We are better than last year.

[Paa Langfart]

We might possibly be better than last year, but the other teams practice too, and so far our starting O hasnt shown me dick to get excited about.

[ncbandit]

Shaq was awesome to watch last night... especially that long pass coverage where he broke up the TD. That looks exactly like the type of situation that we brought him in for... a LB/Nickel hybrid.

That play would have been a touchdown last year...

Yeah, that was an impressive play. I also liked the goal line stop. He looks like a force to be reckoned with.

[PhillyB]

nice breakdown. i definitely give our roster a bump. however, some players' roles are weighted higher than others, since they elevate the game of the others around them. KB, demanding bracket coverage and terrifying red zone defensive packages, was one of those guys who made it much easier for everyone else around him to perform. that's why his loss is so much bigger than the loss of one man on an ever-improving squad.

[tiger7_88]

On paper we are better, yes. Unfortunately the game isn't played on paper. I'd say the vast majority of fans believe their team to be better than last year but we all know there will be a couple or a few teams with 2 or 4 wins by the end of the season. My #1 concern is still that goon calling the shots on offense. Maybe he's just being extra vanilla, boring, and unoriginal during pre-season but I've seen enough of him to know he's going to continue holding this offense back. 

Know why Shula is still holding this offense back?

Because that's what the head coach wants. 'Riverboat Ron' is a humorous myth.  The guy is the most risk-averse coach I've ever seen in my life.  And he picked an OC to match.  His philosophy seems to be that if you never take any risks, then you'll never make any mistakes.  Yet his teams that never take risks make mistakes all over the field anyway.  So we get the worst of both worlds.

[KB_fan]

nice breakdown. i definitely give our roster a bump. however, some players' roles are weighted higher than others, since they elevate the game of the others around them. KB, demanding bracket coverage and terrifying red zone defensive packages, was one of those guys who made it much easier for everyone else around him to perform. that's why his loss is so much bigger than the loss of one man on an ever-improving squad.

Really well said about the impact of KB.

[KB_fan]

He actually impressed me the most of anyone last night. Given his very limited training camp, i was glad to see him in action for the first time... and he excelled. 

If Funchess turns out to be a producer for us and Williams can win a starting OT position this could be a very good 2014 draft 

Yeah, Shaq, Funchess, Daryl Williams and CAP are all looking like they have the potential to contribute good things right away.  Mayo still has me shaking my head a bit.  It's not even really about him as a player, just that we are already so stacked at LB he seems like a luxury pick.  But if that's Gettleman's biggest draft mistake, I won't be upset.

Add in some exciting UDFA prospects like Wegher, Ward, Byrd and some of the M's (Miley, Miller, Marlowe... none of whom I've yet studied closely enough to really know if they've got any realistic chance to make the team) and the 2015 rookie class is looking pretty solid.

[Roebling]

It looks like Harper is still in the starting lineup, unfortunately. I have no idea why. 

[UpstatePanther]

I don't expect the NFC South to be as weak

people keep saying this and i just dont get it. 

the Saints imploded

the Falcons have to get used to a new head coach with a lackluster roster

and the Bucs were 2-14 last year with an interception machine for a quarterback. 

 

 

 

i see the division stacking up approximately:

Carolina: 10-6

Atlanta: 8-8

New Orleans: 7-9

Tampa 7-9

I think we will have the division wrapped up by week 16 when we play the Falcons in their place. 

[PantherBoy95]

people keep saying this and i just dont get it. 

the Saints imploded

the Falcons have to get used to a new head coach with a lackluster roster

and the Bucs were 2-14 last year with an interception machine for a quarterback. 

 

 

 

i see the division stacking up approximately:

Carolina: 10-6

Atlanta: 8-8

New Orleans: 7-9

Tampa 7-9

I think we will have the division wrapped up by week 16 when we play the Falcons in their place. 

Honestly I mainly say that with not much transaction evidence.  Just if I had to bet my check on teams being as bad as last year it just doesn't seem possible. I've never seen the south have a year like last.

I think and they've shown it in the preseason that the Falcons will be the main competition. Their defense has gotten better from what I've heard, and they had the biggest steals draft wise.

Tampa has potential for an amazing offense with a pretty decent defense.

Saints have Brees...period. 

Of course I hope you're right but I see a bit more competition. (Technically you still made my point as your predicted records aren't as weak as they were last year.)

[KB_fan]

Saints have Brees...period. 
 

Watched their 1st game and was very impressed by their WR Cooks.  Saw good comments about him from this past weekend too, though I didn't watch that game.  Sounds dangerous.

[UpstatePanther]

(Technically you still made my point as your predicted records aren't as weak as they were last year.)

i noticed that after i posted it. i still think the division as a whole will be weak. not the weakest in the NFL. i dont know enough to say that. but the Falcons are an enigma, the Saints are desperately clawing at every opportunity to slow their already rapid descent into the cellar, and the Bucs (while on the upswing) dont have enough to challenge us this year. 

The Falcons will be our only real challenge this year. their roster is still good enough to make some hay and compete for the division, especially if the Panthers keep battling injuries. But the Saints lost too much talent that isnt going to be filled by second year players and rookies (lets all remember that Loomis is nowhere near the GM that Gettleman is). Atlanta could easily be a major obstacle to our division hopes next year, as could Tampa. It all depends on whether the coaching staffs of those teams can turn talented rosters from bad or mediocre to good. No one knows how Dan Quinn will work out, and Lovie Smith hasnt yet shown that he can make the Bucs take the next step.

i guess what im trying to say is that Atlanta may be on the up or down swing, there is no way to know. the Bucs will be better, but not good enough to compete. and the Saints will look like trash this year while Brees saves their asses.

[GRWatcher]

No matter how they play any other team, division rivals are always tough games. They play harder & we play harder. They can't be counted as possible easy wins & they are always hard losses. So I never, ever count any division rival as totally out of contention. Not until the math shows otherwise.

Yes, we are a better team overall this year. Let's see it all put together which leads to winning the division again.

[the butch]

Sure, we may have improved.  Last year saw a lot of stop-gap players due to Steve and DWill's contract hits.  We are now better positioned for long-term success with permanent players in place.  That said, the question isn't, "how much did you improve"; rather, it's, "how much more did you improve than the other 3 teams in your division?"