So with the Saints primed to repeat, the Falcons poised to rebound, the Panthers trying to get back on track, and the Bucs developing their immense youth across the board, we’ll take a look at the NFC South.

Top Newcomers:
Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn to the Bucs
It’s not often a team takes two receivers outside of the first round and asks them to be an intrical part of the offense in their first year. But these weren’t two generic non-1st round receivers.

Mike Williams is close to if not as talented as Dez Bryant, but the fact that he left his college team twice over the past two years made him slide to the 4th round. Arrelious Benn, from the 2nd round, isn’t a number one receiver in the future, which is why he fell, but he’s groomed to be a great slot guy, which is likely where he’ll be playing this year.

Sean Weatherspoon to the Falcons
As is now common with high picked rookie linebackers, Weatherspoon will be asked to step in day one and be a starter. Weatherspoon as the talent, but he’ll likely succeed because of the talent around him.

With John Abraham and Jamal Anderson at the ends and Peria Jerry at the defensive tackle, the Falcons should generate some pressure, hopefully much more than last year. And Curtis Lofton on the inside in a force in the middle can take care of interior runs. That way, Weatherspoon will be able to use his athletic ability and range to make plays.

Jimmy Clausen to the Panthers
Still my top quarterback from last year’s draft, Clausen likely won’t see the field early or maybe at all this season based on Matt Moore’s play.

However, the fact that the Panthers not only scooped up Clausen in the 2nd round, but tried to trade up for him many times before that, shows that they like him enough to be their quarterback of the future. If Clausen performs eventually like the quarterback the Panthers and myself think he can be, then we could have a San Diego Brees-Rivers situation in the next year or two.

Jimmy Graham, Patrick Robinson to the Saints
Jimmy Graham came into Saints camp with a perfect person ahead of him to learn from: Jeremy Shockey. Both players have great bulk and athletic ability to be dominate pass catching tight ends, and which Shockey’s on the downslope of his career, Graham could be primed to explode in a year or two.

Patrick Robinson has already gotten in the Saints coaching staff doghouse, and it may take a little while to get out of it. Still, they feel he is a future top notch cornerback from what I’ve heard, but it could be a year or two before he gets consistent playing time.

Top Storylines:
New Orleans Looks to Stay On Top
It’s not easy staying on top after winning the Super Bowl in the division, nonetheless the rest of the NFL. The Saints have great receiving threats on the outside with Colston, Meachem, Henderson, and Moore, and a solid run game with Pierre Thomas and Reggiew Bush. And of course, Drew Brees is there.

However, I think the achilles heel, besides injuries, could be the defense, more importantly, the defensive line. The linebacking corps is solid with Johnathan Vilma in the middle. The secondary is ready to be among the best in the NFL, with Tracy Porter, Malcolm Jenkins, and Darren Sharper in the secondary. But the defensive line doesn’t have a great player on their, and playing teams with great run games like the Falcons and Panthers in division could be a problem.

Matt Ryan Leads a Healthy Falcons Teams to the Playoff Brink
After a super-impressive freshman year in the NFL, Matt Ryan suffered a somewhat disappointing second season in the NFL. It was partially expected to happen. The sophomore slump isn’t something new, and usually happens to a quarterback or running back that has a breakout year and the opposing defense don’t let that rookie beat them again the following year.

This year, though, he’ll have a healthy Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, a healthy Roddy White and Harry Douglas, and a healthy offensive line, all of which were issues in 2009. The Falcons may be the 2nd best team as of now in the NFC South, but they could end up as the top team in the entire NFC by season’s end.

Make or Break Year for Panthers Personnel
The Carolina front office and coaching staff has been under fire the past few seasons, but .500 or near .500 seasons’ have been just good enough to give them another chance. Although myself and many other reputable sources feel that John Fox is among the league’s top coaches and their front office drafts and signs players that I personally feel are great picks, the Carolina leadership is tired of not winning like the Super Bowl year.

The Panthers have a few weapons on offense, with running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams and receiver Steve Smith. Also, they have one of the leagues best offensive lines. However, Matt Moore is still mostly unproven in my eyes and no other receiver has stepped up all that much either.

Bucs Look to Go Very Young, Developing for the Future
The Bucs had the leagues youngest offensive lines last year, and likely will be competing for that again this year. And on defense, it’s alot of the same of that as well.

As for the position players on offense? 2nd year quarterback Josh Freeman, 2nd year receiver Sammie Stroughter, rookie receiver Mike Williams, and rookie Arrelious Benn. It’s going to be a fun team to watch this year and for the future, but don’t expect much more than 4 wins this year. 

Projected Final Standings:
New Orleans Saints - 12-4
It’s hard to pick against the Super Bowl champs from the previous year, especially when they don’t lose any main pieces. Brees is still the orchestrator of one of the league’s best offenses, and the back seven is among the best in football. It should be still a rough competition in the NFC and with the NFC South minus the Bucs.

Atlanta Falcons – 11-5
Matt Ryan leads one of the leagues most dynamic offenses, with a workhorse running back, and explosive backup, tons of weapons in the passing game, and a still improving offensive line. Plus, the defense is starting to really come together thanks to recent draft picks. It will be tough to pass the Saints, but this team is still built for a deep playoff run.

Carolina Panthers – 8-8
It’s very hard for me to pick against the Panthers because most of their roster consists of players I scouted and liked alot in college. However, with only one solid receiver option right now, an inexpirenced quarterback, and a defense lacking much front line talent, it will be tough for them to do much better than .500.

Tampa Bay Bucs – 4-12
Their youth will hinder any potential playoff hopes, but they still can have a solid season based on their roster. If they can continue to find starters in the draft each year and develop depth on defense and build chemistry with their young offensive weapons, it could be a matter of games than years until this team is ready to compete.

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