So, with that...
ATLANTA FALCONS
A big question mark for the Falcons this offseason is
whether its offensive line could improve enough for quarterback Matt Ryan (left) to
set the NFC South division on fire with his passing ability. While starting off brilliantly in 2011,
sparking talk of a Super Bowl run, the Falcons’ season ended harshly, with a
24-2 loss to eventual champs the New York Giants in the Wild Card game. Atlanta’s inability to run the ball against
the Giants and the defensive pressure put on Ryan in the game solidified
concerns about the offensive line. Recognizing that the problem wasn't a lack of talent at the so-called "skill" positions (i.e., quarterback, wide receiver, running back), Atlanta spent its first two draft picks this year on linemen and there is an
open competition for at least two spots on the O-line.
Atlanta fans should have breathed a big sigh
of relief watching the offensive line’s performance against the always-threatening
defense of the Baltimore Ravens. Even
though the Falcons lost, Matt Ryan (and backup Curtis Painter) was successful;
Ryan threw for 155 yards and a touchdown and after the game said that he was
never touched by the Ravens. Against Cincinnati last night, the offensive line
has slightly tougher sledding. Keep in
mind, though, that Cincinnati had the seventh best defense in 2011. If his protection holds, look for Ryan to gain
more and more confidence in the pocket—especially as wide receivers Julio Jones
and Roddy White look poised to have great seasons.
NEXT GAME: @ Miami
Dolphins, Friday, August 24th at 7:30 PM ET
CAROLINA PANTHERS
I know I’ve heard this several times in the last few weeks, and
I’ve heard it before: the most progress you’ll
see in a players development is from his rookie year to his second year. On the flip side, you’ll also here talk about
a “sophomore slump.” Nowhere is a player’s
second year anticipated than in Charlotte, North Carolina, where everyone is
anxious to see which direction second-year QB Cam Newton will take in
2012. Newton wowed fans and observers
alike in 2011, setting numerous for an NFL rookie, including most passing yards
for a season (4,051), most passing yards in a single game (432) and first
rookie ever to pass for more than 400
yards in back-to-back games. He didn’t
just excel at throwing the ball, either:
Newton also set a record for most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback
(706) and most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (14). All eyes will be on Newton early in the
season, but a trio of top-tier running backs in DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan
Stewart and new acquisition Mike Tolbert will take some of the pressure of his
young shoulders.
NEXT GAME: vs. Miami
Dolphins, tonight at 8:00 PM ET
Bountygate. If there’s
ever a story that has held the fate of a team in its grips, it’s
Bountygate. Not only does the cash-for-hits
scandal directly impact the players and coaches who have received multi-game (and,
in the case of head coach Sean Payton and defensive leader Jonathan Vilma,
season-long) suspensions, but it has a ripple effect that cascades throughout
the organization. Interim head coach Joe
Vitt (left) will have to serve his own six-game suspension for his part in the
scandal, so the team actually needs to name an interim Interim Head Coach for that period of time. 
Quarterback Drew Brees (above), riding a wave of swagger in the wake
of his record-breaking new contract, has donned the mantle of Saints’ public
face, right along with flaunting the big chip that is on the team’s collective
shoulder. Brees and his teammates are
angry about his colleagues’ suspensions, and he hasn’t been shy about
expressing that anger, particularly in his recent sit-down with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. He told King that NFL players don’t trust NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell: that the
perception among players is that Goodell has reached conclusions about a player’s
conduct before an investigation has been completed. Again, having just inked a $100 million deal,
Brees shouldn’t have too much to fear for speaking his mind.
So, how will this us-against-the-world attitude translate to
the playing field? To borrow from Nietzsche,
whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and for a squad that’s already
pretty strong—stacked with talent at most positions and coming off a 13-3
record in 2011—the rest of the NFL, and particularly the other teams of the NFC South,
should be nervous.
NEXT GAME: vs.
Jacksonville Jaguars, tonight at
8:00 PM ET
TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS
Everyone had such high hopes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
last year: they had an impressive 10-6
season in 2010, but followed up with a horrendous 4-12 record in 2011. Replacing the fired Raheem Morris is new head
coach Greg Schiano (right), who is already getting kudos from his players over his coaching style , which is apparently more disciplined and structured compared to
Morris. Schiano (hired from Rutgers University) favors a rushing
offense, which should take some pressure off of beleaguered quarterback Josh
Freeman. Expectations were high for Freeman after his
impressive performance in 2010: a 61.4% completion percentage; 3,451 for 25
touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Unfortunately, while his yardage total and completion percentage were up
in 2011 (3,592 and 62.8%), he threw more interceptions than touchdowns—22 INTs
for 16 TDs. Needless to say, greater
things were anticipated for Freeman in his third year. Now, fans and media want to know if Freeman
can come back from the cold disappointment of 2011 and whether Greg Schiano is
the mentor this still-young quarterback has been looking for.
Aside from a greater focus on the running game, another
release valve for Freeman should be in the form of veteran wide receiver
Vincent Jackson, who was signed to a 5-year, $55 million contract early in the
offseason. Jackson is an eight-year
veteran who has been to two Pro Bowls and has had three 1,000-yard
seasons. Hopefully, Jackson will bring
some stability to the team’s No. 1 wide receiver position, which is something
that has been lacking lately.
Another interesting—and late-breaking—development for the
Bucs offense is that they are one of the teams interested in signing Jeff
Demps, member of the USA’s silver-winning 4x100-meter relay team in the London
Games. Demps (right, with relay teammate Justin Gatlin, left), is a former running back from
the University of Florida. He announced in January that he was sidelining his
football career to focus on track. Now
that he’s back from London, he has decided to return to football and,
reportedly, is being pursued by Tampa Bay and a few other teams.*
NEXT GAME: vs.
Tennessee Titans, tonight at 7:30 PM
ET
*Football players
turned Olympians aren’t all that uncommon.
Click here and here to read the stories of
some NFL stars who did just that.
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