The NFC South has always been an interesting division. Since the division realignment began in 2002, the team that has finished last in the division has gone on to win the division the following year in 5 of 7 seasons that the NFC South has existed. How does something that inconceivable happen so often? Many factors are involved. Things such as coaching changes, free agency, and the draft all contribute to a team being great one year and being horrible the next. Parity in the NFL is what makes it so great. In a division where no team finished below .500, it seems like the race will be a lot tighter in 2009. Let’s take a look at what each team in the NFC South did in the 2009 Draft.
Carolina Panthers (Finished: 12-4, NFC South Division Champions)
The Panthers had an amazing regular season. The emergence of rookie running back Jonathon Stewart awakened a two-headed monster in the backfield along with DeAngelo Williams. What followed a great regular season was one of the worst playoff performances ever by a quarterback. Jake Delhomme threw 5 interceptions in the team’s loss to the eventual conference champion Arizona Cardinals. Delhomme was likely haunted by that game, but 2009 is the time for a fresh start. The team didn’t have a 1st round pick in this year’s draft, but two 2nd round picks allowed them to improve their defense.
In an effort to plug a legitimate pass-rusher opposite of All-Pro Julius Peppers, the Panthers traded up in the 2nd round to take defensive end Everette Brown out of Florida State. Brown was considered by many to be a top-15 pick but somehow slid all the way down to the 43rd overall pick. Brown has a quick first step and gets to the quarterback consistently. The Panthers are slowly rebuilding that once feared defensive line.
Sixteen picks later, the Panthers selected safety Sherrod Martin out of Troy. Martin is an athletic and versatile defender with corner-like skills. He should see the field in his rookie year. The Panthers also drafted fullback Tony Fiammetta out of Syracuse, who many believed was the best fullback available in the draft.
The Panthers are a solid franchise. They added a few key pieces that should contribute to an already solid foundation. The running game is there. The defense appears to be improving and now that Julius Peppers has decided to stay with the team that can only mean good things. It’s all on quarterback Jake Delhomme to erase the nightmares of the last game he played. If Delhomme keeps the interceptions to a minimum, there’s no reason to think the Panthers can’t repeat as division champions.
Atlanta Falcons (Finished: 11-5, Lost in the Wild Card Round)
The Falcons surprised everyone last season by making an unexpected run to the playoffs behind a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach. The team was expected to win 5 games at best. Shrewd drafting allowed this team to be successful in 2008. What could Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff do for an encore?
On the eve of the draft, the Falcons made a huge trade to acquire future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs for a second round pick in 2010. Call it what you will, but that’s highway robbery in my opinion. Giving a weapon like Tony Gonzalez to 2nd year quarterback Matt Ryan will only mean more touchdowns for the Falcons. With their first round pick, the Falcons selected defensive tackle Peria Jerry out of Mississippi. As a likely rookie starter, he will be counted on to boost the pass rush that was heavily relied on by John Abraham. Jerry is the “3-technique” tackle that Mike Smith wanted in the middle of his defense.
Without having to worry about drafting a tight end, the Falcons continued to address defensive needs as the draft went on. Safety William Moore out of Missouri was the team’s second round pick. He was a highly rated prospect until injuries derailed him in his senior season. If Moore can get back to his junior year form, then he will become a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the Falcons’ defense.
Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury Jr. out of Richmond may be a sleeper. As a situational player he could turn out to be a valuable contributor by season’s end. He has good athleticism and is a solid pass-rusher off the edge.
The Falcons’ front office should be applauded for engineering such a quick turnaround to a franchise that was left for dead after the Michael Vick debacle. It started last year with the drafting of franchise quarterback Matt Ryan. The offense is in place with Michael Turner becoming a legitimate featured back. The additions to the defense through the draft should produce similar results to last season. The Falcons are a team on the rise.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Finished: 9-7)
After starting 9-3, the Bucs seemed destined for another division crown and playoff run. What happened in the final four games of the season signaled the end of an era in Tampa Bay. Head coach Jon Gruden was fired and most of the team’s big name veterans were released. For a team that seems to be heading into rebuilding mode, new head coach Raheem Morris took an aggressive approach to the Draft.
The Bucs traded away second and fifth round picks to the Browns for tight end Kellen Winslow. Winslow is a great addition, but who would throw him the ball? After releasing Jeff Garcia the team was left with Brian Griese and unproven Luke McCown. Morris decided to pursue quarterback Josh Freeman out of Kansas State. Freeman is a big, deep-ball thrower that Morris covets. Many consider Freeman to be a boom or bust prospect, but there’s no denying his talent and ability. He was worthy of taking a flier on with the number 17 pick.
With their 3rd round pick the Bucs selected defensive tackle Roy Miller out of Texas. Miller is a big body that can play over the center to allow the team’s small linebackers to make plays. The team took gambles with the rest of their picks. They failed to address their linebacker needs. It will be interesting to see what Morris can get out of this team. The development of Josh Freeman will be key. The team did acquire veteran Byron Leftwich, but they seem reluctant to hand over the reigns to him. Look for the Bucs to take a dip in the win column in 2009.
New Orleans Saints (Finished: 8-8)
The Saints have never had any problems on the offensive side of the ball. All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees was 16 yards away from breaking Dan Marino’s record for most passing yards in a single season. Even without top receiver Marques Colston for most of the season Brees was able to accomplish that feat. Reggie Bush has a lot to do with that because of his ability to pick up yards after the catch out of the backfield. The Saints didn’t have many picks in this year’s draft so it was imperative that they addressed their defensive issues. One of the reasons Brees was able to throw for so many yards was because his team was always playing from behind. There’s no doubt the defense needed a shot in the arm and that’s exactly what the Saints went after in this year’s draft.
With the 14th overall pick the Saints selected cornerback Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State. Jenkins is talented enough to play corner or safety. His size and height would allow him to be an imposing presence at either position. If he plays to his abilities, then the Saints have finally solved a long-standing issue in their secondary.
The Saints took two defenders from Wake Forest with their next two picks. Safety Chip Vaughn and linebacker Stanley Arnoux will spend most of the season on special teams while they learn their craft. The decision to draft punter Thomas Morstead was an interesting one, but it may help in the field position game.
There’s no doubt the Saints’ defense cost them a spot in the playoffs last season. With only 4 picks in the ’09 draft, the Saints did what they could and filled the spots they needed. Only time will tell if the defense improves enough for this team to make a serious run at the post-season.
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 1:28PM | 
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