More recently, the NFC South has developed into a much more competitive conference. The Saints, which were one of the more troubled franchises in past years, made the leap from pretender to contender and took home their 1st Lombardi Trophy this past season.
With the looming 2010-2011 season less than 2 months away, teams in the NFC South are going to have to make adjustments to stay competitive to keep that Superbowl title in the south.
New Orleans
Chase Daniel/Sean Canfield
With the backup spot behind Superbowl MVP Drew Brees wide open, you have to wonder, who will be holding the clipboard and be next on deck in case the unthinkable happens? One common theme right now stands with these two. They both have no experience at all on an NFL Level.
Chase was on the team last season so he at least has some familiarity with the Saints’ complex NFL system. While it’s not a large amount, that could provide the leg up against rookie competitor Sean Canfield.
Sean has more of the physical attributes of an NFL QB, standing 6’4″ and having a 220+ lb frame. His accuracy and intelligence are what got him into the league, and could be his ticket to getting the hop on that 2nd spot on the depth chart.
While both players are wet behind the ears, Chase has that one year of experience that could ultimately make the difference. Sean Payton’s complex offensive scheme is not something that you can just absorb overnight, and I think he’d feel more comfortable with someone that’s been involved with it for a year over someone that is just opening their playbook for the first time.
**Editor’s Note: After this article was wrote, it was released that free agent QB Patrick Ramsey was expected to sign with the Saints, so Daniel and Canfield will be fighting for the final QB roster spot.
Jo-Lunn Dunbar/Troy Evans/Clint Ingram
When LB Scott Fujita stepped off the scene in the Free Agency period, it left a considerable opening that will need to be filled. Scott Fujita was a considerable part of New Orleans’ takeaway-happy defense that was the key to them winning their first championship.
With former Jacksonville Jaguar Clint Ingram currently injured, Dunbar and Evans saw snaps at the strong-side LB position. With early looks, Evans seems to be impressing the coaching staff. His versatility and experience with this team seems to be a weighing factor. Although he’s spent most of his career as a special teams contributor, Sean Payton has said he’s directly in the mix for Fujita’s old spot. Once Ingram returns, the full battle will commence through training camp.
With Dunbar only having a couple years experience with the team, I look for this to be a toss up between Evans and Ingram. If Ingram recovers properly, I think his starting experience and veteran knowledge will overcome the battle. If he’s still shaky, look for Evans to take his first starting crack at the position.
Alex Brown/Jimmy Wilkerson/Will Smith
When the Saints released veteran pass-rusher Bobby McCray right after their Superbowl victory, it did raise a couple eyebrows considering his impact through the playoffs when the Saints needed that true threat. McCray did have a couple issues in the run blocking category, but his performance was noticeable during their playoff run.
Wilkerson was signed during the offseason from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to toss into the mix for a better run blocker in McCray’s old spot. Will Smith has been in the rotation previously as well in different situational formations but never really was the impact player the Saints were hoping he’d be.
Alex Brown looks to the front runner for this position. His run blocking abilities seem to have him held in high regard, along with the fact that he plays his blocking assignments well and provide a quicker pass rusher off the side than what McCray has to offer.
**Editor’s note: After this was written, Bobby McCray resigned with the Saints. While I believe there will be a battle for this position, McCray will have a bit of an upper hand as he was the prior starter.
Atlanta Falcons
Sean Weatherspoon/Mike Peterson/Stephen Nicholas
When the Falcons drafted Weatherspoon with their first overall pick, it pretty much solidified that they were not satisfied with the production from their other players, Peterson and Nicholas. The LB core that Atlanta has set back currently needs a bit of an aggressive tone, so they’re hoping to see Weatherspoon provide that boost.
Peterson is still a very active veteran. His overall play last year was good. While his age is definitely fighting against him (he just turned 34 last month), his production speaks otherwise. Last year, he racked up a combined 102 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and an interception to boot. With him being as active as he is, I can’t see him losing his spot, yet.
Nicholas was not as productive, but he’s still very green right now. He’s only 27 and can still make an impact if he really steps his game up throughout training camp. My guess, I’d say Peterson and Weatherspoon get the start with Nicholas rotating with Weatherspoon to prepare for when Peterson calls it a career.
Justin Blalock/Mike Johnson
Last year, the Atlanta offensive line was not nearly on par as the year prior. One of the glaring issues is the play of Left Guard Justin Blalock. When the Falcons spent their 3rd and 4th round picks on 2 offensive guards, which proved that Blalock’s seat just became a lot warmer.
Mike Johnson, the Falcons’ 3rd round pick from the National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide, proves to give Blalock a real fight for his job. Johnson’s overall level of play blocking for Heisman winner Mark Ingram was great and he faced some of the best pass rushers and defensive tackles in the country. He’ll need to maintain that level of play to take the starting spot from Blalock.
If I had to put myself in Mike Smith’s shoes, I’d be very interested to see what type of motivation Justin Blalock comes out with this year. His experience and comfort in that offensive line I think will be his saving grace, as long as he can return to the level of play he put up in 2008.
Mike Jenkins/Harry Douglas
Roddy White needs help in the receiving game, and not just from an aging Tony Gonzalez. Once you get past the #1 spot and the Tight End position, the receivers get pretty bleak from there. Jenkins has never been a real impact player and considering his tenured career, he’s never actually had a real breakout game.
Harry Douglas is coming off an AC L injury last season and that provides me with enough of a reason to think that Jenkins will keep his starting job by default. If Douglas can rehab and bounce back, Jenkins’ spot should not be hard to overcome as Jenkins is not really that impact player that they need standing opposite Roddy White.
Carolina Panthers
Matt Moore/Jimmy Clausen
This is gonna be one of the headlining position battles until week 1. Matt Moore came in after Delhomme was repeatedly struggling and took Carolina on a tear through their final 5 or 6 opponents. His arm and scrambling ability gave him a new level of versatility that the Panthers have not seen in their QB game in a long time.
Clausen, considered by many as a 1st round talent, was picked up by the Panthers as a steal in the middle of the 2nd round. His performance last year as a golden-domer (Notre Dame for those who aren’t too up on all the college nicknames) was what brought his name up to many scout writers as a top 10 talent. His accuracy was key and he’s a contender. He has a very strong will and can be a great leader.
From what I’ve seen between the 2, I have to say I believe this is Matt Moore’s team. He took the team last year when they looked like a bottom-of-the-barrel team to going through and beating up on playoff teams at the end of the season. He was a breath of fresh air and considering this might arguably be John Fox’s last year, I’d put my money on who’s done it before. If Moore gets hurt, they do have a credible backup in Clausen but I wouldn’t take away Moore’s control until he’s lost it. He proved he can play on a pro stage and against true talent.
Dwayne Jarrett/Brandon Lafell
Brandon Lafell, the Panthers’ 2nd round pick out of LSU, is someone that Fox is definitely going to want to try to crack into the starting lineup. Having Steve Smith as your primary target and consistently getting double teamed, they have to get someone else to pull some of that defensive coverage away from him or at least have someone else make plays.
Jarrett has been getting more snaps as of recent seasons, but his production is still limited to say the least. His physical size allows him to take on corners with a great size advantage but hasn’t really made much of what he’s been given.
This is John Fox’s last year if he can’t bring the Panthers back to the playoffs and make some noise. I look for him to put Lafell in early and try to get this guy to start pulling safety coverage his way and give Steve Smith some more openings. The Panthers have a great run game, its time that they start getting a passing game to match.
James Anderson/Jamar Williams/Eric Norwood
With this Linebacker-roulette that’s going on in Carolina, it’s a wonder on who will get the starting nod on this battle. When Thomas Davis tore his ACL again for a second year in a row, it really confused how this LB alignment will pan out.
The next move was when they moved Pro-Bowl LB Jon Beason to the weak side and put Dan Connor into Beason’s old slot. With all these moves going on, there is gonna be an odd man out in this entire circle. With early looks, it seems like James Anderson looks to be the odd man out.
Williams played previously with the Chicago Bears and his athleticism seems to fit the way the LB’s are needed to perform down in Carolina. Norwood, their 4th round pick, seems to be working out well in OTA’s and could possibly get the starting nod. Keep an eye on this battle, as this can completely change if they decide to put Beason back where he was successful prior.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sean Jones/Sabby Piscitelli
I am not sure if this should be classed as a position battle, since Tampa Bay Bucs Coach Raheem Morris has said in different spots that they will be running a 3 safety set. If they hold true to their word, then both Jones and Piscitelli will be on the field. I personally will believe it when I see it, because that seems more of a situational defense than a full on starting formation.
Sabby played “ok” last year. I wouldn’t say he was a true cover safety, getting beat more than a few times by a tough receiver. His tackling and athleticism have been called into question before. Although he does well on being a ball-hawk, he doesn’t do enough of it in my opinion to beat out the more physical Jones.
Sean Jones will at least give Tampa’s backfield a more physical presence, someone who will make defenders question coming over the center for a pass. Tampa’s backfield has missed that aggressive sense in the past few years, and they can hope to bring that back, piece by piece. Jones winning this out would be the first step.
Mike Williams/Arellious Benn/Sammy Straughter/Maurice Stovall/Reggie Brown
This whole entire receiver core is a crapshoot. They never really had any real dependable receiver last year, excluding their tight end, Kellen Winslow Jr. Williams and Benn were two of their higher draft picks to bring some real deep threat into their wideout situation.
The only real established player in their wideout core right now is Michael Clayton. He’s going to need some real help though to make this team have a passing threat. I look to see Benn and Williams rotating through with Straughter in the mix.
I’m not so sure about Stovall and Brown. Reggie has had his attempts with the Eagles and it didn’t seem to work well. Young Josh Freeman will need some dependable guys to grow with to keep the Bucs in the mix. Stovall never seemed to really take off. He’s built like a true #1 but can’t seem to perform like one.
When talking to people that has seen OTA’s so far, it seems that Williams really is the standout early. I’m sure Benn will catch up and I believe Freeman will love having these 2 on the field with Kellen Winslow.
Rudy Carpenter/Jevon Snead
This has to be the youngest QB core in the league, no question. With Freeman in the beginning of his career and Josh Johnson a 2nd year player as well, they don’t really have that veteran backup to at least provide situational experience so everyone will learn together in this group.
Rudy was an undrafted backup in Dallas until this past season. Snead who was another rookie will be fighting for that final spot on the roster. Both guys can scramble but don’t have much experience to be able to contest for anything more than a practice squad spot.
Ultimately, I’d have to learn towards Rudy just because of being on another team prior. Snead, an Undrafted Free Agent will need to really impress to keep his name on the roster. Also, Carpenter will probably be able to lend the best help towards developing Josh Freeman to the next step in his career.
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