Week 1 in the NFC South: What did we learn?

[w280sax]

1) The Falcons looked a LOT better than most people probably thought they would. The pessimist would say they only beat the Lions at home. However, you can't argue that Turner looked great and I would say he and Norwood will be a good combo this year. I think they still will have problems on defense this year and I'm sure Ryan and the passing O will have some challeging moments as well but Ryan played well enough to not lose today and that's probably all they want from him for a while. I still don't think they are a playoff team but they are going to be a challenge for some teams this year.

2) I think the Saints and Bucs are both pretty good. The Bucs have some talent in their running game and defense and Garcia can run a West Coast offense well enough so that their offense will be very efficient (albeit unspectacular) many weeks this season. However, the Bucs defense is young and going to be better this year. The Saints, on the other hand, will score some points. Reggie Bush looked better today than he has at any point in the NFL in my opinion. Brees will be the most consistent QB in the NFC this year and he will be spectacular at times.

3) The Panthers showed they can run the ball as well as they have in 5 years. They got a win against a great team on the road without their best player. If they can get past the Bears and start the season 2-0 without Smith, that would be very impressive. The defense managed to contain LT and with the exception of one big breakdown played well against a big play offense in the Chargers.

All in all, the NFC South came out today and showed that it is back as one of the best divisions in football. I don't expect any national media to notice anytime soon as they will be focusing only on the NFC East but I really feel that the division will not be weak at all like it was last year.

[Kevin Greene]

Turner is for real.
Good thing the Bucs and Aint's played each other or the whole division might be 1-0.

[Davidson Deac]

In Ryan, the Falcons might actually have a Quarterback for the firs time in 10 years.

[jakethoma2]

Originally Posted by w280sax

1) The Falcons looked a LOT better than most people probably thought they would. The pessimist would say they only beat the Lions at home. However, you can't argue that Turner looked great and I would say he and Norwood will be a good combo this year. I think they still will have problems on defense this year and I'm sure Ryan and the passing O will have some challeging moments as well but Ryan played well enough to not lose today and that's probably all they want from him for a while. I still don't think they are a playoff team but they are going to be a challenge for some teams this year.

2) I think the Saints and Bucs are both pretty good. The Bucs have some talent in their running game and defense and Garcia can run a West Coast offense well enough so that their offense will be very efficient (albeit unspectacular) many weeks this season. However, the Bucs defense is young and going to be better this year. The Saints, on the other hand, will score some points. Reggie Bush looked better today than he has at any point in the NFL in my opinion. Brees will be the most consistent QB in the NFC this year and he will be spectacular at times.

3) The Panthers showed they can run the ball as well as they have in 5 years. They got a win against a great team on the road without their best player. If they can get past the Bears and start the season 2-0 without Smith, that would be very impressive. The defense managed to contain LT and with the exception of one big breakdown played well against a big play offense in the Chargers.

All in all, the NFC South came out today and showed that it is back as one of the best divisions in football. I don't expect any national media to notice anytime soon as they will be focusing only on the NFC East but I really feel that the division will not be weak at all like it was last year.

Pretty much agreed with everything you said. The falcons did alot better than I thought the would. I'll have to see how well their running game does with the Buc D next week but I seriously thought they would be lucky to win no more than 3 games this year but who knows.

[chris999999]

Originally Posted by jakethoma2

Pretty much agreed with everything you said. The falcons did alot better than I thought the would. I'll have to see how well their running game does with the Buc D next week but I seriously thought they would be lucky to win no more than 3 games this year but who knows.

Im really tired, and dont feel like looking up their schedule right now, but i would guess that the falcons will win 5 or 6 games this year, with a win or 2 against division opponents. when i saw ryan in preseason, and when they aquired turner, i knew they at least wouldnt be the worst team in the league. i think they will have the 5th or 6th pick in the draft.

[monstercat]

I've been wondering for a while now, if everybody was underestimating the Falcons.

Sure, it was the Lions, but that was pretty impressive.

[Inimicus]

I'm going to take a wait and see on the Falcons. Ive got a sneaking suspicion that once there is a little bit more actual game tape out there on Mike Smith, Ryan, and Turner in that scheme that they might be in for a rude awakening.

Too many times Ive seen something new work for the first couple of weeks of the season only to come crashing down by the midway point.

[Davidson Deac]

Originally Posted by Inimicus

I'm going to take a wait and see on the Falcons. Ive got a sneaking suspicion that once there is a little bit more actual game tape out there on Mike Smith, Ryan, and Turner in that scheme that they might be in for a rude awakening.

Too many times Ive seen something new work for the first couple of weeks of the season only to come crashing down by the midway point.

I have no doubt that defense's will adjust to Ryan and company, and Ryan will still have a rough couple of years. But he certainly seems to have the potential to be a good QB.

[Tank]

Panthers are a lock for the SB?

[ccase39]

All in all, the NFC South came out today and showed that it is back as one of the best divisions in football. I don't expect any national media to notice anytime soon as they will be focusing only on the NFC East but I really feel that the division will not be weak at all like it was last year.[/quote]



When has the NFC South been one of the best divisions in football? Maybe you are thinking of the old NFC west with the Rams 49ers Falcons and Saints. I dont recall the young NFC South ever being considered fierce. Aside from good runs from Atlanta, Tampa, and Carolina, there wasnt much competiton withing the division those years in comparison to other divisions.

I totally agree with your assessment of the South this year though. I think our division will probably rival the East as a powerhouse division this year. I think both the Saints and Panthers can stand toe to toe with any team in the league right now. I dont think Tampa has the offense to compete deep into the playoffs, and Atlanta while having an impressive showing yesterday is still Atlanta.

[Skew]

I knew the Bucs Saints game was going to be close. All NFC South games always are for the most part.

Atlanta surprised me yesterday. I didn't think Ryan could be a top 15 NFL QB, but now I think he may be. But like others said, it was the Lions. If he can do that against a real NFL team, he could be a keeper.

After yesterday's games, I thought it's not going to be easy for anyone to win this division, whomever that may be.

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

Originally Posted by Davidson Deac

In Ryan, the Falcons might actually have a Quarterback for the firs time in 10 years.

I'm pretty sure that in one or two years they WILL have themselves a great QB.

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

1.) Carolina will be a major contender in the division based on Delhomme's much improved health, their running game that will be tough to stop and their HUGE win on the road against one of the toughest teams in the NFL, and perhaps still the best in the AFC.

2.) Atlanta has themselves a QB and RB for the future, which will pay off big time in the next few years. They've officially turned things around in Atlanta no matter what the record is this year.

3.) Tampa Bay - Tough to judge them based on their first game because Garcia and Galloway were rusty. Game 1 showed their defense will still be tough. However, I still think they finish third in the South.

4.) New Orleans - Not ready just yet to say my team's defense is much-improved after only one game. But not allowing any long drives and only conceding two first downs on 12 3rd-down tries is a good performance no matter what. It's also worth mentioning that our offense was out of synch the whole game, allowing Tampa to get the ball 12 times, yet they only scored one offensive TD. Our D outplayed our O. 'Nuff said. Our win in week 1 was huge in that it was in the division and we avoid the 0-4 start that plagued us all of last year.

[Skew]

Originally Posted by N'wahlinsCayenne

1.) Carolina will be a major contender in the division based on Delhomme's much improved health, their running game that will be tough to stop and their HUGE win on the road against one of the toughest teams in the NFL, and perhaps still the best in the AFC.

2.) Atlanta has themselves a QB and RB for the future, which will pay off big time in the next few years. They've officially turned things around in Atlanta no matter what the record is this year.

3.) Tampa Bay - Tough to judge them based on their first game because Garcia and Galloway were rusty. Game 1 their defense will still be tough. However, I still think they finish second in the South.

4.) New Orleans - Not ready just yet to say my team's defense is much-improved after only one game. But not allowing any long drives and only conceding two first downs on 12 3rd-down tries is a good performance no matter what. It's also worth mentioning that our offense was out of synch the whole game, allowing Tampa to get the ball 12 times, yet they only scored one offensive TD. Our D outplayed our O. 'Nuff said. Our win in week 1 was huge in that it was in the division and we avoid the 0-4 start that plagued us all of last year.

pos rep

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

By the way, I just fixed it. I meant to say Tampa will finish third in the South.