Pompei predicts the NFC South

saint5221 · 06-27-2003, 08:49 AM

Dan Pompei
* Email Dan Pompei
* Archived columns An early look at the NFC South

This could be the year that Michael Vick and the Falcons take over this division. They were close last year in Vick's first season as a starter. The Super Bowl champion Bucs will be contenders again despite a tough schedule.

The predicted order of finish:

1. Falcons (10-6). This team has a lot of good, young players, and if the Falcons can figure out how to get past the Bucs, they can win this division.

2. Buccaneers (9-7). The only two things that can prevent the Bucs from improvement are a Super Bowl hangover and injuries. One or the other -- or both -- seems likely to occur.

3. Saints (7-9). Their defense remains suspect, and that's the biggest problem. They also have to show they can avoid a late-season collapse.

4. Panthers (6-10). Not including the expansion Texans, the Panthers had the worst offense in the NFL last season. They've made some improvements, but not enough.

Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at pompei@sportingnews.com.

BlackandBlue · 06-27-2003, 08:54 AM

Another Vick fanboi, and Atlanta is not overly stacked with talent. They have some good players, but not like he is making them out to be.

saint5221 · 06-27-2003, 09:47 AM

A lot of these guy\'s got burned jumping on the bandwagon last year and can\'t see anything else this year. I agree with his points about us but not to the degree that they cost us a winning season. There is a lot more to this team than questions on D and two late collapses. This is a team headed up not down.

BillyCarpenter1 · 06-27-2003, 10:07 AM

The thing about the Saints is our offense should be even better this year. So we\'re going to out score many teams.

If the defense can hold teams to 20 points or less, then it\'s going to tough for any team to be us.

As far as the Falcons go. Vick is a strong runner without a doubt, but has not proven himself as a passer. I think he is going to be out to show he\'s a passer more this year. Which means he\'s going to get into reading defenses more. Plus, the league is more familar with him this year. This could spell a set-back for Vick....

[Edited on 27/6/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

tweeky · 06-27-2003, 10:46 AM

Fine, we do better as underdogs anyway.
But lets look at it realistically.

Last Year:
We were 9-7 last year with a tough overall schedule.
Very young team, young QB, young RB, Young stud WR, young LB\'s and DE\'s.
3 defensive plays from being 12-4

This year:
Offense-Improved and deeper. May have top offense in league, if not at least top 5.
Fewer question marks than about 28 other teams

Defense-Definately improved over last year, arguably improved a lot! The only question mark to me is time to gel and develop chemistry. Similarly the Rams did it fast in 2000, Pats fast in 2001, but Jets overhaul took a few weeks, but look how they finished.
We should have an average to above average defense this year that will get better as the season progresses.

Special Teams-Absolutely the very best in NFL, kicking, punting, kick/punt return and coverage.

So with about the same schedule strength, another year of experience for the young guys and an...
A+ Offense,
B Defense (C+ at worst),
A+ Special Teams

How does anyone come up 7-9?
Try to put down 9 losses on our schedule.
Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face.

BlackandBlue · 06-27-2003, 10:53 AM

Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face.

It happens to every team. The good one\'s get past it and continue to win. The not so good one\'s don\'t.

tweeky · 06-27-2003, 11:06 AM

Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face.

It happens to every team. The good one\'s get past it and continue to win. The not so good one\'s don\'t.

But a preseason prediction cannot take that into account. He has to compare apples to apples.
What if Vick goes down. One stinkin injury and the birds are 6-10.
What if Brad Johnson goes down (last year was the 1st year he didn\'t miss major games), or Derrick Brooks? Two flippin injuries and the bucs are 7-9.

To predict the Saints to go 7-9 doesn\'t make sense, unless you think the Saints will suffer injuries and other teams won\'t. The Saints are also DEEP at almost every position.

That boobonic moron has pissed me off for the whole weekend. I may just have to switch to import beers this weekend to cool my jets.

BillyCarpenter1 · 06-27-2003, 11:11 AM

I agree tweeky

TheChemist · 06-27-2003, 11:17 AM

You make a good argument tweeky. I agree with you 100%.

BlackandBlue · 06-27-2003, 11:25 AM

That boobonic moron has pissed me off for the whole weekend. I may just have to switch to import beers this weekend to cool my jets.

Calm down, now, no need to do anything you might regret.
View this turd as nothing more than another \"journalist\" trying to beat the competition to print on his \"hot sports opinion\". In this field, you can\'t regurgitate something that has already been stated by another, you gotta throw somthing out that is controversial in order to keep your job.

06-27-2003, 08:49 AM	#1
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598	Pompei predicts the NFC South Dan Pompei * Email Dan Pompei * Archived columns An early look at the NFC South This could be the year that Michael Vick and the Falcons take over this division. They were close last year in Vick's first season as a starter. The Super Bowl champion Bucs will be contenders again despite a tough schedule. The predicted order of finish: 1. Falcons (10-6). This team has a lot of good, young players, and if the Falcons can figure out how to get past the Bucs, they can win this division. 2. Buccaneers (9-7). The only two things that can prevent the Bucs from improvement are a Super Bowl hangover and injuries. One or the other -- or both -- seems likely to occur. 3. Saints (7-9). Their defense remains suspect, and that's the biggest problem. They also have to show they can avoid a late-season collapse. 4. Panthers (6-10). Not including the expansion Texans, the Panthers had the worst offense in the NFL last season. They've made some improvements, but not enough. Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at pompei@sportingnews.com.
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598

06-27-2003, 08:54 AM	#2
BlackandBlue Kinder, gentler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,889	Pompei predicts the NFC South Another Vick fanboi, and Atlanta is not overly stacked with talent. They have some good players, but not like he is making them out to be.

06-27-2003, 09:47 AM	#3
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598	Pompei predicts the NFC South A lot of these guy\'s got burned jumping on the bandwagon last year and can\'t see anything else this year. I agree with his points about us but not to the degree that they cost us a winning season. There is a lot more to this team than questions on D and two late collapses. This is a team headed up not down.
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598

06-27-2003, 10:07 AM	#4
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209	Pompei predicts the NFC South The thing about the Saints is our offense should be even better this year. So we\'re going to out score many teams. If the defense can hold teams to 20 points or less, then it\'s going to tough for any team to be us. As far as the Falcons go. Vick is a strong runner without a doubt, but has not proven himself as a passer. I think he is going to be out to show he\'s a passer more this year. Which means he\'s going to get into reading defenses more. Plus, the league is more familar with him this year. This could spell a set-back for Vick.... [Edited on 27/6/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209

06-27-2003, 10:46 AM	#5
tweeky 500th Post Join Date: May 2003 Location: South Alabama Posts: 779	Pompei predicts the NFC South Fine, we do better as underdogs anyway. But lets look at it realistically. Last Year: We were 9-7 last year with a tough overall schedule. Very young team, young QB, young RB, Young stud WR, young LB\'s and DE\'s. 3 defensive plays from being 12-4 This year: Offense-Improved and deeper. May have top offense in league, if not at least top 5. Fewer question marks than about 28 other teams Defense-Definately improved over last year, arguably improved a lot! The only question mark to me is time to gel and develop chemistry. Similarly the Rams did it fast in 2000, Pats fast in 2001, but Jets overhaul took a few weeks, but look how they finished. We should have an average to above average defense this year that will get better as the season progresses. Special Teams-Absolutely the very best in NFL, kicking, punting, kick/punt return and coverage. So with about the same schedule strength, another year of experience for the young guys and an... A+ Offense, B Defense (C+ at worst), A+ Special Teams How does anyone come up 7-9? Try to put down 9 losses on our schedule. Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face.
	Whether we agree or disagree; its all for Him.

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06-27-2003, 10:53 AM	#6
BlackandBlue Kinder, gentler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,889	Pompei predicts the NFC South Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face. It happens to every team. The good one\'s get past it and continue to win. The not so good one\'s don\'t.

06-27-2003, 11:06 AM	#7
tweeky 500th Post Join Date: May 2003 Location: South Alabama Posts: 779	Pompei predicts the NFC South Barring catastrophic injuries, you can\'t with a straight face. It happens to every team. The good one\'s get past it and continue to win. The not so good one\'s don\'t. But a preseason prediction cannot take that into account. He has to compare apples to apples. What if Vick goes down. One stinkin injury and the birds are 6-10. What if Brad Johnson goes down (last year was the 1st year he didn\'t miss major games), or Derrick Brooks? Two flippin injuries and the bucs are 7-9. To predict the Saints to go 7-9 doesn\'t make sense, unless you think the Saints will suffer injuries and other teams won\'t. The Saints are also DEEP at almost every position. That boobonic moron has pissed me off for the whole weekend. I may just have to switch to import beers this weekend to cool my jets.
	Whether we agree or disagree; its all for Him.

06-27-2003, 11:11 AM	#8
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209	Pompei predicts the NFC South I agree tweeky
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209

06-27-2003, 11:17 AM	#9
TheChemist Rookie Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14	Pompei predicts the NFC South You make a good argument tweeky. I agree with you 100%.
TheChemist Rookie Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14

06-27-2003, 11:25 AM	#10
BlackandBlue Kinder, gentler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,889	Pompei predicts the NFC South That boobonic moron has pissed me off for the whole weekend. I may just have to switch to import beers this weekend to cool my jets. Calm down, now, no need to do anything you might regret. View this turd as nothing more than another \"journalist\" trying to beat the competition to print on his \"hot sports opinion\". In this field, you can\'t regurgitate something that has already been stated by another, you gotta throw somthing out that is controversial in order to keep your job.