pakowitz

Hundreds of players have already changed teams, but with the draft still to come, every roster remains a work in progress. Scouts Inc. has updated its list of needs for all 32 NFL teams. Here's a breakdown of the NFC South.


Atlanta Falcons
Offensive guard: Kynan Forney has the burst to get into position quickly and Matt Lehr blocks to the whistle on every snap, but neither can be considered a quality starter. Forney doesn't play with enough of a mean streak and has problems anchoring working against bull rushers. Lehr lacks ideal lower-body strength and has had problems staying healthy. In addition, there isn't great depth. Atlanta needs a guard with the size, smarts and athletic ability to step into the starting lineup opposite Lehr, who has been more consistent than Forney.

Offensive tackle: Kevin Shaffer signed with Cleveland and it's unclear who will replace him at this point. One option is 2005 fifth-round pick Frank Omiyale. Omiyale possesses a good blend of lateral mobility and quickness, but doesn't have great power and is raw. Unless he gets stronger and his technique improves substantially, he won't be ready to start. Keeping that in mind, the Falcons need an offensive tackle with the quickness, power and understanding of the game to push Omiyale for the starting job opposite Todd Weiner.



HallCornerback: DeAngelo Hall is already a shutdown corner and should become even more consistent in his third season in the league, but there are questions surrounding his supporting cast. While Jason Webster is an adequate No. 2 when healthy, he played in 15 games last year, has been plagued by injuries in the past and lacks ideal size. Making matters worse, nickel back Kevin Mathis sustained a serious knee injury last year and return specialist Allen Rossum will probably never play a substantial role on defense. The Falcons need a corner who has the cover skills to immediately step into the nickel back role and eventually push Webster for playing time.
Defensive end: Atlanta did well to acquire John Abraham in a three-way trade that involved the Jets and Denver, so this may not appear to be a need. However, the Falcons don't want to overwork the explosive Abraham, so they will look to spell him throughout the game. That means they need to have quality depth and that's not the case right now. Atlanta made Brady Smith a cap casualty and Chauncey Davis struggled last year. While Jonathan Babineaux can line up at end, he didn't fare much better than Davis last year and ideally he lines up inside more this year. The Falcons need a situational run stuffer who can keep Abraham fresh.

Running back: Warrick Dunn is one of the most productive backs in the league and there's a lot to like about T.J. Duckett's blend of power and speed. However, Dunn is 31 years old, and age eventually catches up with everyone. While Duckett has appeared to be the heir apparent on occasion, he is inconsistent and coming off a disappointing season. Atlanta needs to improve depth and add a back who has the natural ability to eventually push for a starting role consequently.

Other possibilities: Wide receiver and outside linebacker



Carolina Panthers
Strongside linebacker: Thomas Davis, a 2005 first-round pick, is expected to step into the starting weakside slot vacated by Will Witherspoon, who signed with St. Louis. However, Carolina also cut Brandon Short, who lined up opposite Witherspoon last year. While Chris Draft is an experienced veteran who provides decent depth, he is inconsistent and doesn't make enough big plays. The Panthers need a linebacker with the instincts, range and power at the point of attack to step into the starting strongside slot as a result.

Tight end: Kris Mangum, Mike Seidman and Michael Gaines are excellent role players. Magnum is an effective in-line blocker, Seidman rarely makes mistakes and Gaines moves well for his size. Unfortunately, there isn't a clear-cut starter among them. Mangum isn't fast enough to stretch the field, Seidman is an overachiever and Gaines hasn't progressed as hoped. Carolina needs a tight end who can hold his own as an in-line blocker and has the speed to make defenses pay when they move eight men into the box to slow the Panthers' ground game.



FosterRunning back: Carolina did well to re-sign DeShaun Foster, who has the burst to turn the corner and the power to pick up yards after contact. However, Foster is coming off a season-ending ankle injury and the Panthers made Stephen Davis a cap casualty. While there is a lot to like about the upside of 2005 second-round pick Eric Shelton, he missed almost all of last year because of a knee injury and how he bounces back remains to be seen. Carolina needs to improve its depth and add a back who can pick up the slack should Foster and/or Shelton miss substantial time.
Offensive tackle: Jordan Gross is an explosive run blocker who flashes the ability to knock defenders off the ball, and a sound pass blocker who can hold his own on an island. Travelle Wharton doesn't control the point of attack as well as Gross, but moves well for his size and almost always finds a way to get the job done. The issue here is depth, as the Panthers would be in trouble if either starter were to miss substantial time with an injury.

Middle linebacker: Dan Morgan is an explosive tackler with great range and always seems to be around the ball at the end of the play. However, his kamikaze style of play has cost him, as he has yet to appear in all 16 games of a season. Though Draft is versatile enough to back Morgan up if, as expected, he doesn't start on the strong side, he is 30 years old and inconsistent as mentioned above. With that in mind, Carolina would be wise to use a second-day pick on a linebacker who has the natural ability to make an immediate impact on special teams and develop into a quality backup.

Other options: Defensive end and free safety



New Orleans Saints
Defensive tackle: Jonathan Sullivan is the prototypical tease. He flashes the ability to control the point of attack, but is too inconsistent and doesn't make nearly enough big plays for someone with his talent. Brian Young has good quickness and Willie Whitehead is a technician who rarely gets caught out of position. However, both have problems holding their ground when teams pound the ball inside. Their inability to clog up the middle is a big reason New Orleans finished last season with one of the most porous run defenses in the league. While free-agent signing Cedric Woodard is an adequate situational run stuffer, Seattle cut him during the preseason and he failed to appear in a game last year. As a result, the Saints need a defensive tackle strong enough at the point of attack to stabilize the interior run defense and quick enough to immediately step into the starting lineup.

Center: The significance of losing LeCharles Bentley to free agency cannot be overstated. Bentley, who signed with Cleveland, is an efficient run blocker and an excellent pass blocker who anchored the offensive line. At this point, Jamar Nesbit is expected to replace him. Nesbit lacks ideal quickness for a center and is a better fit at guard, where he lined up last year. It's also important to note that moving Nesbit effectively weakens depth at guard. Adding a center who has the burst, agility and power to step into the starting lineup would allow Nesbit to move back into a reserve role, where he can provide depth at both center and guard.



McKenzieCornerback: Mike McKenzie is a physical corner who can muscle receivers out of their routes, and Fred Thomas still has quality man-to-man cover skills. However, Thomas turns 33 this year and lacks ideal size for a No. 2. Making matters worse, Fakhir Brown signed with St. Louis, Jason Craft is 30 and Joey Thomas failed to make an impact last year. The Saints need a corner who can immediately step into the nickel back role and eventually push Thomas for playing time.
Outside linebacker: New Orleans signed Scott Fujita and Anthony Simmons. In addition, Colby Bockwoldt exceeded expectations last year. However, this remains a need. Fujita lacks ideal quickness, Bockwoldt is undersized and Simmons, who has problems staying healthy, is coming off a season-ending injury. While James Allen re-signed, a hamstring injury slowed him last year. Further complicating matters, T.J. Slaughter is an unrestricted free agent who isn't expected back and Sedrick Hodge signed with Miami. The Saints need a linebacker who has the tools to make an immediate impact and enough smarts to develop into a quality starter in the near future.

Defensive end: New Orleans has two excellent starters in Charles Grant and Will Smith. Both are strong enough to defend the run and fast enough to rush the passer. However, depth is an issue because Darren Howard signed with Philadelphia and Tony Bryant has been hindered by back problems. While Whitehead is versatile enough to line up at end, the 33-year-old has lost a step with age and offers little as a pass rusher coming off the edge. The Saints need a wave end who improves depth and helps keep the starters fresh.

Other options: Offensive tackle, middle linebacker and tight end




Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offensive tackle: It's somewhat surprising that Kenyatta Walker, whose relationship with the organization has been strained at times, re-signed. However, this remains a need because it's unclear who will start opposite him. Anthony Davis has problems holding his own in pass protection and 35-year-old Todd Steussie is an unrestricted free agent who isn't expected to return at this point. While Tampa Bay has signed restricted free agent Torrin Tucker to a two-year offer sheet, he too is an inconsistent pass blocker. The good news is the Buccaneers believe that 2005 third-round pick Chris Colmer has the tools to develop into a starter. Unfortunately, he may not be ready for another year. With that in mind, Tampa Bay would be wise to add an offensive tackle who has the natural ability to compete with Colmer for the starting left tackle job and improve depth.

Center: While he is a fierce competitor who blocks to the whistle on every snap, John Wade has never had great natural ability and the 31-year-old is on the downside of his career. Making matters worse, he sustained a season-ending knee injury in 2004 and his age amplifies concerns about his ability to stay healthy. The bottom line is he shouldn't be an every-down player at this point, but can be a valuable backup because of his experience and ability to line up at guard as well. As a result, drafting a center who has the range, agility and power to push for immediate playing time would improve the entire interior offensive line.



GallowayWide receiver: Joey Galloway is coming off the most productive season of his career and shows no signs of slowing down. The problem is Michael Clayton didn't enjoy the same success. Injuries slowed Clayton all year and he finished with fewer than half the catches he recorded during his rookie season in 2004. There isn't great depth here either. Ike Hilliard, who re-signed, has lost a step and is strictly a sub-package receiver now. Edell Shepherd and Mark Jones are undersized and it's unlikely either develops into an every-down player. It's important to acknowledge that Clayton could bounce back with a strong year. That being said, the Buccaneers need a receiver with the quickness, hands and quick feet to push him for playing time. In addition, Galloway turns 35 this year and Tampa Bay needs to start grooming a replacement, so drafting a playmaker at receiver should pay off, even if Clayton rebounds.
Defensive end: Simeon Rice and Greg Spires will both be 32 when the regular season opens. That should alarm Tampa Bay fans because of the depth behind the starters. Dewayne White is a high-motor backup who can keep the starters fresh, but lacks bulk and is unlikely he ever develops into an every-down player. Andrew Williams broke his leg in 2004 and failed to appear in a game last year. The Buccaneers need an end who has the skills to spell the starters now and develop into an every-down player in time.

Weakside linebacker: Derrick Brooks is a leader on the field and continues to produce, but he turns 33 this year and isn't as explosive as he was earlier in his career. The Buccaneers signed Jamie Winborn, who'll add some depth, but he's inconsistent and has had problems staying healthy, so there are concerns he will never realize his potential. Tampa Bay needs to improve depth and add a developmental prospect who has the tools to develop into a starter, while contributing on special teams.

Other options: Cornerback and running back

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papz

Good read/find.

spkb25

nice read brother