Assessing The NFL Draft: NFC South
It’s a good thing we’re stretching this out over the course because absolutely nothing happened in the world of football over the weekend. It was a minimal amount of NBA playoffs, sports that people pretend to care about in really brief durations (horse racing, boxing) and hockey. To give you an idea of how dominant the NFL is, if their was an exhibition game taking place in Singapore between the Texans and Seahawks, it would have scored a higher Nielsen than every other sporting event this weekend combined.
Today we look at the NFC South, the division with the best overall record in the 2008 season and presumably the one that requires the least amount of help for 2009. But along with the regularity teams have to turn their situation around for the better, they’re just as likely to collapse for no explainable reason. This seems inevitable for at least two teams in the NFC South. Which two? I have no idea. But if I’m putting money on it I’m going with Carolina & Tampa Bay. If this collapse is indeed pending, success in the draft is all the more imperative.
Gonzalez is going to appreciate the change of scenery.
Who they drafted: Uhh, they had eight total picks, seven which were for defense and even the one lone offensive player was a fifth round lineman.
Prognostication: From a fantasy perspective the major acquisition here was Tony Gonazalez, whom they got for a second round draft pick in 2010. He’s going to be able to open up the passing lanes for Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, run block for Turner and Norwood and generally just serve as another body defenses can’t leave unguarded. If all those defensive draft picks improve the other side of the ball and Matt Ryan’s rookie year wasn’t a fluke (unlike Joe Flacco, we don’t think it was), the Falcons and New Orleans should be in a dog fight for divisional supremacy, which means a lot of accumulated fantasy points.
Who they drafted: Understandably they went just about all defense. Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are all perfectly suitable at the skill positions. It wasn’t a good draft to improve at quarterback and they would have been insane to trade up for it. With Julius Peppers constantly rumored to be leaving Charlotte, it was smart to preemptively prepare for that, because a player like that can make or break a defense if you don’t have suitable replacements.
Prognostication: Even though I like them going after defensive players, the defense was good enough last year. The real question is how is Jake Delhomme going to rebound from that dreadful six interception game last season and will his teammates support him, because at least for now they have no other options. I think renewing his contract to a undeserved and unforeseen degree (especially for a thirty-four year old) that the team has no intention of honoring will help, but I still have my doubts. As far as fantasy football goes, this team will be just as productive as last season, but I’m skeptical they’re returning to the playoffs.
Who they drafted: Malcolm Jenkins. The three rounds later they drafted a linebacker and another DB both of who are out of Wake Forest. If you’re wondering what happened to their second and third round picks you are in the wrong place to find out.
Prognostication: The Saints seem to perennially have a weak secondary. They address the issue every year and every year it seems to get worse. In other words, they’re the new New York Giants in that way. Remember that season opener between the Colts and Saints the season after Indy won the Super Bowl? Jason David turned down the contract offer from the Colts, went to New Orleans and Peyton Manning burnt him on three touchdown passes? That has epitomized the Saints secondary for the past four seasons. Jason David is listed as second string now, But I think acquiring Malcolm Jenkins might be the wrench that gets them moving in the other direction. Look for the offense to be just as explosive next season but even more effective because of an improved defense that was completely revamped in 2008.
As per usual, any opportunity that arises, we're going to the Bucs cheerleading squad for our mandatory photos.
Who they drafted: The quarterback out of Kansas State in Josh Freeman, defensive players in the third, fourth and seventh rounds and an offensive tackle from Illinois in the fifth. I believe they gave up the second round pick to either move up to ensure they got the rights to Freeman or in the Kellen Winslow deal.
Prognostication: In short, This team is a fucking mess. I like trading for Winslow especially for how relatively little they had to sacrifice to get one of the best athletes in the league, but they released half their defense from last season, fired their coach and let their much abused Jeff Garcia take off for Oakland to scare the living shit out of JaMarcus Russell. And while I like Freeman for where they drafted him, I really don’t think they needed to trade up to secure the pick (it was two spots) and he is, admittedly, a work in progress that will almost certainly be their starter this season. And if he isn’t, the options are Luke McCown and Brian Griese. If NFL teams were models, the only team Tampa would look good standing next to is Denver. So if you want to draft Michael Clayton or Derrick Ward or Antonio Bryant or Kellen Winslow, just be damn certain their isn’t an option on equal footing in talent but with a more stable situation.
We return tomorrow with our close on the rust belt region: The NFC North.
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