PRO FOOTBALL FREE AGENCY.COMYear Round Coverage of Player Movement in the NFL
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 FA 2007 in Review: Saints March on as QB Questions Dog Rest of NFC South Used
to be, the pre-season picks of the NFC South ping-ponged among
Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta. After all, the Buccaneers won a Super
Bowl just five years ago. The Panthers have since been to a Super Bowl
and two NFC Championship games and the Falcons have teased the league
with their talent since Michael Vick entered the NFL.
The Saints? Everybody’s afterthought. But after last season's emotional drive to the NFC Championship game, Conventional Wisdom has left the building. The Saints are suddenly everybody’s darlings and a favorite to go to Super Bowl XLII. Can New Orleans build on last year’s magic and play with the confidence of a Conference champion? The Saints started the off-season with home-cooking deals for DE Charles Grant, DT Hollis Thomas, and LB Scott Shanle, along with WR Terrence Copper and the much improved guard, Jon Stinchcomb. 13 players were told to pack a lunch, including WR Joe Horn, K Jon Carney, and G Montrae Holland. With Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Devery Henderson and Marques Holston on offense, the Saints don’t lack for fire-power. Still, they needed a pass catching tight end and got one in Eric Johnson (49ers), giving Brees talented options at every skill position. The biggest off-season issue facing the Saints was shoring up the defensive secondary. They addressed the problem by signing RFA Jason David away from the Colts and S Kevin Kaesviharn from the Bengals. David has brains, speed and enough experience to be trusted on the island. Kaesviharn sometimes wanders out of position, but is an instinctive play-maker. By retaining Fred Thomas and Josh Bullocks, the saints now have talented starters and quality depth behind a steadily improving front seven. They added to the linebackers as well, signing Brian Simmons a 3-down ‘backer who can play the run and the pass. Orlando Mare replaces Carney and should perform more consistently in 2007. Besides kicking indoors at home and in Atlanta, conditions in Tampa Bay and Charlotte are much more kicker friendly than the stadia in New York City, Buffalo, and Foxboro. In fact, the Saints may not play in heavy weather until the final week of the season: a December 30th showdown with the Bears in Chicago, where where home field advantage in the play-offs may be at stake. |
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The storm clouds hovering over Michael Vick’s
head—and his career—grow only darker and more ominous with
the involvement of federal investigators. And the forecast for the
Falcons isn’t much better if Joey Harrington (Dolphins) becomes
their quarterback. Vick’s abilities were wasted in the West Coast Offense. Quick reads, good decisions, and short, accurate passes? Not in Vick’s repertoire. But in Bobby Petrino’s Power Spread Offense, Vick could reclaim his Superman status. A new, smash mouth, running game—behind the heavyweight blocking of new FB Ovie Mughelli (Ravens)-- will force defenses to concentrate on plugging the middle. Down field pass routes better suit Vick’s arm strength and should provide him acres of running room when he needs it. And, in WR Joe Horn, Vick finally has a pair of reliable hands to throw to with confidence. On defense, rookie Jamaal Anderson steps in for Patrick Kerney. If DE John Abraham can stay healthy, the pass rush will be there. LB DeMorio Williams—entering his contract year-- sustained a pectoral injury early in the Spring, but should be ready when the season opens. Lewis Sanders and Marcus Wilkins were signed to help strengthen Special Teams. All may be moot, however, because of Vick’s off field problems. Animal cruelty is abhorrent and inexcusable and will result in a multi-game suspension. But if it is found that Vick was involved in gambling, the league’s reaction will be swift, unforgiving, and possibly permanent. Perennial injuries have affected the Carolina Panthers in many ways. Besides stealing playing time from some of their best players, the offense became overly conservative and predictable. Desperate to make things happen, QB Jake Delhomme forced plays that weren’t there. Special teams, particularly kick coverage, played short-handed and tired as the season wore on. When frustration levels rose, WR Keyshawn Johnson refused to defuse, and was eventually allowed to take his penchant for criticism to Bristol, CT. But the Panthers did not over-react in Free Agency. Instead, they overhauled the coaching staff. Jeff Davidson takes over for Dan Henning, whose power running game lacked a power runner. So the Panthers will switch to more zone blocking to create holes for slasher DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams, an inside running bowling ball with 4.55 speed. They’ll also try to take some of the heat and double coverages off WR Steve Smith by spreading the field with more passes to the running backs and tight ends. Curiously, some Panthers complained that the offense was predictable down to the snap count. Expect the Panthers to hike the ball on “2” more often. If they start hiking it on “3,” expect a sharp increase in false start penalties. If they could somehow merge the physical talents of David Carr (Texans) with the guile and leadership of Delhomme, the Panthers would have an All-Pro quarterback.. Instead, the Panthers will hope that Delhomme returns to form while Carr gets the sideline education never afforded him in Houston. The defense remains the team’s greatest strength, but concerns for its future include a new contract for Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins weight, and Dan Morgan’s history of concussions. Safety is an area of concern this season and will be a bigger one next year when Mike Minter retires. Talented as the Panthers may be, they play older and are aging faster than any other team in the league. A team in transition, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are determined to get younger. In the meantime, they are hoarding quarterbacks. Jeff Garcia, Chris Simms, Luke McCown, and Bruce Gradkowski will report to camp. The Bucs also own the rights to former Bronco Jake Plummer. Simms and Plummer might play in 2007, but not in Tampa. Garcia will try to do for HC Jeff Gruden what none of his quarterbacks have done since Rich Gannon: score points. Garcia is an experienced, mobile QB with an accurate arm. He’ll need better play from the wide receivers to make Gruden’s WCO reach the end zone on a regular basis. Simms, once he fully recovers from surgery will provide depth, but his primary value is in any potential trade that will bring in high draft picks. Plummer claims he is retired, but hasn’t yet filed the paper work. If he stays retired, the Bucs would like to get back a portion of his signing bonus. Should a team with a shot at the play-offs suddenly need a QB, Plummer could return as Trade Bait Option #2. Veteran FB Mike Alstott re-upped for one final years of short yardage carries, while new FB B.J. Askew (Jets) will do the actual blocking. The Bucs are getting younger along the offensive line and they brought in Luke Petitgot to provide experience and QB protection. Jeb Terry and Matt Lehr provide experience and depth. Kevin Carter (Dolphins) can play defensive end and defensive tackle, but , at 34, he won’t play either for much longer. Ryan Simms (Chiefs) will fill in when Carter needs a breather. Trade rumors (“more draft picks, please!”) continue to hover over Simeon Rice, while rookie Gaines Adams prepares to take away his playing time. At linebacker, Cato June (Colts) will play the strong side before taking over for Derrick Brooks. Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly return at cornerback, but the Bucs are one of many teams that will be looking to add safety help in 2008. That is, if they have any draft picks. |
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