An early look at the NFC South

An early look at the NFC South

Football.com analyst Jeffrey Gearhart takes an early look at the NFC South and weighs in with his opinion on which teams may be contenders for the division crown and which ones could be fighting an uphill battle come September.

ATLANTA- The post-Michael Vick era has officially begun in Atlanta. After signing quarterback Matt Ryan to a six-year deal worth $72 million, the Falcons are trying to improve an image tarnished with the Michael Vick fallout, and the resignation of Bobby Petrino. In order to gain the confidence of his team, Ryan needs to show he can be the leader on the field. Although favored to be the starter, Ryan will have competition from Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and D.J. Shockley in training camp. Running back Michael Turner joins the team and should assume the starting role with the release of Warrick Dunn. Wide receiver Joe Horn is unhappy in Atlanta, and he hasn't been quiet about it. Projected as the fourth receiver on the depth chart, Horn wants a larger role but standing in his way are Roddy White, Laurent Robinson, and rookie Harry Douglas who was drafted in the third round. With the departure of DeAngelo Hall, the door is open for David Irons to step up and take the starting role at cornerback. Free agent CB-S Von Hutchins could also see the starting role go in his favor. No matter which way Atlanta addresses the situation, there will be a lack of experience to fill a big void. Jason Elam is the new placekicker for the Falcons, and is expected to give reliability to the team. Offensive lineman Todd Weiner is questionable to start the season, and Atlanta will rely on cross-training lineman to fill multiple spots if necessary. However things fall, Atlanta is in a rebuilding phase.

CAROLINA- The Panthers have had an active off-season, adding several notable free agents and quite possibly becoming the team to beat in the NFC. Carolina drafted Jonathon Stewart, and barring injuries could start on opening day. The biggest improvement for the Panthers is at receiver. The offseason acquisitions of D.J. Hackett from Seattle and Muhsin Muhammad from Chicago bolster the receiving corps potential. Quarterback Jake Delhomme had ligament-replacement surgery, although he is expected to be at 100 percent for the season. Wanting to re-establish a power ground game, the offensive line has been restocked, led by rookie tackle Jeff Otah who could see immediate playing time. Tackles Travelle Wharton and Jordan Gross both return, while Keydrick Vincent, Milford Brown, Toniu Fonoti, and Geoff Schwartz add to the depth and will hopefully open plenty of holes up front. Defensive tackles Darwin Walker and Ian Scott have been brought in to shore up the line, while new comer Tyler Brayton could slip into the opening at defensive end left by the retired Mike Rucker. Drafted in the third-round, rookie free safety Charles Godfrey is versatile enough to fill in at corner as well. Julius Peppers struggled in 2007 and this year will move to the right defensive end position, where he played in college.

NEW ORLEANS- The Saints defense may be the downfall of the team this year, although they have done what they can to address the needs of the team. With the recent activity of defensive end Charles Grant and his pending manslaughter charge, Grant could be gone for the season. On top of that, the Dan Morgan experiment has failed with the announcement of his retirement. Free agent linebacker Jonathan Vilma is likely to fill in the middle spot. Rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis could make an immediate impact, and defensive end Bobby McCray is a significant addition. Corners Aaron Glen and Randall Gay will add depth for the secondary. New Orleans may need to look at adding a free agent or two at linebacker to the roster for training camp. Veteran quarterback Mark Brunell is a reliable back up for Drew Brees. The backfield for the offense may seem crowded with Duece McAllister, Reggie Bush, Aaron Stecker, and Pierre Thomas all on the roster. McAllister could be questionable, who is recovering from surgeries on both knees, and while Bush is a versatile back the Saints want to keep him in a complementary role if possible. Both Stecker and Thomas could see action depending on the performance of McAllister.

TAMPA BAY- The Buccaneers are committed to improving the running game. Tampa Bay signed fullback BJ Askew to a four year deal locking up a core and versatile player in the backfield. Veteran running back Earnest Graham wants a new deal from the Bucs, but the progress is slow. If they fail to reach a deal, and Graham fails to play, Tampa Bay has Warrick Dunn and Michael Bennett to fill in. Quarterback Jeff Garcia is also in talks for a new contract, but is at the same point as Graham.  Another sign the running game is a priority, is the signing of free agent center Jeff Faine. The Buccaneers could be in trouble at the receiver position. With the signing of troubled Antonio Bryant, drafting second round pick Dexter Jackson, and the injuries of Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and Mark Jones, Tampa must look to free agency for help. If Jeff Garcia doesn't resolve his contract issue, the Bucs have quarterback Brian Griese who was signed as a free agent. The offensive line could have a position battle on its hands as well, between Luke Petitgout and Donald Penn. Rookie corner Aqib Talib is looking to have an exceptional training camp in hopes of claiming the starting role from veteran Phillip Buchanon. Highly unlikely, but Talib will do his best and could see time in the nickel package lining up on the same side as SS Jermaine Phillips. If that happens, it could free up Ronde Barber to be more aggressive leaving Buchanon as the starter.

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