NFC South & West Preview + Opening Night Preview

Before I get to the Colts and Saints, let's finish off the rest of the teams.

NFC South
New Orleans Saints
They're not gonna be overlooked this year, but the Saints are primed for a big run in a pretty easy division. Drew Brees put up MVP numbers last year, and would've won the award if not for some Manning guy. The combo of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush is almsot unstoppable, and teams had to concentrate on the run so much last year that Marques Colston and Devery Henderson ended up having huge years out of nowhere. Colston has to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, and needs to assert himself as the best receiving target of the non RB variety. The offensive line was young and inexperienced last year, but really jelled as a unit. Look for that to continue this year with Brown, Faine, and Evans. The defense was this team's weak point last year, and that shouldn't really change. They gave up way too many big plays last year. Charles Grant anchors the defensive line along with Will Smith, but the rest of the team were big overachievers last year. There is talent at LB with Fujita and Simoneau, but they won't be able to hold up unless one of them has a big year. McKenzie and David are good corners, but the safeties are also inexperienced. There isn't a point in the schedule where they have a stretch of 3 hard games, but they have a few pockets of back to back hard ones. Carolina and Seattle after the bye, and Philly and Chicago to end the year will be tough but 11-5 should easily win this awful division.

Carolina Panthers
There might be more questions about this team then there are on an SAT, especially on offense. Jake Delhomme is a good leader, but he might make too many mistakes and will be under a lot of pressure and scrutiny with David Carr breathing down his neck like a collecting agency on a deadbeat father. The Panthers are also unsettled at RB, with Foster and Williams competing for the job. It's possible that neither could get into a rhythem, but John Fox will likely play the hot hand especially with his job on the line. Wahle and Gross will make sure that the QB will have time, but Steve Smith is the only proven receiving option. Dwayne Jarrett and Keary Colbert are nice, but not as 2 and 3 WR's. Opposing secondaries will obviously blanket Smith at all times and will force the other weapons to beat them. Julius Peppers is an all world lineman, and Kris Jenkins needs to stay healthy and Mike Rucker has to have a bounce back year for Carolina to even sniff success. Dan Morgan will try to return at LB after a series of concussions, and will mentor the heir apparent first rounder Jon Beason. Lucas and Gamble are good corners, but they'll have 2 new starters at safety and will probably give up big plays at the same rate of their black and gold adversaries, perhaps at an ever greater rate. I think that the Panthers will hang around the playoff race, but they have the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Cowboys in weeks 14-16 and a late season stumble will result in an 8-8 finish.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Jon Gruden has a QB fetish. He likes signing them and keeping them and holding them in his hand. This year's flavor is Jeff Garcia, and Chuckie's job is depending on Garcia. Caddy Williams and Michael Pittman didn't do the job last year, but they hope that there won't be a repetition of that in '07. The line isn't that great except for Davin Joseph and FA signing Luke Petigout. Joey Galloway isn't a number one WR anymore, and Maurice Stovall or Mark Clayton won't get the job done as the number two. There's just a lack of weapons, maybe Gruden should have a WR fetish instead. The defense is still strong, but not so much on the line. Chris Hovan is the only player there with real potential to scare people. Cato June comes down south to form a dynamic LB duo with Derrick Brooks, and Kelly and Barber lead a good secondary. The schedule is tough early with games against Seattle, New Orleans, St Louis, Carolina, and Indianapolis in their first 5. They may start out the season 1-4, and will finish the campaign 6-10. Just not enough firepower, and a trip to the unemployment line for Gruden. Have fun on Madden with your QB's.

Atlanta Falcons
This preview will be Vick free starting......now. Man the Falcons will sure miss ****, but it would not have mattered with this sorry club. I mean **** would have been better then Joey Harrington, but there are no offensive weapons besides for Alge Crumpler. The offensive line will give Joey Harrington a lot of time, and the linemen won't have to run upfield blocking for ****. Joe Horn and Michael Jenkins are not good receivers, and they might be worse then the Vikings WR's. The week one matchup between Atlanta and Minnesota could be the worst compilation of starting wideouts in world history. And please try explaining why Warrick Dunn is starting over the young Jerrious Norwood! Maybe they want to tank for the top pick. The defensive line is quite good with Coleman and Abraham, but they'll really miss Kerney on and off the field. The linebacking is pretty bad besides for Michael Boley, and DeAngelo Hall is the Lassie among a bunch of dogs. And with Lawyer Milloy, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Let's hope this team doesn't fight because they're so bad, then **** would feel left out. 3-13 seems about right for this team.

NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
I like what the 'Hawks have done this offseason. That's why I still think they'll win the West even with the improvements of some other teams. They still have big Walter Jones on the left side to create holes for Shaun Alexander, and Hasselbeck is still a top QB in the NFC. Deion Branch gives the team a vertical threat, and they have multiple options in Hackett, Pollard, and Wallace. Patrick Kerney will really help a young defensive line jell and grow up a bit faster. Tatupu and Peterson is a sick LB combo and will wreak havoc inside the box and out. Trufant and Jennings should hold the fort at CB, but the signings of Deon Grant and Brian Russell at safety really shores up their biggest weakness from last season. Weeks 3-6 and 10-13 are tough, but I think that Seattle will persevere and prevail at 10-6.

St Louis Rams
How do you make a dynamic offense even stronger? By signing Drew Bennett to be your 3rd WR along with Holt and Bruce, you sign a big receiving TE in McMichael, and you have another year of Stephen Jackson. Orlando Pace and co will protect the most underrated QB in the NFL (Marc Bulger) and you've got yourself an Arena Football League offense. Unfortunately, the AFL defense and accessories are included. Little is still a force, but the line is pedestrian with too young Adam Carriker and too old La'Roi Glover. Witherspoon is the only viable LB, and the secondary is made up of a Nickel package. So the Rams will have more shootouts then a Gene Wilder Western, and watch out for games against Arizona, New Orleans, and Cincy for some Texas Rangers like scores if ya know what I mean. This team could surprise, I go with 9-7.

San Francisco 49ers
An improved Niners team is only good for the league. Frank Gore will have another year to hone his skill as a rusher, and Alex Smith will have another year under his belt and weapons to work with. A healthy manimal like Vernon Davis to go over the middle at TE is huge for a young QB,(ask Phil Rivers) and the signing of Darrell Jackson is huge. Larry Allen will anchor the o-line which will be better this season. Bryant Young leads the 3-4, but they might not fare that well in stopping the run. The LB group is young, but could emerge as a very dangerous unit as the season goes by. Manny Lawson, Patrick Willis, and Tully Banta-Cain are just oozing with talent, waiting to put a good hard hit on someone. Nate Clements will do a really good job at locking down the really great receivers in this division, and Walt Harris is still kickin' even at his age. Weeks 2-5 are hard for the 9ers, and I think that they'll live up to their name and go 9-7.

Arizona Cardinals
New head coach Ken Whisenhunt will soon realize that he's coaching the Bengals West without the long history of criminal activity or overall defensive talent. You've got the budding young USC QB in Matt Leinart, the upper echelon RB in Edge, an average offensive line and two world class WR's in Fitzgerald and Boldin. The problem is that their 3-4 defensive line is awful, and the LB's of Berry and Dansby will have to do too much to try to compensate for how bad the line is. And besides for all-pro S Adrian Wilson, the secondary is a joke which will prove costly especially against a team like the Rams. Love the stadium, not the team, more than 6 wins could be an impossible dream. 6-10 is the call.

Saints-Colts Game Preview
Are YOU ready for some football???
Tonight, we'll have a good ol' fashioned barn burner at the RCA Dome, with lots of big plays and dazzling runs. The winner will be decided by turnovers (duh) and whichever team gives up the least amount of big plays. The N'awlins D gave up the most big plays (going 40 yards or longer) in all of football, and didn't make any offseason upgrades and they didn't play the Colts. That will equate to a lot of big plays for Peyton Manning and co. Sean Payton will try to neutralize Joseph Addai and will likely hold him to under 100 yards. On defense, the Colts will try to force Drew Brees to throw, and must avoid letting Reggie Bush get out into the open field at all costs. Bob Sanders needs to show the neccessary leadership with 2 new CB's making the start. Watch out for Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark for the Colts, the Saints defense will be spread way too thin to cover all of their weapons. The spread here for all you betters is 5.5 for the Colts, and they'll cover the spread because the Saints won't be able to cover the Colt receivers. 31-23 Indy will be your final.