Cam Newton went through the rookie growing pains this year instead of last year. He'll be just fine. (Credits: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) |
In today's world we are so prone to overreactions because of the ease with which we get sports analysis. Everyone's got something to say about everything (including myself) and we can access everyone's opinion so quickly and so easily that it's not difficult to overreact to your team every single day. Here we'll try to soften overreactions to each NFL team by giving a more level-headed analysis.
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons, 13-3
Overreaction: "We got over the hump of winning a playoff game, next year we'll be in the Super Bowl."
Truth: First of all, I'm not really sure that football works like basketball where dynasties upend other dynasties in such a perfect fashion. Secondly, this team benefitted from a very easy schedule, playing only two playoff teams all season. Their defense wasn't great at all finishing 23rd in pass defense and 21st in rush defense. Offensively they were one dimensional and now they need to fill the hole left in Michael Turner's wake. There's a lot of question marks on this team going forward and one of them still remains Matt Ryan's confidence. As of now he's only a regular season quarterback and the Falcons are only a regular season team. I have hard time seeing that changing especially with the way Green Bay and San Francisco having established themselves in the NFC. P.S. Atlanta was only 3-3 in the NFC South, arguably the most mediocre division in football last year.
Carolina Panthers, 7-9
Overreaction: "Cam Newton is immature, selfish and far from a leader. Last year exposed that thoroughly."
Truth: Killa Cam went through a growth process in his sophomore campaign that many quarterbacks usually go through in their rookie year. Newton was so unbelievable last year that it was unrealistic to really expect him to repeat it. There had to be a point, especially on a weaker Panthers squad, where he'd hit a wall. But he recovered nicely in the Panthers 5-1 finish to the season, throwing 10 TDs to only two picks. I think he'll bounce back in a big way, especially with a young, growing Panthers defense behind him.
New Orleans, 7-9
Overreaction: "We were snakebitten by the bounty scandal, we'll definitely be a playoff team next year."
Truth: While the bounty scandal certainly had an effect on the team, it shouldn't have had made them the worst defensive team in the league and one of the league's most one-dimensional offense. New Orleans must retain Pro Bowl tackle Jermon Bushrod if they want to recreate the spectacular aerial attack they had last year, but they also need major help on defense. Todd McShay has the Saints selecting a versatile DE/OLB in Ezekial Ansah. The team ranked 25th in sacks last year, good call. But don't expect this team to win the NFC South, if they make the playoffs next year they'll have snuck in at 9-7.
Tampa Bay, 7-9
Overreaction: "The talent is all there, time to put it all together and make the playoffs. This division is totally winnable."
Truth: While I do like Josh Freeman, Lavonte David and Michael Bennett, I'm not sure I see this team winning the NFC South. There's enough talent there to make the playoffs, but they must retain Bennett and must add some help in the secondary and on the line in order to sure up a pass defense that ranked 32nd last year. I'm not sure why this team back tracked from the year before, but I'd have to think a major reason is because they let up almost 300 yards per game through the air in a pass heavy division. They could make the playoffs, but they're not going to beat out the regular season stalwart Falcons; it'll be their division for a while.
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