This is the most interesting division in football IMHO this year. Lets start out with the New Orleans Saints. Can their HC and star QB somehow make one final run at greatness. Make no mistake, the window is closing quickly on #9.
***New Orleans Saints***
What I like:
- Their 1st round pick Sheldon Rankins was one of my top overall players in this years draft. Much need reinforcement on their D-line.
- They have been rebuilding that O-line for a couple of years and it's starting to take shape.
- They always seem to find great value in free agency, picking up guys who are blue collar producers. I like the signing of veterans LB Laurinaitis, HB Hightower and FB Kuhn. None are superstars, but these guys help you win games.
- Fleener is the right fit for this system, I predict a fantasy football beast this year.
- Their coaching staff boasts Dan Campbell and Dennis Allen, as well as mainstays like Joe Vitt. Great group of teachers.
- Lets start with their secondary. Vaccaro and Byrd should be the best safety tandem in the game, but the huge money free agent signing of Byrd a few years back has proven to be a mistake. He just can't stay healthy or regain his form when he turned heads in Buffalo.
- Their OLB's are simply weak. The D-line is starting to look like a game changing squad, but without a legitimate outside pass rushing threat from the LB position they will be much less effective.
- The WR corps is a bit weak, but we will see if they shine with Brees as their captain.
***Atlanta Falcons***
What I like:
- The offense is simply stacked across the board.
- They got better with the additions of Alex Mack and Mohamed Sanu.
- They have maybe the best combination of a true franchise QB, true #1 WR and true bell cow RB.
- Their coaching staff is impressive. Bryan Cox and Raheem Morris are two of my fav assistants in the league.
- So much about the defense. It's a bunch of under achievers like Upshaw, Reed, Wheeler. It looks like a 12 year old signed these guys because of their name recognition on his Madden video game. The Freeny move is a perfect example.
- Their last two 1st round picks. Beasley was a bit productive his rookie year, which I did not expect. But I still think he was a reach in the 1st round. Same thing with this years pick Keanu Neal. It was obviously a need pick, and a major reach.
- Quinn needs a few Sherman's and Chancellor's out there. Instead he is stuck with Alford's and Allen's. We shall see if he is the defensive genius he claims to be.
- I hate their TE's. One weak spot of an otherwise imposing offense.
***Tampa Bay Bucs***
What I like:
- They retained Doug Martin. Conventional thinking would have let the RB with durability issues walk once his rookie contract was up. But, as an organization you have drafted well the last few years. Keep that nucleus together!
- Evans is a true #1, and a redzone nightmare.
- Winston showed he has the brain and arm to play in this league in 2015.
- Defense is a top 10 group on my list, at least on paper.
- Not loving the coaching staff. I hated the firing of Lovie. The rookie HC will have growing pains and Mike Smith, their DC, is my least fav assistant coach on the planet.
- They wasted money and a roster spot with Vincent Jackson. He's washed up. Evans desperately needs a bookend to take some of the pressure off of him. Very weak pass catchers.
- The O-line is improving, but it's still a year away.
***Carolina Panthers***
What I like:
- Cam is the man. He's everything you dream of in a franchise QB. Everything.
- The rushing attack is scary.
- Benjamin is back! Worst WR corps in football 2 years ago, now with Brown, Funchess, Ginn and #13 back. Add in Olsen and that's a formidable group of pass catchers.
- My fav back up QB in the league. Anderson is a perfect fit for them. Hopefully he doesn't see the field, but if Cam goes down for a few weeks they will still believe they can win. What a luxury.
- Outstanding front seven, led by Kuechly... my DPOY, every year.
- Secondary lacks a true superstar. They are OK, but the loss of Norman will be felt.
- More about Norman, I think that franchising him and then pulling the tag after most teams spent most of their cap money was very, very shady. It was a disservice to the player and the other teams. That's not the way the tag was intended to be used. And I think Carolina did it on purpose.
- I am concerned about the lingering let down after losing in the big game. They were the most dominate team in football including their MVP QB, and they were thoroughly handled on the biggest stage. Hopefully their tough HC passes that mental toughness on to them.
-Jay Wagner
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