FPC Division Preview: NFC South

The NFC South enters the 2018 season with a host of optimism and expectations. Three of the four teams made the postseason last year, and one was a miracle pass away from an NFC Championship Game appearance. With much of all four rosters still intact, the division again appears to be near the top of the heap. Our FPC NFC South editors take a crack at breaking down one of the more intriguing divisions.

1. Which coach could find themselves on the hot seat by the end of the season? Which coordinator could see his stock rise this season?

It’s not hard to guess which coach will most likely be on the hot seat this year. After all, three teams from the division made the playoffs last year and one only won five games. Dirk Koetter and the Bucs failed to live up to expectations in 2017. If he does the same this season, then it’s hard for me to see him keeping his job. On the other side of the coin, if there’s a coordinator that could really improve his stock this season, it’s Steve Sarkisian. The Falcons’ offensive coordinator had some growing pains last year. If he can get that offense performing like it did in their Super Bowl run, he could find himself as a head coach in 2019.

– J.T. Olson writes for Full Press Coverage and covers the Buccaneers. Follow him @IcewaterOlson and follow @FPC_Buccaneers. 

2. Which team will have the best offense? The best defense?

3. Who will have the best position group on offense? On defense?

Considering new additions, the NFL Draft and off-season acquisitions, you could argue each team got signicantly better. Heading into the start of the 2018 season, the team that will have the best offense in 2018 will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Why? Their weapons.

The Buccaneers have a quarterback’s dream come true with their pass catchers. One of the NFL’s best receivers in Mike Evans and the NFL’s fastest receiver in DeSean Jackson make this offense a top-tiered passing offense. Adding trusty red zone threat Cameron Brate and second-year tight end O.J. Howard, the Bucs will have no problem leading the NFL in passing offense for the second year in a row.

The Saints defensive line looks like a force to be reckoned with. Defensive end Cameron Jordan is having himself one heck of a career so far. A resume of three double-digit sack seasons and 50.5 total sacks makes Jordan one of the most lethal ends in the league. Tackle Sheldon Rankins had a breakout 2017, and could be poised for a star turn this year. And then there is the optimism of younger pass rushers Alex Okafor, Trey Hendrickson and Marcus Davenport and a talented secondary to give the front time to get in the backfield. All told, the Saints’ line rotation brings a lot of excitement, both this year and for the foreseeable future.

– Philip Schwegler is the managing editor for Full Press Buccaneers. Follow him @PhilSchweg and follow @FPC_Buccaneers.

4. Which rookie will have the best season in 2018?

The NFC south is loaded with talent, and the talent pool only got deeper this offseason. While the Saints traded quite a bit to land Marcus Davenport, the other three teams got some help at various positions. This year the NFC south has the opportunity of fielding three playoff teams once again. Before I get into which rookie I think will have the best season, let me clarify something first. The guy selected here isn’t necessarily the guy who I think is the most talented. The choice was made based on who I think is in the best situation to succeed.

That said, my choice is Calvin Ridley. The Atlanta Falcons offense is already scary. Add to that a nearly 1,000-yard receiver from one of the best football school in the nation, and it seems things should go well. Julio Jones is arguably the best receiver in the league and Mohamed Sanu isn’t too shabby either. With all of the attention going to Jones and Sanu, Ridley should find holes in the defense wherever he lines up. Sarkisian is the X-factor here. In the end, he will find a way to get Ridley involved. Ridley is a dynamic player and could hit the NFL like a lightning bolt.

Honorable mention: Vita Vea

Marc Magana is one of two managing editors for the Full Press Coverage Buccaneers. He has been writing about the Bucs for two years now. His tweets can be found @FPC_Buccaneers or on his personal page @Bucsfan02.

The #NFL season is upon us. Who will win the NFC South? @FPCoverage #FPCDivisionPreview #NFL @FPC_Saints @FPC_Falcons @FPC_Buccaneers @FPC_Panthers

— Full Press NFL (@FPC_NFL) September 4, 2018

5. Who is getting too much love? Too little?

Let me put this simply. I don’t believe in the Carolina Panthers. NFL.com and MMQB have predicted the Panthers to finish 11-5 this season. Newton has struggled with consistency throughout his career and this year, the defense looks very weak. While the addition of D.J. Moore on offense should prove beneficial, too much relies on Newton. Like with any team, the quarterback can make or break the season. In their case, which Cam will we see?

On the other side of the ball, there are even bigger questions. The cornerback group of Corn Elder, Donte Jackson, James Bradberry and Captain Munnerlyn doesn’t exactly leave me, or Panthers fans, brimming with hope. The NFC South is home to three of the best receivers in the NFL. It doesn’t get much better at safety with Mike Adams and Da’Norris Searcy as the presumed starters. The linebacking core is elite, but can Luke Kuechly stay healthy? Is age a factor yet with Thomas Davis? For me, there are more questions than answers. I have them finishing the season 5-11, but time will tell.

While the Panthers might be getting too much love, there are a few guys who aren’t getting quite enough love. Takkarist Mckinley is heading into his second year. Last season, he was rotated in as a situational pass rusher and ended up with six sacks on the season. Vic Beasley gets plenty of attention which should open some pass rushing lanes for McKinley. If all goes well, I think he has a shot at a double-digit sack season. Dan Quinn has handled that defense masterfully and McKinley is brimming with potential.

Marc Magana is one of two managing editors for the Full Press Coverage Buccaneers. He has been writing about the Bucs for two years now. His tweets can be found @FPC_Buccaneers or on his personal page @Bucsfan02.

6. Which offseason acquisition (signing or trade) will be the best? The worst?

Tampa Bay made a couple of nice moves to boost their defensive line. Jason Pierre-Paul will have the higher profile, due to his career in New York. However, I believe that Vinny Curry will prove to be one of Tampa’s most valuable players as they look to rebound. Curry flew under the radar as a member of a stacked defensive line in Philadelphia. Still, he managed to amass 47 pressures last year, according to Pro Football Focus. He is a solid run-stopping end who can get to the quarterback regularly and do so on a fairly modest contract. The season has not started yet, but this looks like a hit for the Buccaneers.

As for worst moves, I am going instead with an acquisition that a team did not make. Carolina’s offensive line was an OK group a season ago, but that was when they had All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell. Without him, they have some issues. Ryan Kalil still mans the middle, and Trai Turner is a darn good guard. But the holes at other spots are so glaring that it may offset those guys’ skill. Ultimately, the Panthers could be hurting to protect Cam Newton. And that was before starting left tackle Matt Kalil went on injured reserve. Simply put, the Panthers had to do something to re-solidify the offensive line once Norwell left. Instead, they stood pat, and the offense may suffer immensely because of it.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Vikings and Deputy Editor for Full Press NFL. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @fpc_vikingsFollow @fpc_nfcn

7. Who will be the offensive and defensive MVP of the division?

There is so much talent on both sides of the ball in this division! There are three really good quarterbacks and a fourth who could be there come the end of the season. We also have multiple talented running backs, multiple good wide receivers and a couple of interesting tight ends.

On the offensive side of the ball three of the four quarterbacks could easily win the MVP of the league, let alone the division. Jameis Winston’s suspension makes it hard to really consider him for awards. He can, however, take the next step to be in the discussion next year. If the Buccaneers are to have the MVP it will likely be Mike Evans. The big receiver can dominate when he wants to and if Winston comes back balling; Evans could have a big year. 

For the Panthers, it would be Newton or Christian McCaffrey. Personally, with Newton’s current weapons, I cannot see him being able to put up the numbers to win MVP. However, if he can win the division with the group he has it would also be hard to look beyond him. McCaffrey’s play making ability will always keep him in the discussion and if he can have a big year rushing and receiving then he would be an interesting pick.

The Saints have a number of contenders; Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are the main three. For the Falcons, Matt Ryan is just two years removed from winning league MVP. Whether he can do that again is tough to call with his current offensive coordinator but he has so many amazing offensive weapons. However, my vote for offensive MVP goes to Julio Jones. Jones has the ability to take over any game and dominate; just ask the Panthers. In addition, Jones is coming off a down year and knows there are contract discussions waiting for him at the end of the season. If that is not motivation to light it up I do not know what is.

Defensively, this boils down to the Falcons and Saints. The Falcons have a ton of young talent. Takkarist McKinley could make a huge case as a starter this season, Deion Jones is a really good middle linebacker and they have some interesting pieces in their secondary, including preseason star Damontae Kazee. However, it is the Saints I am going to end with and select from. In particular, it is in their defensive line that the stars lie. First round draft pick Marcus Davenport should make a case to start as the season progresses and could turn that line into a wrecking ball. However, his presence will be the catalyst for Cameron Jordan to continue what he started last year. I think Jordan can top his 13 sacks last season and take the NFC South defensive MVP title.

Offensive MVP: Julio Jones

Defensive MVP: Cameron Jordan

– Ben Rolfe is the managing editor for Full Press Falcons and writes for Full Press MLB. Follow him @benrolfe15 and follow @FPC_Falcons.

8. What will be the best game (assuming standing and importance) within the division in 2018?

Despite this division always having a ton of really important games at crunch time, this is an easy question to answer. The Falcons travel to New Orleans for a night game on Thanksgiving. This game has everything needed for an important game. It is late enough in the season (week 12) to have major importance to the playoff picture. It is between two teams, and two fanbases, who really do not like each other and love nothing more than beating the other.

Plus, it is a prime time game on one of the biggest days in the American calendar. By the opening kick, the eating is over, the arguments are done and all that is left is to watch a slugfest between two good teams. There is every possibility that both teams come into this game still in the hunt for everything: the division, the playoffs, a bye and perhaps even the number one seed. This game could easily be the difference between a team getting to host one, or multiple, playoff games or having to go on the road for the entire playoffs.

The final few weeks of this division are always fun. The Panthers will be must-watch television those three weeks against the Saints and Falcons. However, nothing can top the potential of an all-out Thanksgiving slugfest, that could set the winner up with the chance to make a run for the #1 seed in the NFC.

– Ben Rolfe is the managing editor for Full Press Falcons and writes for Full Press MLB. Follow him @benrolfe15 and follow @FPC_Falcons.