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Bucs should be favored in NFC South

Posted Jul 15, 2008 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jul 16, 2008 at 12:53 PM

The Saints appear to be the trendy pick to win the NFC South this fall, but there are real concerns in New Orleans about whether Sean Payton’s club can recapture its magical 2006 form.

An 0-4 start doomed New Orleans to a 7-9 finish last year and the defense was awful, yielding at least 31 points six times. The defense wasn’t very good in 2006 either, but the NFL’s No. 1 offense routinely bailed out the Saints as they reached the NFC title game at Soldier Field.

The Saints have made some significant defensive pickups, signing free agent LB Jonathan Vilma and drafting DT Sedrick Ellis, but the secondary is still lousy. DE Charles Grant, who underperformed last year, is facing legal woes and the retirement of free agent LB Dan Morgan doesn’t help.

Compounding the problem in New Orleans is the uncertainty surrounding RB Deuce McAllister, who was the offensive hammer in ‘06. While flashy Reggie Bush was more exciting, it was McAllister who provided the tough inside yards that opened things up for Bush and WR Marques Colston. McAllister is still recovering from a devastating knee injury that ripped the guts from Payton’s playbook in 2007.

Bush has already proven he is not a stellar No. 1 back, so if McAllister struggles, the burden will be heavy once again for Drew Brees, who led the league with 652 pass attempts. The defection of C Jeff Faine to Tampa hurts up front, where the Saints do an outstanding job protecting Brees.

Payton’s a sharp coach, but the Saints have some huge question marks, particularly on defense.

The Bucs boast the best defense in the division, by far, and Tampa Bay has done a nice job of retooling on the fly. The only returning defensive starters from 2006 are DT Chris Hovan, OLB Derrick Brooks, CB Ronde Barber and S Jermaine Phillips. That’s quite an overhaul in a short period of time for Monte Kiffin’s proud unit.

While the Falcons rebuild under a new coach and GM, Carolina faces a season of desperation.

Coach John Fox and GM Marty Hurney survived a second straight disappointing season and the Panthers gambled in the draft by trading a future No. 1 pick to move up for T Jeff Otah. The Panthers have been a conservative organization, so the draft-day deal illustrates a new sense of urgency in Charlotte.

If QB Jake Delhomme returns fully from elbow surgery, the passing game should improve markedly, but the Panthers still don’t run effectively and a once-feared pass rush has withered away. DE Julius Peppers went AWOL, frustrating owner Jerry Richardson, who had hoped Peppers would embrace a more visible leadership role.

Add it all up and the Bucs have fewer issues than their division peers as they seek to become the first NFC South champion to repeat.

—Ira Kaufman
 

Reader Comments

Por (Joel Young) on July 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Sorry Buc Fans,You can even decide who your Qauterback is,how many do you have 20!,Some pieces that are not being talked about are the additions to the saints Secondary,3 corners that are 6 feet and run 4.3/40’s,and a young free safety who is 6-2,and strong safety that came on at the end of last season with 3 int in the last 3 games alone,and a 6-6 de from jacksonville who runs like an outside linebacker.And a rejuvenated WR Robert Meachem who is 6-2 and runs 4.3,to go with henderson (4.2/40),and WR addrian Arrington 6-3.P.S. We gave up the least sacks in the NFL 2 seasons in a row,there are few more gems you haven’t heard of.Go saints!!! watch out Bucs,OOPs! I mean Ducks.

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Por (todd) on July 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)

First thing, is there is nothing wrong with having 3 QBs that are ready to go when needed thats the smartest move anybody can make. By the way who is your backup QB ? Better hope FaBrees doesn’t get hurt because you have nobody. Second thing, You had the least sacks because of your starting Center !! What was his name ? Faine, Oh thats right we have him now, oh my GOD !! You will not have the least sacks next season. You guys are still living in the past, wake up Idiots !! This is a whole new season. Don’t worry we will be at your house week 1. We will just go ahead and take care of your season then. After the Bucs are done with ya its going to take awhile for ya to couperate after that you’ll start out 0-4 again.

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Por (todd) on July 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)

BigBucFan We are winning this battle !! We can keep going on and on if you like Aints !!

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Por (Aaron Helton) on July 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)

The Saints are going to win the divison barring no major injuries (in my mind) The Saints have a top 5 offense, good O-Line and a up and coming defense not to mention the Saints have a favorable sechdule in 2008. The Bucs however have a slighly tougher sechdule and have a 38 yr old QB starting which some people say wont go all year, but I am not one of them but the Bucs dont have a great offense and that will show this year.

Saints 10-6
Bucs 8-8
Panthers 8-8
Falcons 5-11

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Por (raw_as_fuq) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Joel Young…

Some of what you said is a LIE! You guys did get 3 CBs but the 2 tallest are 5’11. One of the CBs ran a 4.37 which rounds to a 4.4 so none of them run a 4.3. Robert Meachem runs a 4.42 not a 4.3. Devery Henderson runs a 4.43 not a 4.2.

I got the Henderson info at…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2004/draft/players/31957.html

I got the Meachem info at…
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/2007%20Draft/robert_meachem.htm

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Por (raw_as_fuq) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Bucs are going to win the divison and go to the playoffs because we are going to win both games against the Saints. If the Saints get lucky and we split the games we have the tougher schedule. The Saints are going to win the wildcard.

Bucs 10-6.
Saints 10-6.
Panthers 8-8.
Falcons 2-14 or 3-13.

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Por (BigBucFan) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

All I got to say is “Bring it On !!!” Just Bring It. We’ll see what you got in Week 1. You may be better than last year but you got SWEPT. Talk trash now, because you won’t be able to after the game. Saints paid a lot of Money for Vilma. If he is Superman, what has he done lately? He’ll be lucky to make it out of camp without an injury. Grant will be lucky if he doesn’t go to jail. Deuce is a good man, but he’s used up & still hurt. Drew Brees, your 15 minutes of Fame is up. Sorry guys, your going down.

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Por (Thomas J. Benson III) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Big Buc Fan, that’s the best way to end this “Bring it on” is the ONLY way to PROVE why the SAINTS are the national favorite to win the NFC South this year.

All we really needed was a “complimentary” defense to add to our high octane offense and we’re off to the races.

Well we have that and a whole lot more, but I do agree with you.

“Bring it On” is the correct way to end this, therefore good luck, you WILL need it.

I love Faine, and won’t discredit him other than to say that he’s better in the passing game than he is in the running game, but you will find that out soon enough, but he is a good one to have and you should feel lucky to have him.

Bring it on, my friend, Bring it on indeed.

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Por (robert henrt) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Benson you are definitely a DIE HARD idiot.  Our D will suffocate you all.

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Por (Saints are Better) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Buc fans,

Do y’all realize that the Saints ranked number 3 in defending the QB last year???

And that was without Fain… And now we have more guns to put on the O line.

You will be walking your own plank, right after Reggie Bush commandeers your ship…

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Por (todd) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Incase everybody doesn’t know as of this season the format has changed on how you are spoted in the playoffs. Now its whoever has the best 4 records over all will get the first 4 spots. If you win your division it does not gaurantee you one of those 4 spots. But it will gaurantee you at least a wildcard.Has everybody forgot about that? Tough luck Saints your not even going to gualify for a wildcard.
      “GO BUCS”

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Por (todd) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Hey Saint Fans,

All we “The Bucs Fans” are saying is IF YOU ALL WANT SOME !!! COME GET SOME !!!  Don’t forget to bring your sissy knives.lol We will be coming to your house week 1 to give you ALL a BUCS Whoop ##### on ya !!!!!!!!!!!!  All I have to say is they BETTER protect Drew Brees because he is getting PLANTED !!  If he goes down you have nobody.  SEE YA THERE !!!!!

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Por (todd) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Maybe John Wilma can play QB. LOL

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Por (Saints are Better) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Vilma at QB? That would be interesting…
If Garcia goes down, that would be scary for you Buc fans…
If Garcia is the best you got, then I would hate to see your backup. If you had a better QB, Garcia wouldn’t be starting. The Bucs better have a good running game, and good luck with that…
You are right though, if Brees goes down, we will have a backup that is no better than Garcia. Maybe y’all should consider Brett Farve, since our CBs are to short and none threating anyway, right? Brett will be able to take the hits that our D is going to bring, and maybe he can allow more time to pass to give your WRs the chance to burn our CBs.

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Por (todd) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Like I said before we have not 1 but 3 other QBs that are capable of Whooping the Saints #####. That is including our rookie Josh Johnson. As great as our Defense is #2 in the entire NFL possibly #1 this season all we would have to do is keep kicking fieldgoals to take care of those crappy no name Saints. Our special teams even improved this season our rookie Dexter Jackson will give us the ball near the 50 everytime against those crappy no tackleing special teams the Saints have.  34-10 Bucs win !!!

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Por (raw_as_fuq) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Saints are Better, if Garcia goes down we have a good back-up in Luke McCown. How cant you remember McCown he tourched your D in Week 13 remember the long bomb to Galloway.

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Por (BigBucFan) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

It must be selective memory on the Saints part. McCown burned them pretty bad that game, but the MVP was definitely Saints Coach Sean Peyton. One of the ALL Time Stupid, Bonehead, Lifes most embarASSing play calls in NFL History, with the Credit going to Big Gaines Adams for the attack. Vilma will have his name changed to Wilma after the Beatdown he recieves. Before you talk about the Saints’ Ranking, you should look at their Overall Ranking in all areas. Not good. I’ve seen better High School Secondary’s. The worst Linebackers in the NFL next to Atlanta. Many Weak Areas on Defense.

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Por (James Landry) on July 19, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I remember way back in 1976, John Mackay was asked about his teams execution and he thought it was a good idea. My guess is by halftime of the first game, you guys will be begging for the dome security guards to execute your team. You guys are really in trouble this year. Go Saints.

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Por (BigBucFan) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I don’t about all that mess, but I just got home from The Supervillains Concert at the VFW in SRQ, & they totally rocked. As a drummer for over 30 years, its the one thing that keeps me going in the OffSeason. Mary Jane & Jagermeister Ohohoh!!!Florida’s #1 SKA Band. Pete Fountain, eat your heart out. No half fast, just rockin the house. 1 day less to go. Hang in there Landry. Your times a comin. Go Bucs!!!

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Por (ref813) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

James, look at what we’ve got: Tanard Jackson, one of the better safeties around as a rookie, Greg White, a great DE who came from arena, Jovan Haye, a great T who came out of nowhere, Arron Sears, in his 2nd year and should make the Pro Bowl, Donald Penn, a good LG to go with Petitgout, & Sabby Piscitelli, got injured before the season as a rookie last year and Should be a great backup or starter at S. How many great draft picks have the Saints made and how many random players have they come up with? Maybe, you can educate me. I could list a few more, but I’ll see whether you can even approach the list I just made.I would get over the arrogant attitude and realize that we should be good.Quite possibly, we’ll be better than the Saints.

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Por (James Landry) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Hey Ref, you’re supposed to be touting what you guys have got. That’s what fans do. I beleive just as strongly in my team as you believe in yours. I just don’t think it’s in your teams best interests to start off the year in New Orleans. You’d be better off going face the vikings and Adrien Peterson. Like I said earlier, payton won’t hand you the game like he did last year with a stupid play call.

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Por (todd) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I see whats going on now,  You guys don’t want to face the deffending NFC SOUTH Champs the very first game. That is totally understandable now. You don’t want to start off loseing again. Thanks for painting that picture James.
But to bad we will see you at your house week 1
  “GO BUCS”

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Por (James Landry) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Hey Todd, if you read my last statement correctly, I said that it would be in your Bucs best interests to start in Minnesota. I’m defintley looking forward to the but whipping we’re gonna give you guys. But it’ll be even sweeter when we go to your house and do it again.

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Por (BigBucFan) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

James, you need to start sobering up now. Tomorrow is a work day. Put on a pot of coffee and come bak to reality. Any team that plays Minnesota will have their hadns full. The Vikings are head and shoulders bettter than the Saints, even with their Poor QB.

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Por (todd) on July 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)

James,

Don’t worry about our best interest!!
We will see you week 1.
Minnesota would give us a better game then the Crappy No Name Saints.
  “GO BUCS” !!!

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Page 5 of 12 pages

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