2010 NFL Preview: NFC South

Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Jon Beason (MLB, Carolina)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Dunta Robinson (CB, Atlanta)
Mr. Irrelevant: Derrick Ward (RB, Tampa Bay)

I know the 2010 NFL season has already started, and I have slacked on these posts, but I feel I must finish what I have started.

The NFL seems so wide open to me this season, that I think the New Orleans Saints have just as much of a chance to repeat as chance as any of the top teams have of winning the title. Not much has changed here since last season, aside from losing a few irrelevant guys and free safety extraordinaire Darren Sharper being injured right now. Drew Brees should have no problem completely dominating teams through the air with his spread out, early 2000s New England Patriots-esque receiving corps (led by stud Marques Colston). And, the running game should once again offer a solid backup plan. The defense, while not quite incredible, should once again cause tons of turnovers and score an impressive amount of points. Everybody keeps talking about the Dallas Cowboys, but the Saints are still the class of the NFC.

After coming out of nowhere two years ago to look like one of the best up and coming teams in the entire league, 2009 was an off year for the Atlanta Falcons. I'm not sure it can be entirely blamed on quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner being injured for a few games, but that was definitely part of it. Ryan should easily get back into the groove this year, once again throwing to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, and as long as Michael Turner is healthy, he should run all over everybody and find the end zone 10 to 15 times. Atlanta's defense isn't that great, but cornerback Dunta Robinson was a good pickup, and defensive end John Abraham has had incredible seasons in the past. Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton has become the leader of the D, and a few seasons this could be a formidable unit.

In spite of the loss of Julius Peppers, the Carolina Panthers' defense should still be better than it probably will be. Jon Beason is young and is turning out to be one of the absolute greatest defensive athletes in the game today, and Thomas Davis is improving with each season. It should be pretty interesting to see where the offense goes in 2010. The quarterback situation is virtually in shambles, and if Matt Moore turns out to be shit, which is very possible, rookie Jimmy Clausen will spell him, and supposedly he is NFL ready. Stellar wide receiver Steve Smith is still here, after having pretty much his worst season in 2009, and the running game is tops in the NFL with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart capable of running for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be the worst team in the entire NFL. The only players worth a damn here are tight end Kellen Winslow, linebacker Barrett Ruud and aged cornerback Ronde Barber. Last year's big money pick-up Derrick Ward amounted to absolutely nothing, and there are no proven receivers anywhere on the team aside from Winslow. Cadillac Williams has reclaimed the starting running back spot, but that doesn't mean anything good, necessarily. I will be surprised if the Bucs win even three games.