We Might Be In the NFL's Toughest Division

[Peppers90 NC]

The Falcon's defense didn't suck but their pass defense was 22nd in the league. Compare that to their run defense which was 10th. What they actually did well was limited the points scored against them to 18 points (5th). They were successful because their offense was also 5th in scoring at a 26 points a game clip.

The general theory was that they needed to upgrade the secondary, perhaps look for a couple of DEs since Abraham is just about done and at least look to the future at RB given Turner is approaching 30 this year and Gonzales is 35.

They obviously think they are 1 or 2 players away from the superbowl and believe that Jones is one of those pieces. I suspect that they will be one of the teams making a big push for Asomugha and will go after a DE in free agency.

As for the draft they really didn't pick up anyone of note outside of Jones and gave away quite a bit for next year. If they make a Superbowl run this year folks may feel they were justified. But if they don't, it may go down as one of the boneheaded drafts similar to the New Orleans Ricky Williams draft a number of years ago.

Dimitroff has balls if nothing else.

I believe their best defense was their offense. They were able to control the clock and have long sustaining drives, keeping a higher TOP. That is why their defense ranked so high. The holes showed in the playoff loss, their offense couldnt stay on the field and their defense couldnt stop the Packers. Offense is good enough to win the SB, but they will need numerous breaks on defense like the Saints did a couple years back, almost gift wrapped wins.

[rayzor]

I believe their best defense was their offense. They were able to control the clock and have long sustaining drives, keeping a higher TOP. That is why their defense ranked so high. The holes showed in the playoff loss, their offense couldnt stay on the field and their defense couldnt stop the Packers. Offense is good enough to win the SB, but they will need numerous breaks on defense like the Saints did a couple years back, almost gift wrapped wins.

yep. the falcons were 2nd in time of possession. your offense being able to stay on the field makes your defense look better.

[Fiz]

The falcons need a defensive end, a dt, an ot so they can move baker to guard, a SAM lb, and could stand an upgrade at lcb (grimes is 3 feet tall) and safety.

They spent two drafts on a number 2 wr that was also their backup choice, bringing their number of first round wide receivers to 3, all of which will have received new contracts in the last 3 seasons. He'll be the fourth option as well.

Meanwhile this is likely the last season for Gonzalez and Abraham.

Oh and matt Ryan has a average at best deep ball.

Never question me again truecatzfan

[The Saltman]

Also they are losing Tyson Clabo. Dunno if they sign him back. SO they need 2 Offensive lineman

[Fiz]

They have to resign him now.

[Fiz]

Also re: the bucs, neither Talib or Jackson will be allowed to play next year. It'll be like ronde barber and three people named Dave.

[mr beauxjangles]

The Falcons see themselves as having a two-year window to compete for a championship. Turner and Tony G will be done in two years. Another offensive weapon was viewed as putting them in better contention than a young DE. They had the guts to pull the trigger and understand the risk.

[Seltzer]

The NFCS does look like on paper it is the hardest division, but it will be hard to say until the end of next year. I'm onboard with the people who say 6-10 this year.

That will be fine with me if the team is growing and at least we are scoring some points. I have not missed a single Panthers game since 2001, but last year got to be tough a few times to watch.

And you never can say never... Most people thought the NFCS was the best division in 2003 as well, and nobody gave the Panthers a snowball's chance of winning more than 6 games then, so who really knows?? In 2003, TB was defending SB champs, ATL had Michael Vick and everyone was on their jocks, and NO had a pretty solid team as well.

However, it will take a miracle as big as the season that was 2003 for that to happen. But you never know... I'm just hoping for a more cohesive and entertaining team. Nobody seemed to be having fun last year, and it permeated all the way through the fanbase...

[bleys]

I think Rivera will enjoy beating those pass happy teams into the dirt next year. If our D is not top 5 I will be shocked.

you better lower those expectations a bit.. young team + new defensive system = learning curve..

I'll be extremely shocked if we are a top 5 defense next year. now everything is possible, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and guarantee you we won't be a top 5 defense.

[caddieman]

I don't understand this statement at all... Just to be clear I'm not on Atlanta's nuts.

They did draft Julio Jones, or did u forget about that!? He was highly regarded as the best blocking wide receiver possibly ever in the history of the draft by many people. This will make their running attack that much more fierce. Then if you add the fact of how fast this guy is and his route running abilities I think they just filled a very LARGE hole in their passing attack!

With all that said, we should hope that he's gonna have an injury plagued career, or hope that we can get a shutdown corner in FA... I know there will be people who argue that Atlanta doesn't have a defense... With all due respect, you don't go 13-3 with no defense!

The best thing that Atlanta did in this years draft (if you're a panthers fan) was that they traded a boatload of future pics, and we know all too well what the result will bs for them in the coming year's draft. It's also important to note and fairly obvious that Arthur Blank will do whatever it takes to win, and to win now. They will be busy in free Agency whenever that occurs.

Atlanta will be a formidable opponent of ours for years to come... I have a feeling we will battle them for the division crown for years TJ come. There is no doubt that the NFC South is by FAR the toughest division in all of football!

The Bucs are young, and have a solid core and took a chance in Bowers because we picked up Cam. The Saints just improved their run game exponentially.

With all that said, I still think we have a squad that is fully capable of winning the division THIS year! Rivera has a certain swagger to him and it will be the face of the franchise! This Panthers team reminds me a lot of how The U was like in the 80's... Full of swagger... Punch you in the mouth type football team.

And that makes me really excited! It's like Ruvera said... And a lot if people blew it off as s "smokescreen" he said "Cam is not the savior of the franchise, he's a part of what we're trying to do here" I believe him and I LOVE it!!!

Dang a Panther fan who gets it! Great post!

[caddieman]

The falcons need a defensive end, a dt, an ot so they can move baker to guard, a SAM lb, and could stand an upgrade at lcb (grimes is 3 feet tall) and safety.

They spent two drafts on a number 2 wr that was also their backup choice, bringing their number of first round wide receivers to 3, all of which will have received new contracts in the last 3 seasons. He'll be the fourth option as well.

Meanwhile this is likely the last season for Gonzalez and Abraham.

Oh and matt Ryan has a average at best deep ball.

Never question me again truecatzfan

We will get a DE in FA. Weatherspoon was leading us in tackles untill he went down. We Drafted a LB form GA. You Guys know what they can do! Grimes, and correct me if I am wrong, was a Pro-Bowler last year. And that #2 WR that we got..........would be ...........hands down #1 on your team!

[Jangler]

I think Rivera will enjoy beating those pass happy teams into the dirt next year. If our D is not top 5 I will be shocked.

Yup, even as bad as our offense was, the defense was ranked 13th and that was after being tired and on the field too much. Yes I know it was about a 50/50 split, but I would rather have the offense on the field more than the defense. If our offense can stay on the field just 10% more will have a top 10 or better defense.

[dimbee]

I would say that the South, East and North are all very strong divisions right now...

[Fiz]

We will get a DE in FA. Weatherspoon was leading us in tackles untill he went down. We Drafted a LB form GA. You Guys know what they can do! Grimes, and correct me if I am wrong, was a Pro-Bowler last year. And that #2 WR that we got..........would be ...........hands down #1 on your team!

Well, that DE is likely to be Ray Edwards, which, while an upgrade, isn't exactly going to replace Abraham.

Grimes was like a seventeenth alternate and you should know from years of watching Vick make the pro bowl it doesn't mean much.

and if the justification for Jones is that he'd start for the Panthers then maybe you should have saved money and signed David Terrell.