NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasqu...n/1575863.html



By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


When they reapportioned the NFL in 2002, parsing the league into eight pie pieces as the key element in realignment, observers perused the quartet of franchises in the NFC South and summarily declared the division the Tampa Bay Bucs' uncontested fiefdom.

It was, the pundits insisted, a division featuring one powerhouse and three paupers, one in which the Bucs would forever be supreme. To the eyes of most beholders, the NFC South was the equivalent of an antebellum mansion relocated into a trailer park. It was alleged to be, at least on paper, one team's treasure trove nestled in the middle of three landfills.

OK, so credit the experts for getting it half-right, with the Bucs winning the NFC South by three games, the second widest margin in any division, and then proceeding to secure the franchise's first Super Bowl championship under the wily stewardship of Jon Gruden. But what was supposed to have been a stroll along the beach for the Bucs, expected to run roughshod over their NFC South brethren, was more a swim through a shark tank.

"If anything, the competition in our division really (steeled) us for everything else, to tell the truth," said Tampa Bay defensive end Greg Spires in the wake of the post-Super Bowl celebration. "Everybody thought we were just going to walk over the other (NFC South) teams. But those are good teams, man, and nothing came easy."

Indeed, a division that was purported to be one of the NFL's weakest links turned in a pretty impressive chain of accomplishments, in retrospect.

No division had more aggregate regular-season wins than the 37 victories for which the Bucs, Falcons, Saints and Panthers combined. The division was one of only two in the league that included two teams that each scored over 400 points. The NFC South was the lone division with three teams that surrendered fewer than 20 points per game. And every one of the four teams improved its record over the 2001 campaign.

The NFC South fashioned an estimable 25-14-1 record, a gaudy .638 winning percentage, in games outside the division. And in non-conference matchups, the division fared well, posting a 10-5-1 mark. Further testimony to the mutually destructive competitiveness: The Bucs beat the Falcons twice, but the Falcons beat the Saints twice, and New Orleans bested Tampa Bay in both of their encounters. Carolina's only victory in the division came in the season finale, a win at New Orleans that knocked the Saints out of the playoffs.

Now the scary part: The NFC South, perceived as a "have-not" just a year ago, might be the league's best division in 2003. Certainly there is little reason to believe the advances made in 2002 won't be built upon. And it will not be surprising if the NFC South churns out three playoff teams this year.

While the Bucs have lost a few starters, one of the residuals of winning a championship it seems, the nucleus of the Tampa Bay lineup remains intact and Gruden in his second year possesses an even better feel for his roster now. The Falcons have generated a new level of excitement in their home precinct and nationally as well. New Orleans has taken steps to avoid the treacherous late-season collapses of the past two seasons. And Carolina, still likely one more year away from playoff contention, has a defense that keeps almost every game close and makes the Panthers a nettlesome opponent.

"There aren't any 'gimmes' in the division, I don't think, and that isn't how the outsiders were looking at the NFC South a year ago," said Panthers second-year head coach John Fox. "I think it's a tremendous division. From a geographical standpoint, you have great potential for rivalries, and there's competitiveness on the field. It's a division, where it seems teams are developing some (enmity) for each other, and that makes it interesting. Even with us having the Super Bowl champion in the division, I don't think it's all that lopsided, really. The gap isn't one that can't be overcome."

In fact, from a talent standpoint, the Falcons and Saints may actually have a few more athletic playmakers than do the Bucs and, of course, Atlanta has the league's emerging icon in quarterback Michael Vick. The third-year veteran, whose publicly-stated goal is to find a way to overcome the Tampa Bay defense in 2003, is the man for whom every other franchise in the division must plan.

And in that regard, the copycat component for which the NFL is so notorious has been evident, as everyone else attempts to fashion a Bucs-type defensive unit. The rationale is that NFC South teams are going to have to face Vick twice annually for the next dozen or so seasons, so they better have an antidote, and the Bucs have presented a formula.

The offseason emphasis in New Orleans, for instance, was all about improving overall defensive speed. The Saints could have as many as eight or nine new defensive starters, and coordinator Rick Venturi acknowledged early on that the makeover in large part was a reaction to the presence of Vick in the division.

"We wanted to add speed without sacrificing strength, and we've done that, and should be that much better for it," Venturi said. "Look, your first priority always has to be being competitive in the division. That's the first step, right, and everything else flows from it. To be competitive in this division, I think, you've got to have quickness and speed."

Scrutinize the defensive units of all four NFC South teams and speed might well be the most obvious common denominator. The Panthers use it to get to the quarterback, with 33 of their sacks coming from a very quick defensive line in 2002, and they should be faster in the "back end" this year as well. While the Falcons play a 3-4 front, coordinator Wade Phillips lacks size upfront, and compensates with quickness and disguise. Tampa Bay bases its entire defensive design on running around people rather than through them. The Saints, especially at the two safety spots, will be markedly quicker in '03.

On the offensive side, the Bucs and Panthers rely more on the running game, but Atlanta and New Orleans figure to be explosive. The additions of wide receiver Peerless Price and MarTay Jenkins in Atlanta, the Falcons insist, provide Vick the kind of playmakers that were lacking in his first year as a starter. So much so that the Falcons now harbor very real Super Bowl aspirations, an expectation already shared by some media members, who see Atlanta as a chic pick.

Before any of the NFC South teams start conjuring up Super Bowl visions, however, they would be wise to first eyeball the test that confronts them during the regular season. And to mentally dispel the notion that the division is a birthright willed to Tampa Bay as part of the 2002 entitlement.

This was, for sure, a division exponentially more competitive in 2002 than anyone dared believe it would be. In 2003, it will be tougher, NFC South coaches and players agree.

"You have to respect the Bucs, because they've got the rings, and they deserve it," said New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks. "But I don't see anyone (in the division) who is going to back down from them. Or, for that matter, back down from anybody."

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Now that the bar has been set. I\'d personally like to see 50 years of competitive football, to erase the riducle that each franchise has had to deal with. The stage for success is only big enough for one team at a time. I truly hope everyone in the South gets the chance to experience the thrills of a championship......

Just not right now. :D

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

How many divisions can honestly say its a 4-way toss-up for the title with 1st and 4th probably separated by 2 games?
Maybe the AFC East, but head to head I\'d take the NFC South.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Indeed.

It all makes me nervous. Because if you look at maybe 5 years or less even, down the road. Vick should be in full force. And as history indicates a good QB can go a long way. I\'m just happy to have had the chance and I say that in all honesty.

I JOSH around with BC mostly, but it\'s tough not holding on to our success.

I think the NFC EAST will be interesting; the Eagles time may have passed. The Cowboys, Giants, Eagles and Skins????? Those names go deep into the NFL history. All of those teams value winning.

But I agree; right now the SOUTH is sitting in the Cat Bird seat..... I remember people laughing when the announced the re-alignment. But who\'s laughing now?

The NFC North looks to be the laughing stocks to me. What do you think?

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

I agree with that. The Packers have got another freebie division title this year. They also got one of the easiest schedules overall also.

The South is one tough division, not only outside the division but within.
The Bucs swept the Falcons & Panthers
The Falcons swept the Saints & Panthers
The Saints swept the Bucs

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

The NFC north is a joke. AFC East will be tougher than some think, they too have 4 teams that will vie for the championship. But the NFC South is the top dog.

The Pack is on the way down, while Minnesota is on the way up. I don\'t think the Pack will be able to fend them off this year.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

NFC North:
Packers-One word \"Favre\" , should clinch by week 14
Vikings-Sleeper team on the ascend, will flirt with wildcard
Bears/Lions - Fodder

NFC East:
Philly-Still talented enough to repeat
Giants-Will challenge, but schedule way too tough for 11-5, may be a wildcard
Skins-Sleeper, but need another year
Boys- Need two years but will be scrappy

NFC South:
Bucs- On top of NFL looking down at everybody else, but nervously
Saints- If we had the bucs D, we\'d be on a 3-peat mission
Falcons- Won\'t sneak up on anybody, bucs showed everybody the blueprint (man that hurt to say that). They may regress some considering the speedy defenses they face this year.
Panthers- Tougher team, tougher schedule, will flirt with postseason.

NFC West:
49\'ers-Team in limbo, could go 11-5 or 5-11, but still have talent. Erickson???
Seahawks- Easy schedule, good running game, good WR\'s, great QB when he brings his A-game. May actually win this division if defense improves.
Rams- Old news, about to implode
Zona- \"With the 1st pick in the 2003 draft, Arizona selects Eli Manning\"!

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

we played this game before, didn\'t we?

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

NFC NORTH - I think the Vikings take it; depending on which Bears show up this year. Kordell could give that entire division a shake up, as for as mobility goes.

NFC EAST - I see the Giants and Skins battling for the division. Spurrier has an offensive mind and is it me, but do the Skins have an awful lot of stars on their defense? Cowboys will pull a few upsets as the Eagles will promptly lands after a long off-season fall. Eagles finish in 2nd as one of the teams I anticipate battling it out for the division makes a total collapse.

NFC WEST - Rams are back. (man that hurt to say that.) Rams and 9\'ers will go at it full tilt this year. Seattle fans tire of the failed promises of Holmgren and replace him the next season. Honorable mention: Smith rushes for 726 yards.

NFC SOUTH - Bucs continue to have their critics yet still find ways to win games. Falcons place to much on the shoulders of Vick, he\'s coming but not there yet; Falcons slip to 3rd this year. Saints riding Bucs tight; 12/7/03 game will determine the winner of the South. Panthers still in search of a QB, Davis rushes for 1,000 yards

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

That\'s a fair statement. I\'m mean the guy will keep it real.......when he wants to.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Damn, all that typing... I could have just done \"copy-paste\"
I knew it sounded familiar. I hope I was consistant

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

buc\'n\'up you\'ve gotta be kidding. Kordell and the Bears? The VIKINGS? Skins?

The skins have had \"stars\" on thier defense since deon and didn\'t do anything with it even when they had Marv Lewis leading them.
And \"Their offense is offensive\" as Peyton Manning put it.

The Bears? What Bears? The Bears that played a tough schedule and showed us all that they weren\'t all that great after all? Including spotting the Saints twenty points and losing it in the end? How different are they from last year? Kordell. Wow. He\'s the difference.

The Vikings? One receiver, a questionable line, a good qb and not much of a defense. Oh yeah, the Pack has no chance.

I read these posts between you and my blackandgold bretheren and am always shocked at the lack of understanding that you have for this wonderful game of football.
Your team is currently on top but once this season starts it\'s all brand new. You\'re not champs of this season. The Yucks are champs of last season.

This is the Saints forum, brothers. Step aside and respect the black and gold.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

It seems that every word I type gets placed under the microscope? So off all of the topics to reply to, you had to pick that one, huh? Well, IT\'S ALL GOOD.....

Is a man not entitled to make a comment, regardless to how far fetched someone thinks it may be (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE...)

But, I\'ll overlook your singling-out of me and simply reply in support of my comments:

Kordell and the Bears: Yes, Kordell is coming into a team that NO ONE really knows what to think about when it comes to them. They posted a 13-3 record in 2001; then laid an egg in 2002. I don\'t care about a \"tough schedule\", line-up every down and play ball. Under the circumstances, you\'d think they would return to a level of their 2001 season...... MIX IN ANOTHER SOFT SCHEDULE, and you have the makings for another BEARS in the playoffs.

Vikings: I said this too.... I\'ve watched the Vikings for 26 years, being a part of the Central. Scrap all of that stuff you are mentioning about them out of the window. Tice is earning respect from the players on a daily basis. Basically what I\'m saying is that I think the North is anyone\'s shot.....

Now if this isn\'t a personal attack, then I don\'t know what else would be considered an attack.....

I want to just rip into you, but I\'m trying to change my label as \"obnoxious.\" Yet the natives appear restless at calling me to arms.

Be it as it may; based on your \"shocked\" state of mind and my \"lack\" of understanding, the best thing for us to do is part ways. Meaning, YOU don\'t read my post and I\'ll just? Well, I\'ll just let you be in your shocked state of mind.

And you are not the CHAMPS OF ANY SEASON...... You had to know this reply was coming, right? I\'m SHOCKED at your lack of awareness.......

PS: The YUCKS reference is old and out dated. Got NEW?

Looking around on my monitor, I think I can tell that this is a Saints Forum. And your point would be?????

Give respect to get respect. Come at me again wrong, and I get nasty.......

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Get nasty then. Don\'t talk about it.

Of course I\'m singling you out. You\'re a Buc fan on a Saints site. You\'re obviously looking for attention and have been looking for a war since you signed on.

I think that we both agree that everything discussed here is b.s. Everything is speculative. I honestly don\'t care if any of those teams you mentioned get into the playoffs. What I care about is the Saints. Win or lose.

If you\'ve been a Bucs fan as long as I\'ve been a Saints fan then congradulations. It\'s tough to watch a team for so long go without what you refer to as \"bling-bling\". But why go to a team\'s website other than your own and pop-off? And then get offended when someone pushes you around a little? You asked for it. This is why I attacked you.

Maybe I went too far in defiling your character. We\'re all football fans here. But if you stink up a good forum with that brash junk I get involved. This is the persona that you have created for yourself, whether you\'re behaving (lately) or not.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Perhaps he\'s getting more interaction here than on his own site.

[Edited on 9/7/2003 by BlackandBlue]

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Look Icy,

If you want to flame then go for it, but as you claim to have read my postings, then you would have known that I didn\'t even know of this site had it not been for GatorMan. I\'m not looking for attention, nor am I looking to be singled out. The moment someone like you are presented with an OUT-of-the-BOX-HEY-I\'M-NOT-A-SAINTS-FAN, perspective, then you feel the need to cling to your Saints badge of honor. Then.....

Then when I jab you in your face with a verbal assualt, (ONE THAT I WARNED YOU ABOUT EVEN.....) Then your LOVER in battle attempts to jump in on the topic....

When he/she/it couldn\'t define for me the term HTML, SQL, or PHP..... Yet finds the time to peck away at his keyboard fat-fingering as he/she/it goes to talk about the works of others...... BRILLIANT!

DUH.... No kiddin\' in my gay impression of you: \"THIS IS A SAINTS BOARD\"

I don\'t need props from you..... I\'m standing on mine, chump.


Ask your boy GATORMAN.... Get the fact fool before you get started, it tends to make the transition much more smooth.

Don\'t you dare backpedal now, stand behind what you say. IF you don\'t I\'m sure someone else will slink to your rescue.

You get involved? What you you done to get involved? You are pathetic, lame and weak all rolled up into one. Big Bad ICY has gotten involved........ :heartpump:

Ever heard of the word \"DEFENSE?\" Probably not, being a SAINT FAN, but that\'s what it all boils down to. I\'ve defended myself, from the intial inquiry of my being, yet you are to simple-mind as to think I\'ve come here to sprout off...... Get a clue or get lost. Can you do that for me, huh??? Can you?

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

There, fixed.
That hurt. Talk about \"fat-fingers\"....


[Edited on 9/7/2003 by BlackandBlue]

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Everyone lighten up. I do always have the edit button. DO NOT as ya\'ll put it flame on other members. Dazzle us with brilliance, don\'t baffle us with BS. There is enough BS everywhere on the net to go around. If you want to flame each other swap email addresses and flame away. Just wanting to stop this before it goes to far. LIGHTEN UP.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Look I\'m not sticking up for anyone, BUT BucNup and Batwood have kept everything as clean and honest as anyone can expect.

In my opinion, it\'s ok to say what ever you want, as long as you don\'t take it too personally.

I like hearing from rival fans and I like hearing their perspectives. I have actually learned a few things that I didn\'t know about the Bucs because I don\'t follow them as much as the Saints.

I hope that no one gets their little feelings hurt and if you do, you might want to take a deep look at yourself.

I also know that some members here might not like what I just said, and your more than welcome to hurt my feelings.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

I think the problem is that they came through here with all the grace and charisma of a bucket of buttholes. There has been this underlying theme, which has resulted in negative attitudes across the board. The gloating and the braggadocios behavior, which is fine, except that nearly every conversation results in “nanny nanny boo boo, we got the trophy.� That’s perfectly fine, you guys are the champs until you are knocked off next year. Yeah, we’re sore that you guys won it all and the Saints didn’t. Let me try to relate this to something else. Try walking up to a midget and telling him, “Hey, you’re a midget,� and see what type of response you get. While you are speaking the truth, you have lost credibility in his eyes for speaking it.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Spoken in true BlackandBlue fashion.

It really doesn\'t matter to me but I think some members take it too personally. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion though.

And damn it!!! They are \"little people\" Not midgets!!!

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

They are Vertically challenged, not little people dammit! :D

B&B, I understand what you are saying but after suffering similar horrid pasts and ribbing from every other fan there is NO WAY in Heck you are going to convince me that if the Saints ever win it all you won\'t be doing the same darn thing to us Buc fans, Falcon fans, Ram fans etc. etc.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

For me personally I\'m gonna gloat till my **** falls off!

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn\'t go to a competitor\'s boards and brag. If they came to my turf, then it would be different :D
I, personally, don\'t get upset with something that someone else posts- doesn\'t bother me at all. But, I do understand the frustration that others might be feeling.

NFC south figures to be toughest division in the NFL
 

Wow Buc. I don\'t know whether to coddle you or to laugh at you.

And let me just say that it was genius that you referred to me as a homosexual. What a zinger.

Make no mistake, my bi-polar enemy, I\'m not backpeddaling. It was an attempt to smooth things over before things got too ridiculous. So much for that.
Joesam is right, this board is about the Saints. Not some clown coming in here and starting crap with all the Saints fans.
So rant on if you must. Just be sure that it relates to the New Orleans Saints. Like: The Saints will win the superbowl this year because....

Didn\'t mean to upset you (this is the part where I coddle you). But you\'re going to have to get used to being angry when the Saints are involved. A sweep last year is is only the beggining of the battles to come. We\'re in your heads now.