NFC south....which team has improved the most?

[saints4lifeagain]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

How many of their OL got drafted this year?

If y’all made a desperation trade like this for a guy at a position of depth that makes it even dumber.

I feel like you're reaching a bit here to prove a point lol. 

The Saints have good depth at the position, but no game changer. Okafor was a baller last year, but he's coming off an achilles. We've lacked a good pass rusher opposite of Jordan since Galette went nuts and got cut. 

Davenport is absolutely dripping with talent. If he reaches his potential, he's well worth the trade. I expect an immediate impact.

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, saints4lifeagain said:

I feel like you're reaching a bit here to prove a point lol. 

The Saints have good depth at the position, but no game changer. Okafor was a baller last year, but he's coming off an achilles. We've lacked a good pass rusher opposite of Jordan since Galette went nuts and got cut. 

Davenport is absolutely dripping with talent. If he reaches his potential, he's well worth the trade. I expect an immediate impact.

Davenport is a mid-major workout warrior that you guys just mortgaged the remaining years of Brees’ career on. That’s my point.

[Zithers]

Tampa did a good job of trying to rebuild their defensive identity. They had no defense last season. JPP isn't what he used to be but he's still good, as is Vinny Curry. Vita Vea is a monster NT. They added Carlton Davis who is a big corner and MJ Stewart to be a nickel guy. Then on offense they got Ronald Jones to be their new feature back and a mean guard albeit from a smaller school. Clearly they're trying to be a more physical team. Of course a lot of this is the draft and that won't all necessarily mean there's an immediate impact. There seems to be more of a method to their free agency than usual when they just spent a shitload of money on the biggest names available. If the defense gels despite all the changes, I think they'll be pretty competitive.

Falcons did well getting a big corner in Isaiah Oliver and adding someone to compliment Julio and Sanu. That's a terrifying WR corps. Also got a fat NT in Deadrin Senat. Didn't do much in FA since they had no money. Only player of note they lost was Poe and... Taylor Gabriel I guess. They also added an elite special teamer in the draft via Russell Gage. I expect that they will be getting 9+ wins again.

Saints draft seems kinda bad. Davenport could turn into something special. They didn't lose anyone either. If their secondary continues its good play I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be back in the playoff hunt and getting 9+ wins.

We fired a top five GM, lost a top five guard, lost our power back, and a safety. None of them have been replaced with new players except for maybe Gaulden taking over for Coleman. Also losing TD for four games. We made a lateral move, maybe a small improvement with Poe over Star. DJ Moore is a good pick. Ian Thomas can be our TE2 right away. We know for pretty much a fact that we are losing TD, Kalil, and Peppers at the end of this season and have done little to replace them. We're in the middle of transitioning ownership. We hired an OC who has an archaic offense full of seven step drops instead of someone younger who knows how to handle dynamic talents like a running QB, players with enormous positional flexibility like CMC and Samuel, etc. I think we're in terrible shape. If we didn't have Cam and Luke I'd say we're fuged. But we do have Cam and Luke, and that's why we have a good chance to win every game. All we have to do is weather this one season of Hurney and the sale and hopefully we will be in smoother waters and in the hands of people who know what the fug they're doing...

[GoPanthers123]

3 hours ago, saints4lifeagain said:

Think we've had a good offseason, personally. Panthers as well. Falcons made me scratch my head in FA, but did well in the draft. Tampa has had a very good offseason. 

Saints may need that next year's 1st to draft a QB, that whole move only makes sense if you are going for a QB that you really like.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

Only way to find out is when season starts and ends to see what will happen for sure. Falcons may have needed WR's but they were already 3 capable WR's and needed much more pressing positions to fill other than WR replacements to start. Bucs seemed to do a good job drafting for team needs. Aints draft was fair but we all shall see what will come about with all our draftees to see how well they will do once season starts.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

6 hours ago, Zithers said:

 

We fired a top five GM, lost a top five guard, lost our power back, and a safety. None of them have been replaced with new players except for maybe Gaulden taking over for Coleman. Also losing TD for four games. We made a lateral move, maybe a small improvement with Poe over Star. DJ Moore is a good pick. Ian Thomas can be our TE2 right away. We know for pretty much a fact that we are losing TD, Kalil, and Peppers at the end of this season and have done little to replace them. We're in the middle of transitioning ownership. We hired an OC who has an archaic offense full of seven step drops instead of someone younger who knows how to handle dynamic talents like a running QB, players with enormous positional flexibility like CMC and Samuel, etc. I think we're in terrible shape. If we didn't have Cam and Luke I'd say we're fuged. But we do have Cam and Luke, and that's why we have a good chance to win every game. All we have to do is weather this one season of Hurney and the sale and hopefully we will be in smoother waters and in the hands of people who know what the fug they're doing...

Who out there has the knowledge Norv has on players that is just as good as he is as OC? There aren't people that is like Norv and do what he can and he is what this team needs.

[Jeremy Igo]

The Bucs improved the most, but they had the most room to improve. 

[saints4lifeagain]

8 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Davenport is a mid-major workout warrior that you guys just mortgaged the remaining years of Brees’ career on. That’s my point.

Davenport was talked about as a 1st round pick before the combine. The combine just cemented what you saw on tape. 

Khalil Mack went to Buffalo. Demarcus Ware went to Troy. Talent is evident on tape. You don't get the chance to draft elite pass rushers at the bottom of the first round very often. They moved up to grab one they liked. That doesn't mortgage Drews future lol. Saints have a solid team, regardless.

[JakeDel5674]

11 hours ago, saints4lifeagain said:

BPA always makes sense.

Unless it's Vernon Butler, or Kelvin Benjamin. 

[Woodie]

TB deserves vredit for their draft.  They got some good players.

NO had a boom or bust draft.  It all revolves around how quickly/if Davenport develops.  If he doesn't develop into the monster pass rusher they hope, then this is an epic fail, but if he does develop, then they did well.  But giving up next year's first is a huge risk that could really backfire if they get hit hard by the injury bug.  For instance, as healthy as Brees has been, if he has some freak injury that keeps him out for an extended period (it happen every year to someone), then they will be giving GB a very high pick they could have leveraged for Brees' replacement or other difference maker.  

Atlanta took a couple of players I really liked, but also players that have limitations they will have to mask.  Ridley is a great route runner, and should be a good receiver for them.  But he's not the toughest WR out there, so there are questions about how well he'll be able to beat the press of NFL CB's.  And with his slight frame, there are also legit injury concerns.  I really liked Oliver, but he's a man corner that struggles in zone, which is why he really wasn't a fit for us.  Don't know their pan for him, but if they want to use him in a zone scheme, he may not live up to their hopes.

We made some great picks (Moore, Jackson, Thomas) and some wait and see picks.  Looking at each of those questionable ones, we'll have to see how they are used, and be patient as they develop.  But while they are risky, I do think there is potential for them to be very good.  

[Peppers90 NC]

Atlanta picked two guys most of us would have been happy with if we picked either of them in the first.

[luke262]

Doesn't everyone (media etc) say tampa Bay improve the most every offseason and then they massively dissapoint as usual? 

[thefuzz]

11 hours ago, OBXPantha said:

NFL.com gave us straight A's for every day of the draft.

Draft grades

Crap.

[Snake]

I will say the Falcons took a huge step back this year. They drafted Oliver to play in a division whos top teams are using fast WRs that can beat the jam. They gave absolutely no protection to Matt Ryan and face two top teams who are building pressure on the line. They did add another fast WR but in all reality that was their strength last year while ignoring DT that will allow teams to control the run game. 

 

The Saints did a better job than most think but at a high price. Cam Jordan gave us fits the first game last year and they added another DE who could make matters worse. But after that most picks looked to be depth related. 

 

The Bucs added what looks like a very good draft. Vita Vea adds depth to what the bucs are trying to do and that's stop the run and cause pressure. With both New Orleans and Carolina moving away from bigger WRs and more shifty players both in WR and RB I can't see why this was a bad choice. After that they addressed losing Martin which didn't improve them but also didn't make them worse. Overall two really good players so not a bad draft. 

 

The Panthers solved one of their biggest problems of last year with DJ Moore. Moore is a physical WR who played well despite his teammates in college. This gives Carolina a guy that complements Funchess very well. They address another need with Donte Jackson. The Panthers were terrible last year at DB and only overshadowed by WR. Jackson brings speed to a position that had none last year. After that it's a wash because players are developmental. 

 

Overall with needs being applied here is how I see it. 

1) New Orleans - They added a pass rusher to a unit that was already a playoff team. Their team will be better with just that pick. Not much loss in the off season means they could risk more. 

2) Carolina Panthers - They needed to solve quite a bit with the loss and lack of players. They addressed two with Moore and Jackson. Guard and Safety were ignored. We were a playoff team last year but I'm not sure we improved much and it seems NO did. 

3) Tampa Bay needed defensive help on the line and secondary. They did improve with Vita Vea but they also spent heavily in FA trying to improve that same line while ignoring other areas. I think the trade hurt them because Fitzpatrick was a better choice and would have improved a terrible secondary. 

4) Atlanta - Atlanta was ok last year and needed a really good draft to improve. With that said their biggest problem last year was run defense and protecting Matt Ryan. Neither was addressed and expect both New Orleans and Carolina to take advantage. Both teams will be matchup nightmares for Atlanta.