A new season of NFL football has arrived with the Bucs looking to win their third title in a row. Their top rival, the Panthers, were highly active in order to stop that from happening...and possibly try to keep the Bucs out of the postseason entirely.
Here's how the NFC South looks to shape up as pre-season begins:
Projected Records:
(Overall ratings in parenthesis where reported)
1. Bucs: 10-6
Defending champs might have it rough(er) this season. The division is stronger and the NFC looks like it's still solid overall. The offensive inconsistency and position battles everywhere may hold this team back. The defense looks as strong as ever, lead by Gibson (99) as always. Drafting Shaquelle Kelly (85) should minimize the departure of Gerron Brown (89)...barring injuries...and CB Chris Cole (93) is coming into his own. WRs Emanuel Jefferson (89) and Juliaus Saunders (91) will present whoever the QB is with two top tier targets while HB Easton Reed (96) is turning into an all-around threat.
2. Panthers: 10-6
The Panthers are locked and loaded, gunning for their rivals as well as a return to the postseason. The Panthers are one of the few teams that are not intimidated by the Bucs' vaunted defense as they have had relatively consistent success, or at least as much as should be expected against such an elite unit. Tate (95) is in his walk year and will look to impress while Khary Thomas (95) is ready to slash and dash. The Panthers also blew the cover off in free agency, with a lot going to skilled defenders, such as LBs Gerron Brown (89), Charlie Morgan (84), and Dewayne Franklin (86), perhaps to (attempt to) match the Bucs with a strong front seven of their own.
3. Saints: 8-8
The Saints are not a horrible team, but they are in the wrong division for having holes. WR Tubbs (90) is a key weapon on offense and TE Jimmy Graham (89) can still get it done in his 13th season. DE P.J. Derise (98) has the makings of a superstar while DT Markeese Wheeler (95) is a feared force in the trenches. However, QB Schaap (87) is prone to inconsistency and underachievement despite his raw tools, and the running game may be non-existent since they allowed long-time workhorse HB Mark Ingram to leave via free agency. Not enough here it would seem to make a real run.
4. Falcons: 6-10
The Falcons are in something of a restructuring period as they look to get younger as the last remnants of the Ryan/White/Turner/Jones era have either moved on via free agency or left the game altogether via retirement. What's here is a collection of solid, or better as in the case of stud WR Odis Haynes (97), young players that are long on athleticism and short on experience and instincts. While you never want to sleep on a good young team, it seems it's not there time to shine...yet.
Bucs Position Battles
There are position battles a-plenty on the offensive side of the ball, while the defense is stable and set.
QB: Jake Stewart (77) or Dylan Braithwaite (82)? That's going to be the #1 question this pre-season. There is a case for either. For Stewart, the Super Bowl ring, of course, as well as picking up 21 TDs. It wasn't pretty much of the time (or at all), but he somehow put a pretty decent season together. Braithwaite has better intangibles and is noted for his comebacks in his college career as well. He has better mechanics, although Stewart is better at reading defenses.
HB: Reed is #1, but Collins (88) might have a threat from Holmes (70) as the team is still looking for a truly natural route runner. Reed (96) manages because of his raw athleticism and determination, but he is not a solid route runner in general and his hands can be questionable in traffic. Holmes seems to be the best of the three as a receiver. That could land him as #2 coming out of pre-season.
FB and WR: All set here. Wells (97) is the FB, no doubt, and Jefferson (88) + Saunders (91) = the starting pair of WR. Wheeler (79) is expected to hang on for another year in the slot position.
TE: Sullivan (91) might face some push from draftee Easton Hayes (85?). A lot will depend on how well Hayes can go up for balls since Sullivan has won the trust of the coaching staff in that regard.
OL: Where to begin? C Carter (97) and LG Pouncy (95) are set. That much is known. It's everything else that's one big mess between former prospects that haven't emerged to new draftees trying to learn the system and win a starting job. Ryan Cradic (80) has a leg up at RG over Brandan Allen (64?) but Terrell Waters (81) is anything but a lock at RT. LT is just outright weak it seems unless Chuckie Davis (71?) can surprise as Lewis (70) and Austin (65) are not really ideal to say the least.
DE: No surprises here. DE Stephen Hosey (95) with LB/DE Murray (90/99) are locks for their usual roles. Likewise for DE Banks (90) and LB/DE Dennis Green (90/97).
DT: Markeese Green (82) and Cody Hunt (82) look to use their immense strength to anchor the center of the line once again.
LOLB: Shaquelle Kelly (84) might be listed as MLB, but he's likely to play on the weak side of the formation. Aldon Smith (79) will likely be a pass rush specialist, perhaps taking the role Gibson discovered for himself in the Nickle Normal set as the 5th rusher. This would allow Gibson to work in coverage with his safety-like awareness in space. Brian Barker (81) is likely to be a special teams player and nothing more, barring injury. His mobility has just collapsed due to injuries.
MLB: As if. Moving on...
ROLB: For now, this isn't a battle. Jamarcus Smith (96) will get another chance to redeem his lackluster performance of last season, though his role might be slightly diminished.
CB: Antonio Cohen (96) and Carlos Cole (91) are the 1-2 punch in the secondary again. Freeman (89), Jones (85), and Young (80) are expected to finish in that order for the Nickle spot, though Jones is a dark horse to take the Nickle slot.
FS: Ahhh....no. Holliday (99), if he can stay healthy, is the man here. Malone (86) proved to be a worthy replacement, however, and has that role again this year. Na'Quan Gordon still needs some seasoning - and he better get it quick or be relegated to KR/
PR duties.
SS: No chance. Chauncey Cohen (99), is the man here, too. However, Domico Mays (79?) may get some action in the 46 as he has tremendous hitting power, giving him a unique advantage among the Bucs' stable of finesse, athletic defensive backs. Domico Mays plays a lot like Taylor Mays used to, like a linebacker with some coverage skills.
K/P: Only thing that could happen here is that Trevor Stephens, the team's drafted punter, has a big downside surprise. Zoltan Mesko is still around, just in case, but it seems unlikely for him to start.
KR/
PR: Branden Smith is the starter here in all likelihood with rookie Tyler Jones getting a shot as #2 KR as the team sends two KR back, ideally both a threat for a big return and Jones, with his noted ball carrier vision and quick feet, could do some damage.
3rd Down HB: Same as the #2 HB spot as both roles are set the same for the Bucs.
07-22-2012, 01:45 PM
