I love the Falcons' offensive personnel. Matt Ryan will be a Pro Bowler this year, and with the cast of Michael Turner, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez, this offense could be truly dynamic. I also love the Falcons signing Dunta Robinson, a top corner in his prime. First round linebacker Sean Witherspoon is a dynamic athlete that should start from day one. Defensively, the Falcons need second year man Peria Jerry to step up, and they need to get something from former first rounder Jamaal Anderson. John Abraham is a great pass rusher but must stay healthy. Curtis Lofton is totally solid at middle linebacker. Outside of Dunta Robinson, the secondary is worrisome, but if they can generate pass rush everything should work out. This is a team with a very high ceiling, and I like them to take the division.
New Orleans Saints
Repeating as champs, or much less making the playoffs consecutively is incredibly difficult in the NFL. Drew Brees and his arsenal of Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Jeremy Shockey, and Devery Henderson are as explosive as it gets, and the offensive line is better than most. I think the defense slid by a bit last year, getting by on taking chances and employing an overly aggressive scheme. This year I think teams will catch up with Gregg Williams and the Saints will be in more shootouts than they would like. Sedrick Ellis, Jonathan Vilma, and Tracy Porter give the Saints talent at each level of the defense, but there is not enough quality or depth for this team to reach the Super Bowl again.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers get major props from me for getting Jimmy Clausen in the second round. The guy can play, his touchdown-to-interception ratio on a pass-happy Notre Dame team was 29-4 last year. He has the arm, the pedigree, and has played in an NFL system. I think he will start some games this year. If he does he will be aided by the best running back duo in football, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Steve Smith just broke his arm, and is getting older, but should be ready for the season and is still a dynamic wideout. The offensive line is big and talented. Ryan Kalil is one of the league's better centers and ditto for Jeff Otah and Jordan Gross at the tackle positions. Still, the offense will struggle with its inexperienced quarterbacks without great receiving weapons. The defense has lost a lot of talent with the defection of Julius Peppers and the season-ending injury to linebacker Thomas Davis. Jon Beason is a stud at linebacker but he is the only real playmaker on the front seven. The corners are solid with Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall. This is a team that needs some more playmakers and to replenish the defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I like Josh Freeman and think if nothing else he will be a solid QB in this league. Cadillac Williams had a nice bounce back last year but is incredibly injury prone. Ernest Graham is a serviceable backup. This team has almost nothing at receiver after Antonio Bryant left for the Bengals. Kellen Winslow is their best talent but is injury prone and not the athlete he once was. The offensive line is solid with underrated Donald Penn at left tackle, Jeff Faine playing well at center, and Davin Joseph as one of the league's best guards. The defense got a boost with the arrival of top picks, defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. Both are top talents, although they will have their growing pains adjusting to the NFL game. The linebacking core is subpar. The secondary is so-so but young corner Aqib Talib is very good. This is a team that is a long ways from contention.
Final Standings
Atlanta Falcons 11-5
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Carolina Panthers 6-10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12
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