2009 Panthers & Saints Preview: The Top Of A Crazy Division

NFC SOUTH
1. Carolina Panthers
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: A-
Defense: B
Coaching: B

What’s new: Again, sorry for the infrequent updates, I’m without a computer until almost the beginning of the season. As for the Panthers, other than adding players through the draft, they basically stood pat in the off-season. This group still has a good nucleus, so that shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing.

What’s good: On paper, this team looks like one of the favorites in the NFC (again). They have a two-headed monster at running back and a two-headed monster at receiver. They have two Pro Bowl offensive tackles. The defense is solid throughout, and it has depth. It’s a versatile group. They can blitz all day, or lay back and drop seven, and have success no matter what.

What’s bad: Two things. The first is the two-faced Jake Delhomme. Delhomme has the potential to throw for 300 yards and three scores, or throw 100 yards with three picks. Heck, he could throw for 300 and three in the first half and 100 and three in the second. The 34-year is extremely unpredictable. Despite a great running game, the Panthers always seem to win or lose based on Delhomme’s performance. The second is the psyche of a team that got drubbed in primetime last January against the Cardinals at home. Who knows if they have fully recovered.

What to expect: Once again, I may be overrating the Panthers. I seem to do this every season. I like John Fox, and I like the overall talent and depth on the roster. But like the Chargers in the AFC, the Panthers have become nearly impossible to predict because of their erratic quarterback play. A 10-6 record along with a division crown and a playoff win seems to be the safe bet for Carolina.


2. New Orleans Saints
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: A
Defense: C+
Coaching: B

What’s new: The Saints tinkered with their lineup. Deuce McAllister is gone. Darren Sharper is added. Along with Sharper, Malcolm Jenkins joins New Orleans through the draft to try and shore up a poor secondary. Other than that, the Saints added depth players at certain positions.

What’s good: Most of the offense, which has the potential to be the best in the NFC. Drew Brees comes off an MVP-caliber season. There is no reason to believe Brees will regress much, if at all this season. Marques Colston and Devery Henderson give Brees two great targets (Robert Meachem and Lance Moore are no slouches either). The offensive line is one of the best in the league. On defense, Charles Grant, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis bring plenty of talent to a unit that must improve.

What’s bad: Two years ago, McAllister and Reggie Bush headlined a backfield that was supposedly the scariest in the league. Now McAllister is gone, and Bush has yet to prove anything beyond breaking an occasional screen pass or punt return. And despite all the talent that exists on the defensive side of the ball, the Saints have been consistently bad in the past few seasons when it comes to stopping the opposition.

What to expect: Three seasons ago, the Saints made the NFC Championship. In the past two seasons they’ve been strictly mediocre. We know New Orleans will put up points, so it’s going to come down to the defense. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the Saints defense fail in clutch situations time after time. While I think the unit will be better, I don’t think it will be good enough. New Orleans will be scratching for a wild card berth.