2009 NFL Season Preview: NFC South

The NFC South should be an exciting and competitive division in 2009. Led by high powered offenses, every team should find themselves in contention for a playoff spot. Here is a break down of each team:

Atlanta Falcons

2008 Record: 11-5, lost in Wild Card Round of playoffs

Strengths: Last year, as a rookie, quarterback Matt Ryan surprised everyone with a great season. He racked up 3,440 passing yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to earning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He showed poise and maturity beyond his years and helped lead the Falcons to a remarkable turnaround. Ryan did not do it alone though. He was helped by his favorite receiver, Roddy White, who had 1,382 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. White signed a big contract over the off-season, so he should be anxious to prove that he was worth it. The passing game will also be aided by the signing of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez' size and speed gives Ryan anther target, especially in the Red Zone. The Falcons also have a fantastic running game, led by Michael Turner. Turner had a break out year after signing with the Falcons last year. He rushed for 1,699 and 17 touchdowns last year and should have another big year.

Questions: The question has to be asked whether or not Matt Ryan can have another sensational year, or if last year was a fluke. With the poise he showed last year and all the talent around him, he should not have a let down this year. Perhaps the real question is how much better he will be now that he has one year of experience in the league. The only potential stumbling block for the Falcons is their defense. They ranked 24^th in total defense last year, while allowing 20.3 points per game. The defense does not have to be great, just good enough to allow the offense to win games.

Outlook: The Falcons finished second in the NFC South last year and made the playoffs. They lost in the first round to the Arizona Cardinals, but their season was still a success, due to the remarkable turn around they pulled off. The Falcons should be even stronger this year and will once again compete for the NFC South championship. I expect to see them in the playoffs again this year and maybe even winning a couple of games once they get there.

Carolina Panthers

2008 Record: 12-4, lost in Divisional Round of Playoffs

Strengths: The strength of the Panthers is their running game. They have a phenomenal offensive line and two talented running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart. Williams rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Stewart added 836 yards and 10 touchdowns. Stewart impressed several people with his performance as a rookie and may see a more balanced split of the carries. The offense also has a solid veteran quarterback in Jake Delhomme and a big time receiver in Steve Smith. The offense should have no problem controlling the game and scoring points.

Questions: How will the Carolina defense perform this year? Last year, the Panthers had a middle of the pack defense, ranking 18^th in the league. They were in the top ten in sacks, led by Julius Peppers. If Peppers can put his off-season trade demand behind him and have another good year, the defense should be solid. They will be helped by their offense controlling the ball for long periods. The defense should be able to keep the Panthers in most games. How they perform, should they make the playoffs, is another concern for the Panthers. Last year, the Panthers were the second seed in the NFC, but came out flat and were blown out at home by the Arizona Cardinals. If they make the playoffs again, they certainly want to have a better showing.

Outlook:

The Panthers should have another good year and be at the top of the NFC South. They should have another 12 win season and find themselves back in the playoffs. I see them using last years disappointing playoff game as motivation to make a deeper run in the post season.

New Orleans Saints

2008 Record: 8-8

Strengths: The offense is the strong point for the Saints. In 2008, they led the league in yards per game (410.7) and points per game (28.9). Drew Brees was a beast last year. He single handedly carried the offense while amassing 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns and drew some attention as an MVP candidate, despite the Saints disappointing season. Brees has consistently been one of the top quarterbacks in the league and this year should be no different. Reggie Bush is an exciting player and can be a game changer, if he is able to stay healthy.

Questions: There are several questions that must be answered for the Saints. One area of concern is at running back. While Brees will once again carry the team with his arm, the Saints need to see better production out of the running backs. Pierre Thomas was the leading rusher last year with 625 yards. With Duece McAllister gone from the team, Thomas should be more productive this year. Also getting his share of the carries will be the always dangerous Reggie Bush. Bush is also a threat receiving the ball and could have a big year if he can finally stay healthy. The Saints also have to wonder if any of their receivers will step up and have a break out year. They had many receivers get action last year, but none of them had 1,000 yards receiving. The other issue for the Saints is their defense. They ranked 23^rd in the league last year and gave up 24.6 points per game. The Saints hope the defense will be able to limit the big plays and keep games close, allowing Brees to win them with his arm.

Outlook: The Saints will score a lot of points this season. Their offense will likely be near the top once again. If the defense is improved and can keep games close, the Saints have the potential to win nine or more games and compete for the Wild Card.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2008 Record: 9-7

Strengths: In 2009, the Buccaneers will have a stable of quality running backs. Tampa Bay signed Derrick Ward during the off-season, who rushed for 1,025 yards last season as the Giants back up. He will likely split carries with Earnest Graham, who became the primary running back for the Bucs last season, and Cadillac Williams, who returned late in the year from a knee injury. The Buccaneers are likely to use all three of them as part of their attack and the trio will be a handful for opposing defenses. Whoever wins the quarterback spot will have good targets in Antonio Bryant, who had 1,248 receiving yards in 2008, and off-season acquisition, tight end Kellen Winslow. Tampa Bay's defense is always strong and ranked in the top ten again last year. Despite releasing fan favorite Derrick Brooks and losing coordinator Monte Kiffin, the Bucs defense should have another strong year.

Questions: The big question mark for Tampa Bay is who will be the starting quarterback. The Buccaneers spent their first draft pick on Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman, but the starting quarterback is likely to come down to either Byron Leftwich or Luke McCown. It will be interesting to see if whoever wins will be productive and if not, how long it will be before there are calls for the back-up. The Bucs must also wonder whether or not new tight end Kellen Winslow will be able to stay healthy. He had been plagued by injuries while with Cleveland, but he is extremely talented. The other question for the Bucs is how the coaches will perform. Raheem Morris is young and talented, but has no experience as a head coach. It will also be interesting to see how strong the defense is after long time coordinator Kiffin left this off-season.

Outlook: The Bucs will be led by their running game, but how far they go will depend on how well their quarterback performs. Tampa will likely be in the same position as last season, winning nine games and fighting for a playoff spot. Last year, the Bucs were unable to clinch a spot late in the season. If their defense plays as well as it usually does and they get consistent play from the quarterback, they should be able to get over the hump and find themselves in the playoffs.

SOURCES: NFL Player Statistics - http://www.nfl.com/stats/player

NFL Team Statistics- http://www.nfl.com/stats/team