The Bible Belt: NFC South Predictions by SteelDrama

NFC South predictions by SteelDrama.

1^st Place:  New Orleans Saints

Things I like:

*Their chances of repeating.

*Sean Payton. He’s a big reason I like the Saints chances to repeat. Paid the difference out of his own salary to sign Greg Williams to be he’s defensive coordinator. How many coaches have such a strong conviction about a coach to do something like that?

*Greg Williams. His signing paid off right about the time Tracy Porter stepped over the goal line to clinch the Saints first ever Super Bowl win.

*Drew Brees. He could’ve opted for Miami as a free agent but he chose New Orleans. He’s now worshipped in that town for both his play on the field and his contributions to the community.

*Offensive line. Despite the loss of Jamal Brown, the line still afforded Brees plenty of time to throw.

*The City of New Orleans. Sure it smells of urine, but it’s about time something good happened there.

Things I don’t like:

*The Defense. Greg Williams a good coach but he has no real standout players to work with. Jon Vilma a quality LB but their top playmaker, Darren Sharper, is 34 and coming off micro-fracture surgery. As long as Brees and the offense continue to put up points, the defense just has to be average.

*The vicodin scandal could be a distraction that a team looking to repeat as champs does not need.

2^nd Place: Atlanta Falcons

Things I like:

*Mike Smith. A no-nonsense defensive minded football coach.

*Matt Ryan. Living in Atlanta, I can tell you there are plenty of places for this kid to find trouble and he hasn’t nor do I think he ever will. Hard working football player that I think wins a ring some day.

*Thomas Dmitrov. Atlanta is not a sports town by any stretch, however what Falcons fans there feel he is the teams’ savior. Dmitrov immediately upgraded Atlanta’s offense by drafting Matt Ryan, signing Michael Turner, and trading for Tony Gonzalez. However, his past 2 drafts have been uninspiring IMO. That said, I think the Falcons are heading in the right direction after having back to back winning seasons for the first time in the history of their franchise.

*Brian Van Gorder. Impressed me as UGA defensive coordinator then followed Mike Smith to the Falcons after being LB’s coach for the Jags. Anyway, He doesn’t yet have a full complement of players to work with. Dunta Robinson a quality signing if he stays healthy. Curtis Lofton and 1st round pick Sean Weatherspoon could be quality duo at LB.

Things I don’t like:

*Mike Mularkey. Falcons have some nice players on offense such as Roddy White, Turner, Gonzalez, and a good OL, however Ryan didn’t have a great sophomore year and the offense struggled to put up a lot of points.

*Jon Abraham. He’s a very lazy player but is in need of some help along the DL.

*Georgia Dome. Went to the Steelers/Falcons game in 2006. Freaking horrible. Like being at a rap concert and a football game broke out. I’m still deaf in my left ear.

*Atlanta. I hate living in this crime ridden, overcrowded shithole…please God send me back to Pittsburgh!

3^rd Place:  Carolina Panthers

Things I like:

*John Fox. Hope he’s not pushed out the door for Cowher. The team’s drop in talent can’t be pinned only on him.

*Ground attack. Fox is steadfast in his commitment to running the football having spent recent #1 draft picks on both of his offensive tackles and both of his RBs in DeAngelo Williams and Jon Stewart.

*Steve Smith. Fierce Competitor on and off the field as evidenced by him punching out teammate Ken Lucas.

Things I don’t like:

*Jimmy Clausen. I have to wonder if ownership stepped in and made this pick. Just doesn’t seem like a John Fox type of player.

*Defense. I don’t blame them for not re-signing Peppers but damn they literally have nothing left on that side of the ball. This unit is why Fox won’t get a new contract possibly clearing the way to bring in Cowher.

*Carolina Highway Patrol. I’ve been ticketed way too many times in both North and South Carolina while driving to Pittsburgh.

4th Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Things I like:

*Not a lot. Josh Freeman rushed into action a little early but the glimpses I caught of this kid he didn’t look awful.

*Good draft. I liked McCoy, Price, and Benn.

Things I don’t:

*Raheem Morris. Look I don’t know if he’s going to be a good head coach or not but somebody needs to teach this guy to speak. “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” is no way to start a sentence.

*I got nothin’. This is one boring ass team to write about. A smathering of decent young talent on this roster, but IMO they’re going to be picking in the top 3 once again.

Bottom line on the NFC South. If the Saints and their coaches aren’t distracted by this vicodin scandal then I see no reason they shouldn’t once again easily win this division. Atlanta should come in 2nd over a depleted Carolina squad and a rebuilding Tampa team.