing.

 

On offense the Saints let stand-out Darren Sproles go. A loss that I think hurts them immensely. The Saints also lost wide receiver Lance Moore, who was helpful but can be replaced. Oh, and was he ever replaced. The Saints traded up in the draft to get Brandin Cooks, a burner that should eat secondaries alive this year. Coupled with Marques Colston and a top 5 quarterback in Drew Brees, expect this kid to light some fires. The Saints line has "improved" slightly. The reason the improve is because their rookie left tackle now has experience. Does that mean that Tampa Bay;s and Carolina's pass rush won't eat him alive? No. But he'll be better.

 

The Saints defense possibly had the best and worst move this offseason. Signing Jairus Byrd with little to no cap is almost miraculous. Kudos to the Saints front office. But the front office also gets jeers for signing an over-aged Champ Bailey for too much. The Saints still have a decent pass rush and possibly the best safety duo in the league. Their top five defense is improved this year even though they have a mediocre linebacker core that wasn't addressed.

 

Falcons:

The Falcons are a huge puzzle. A playoff team just two years removed, the Falcons look primed to have another bad year. Have they improved this offseason? Yes, but not enough to take instant effect.

 

The offense still has an efficient passer in Matty Ice, someone that can even make a Harry Douglas look good. (Sorry for the genital joke) With his two main pass catcher's returning in Julio Jones and Roddy White, he has to be excited. Their special teams got better with Devin Hester too. What he shouldn't be excited about is the fact that hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez left. That's a vacancy that will be hard to fill. The Falcons improved their offensive line by drafting college standout Jake Matthews. He is set to start, but he has a steep learning curve in a division with heavy pass rushing as the Saints, Bucs, and Panthers have. Their backfield is lackluster, and Steven Jackson is now only a name.

 

The Falcons defense is not their strong suit. In fact, I can't recall a single name except  Babineaux without looking at the depth chart . It is VERY forgettable. I guess one think they can look forward to is the progress of cornerback Desmond Trufant. But their pass rush is one of the worst in the league. Not to mention I know not one name on their linebacker core. I would be surprised if the Falcons won the division this year.

 

Buccaneers:

The Bucs are the paper champions of this offseason. That's it. They had a really good offseason. But they're still the Bucs.

 

When looking at the Bucs offense, one thing pops out. The MonStars from Space Jam is their receiving core. They already had a huge elite receiver in Vincent Jackson and they only added height by acquiring Mike Evans in the draft. They also drafted a HUGE tight end in Austin Sefarian-Jenkins. I would be scared if not for the lackluster quarterback play. They have an old man in McCown and a second year under-achiever in Mike Glennon. The bucs line remains the same, and although they face elite pass rushing, they should be fine. Especially with the horses they have at running back. Seriously, can the Bucs please draft a bad running back?

 

Their defense should be MUCh improved. Especially in a Lovie Smith system. (Yes, I know he is overrated.) A big signing was Michael Johnson, who should instantly make the pass rush better. Lavonte David is a beast among men. Although the Bucs lost arguably the best corner in the game in Revis, he wasn't a system fit. He was replaced quickly too. I like Verner better for what the Bucs are trying to do anyway.

 

In Conclusion:

I can see that EVERY NFCS team got better this offseason. Even if it is slight. The one with the most improvement is the Buccaneers. The team with the least improvement is the Falcons. What does this spell for this season though? Competition. Although the Saints are the favorite to win the division, not one of these teams should be taken out of the conversation. Even the Falcons have a shot. (As surprising as it would be.) This is how I think the NFCS standing will look at the end of the year.

 

1. Saints (11-5)

2. Panthers (11-5)

3. Buccaneers (8-8)

4. Falcons (6-10)

[micnificent28]

Predicting an 11 win season to a team that lost so much and brought in so little is laughable in my opinion. You can't lose your entire wr core, k/p returner near pro bowl saftey, and startering cb and see only a one game drop off as eveyone else in the division improved.

[TheRumGone]

FYI jarius byrd just had back surgery

[ickmule]

Predicting an 11 win season to a team that lost so much and brought in so little is laughable in my opinion. You can't lose your entire wr core, k/p returner near pro bowl saftey, and startering cb and see only a one game drop off as eveyone else in the division improved.

Really? And you figured we'd be 12-4 last year? I think our WR crew is better than last years and our D backfield can't be worse. Our front 7 played a huge part in making the Dbacks look good last year. Might not win 11, but 10 wins is real.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[AKPantherFan]

I will buy at 10-6 firmly.

I think there is a great possibility we do even better.

Healthy players are the key!!!!

Btw. You damn sure made your first post count. Lol.

Looooonnnngggg

[TheRumGone]

Predicting an 11 win season to a team that lost so much and brought in so little is laughable in my opinion. You can't lose your entire wr core, k/p returner near pro bowl saftey, and startering cb and see only a one game drop off as eveyone else in the division improved.

Players on the roster already will be better. We made upgrades in areas we were weak whether you believe that or not. The only major loss is gross, and while major I don't believe it will be the cause of a losing season. It's going to come down to coaching and our core playing well if not better than last year.

[AKPantherFan]

Also want to point this out;

Year three (last year) for a new coach and QB IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE PROVE IT YEAR ( sorry for caps to lazy to re type on my phone)

Year 4 is the show me again year, the ARE YPU REAL year.....

Cam Newton is real. And well, coach learned how to coach.

So yes I'm confident we will do well.

[MadHatter]

Predicting an 11 win season to a team that lost so much and brought in so little is laughable in my opinion. You can't lose your entire wr core, k/p returner near pro bowl saftey, and startering cb and see only a one game drop off as eveyone else in the division improved.

WR and DB will be better.

Prepare thy plate for a heaping helping of crow.

[Mol3m4n]

Predicting an 11 win season to a team that lost so much and brought in so little is laughable in my opinion. You can't lose your entire wr core, k/p returner near pro bowl saftey, and startering cb and see only a one game drop off as eveyone else in the division improved.

 

I was under the impression that our stud front seven made our "near pro bowl safety" and slot cornerback look better than they were. I also addressed the WR core. The production will be matched, if not better. PR/KR aren't the hardest thing to find on the market. We may have found a gem in Philly Brown.

[PandaPancake]

I don't want to post the whole article but I trust the nerds when it comes to football.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/four-downs/2014/four-downs-nfc-south-0

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[Razeyfingers]

I don't want to post the whole article but I trust the nerds when it comes to football.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/four-downs/2014/four-downs-nfc-south-0

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What exactly am I supposed to be trusting. That article makes no predictions.

[PandaPancake]

What exactly am I supposed to be trusting. That article makes no predictions.

 

The website where it comes from. They know their stuff. And I'm sure the title of this thread is pre-analysis not predictions. Let's try reading and not making up whatever you feel like just to be a douche.

[Mol3m4n]

The website where it comes from. They know their stuff. And I'm sure the title of this thread is pre-analysis not predictions. Let's try reading and not making up whatever you feel like just to be a douche.

 

I did make predictions though....

[bigdog10]

WR and DB will be better.

Prepare thy plate for a heaping helping of crow.

100% agree

However I'm worried the oline will be a good deal worse