Hello and Happy New Year to my readers. Today is the first part of an eight part series reviewing each NFL division, looking at my preseason predictions and how the team eventually ended their respective seasons. Since I'm a Tampa Bay fan (and it's my blog) we'll be starting with the NFC South.
My prediction in September,
NFC South
New Orleans 12-4
Atlanta 7-9
Carolina 7-9
Tampa Bay 3-13
Final standings
New Orleans 13-3
Atlanta 9-7
Carolina 8-8
Tampa Bay 3-13
Atlanta and Carolina both finished up the season strong, winning 3 their last three games in a row. New Orleans hit a wall and dropped the last three. Tampa won 2 of the last three. The odd trend of the team which finished last in the NFC South in one season and finishing first in the next season continued this year. The Saints were 8-8 in 2008 and won the division in 2009. I believe this will be the last year this trend continues, more on that later.
New Orleans. The Saints came out on fire winning the first 13 games in a row. Early in the season, I thought they might be on pace to break the offensive team records of the 2007 Patriots. However, around week 8, injuries hit the defensive side of the ball and the Saints looked vulnerable. The result was two squeaker wins against division opponents, the Falcons and Panthers in weeks 8 and 9, but the Saints perhaps played their best game of the year against the Patriots in week 12.
The addition of defensive coordinator Greg Williams made a substantial difference for the Saints this year, while LB Jonathan Vilma and S Darren Sharper had superb seasons. On the offensive side of the ball, Drew Brees at times looked as if he could throw the ball through the eye of a sewing needle at 40 yards while rolling out to his left. The wide receiver position solidified itself as perhaps the best all around squad in the league, and the running back by committee approach worked for the Saints adequately.
The media is too quick to crown the Cowboys as the team to beat this year in the playoffs. Sean Peyton is one of the best playcallers in the NFL and I stand by my prediction this September of the Saints and Chargers in this years Super Bowl.
Atlanta. For the first time in 44 years, the Atlanta franchise has put together back to back winning seasons. The Falcons were a streaky team this year at one time losing 4 games in a row, then winning 3. Atlanta was a respectable 6-2 at home but a miserable 3-5 on the road. Matt Ryan went down in week 12 with a toe injury and Michael Turner missed multiple games late in the season with a high ankle sprain. There is a good foundation in place for Atlanta to be a strong team for several years to come.
Carolina. There are a few teams who would like to have a do over this season, and Carolina is one of them. Sensing his job might be on the line, John Fox in week 13 named Matt Moore the starting quarterback. Moore responded nicely (85-138 8TD's 2INTS 98.5 rating) and the team won 4 of the final 5 games. Jake Delhomme was the gift who kept on giving to opposing defenses by turning the ball over 20 times in 12 weeks and failing to move the offense. DE Julius Peppers recorded double digit sack totals (10.5) for the sixth time in his 8 year career.
Tampa Bay. My desire to see Raheem Morris replaced as head coach will not be realized this year. I believe the decision has more to with the uncertainty surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the possible lockout in 2011 than anything else. The Bucs are paying Jon Gruden to sit in the Monday Night Football booth and would be on the hook for a salary of a high profile coach as well if there is no football in 2011. So the result Bucs fans, is a 6-10 season in 2010. This franchise has moved back into the dark ages of the 1980's.The Bucs have 5 picks in the first 99 selections in the upcoming draft, and I don't trust the current staff to use them wisely.
Tampa was simply horrible this season. The offense generated a paltry 15.2 points per game. The offensive line, filled with first and second round picks along with the highest paid center in the league, regressed. The three headed running attack of Williams, Ward and Graham, failed to deliver. Mike Clayton, signed to a ridiculous 15 million dollar contract last offseason, failed to deliver once again. The arrogant product from LSU finished the year, 16-230-1TD, and 5 of those catches for 93 yards were in the first game of the season. First round pick, Josh Freeman was inserted as the starter in week 9, after the bye as I had predicted that in September. While Freeman did show an occasional glimpse of potential, he turned the ball over 28 times in 10 games. Carnell Williams did make a remarkable recovery after two knee surgeries and accounted for over 1000 yards from scrimmage and 7 touchdowns. He should be given strong consideration for comeback player of the year in the league.
The defense. The Bucs played defense this year? Actually they finished the season ranked 10th against the pass, and that is due to the emergence of the shutdown corner, Aqib Talib. Talib started the year in trouble with the law for allegedly assaulting a taxicab driver in Tampa, but finished the season with 5 interceptions and showcasing the talent which made him a first round draft choice. Ronde Barber on the other hand, needs to retire. He was showing signs of slowing down in 2008, and this year failed to record an interception for the first time since becoming a starter in 1998. The defensive line only recorded 28 sacks with the leader being Stylez White with 6.5 sacks. Former draft picks Dre and Kyle Moore struggled to make it onto the field all year, sometimes Moore really is less. Tampa's defense was ranked dead last against the run.
Special teams. This was another disaster this season. The Bucs released Matt Bryant in the preseason and gave a large contract to former Jets kicker Mike Nugent. Nugent was gone a few weeks into the season. Tampa concluded this years campaign be using Indianapolis castoff Conner Barth for kicking duties. Kickoff and punt returner Clifton Smith suffered injuries but 2009 seventh round draft choice, Sammie Stroughter returned one for a score. In the final weeks of the season, Micheal Spurlock(the first man to return a kickoff for a touchdown in Tampa Bay history) was signed to return punts and he did just that in the victory over the New Orleans Saints.
There are a few green shoots at One Buc Place after this last year, but I just wonder if the Bucs have the right coaching staff in place to add some Miracle Gro and make this team respectable once again. Good news is, Detroit, Cleveland, Seattle and St Louis all come to RayJay this next season. 6-10 isn't out of the question.
Next up, the NFC North.
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