NFC South Archive: October 2009
Struggling Atlanta CBs face huge test
October, 31, 2009
10/31/09
4:00
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
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| AP Photo/Lynne Sladky | |
| Drew Brees and the Saints will look to exploit Atlanta’s struggling secondary. |
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
On paper, it might be the biggest mismatch of the NFL season.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and his army of receivers, which just might be the deepest stable in the league, vs. Atlanta’s much-maligned secondary.
You could say this one is Goliath going against David again. But that one doesn’t quite fit because David also had a bit of a pass rush to compensate for his lack of size.
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The Falcons simply don’t have a lot going for them in the secondary right now, and that could end up costing them any shot at the NFC South title. At 4-2, they’re already on the verge of playing only for a wild-card spot as they head into the Superdome to play the undefeated Saints on "Monday Night Football."
The Saints have Brees, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and a whole bunch of other guys who can catch the ball all over the field. They’ve also got the tape of last week’s Atlanta loss to Dallas -- a game in which the shortcomings of the Falcons’ secondary were exposed repeatedly.
“They got hit in a couple of pressures when they weren’t able to get to the quarterback so they had receivers with a lot of time to work downfield and the Cowboys did a good job of taking advantage of some of those,’’ Brees said.
That’s just Brees being politically correct, as he always is. But, you have to figure that Brees and coach Sean Payton have spent the week watching the Atlanta-Dallas film and getting more than a little excited about the possibilities. If Tony Romo and Miles Austin can batter the Atlanta secondary, Brees, Colston and company could absolutely shred it.
The Falcons don’t have anything close to a shutdown corner, and two of their top three cornerbacks wouldn’t be among top three cornerbacks on any other team. Although Atlanta coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff have done a great job since taking over a franchise in total disarray, cornerback might be the one spot they’re not better off than they were when they took charge in 2008.
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| Tim Heitman/US Presswire | |
| Dallas’ Miles Austin torched the Falcons for 171 yards and two touchdowns. |
Part of it is bad luck. The Falcons lost veteran cornerback Brian Williams to a season-ending injury. But part of it is that the Falcons largely have ignored this position. That’s been showing up recently and it could be completely exploited by the Saints. If that happens, Dimitroff and Smith have no one to blame but themselves.
They didn’t have a strong stable of cornerbacks last year, but they were able to hide that. They had an entire offseason to get better and they didn’t. They let Domonique Foxworth go in free agency and decided to stick with Chris Houston, Chevis Jackson and Brent Grimes -- and that’s a little scary.
Houston’s the best of the bunch, but he’s a decent No. 2 cornerback being asked to be a shutdown guy. Grimes is athletic, but woefully undersized. Jackson showed some big promise as a rookie, but hasn’t been able to cover anyone this year.
The problems became apparent in the preseason and training camp and that’s why the Falcons went out and signed Williams and traded for Tye Hill at the last minute. Williams was decent before his injury, but Hill hasn’t shown anything to convince the coaching staff to let him on the field.
The Falcons also have rookie Christopher Owens and there are hopes that he could be an impact player down the road. Don’t be surprised if Owens gets some playing time against the Saints because his size might allow him to match up better than Grimes against the New Orleans receivers, but Owens isn’t going to fix all of the problems in one game.
If there is any hope for the Atlanta cornerbacks to at least slow down Brees and the passing game, they’ll have to have help -- lots of it -- and there haven’t been many signs that anyone is ready to come to the rescue.
The Falcons were able to hide their deficiencies in coverage last year mainly by putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That came almost entirely from veteran pass-rush specialist John Abraham, but he’s been relatively quiet this season.
At times in the Dallas game, Abraham was seen dropping into pass coverage, which makes about as much sense as putting Brees in the Wildcat formation. You have to let your best players do what they do best and the Falcons need to let Abraham focus solely on getting to Brees. They also need some help from their other starting defensive end, Kroy Biermann, who started the season fast, but has cooled off recently.
Smith and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder tried to give the pass rush some help against Dallas by blitzing frequently, but that didn’t really work out. The blitzers seldom got close to Romo and he was able to find the weak spots in the secondary.
“You live by the pressure and you die by the pressure,’’ Brees said. “You might make a few plays when you pressure, but you’re leaving yourself open to giving up some big plays. That’s the pros and cons on a pressure defense.’’
Those are the pros and cons facing Smith and VanGorder. They have to generate a pass rush to keep their cornerbacks from being stuck in coverage too long. But Brees and the Saints are pretty good at handling pressure. Brees gets rid of the ball quickly and doesn’t take many sacks.
“I figure, with these guys, they’ve shown to pressure a lot at times and do some things that they haven’t done in the past,’’ Brees said.
Maybe that’s the key for the Falcons. Maybe they need to do something they haven’t done in the past -- like have their cornerbacks actually cover some receivers.
Mailbags for Saints, Falcons coming Sunday
October, 31, 2009
10/31/09
12:40
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Generally, I do an individual post for all four teams on the same day when I do a series of team-by-team mailbags. But this is not an ordinary weekend in the NFC South because the Falcons and Saints are playing on "Monday Night Football" and the Buccaneers have a bye.
That leaves the Panthers as the only team playing Sunday. You’ll notice I’ve already posted mailbags for the Bucs and Panthers. This week -- and this week only -- I’m going to wait to post the mailbags for the Falcons and Saints until Sunday.
I’m about to pack up my kayak and begin making my way across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans and will work on the Atlanta and New Orleans mailbags on the way. Seriously, I’ll be taking a plane, so my computer won’t get wet. But, someday, I’d like to at least try to take the kayak. I don’t think I would make it all the way to New Orleans, but I’d settle for a couple hundred yards off the coast of Clearwater.
Generally, I do an individual post for all four teams on the same day when I do a series of team-by-team mailbags. But this is not an ordinary weekend in the NFC South because the Falcons and Saints are playing on "Monday Night Football" and the Buccaneers have a bye.
That leaves the Panthers as the only team playing Sunday. You’ll notice I’ve already posted mailbags for the Bucs and Panthers. This week -- and this week only -- I’m going to wait to post the mailbags for the Falcons and Saints until Sunday.
I’m about to pack up my kayak and begin making my way across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans and will work on the Atlanta and New Orleans mailbags on the way. Seriously, I’ll be taking a plane, so my computer won’t get wet. But, someday, I’d like to at least try to take the kayak. I don’t think I would make it all the way to New Orleans, but I’d settle for a couple hundred yards off the coast of Clearwater.
Mailbag: Carolina Panthers edition
October, 31, 2009
10/31/09
12:33
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Time for the Carolina Panthers in our series of team-by-team mailbags:
Greg in South Riding, Va., writes: Mr. Yasinskas, thanks for all that you do. Your blog is a 4-5 times a day must for me. You're insights are great and I really like your objectivity. I just read through the transcript of your chat and I must say that you are a much more patient man than I. As a University of South Carolina fan, I am all too familiar with the backup QB craze that is taking hold of many Panthers fans. Some people have a very strong tendency to call for the other guy when the starter struggles, no matter how bad or unproven he may be.
Pat Yasinskas: Greg is referring to the part of Friday’s chat where a lot of Carolina fans were saying Matt Moore should be starting ahead of Jake Delhomme and I told them to be careful what they wish for. Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine any quarterback playing worse than Delhomme has been this year. The easy thing to do is just point to the backup and say he’s the answer to everything that ails the team. I’ve seen this phenomenon many times over the years -- I’ve heard fans screaming for the likes of Casey Weldon, Scott Milanovich and David Carr. They're the greatest thing ever -- until they actually get on the field. I also know there have been a few guys like Kurt Warner, who have come out of nowhere and done great things. Maybe Moore could fall into that category, but the odds are against it. John Fox is trying to win football games and save his job. He’s seen Moore every day in practice and knows what the backup quarterback has better than any of us. If Fox thought Moore had any chance to be better than Delhomme, he’s already be starting.
RJ in Boiling Springs writes: Pat, missed ya by a few on the chat... anyways here’s my question... What do you think the likelihood of Delhomme turning it around v. Arizona? I feel like Jake similar to Smitty has always played with a chip on his shoulder (not for the same reasons) but I think both Fox and Jake see this game that CAN turn the season around, for the team and for Jake. Now let’s say Jake does play well, Panthers win, etc... And Jake continues to do well in 2009 and leads the cats back to a respectable point, not necessarily the post-season but maybe just spoil the undefeated Saints run at perfection and knock off a few heavy weights scheduled late in the year (Giants and Pats)... point being where does that leave Jake for next year? Obviously QB's decline in their mid-30s but with no clear-cut backup and no first round pick, again does that mean another year for Jake? (I personally think that would not be the worst thing)... If he can turn it around of course.
Pat Yasinskas: Wow, there are a lot of big hypothetical situations there. But I’ll play along and say Delhomme turns it around and the Panthers have a respectable finish and Fox stays as the coach. I think Delhomme would stay in that situation. But I think the Panthers would go out and sign or draft a quarterback (probably sign a free agent with some experience because Fox thinks it takes too long to develop rookie quarterbacks). This year has shown the Panthers need to have a viable alternative to Delhomme.
Adam in Chapel Hill writes: Will you please for the love of all things holy please set your colleagues and peers straight on the NFL/Wildcat story. You were covering the Panthers I believe at the time...Dan Henning was the offensive coordinator for the Panthers. They faced the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Weinke was the winning "QB" with 7 pass attempts. Dan Henning of course left the Panthers for the Dolphins next years and suddenly the Dolphins were the spotlight team for bringing this decades old offense back into the league. Trivial, yes. Small market envy, certainly. But please set the record straight.
Pat Yasinskas: Gladly. What Adam told above is a true story. Back at the end of the 2006 season, Delhomme was hurt and the Panthers were playing Weinke and knew they had to get creative to generate some offense. They used DeAngelo Williams out of the Wildcat and it worked very well. I can’t say Dan Henning invented the Wildcat because there have been versions of it throughout history, but he made a lot of people suddenly remember it and he’s used it very well in Miami. One other thing I should point out: In the aftermath of that game against Atlanta, there were some rumblings that it wasn’t Henning’s idea to use the Wildcat. Some people will tell you it was Fox’s idea and that might have been true.
Time for the Carolina Panthers in our series of team-by-team mailbags:
Greg in South Riding, Va., writes: Mr. Yasinskas, thanks for all that you do. Your blog is a 4-5 times a day must for me. You're insights are great and I really like your objectivity. I just read through the transcript of your chat and I must say that you are a much more patient man than I. As a University of South Carolina fan, I am all too familiar with the backup QB craze that is taking hold of many Panthers fans. Some people have a very strong tendency to call for the other guy when the starter struggles, no matter how bad or unproven he may be.
Pat Yasinskas: Greg is referring to the part of Friday’s chat where a lot of Carolina fans were saying Matt Moore should be starting ahead of Jake Delhomme and I told them to be careful what they wish for. Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine any quarterback playing worse than Delhomme has been this year. The easy thing to do is just point to the backup and say he’s the answer to everything that ails the team. I’ve seen this phenomenon many times over the years -- I’ve heard fans screaming for the likes of Casey Weldon, Scott Milanovich and David Carr. They're the greatest thing ever -- until they actually get on the field. I also know there have been a few guys like Kurt Warner, who have come out of nowhere and done great things. Maybe Moore could fall into that category, but the odds are against it. John Fox is trying to win football games and save his job. He’s seen Moore every day in practice and knows what the backup quarterback has better than any of us. If Fox thought Moore had any chance to be better than Delhomme, he’s already be starting.
RJ in Boiling Springs writes: Pat, missed ya by a few on the chat... anyways here’s my question... What do you think the likelihood of Delhomme turning it around v. Arizona? I feel like Jake similar to Smitty has always played with a chip on his shoulder (not for the same reasons) but I think both Fox and Jake see this game that CAN turn the season around, for the team and for Jake. Now let’s say Jake does play well, Panthers win, etc... And Jake continues to do well in 2009 and leads the cats back to a respectable point, not necessarily the post-season but maybe just spoil the undefeated Saints run at perfection and knock off a few heavy weights scheduled late in the year (Giants and Pats)... point being where does that leave Jake for next year? Obviously QB's decline in their mid-30s but with no clear-cut backup and no first round pick, again does that mean another year for Jake? (I personally think that would not be the worst thing)... If he can turn it around of course.
Pat Yasinskas: Wow, there are a lot of big hypothetical situations there. But I’ll play along and say Delhomme turns it around and the Panthers have a respectable finish and Fox stays as the coach. I think Delhomme would stay in that situation. But I think the Panthers would go out and sign or draft a quarterback (probably sign a free agent with some experience because Fox thinks it takes too long to develop rookie quarterbacks). This year has shown the Panthers need to have a viable alternative to Delhomme.
Adam in Chapel Hill writes: Will you please for the love of all things holy please set your colleagues and peers straight on the NFL/Wildcat story. You were covering the Panthers I believe at the time...Dan Henning was the offensive coordinator for the Panthers. They faced the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Weinke was the winning "QB" with 7 pass attempts. Dan Henning of course left the Panthers for the Dolphins next years and suddenly the Dolphins were the spotlight team for bringing this decades old offense back into the league. Trivial, yes. Small market envy, certainly. But please set the record straight.
Pat Yasinskas: Gladly. What Adam told above is a true story. Back at the end of the 2006 season, Delhomme was hurt and the Panthers were playing Weinke and knew they had to get creative to generate some offense. They used DeAngelo Williams out of the Wildcat and it worked very well. I can’t say Dan Henning invented the Wildcat because there have been versions of it throughout history, but he made a lot of people suddenly remember it and he’s used it very well in Miami. One other thing I should point out: In the aftermath of that game against Atlanta, there were some rumblings that it wasn’t Henning’s idea to use the Wildcat. Some people will tell you it was Fox’s idea and that might have been true.
Mailbag: Tampa Bay Buccaneers edition
October, 31, 2009
10/31/09
12:09
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
We'll start today's mailbags off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a bye this weekend.
Chris in Harrisburg, Pa., writes: Pat, any news out of Tampa regarding the contract talks for Barret Ruud? The Bucs' organization simply isn't dumb enough to let their leading tackler walk will they?
Pat Yasinskas: There’s no real urgency to this. The Bucs still have Ruud locked up for another year. I think they want to keep Ruud, but there are several factors at work here. First, there’s a lot of uncertainty about the Collective Bargaining Agreement right now. There could be a new labor deal in place before next season or we may be looking at an uncapped year, which would have lots of implications across the entire NFL landscape. Second, I think the Bucs want to see a bit more out of Ruud as a player and a leader before they invest a fortune in him. Ruud was very good in Monte Kiffin’s scheme last year. I haven’t seen him do anything spectacular in Jim Bates’ system this year. Might be wise to make sure he truly is a great fit before locking him up.
Dave in Palmdale, Calif., writes: Pat, do you believe there's something to the story about the Glazers and their financial health? Maybe it is pure rumor, but certain moves seem to make it more believable. Getting rid of high-priced vets, Gruden (yes I know he's still being paid) and not taking some of that cap money they have available to bring in some proven talent? Is MANU really that much of a financial drain?
Pat Yasinskas: The rumors about that have been out there for a long time before this week’s flap really got going and forced the Glazers to issue a very strong statement that the team is not for sale. Rumors are rumors and there have been no concrete reports that the Glazers are having any financial trouble. I know it’s easy for fans to look at the fact the Bucs are $23 million under the salary cap and say the team is being cheap. But I think people who say that need to actually be able to back it up and not just say it. Fact is the Bucs started with $30 million more in cap space than most teams because they carried over cap money from last year. They also spent a bunch of money signing players like Kellen Winslow, Michael Clayton, Luke McCown and Derrick Ward to big contracts. Obviously, not all of those moves have worked out. The Bucs also may be saving some of that money to sign Ruud, left tackle Donald Penn and some other young players to contract extensions. Finally, I know it’s easy to look at all that cap room and imagine how the Bucs could have used it to bring in more high-priced free agents. But the fact is they decided to enter a rebuilding mode. They didn’t want to go with the patch-work approach of recent years and sign veteran free agents. They wanted to go with youth. Yes, so far it’s not looking too good. But I think people need to at least thing about some of the reasons behind all this before simply accusing the Bucs of being cheap.
Krutch in Dallas writes: Do you think any member of the Bucs front office or coaching staff are superstitious? The beginning of the Josh "Franchise QB" Freeman era will be in the Orange Creamsicle, winking Bucco Bruce throwbacks that represent almost 2 decades of ineptitude. If I were in a position to be making decisions, I'd mix up some other roster spots before throwing a 21-year old out there to get sacked and watch his receivers drop passes.
Pat Yasinskas: Ha! Good one. Just about everyone I know in the NFL has some sort of superstition and the Creamsicle colors weren’t always good to the Bucs. Freeman has to make his starting debut in orange against Green Bay on Nov. 8. But I don’t think the Bucs are too worried about superstitions or the past right now. It’s simply time to start finding out if their franchise quarterback can help them.
We'll start today's mailbags off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a bye this weekend.
Chris in Harrisburg, Pa., writes: Pat, any news out of Tampa regarding the contract talks for Barret Ruud? The Bucs' organization simply isn't dumb enough to let their leading tackler walk will they?
Pat Yasinskas: There’s no real urgency to this. The Bucs still have Ruud locked up for another year. I think they want to keep Ruud, but there are several factors at work here. First, there’s a lot of uncertainty about the Collective Bargaining Agreement right now. There could be a new labor deal in place before next season or we may be looking at an uncapped year, which would have lots of implications across the entire NFL landscape. Second, I think the Bucs want to see a bit more out of Ruud as a player and a leader before they invest a fortune in him. Ruud was very good in Monte Kiffin’s scheme last year. I haven’t seen him do anything spectacular in Jim Bates’ system this year. Might be wise to make sure he truly is a great fit before locking him up.
Dave in Palmdale, Calif., writes: Pat, do you believe there's something to the story about the Glazers and their financial health? Maybe it is pure rumor, but certain moves seem to make it more believable. Getting rid of high-priced vets, Gruden (yes I know he's still being paid) and not taking some of that cap money they have available to bring in some proven talent? Is MANU really that much of a financial drain?
Pat Yasinskas: The rumors about that have been out there for a long time before this week’s flap really got going and forced the Glazers to issue a very strong statement that the team is not for sale. Rumors are rumors and there have been no concrete reports that the Glazers are having any financial trouble. I know it’s easy for fans to look at the fact the Bucs are $23 million under the salary cap and say the team is being cheap. But I think people who say that need to actually be able to back it up and not just say it. Fact is the Bucs started with $30 million more in cap space than most teams because they carried over cap money from last year. They also spent a bunch of money signing players like Kellen Winslow, Michael Clayton, Luke McCown and Derrick Ward to big contracts. Obviously, not all of those moves have worked out. The Bucs also may be saving some of that money to sign Ruud, left tackle Donald Penn and some other young players to contract extensions. Finally, I know it’s easy to look at all that cap room and imagine how the Bucs could have used it to bring in more high-priced free agents. But the fact is they decided to enter a rebuilding mode. They didn’t want to go with the patch-work approach of recent years and sign veteran free agents. They wanted to go with youth. Yes, so far it’s not looking too good. But I think people need to at least thing about some of the reasons behind all this before simply accusing the Bucs of being cheap.
Krutch in Dallas writes: Do you think any member of the Bucs front office or coaching staff are superstitious? The beginning of the Josh "Franchise QB" Freeman era will be in the Orange Creamsicle, winking Bucco Bruce throwbacks that represent almost 2 decades of ineptitude. If I were in a position to be making decisions, I'd mix up some other roster spots before throwing a 21-year old out there to get sacked and watch his receivers drop passes.
Pat Yasinskas: Ha! Good one. Just about everyone I know in the NFL has some sort of superstition and the Creamsicle colors weren’t always good to the Bucs. Freeman has to make his starting debut in orange against Green Bay on Nov. 8. But I don’t think the Bucs are too worried about superstitions or the past right now. It’s simply time to start finding out if their franchise quarterback can help them.
Who are the leaders in the NFC South?
October, 31, 2009
10/31/09
11:42
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
I was listening to Steve Duemig on WDAE in Tampa while driving Friday afternoon and he brought up an excellent point.
He said part of the problem with Tampa Bay right now is that the Bucs have no true leaders in their locker room. I’d have to agree with that totally. That’s the price you pay when you cut someone like Derrick Brooks and don’t have any heir apparent.
Sure, the Bucs knew the leadership aspect would have to be addressed when they made the decision to part ways with Brooks and they were hoping some new leaders would emerge. But, from what I’ve seen and heard, that hasn’t happened so far.
Veteran cornerback Ronde Barber is a good player, but it’s never been part of his personality to be a leader. Tight end Kellen Winslow probably has been Tampa Bay’s best player so far, but he’s a loner and not the type of guy you’d want leading your team anyway.
You don’t just proclaim a leader. You have to have a guy with the personality and the credentials to establish himself in that role. The one guy I see with potential here for the Bucs is middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. He’s been a good player for a couple of years and he can be a bit feisty.
But Ruud hasn’t really taken over this team yet. Maybe that’s one of the reasons the Bucs haven’t extended his contract yet. They know he can play, but maybe they want to see if he can be a leader before locking him up.
All this talk of leadership got me thinking about who the other leaders are around the NFC South and I can honestly say I don’t think any other team is lacking in leaders like the Bucs. Here’s my synopsis on the leadership situations with the other teams:
New Orleans. The Saints probably have the best leadership situation in the division right now, and it’s no coincidence they’re undefeated. They’ve got clearly-defined and very strong leaders. Quarterback Drew Brees is a natural leader and about as good as you’ll find in this category. It’s been that way since Brees arrived in New Orleans. But now he’s got complements on the defensive side. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and safety Darren Sharper have emerged as very strong leaders.
Carolina. Despite their problems in other areas, the Panthers have strong leadership. Middle linebacker Jon Beason is still young, but he’s pretty much been the leader of this defense since the first day he walked in the door. He’s got the natural personality of a leader and the skills to back him up. He also gets some help in this area from safety Chris Harris. Say what you want about the way quarterback Jake Delhomme has played this season, but he’s still the leader of this offense. He’s still got tons of respect in the locker room and that’s become even more apparent as teammates haven’t given up on him even though he’s throwing a bunch of interceptions. Offensive tackle Jordan Gross also fills a leadership role. Receiver Steve Smith and defensive end Julius Peppers might be Carolina’s best players, but they’re both unique personalities. They’re loners and go their own way in the locker room.
Atlanta. Perhaps the best move the Falcons made this offseason was signing linebacker Mike Peterson. He’s a good player, but an even better leader. Peterson took over as a leader on the first day of minicamp and he’s also grooming second-year middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to take on that role in the future. Offensively, the Falcons get their leadership from several directions. Although he’s only a second-year player, quarterback Matt Ryan is immensely popular and respected in the locker room. He gets some help from veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez and center Todd McClure.
I was listening to Steve Duemig on WDAE in Tampa while driving Friday afternoon and he brought up an excellent point.
He said part of the problem with Tampa Bay right now is that the Bucs have no true leaders in their locker room. I’d have to agree with that totally. That’s the price you pay when you cut someone like Derrick Brooks and don’t have any heir apparent.
Sure, the Bucs knew the leadership aspect would have to be addressed when they made the decision to part ways with Brooks and they were hoping some new leaders would emerge. But, from what I’ve seen and heard, that hasn’t happened so far.
Veteran cornerback Ronde Barber is a good player, but it’s never been part of his personality to be a leader. Tight end Kellen Winslow probably has been Tampa Bay’s best player so far, but he’s a loner and not the type of guy you’d want leading your team anyway.
You don’t just proclaim a leader. You have to have a guy with the personality and the credentials to establish himself in that role. The one guy I see with potential here for the Bucs is middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. He’s been a good player for a couple of years and he can be a bit feisty.
But Ruud hasn’t really taken over this team yet. Maybe that’s one of the reasons the Bucs haven’t extended his contract yet. They know he can play, but maybe they want to see if he can be a leader before locking him up.
All this talk of leadership got me thinking about who the other leaders are around the NFC South and I can honestly say I don’t think any other team is lacking in leaders like the Bucs. Here’s my synopsis on the leadership situations with the other teams:
New Orleans. The Saints probably have the best leadership situation in the division right now, and it’s no coincidence they’re undefeated. They’ve got clearly-defined and very strong leaders. Quarterback Drew Brees is a natural leader and about as good as you’ll find in this category. It’s been that way since Brees arrived in New Orleans. But now he’s got complements on the defensive side. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and safety Darren Sharper have emerged as very strong leaders.
Carolina. Despite their problems in other areas, the Panthers have strong leadership. Middle linebacker Jon Beason is still young, but he’s pretty much been the leader of this defense since the first day he walked in the door. He’s got the natural personality of a leader and the skills to back him up. He also gets some help in this area from safety Chris Harris. Say what you want about the way quarterback Jake Delhomme has played this season, but he’s still the leader of this offense. He’s still got tons of respect in the locker room and that’s become even more apparent as teammates haven’t given up on him even though he’s throwing a bunch of interceptions. Offensive tackle Jordan Gross also fills a leadership role. Receiver Steve Smith and defensive end Julius Peppers might be Carolina’s best players, but they’re both unique personalities. They’re loners and go their own way in the locker room.
Atlanta. Perhaps the best move the Falcons made this offseason was signing linebacker Mike Peterson. He’s a good player, but an even better leader. Peterson took over as a leader on the first day of minicamp and he’s also grooming second-year middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to take on that role in the future. Offensively, the Falcons get their leadership from several directions. Although he’s only a second-year player, quarterback Matt Ryan is immensely popular and respected in the locker room. He gets some help from veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez and center Todd McClure.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 8:
 | |
| Tim Steadman/Icon SMI | |
| Jake Delhomme is running out of chances with the Panthers. |
Delhomme’s last stand. I found it interesting when John Fox hesitated a bit before officially saying quarterback Jake Delhomme will start against the Cardinals. The mere fact that Fox, who has long lived by the words “Jake is our starter,’, even paused leads me to believe the coach realizes that change might be necessary. I’m thinking if Delhomme throws a quick interception or two, his time might be up. Ironically, many people other than Fox thought Delhomme's time should have been up the last time the Panthers played the Cardinals -- when he threw five interceptions in last season’s playoff game.
Jarrett’s first stand? It looks as if Dwayne Jarrett will start at wide receiver in place of the injured Muhsin Muhammad. Maybe this will be the chance that Jarrett has needed to show he can be a starter. Fox has a history of sticking with veterans past their prime and Jarrett is a guy who came out of college with lots of upside. But he’s pretty much been on the bench his entire career. Maybe, just maybe, Jarrett will show he’s not the second coming of Keary Colbert.
Atlanta’s challenge. I’m real interested to see how flexible Atlanta coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey are. The Falcons are supposed to be a run-first team and that worked out just great last year. But Michael Turner's not putting up big numbers this year and that’s taking a toll on the entire offense. Atlanta’s strengths are quarterback Matt Ryan, tight end Tony Gonzalez and receiver Roddy White. Let’s see if Smith and Mularkey change their philosophy to play to their strengths.
Mr. October? I know Reggie Bush is taking a beating from fans in New Orleans for not producing more and that’s justified because this guy was a No. 2 overall draft pick. But I think it’s time to realize Bush is what he is. He’s not a feature back. But he is a rare talent. He’s still going to make plays to win a game or two and he’s got a good track record on "Monday Night Football."
Reviewing the film of the NFC South chat
October, 30, 2009
10/30/09
2:11
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Lots of great talk in Friday’s weekly NFC South chat. We even had the Matt Moore fan club (you get a free membership and a pair of white gloves if you were in the David Carr fan club in 2007) stop by.
Here is the entire transcript of the chat.
Lots of great talk in Friday’s weekly NFC South chat. We even had the Matt Moore fan club (you get a free membership and a pair of white gloves if you were in the David Carr fan club in 2007) stop by.
Here is the entire transcript of the chat.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Let’s kick the NFC South chat off early. It’s scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. But I’m going to hop over there now.
If you can make it, here’s the link.
Let’s kick the NFC South chat off early. It’s scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. But I’m going to hop over there now.
If you can make it, here’s the link.
Martz: Saints similar to 'Greatest Show on Turf'
October, 30, 2009
10/30/09
8:57
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Mike Martz recently was a guest on ESPN Radio St. Louis and he was asked to compare the New Orleans offense to the “Greatest Show on Turf’’ he ran with the Rams.
Martz, who never has lacked for ego, favored the Rams of his day, but said the Saints compare pretty well.
“Well I think they’re very similar,’’ Martz said.” I think the track is very quick that they play on down there. I do think that the multiple receivers that they have, I don’t know if any one of the receivers is of the quality that we had in our top two guys. But the quarterback (Drew Brees) is obviously a great player, he can get the ball out quick. I think they do so much that’s really hard to defend because they’ve got the quick step, the deep drop, the hard play-actions, they formation, they do all those things so well I think there’s a lot of similarities that I like to think we did as well.
Martz said the biggest difference is at running back.
“ They don’t have Marshall Faulk -- they just don’t have him. And I think that is probably the single most difference. And obviously Kurt (Warner) -- you know how biased I am to our guys, so I just always felt like we had better players. But I love (Sean) Payton and what he’s doing. I think he’s very creative; I think he’s the top offensive mind in the league right now. He takes advantage of his talent and the offensive line is real good. They had that left tackle go down, they just filled in the ranks and kind of kept motoring. So they’re going to score a lot of points and I do believe they’ll be in the Super Bowl. I think they have a real chance of doing that and that would be my pick.’
With all due respect to Martz, I’ll take Brees over Kurt Warner in his prime any day. I won’t argue with him about Faulk, but I think the Saints have a nice combination at running back with Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush.
Mike Martz recently was a guest on ESPN Radio St. Louis and he was asked to compare the New Orleans offense to the “Greatest Show on Turf’’ he ran with the Rams.
Martz, who never has lacked for ego, favored the Rams of his day, but said the Saints compare pretty well.
“Well I think they’re very similar,’’ Martz said.” I think the track is very quick that they play on down there. I do think that the multiple receivers that they have, I don’t know if any one of the receivers is of the quality that we had in our top two guys. But the quarterback (Drew Brees) is obviously a great player, he can get the ball out quick. I think they do so much that’s really hard to defend because they’ve got the quick step, the deep drop, the hard play-actions, they formation, they do all those things so well I think there’s a lot of similarities that I like to think we did as well.
Martz said the biggest difference is at running back.
“ They don’t have Marshall Faulk -- they just don’t have him. And I think that is probably the single most difference. And obviously Kurt (Warner) -- you know how biased I am to our guys, so I just always felt like we had better players. But I love (Sean) Payton and what he’s doing. I think he’s very creative; I think he’s the top offensive mind in the league right now. He takes advantage of his talent and the offensive line is real good. They had that left tackle go down, they just filled in the ranks and kind of kept motoring. So they’re going to score a lot of points and I do believe they’ll be in the Super Bowl. I think they have a real chance of doing that and that would be my pick.’
With all due respect to Martz, I’ll take Brees over Kurt Warner in his prime any day. I won’t argue with him about Faulk, but I think the Saints have a nice combination at running back with Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush.
Reminder: NFC South chat Friday at 1 p.m.
October, 30, 2009
10/30/09
7:33
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Just a quick reminder that our weekly NFC South chat will be held Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Stop by, if you can. Here's the link to get there.
Just a quick reminder that our weekly NFC South chat will be held Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Stop by, if you can. Here's the link to get there.
NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas discusses the hot topics in the division.
Bucs rip on report of possible sale
October, 29, 2009
10/29/09
9:35
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
We have a policy of staying clear of rumors and speculation here and that’s why we stayed clear of things this morning when a Tampa radio broadcaster said the Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers, “could’’ be forced to sell the team because of money lost in investments with Bernie Madoff.
But policy changed once the Bucs responded by sending out a very strong statement saying the team is not for sale. Sorry I wasn’t able to post something on this when the Bucs sent out the press release this afternoon, but I had prior commitments to speak to a class at Saint Leo University and make an appearance on Blogger’s Blitz on ESPNEWS.
Now, I’ll bring you up to speed on the verbal battle in Tampa Bay. The Bucs issued the following statement, attributed to co-chairman Joel Glazer on Thursday afternoon:
“The report today by WDAE’s Dan Sileo about our family and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is 100 percent false. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not, nor have they ever been for sale. In addition, our family or any of our related companies have never invested one penny with Bernie Madoff. The report is baseless, irresponsible and slanderous. This type of behavior by Mr. Sileo and his company Clear Channel will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.”
Wow, that’s pretty strong wording for a press release by an NFL team. I’ve seen several thousand through the years and have never seen anything this strong or confrontational out of the Bucs. They got personal in a way that usually is done only by the Raiders.
The St. Petersburg Times now reports that Sileo has been suspended by the station.
I’ll leave it up to you to form your own opinion on this one, but I’d be wrong if I didn’t point out there have been rumors about the Glazers selling the team for years. But there never have been any substantiated reports to go along with that.
One other thing, and I’m no expert on business, but why do some think the Glazers are looking to sell at this point? I’ve heard the basic principle in real estate that you can increase your marketability and price tag by sprucing up your property. The Bucs have been gutted by a rebuilding mode in the last few months. That sounds a lot like ruining your house before you try to sell it. Wouldn’t this franchise be a lot more attractive and be worth a lot more with Jon Gruden still coaching and Derrick Brooks still playing?
We have a policy of staying clear of rumors and speculation here and that’s why we stayed clear of things this morning when a Tampa radio broadcaster said the Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers, “could’’ be forced to sell the team because of money lost in investments with Bernie Madoff.
But policy changed once the Bucs responded by sending out a very strong statement saying the team is not for sale. Sorry I wasn’t able to post something on this when the Bucs sent out the press release this afternoon, but I had prior commitments to speak to a class at Saint Leo University and make an appearance on Blogger’s Blitz on ESPNEWS.
Now, I’ll bring you up to speed on the verbal battle in Tampa Bay. The Bucs issued the following statement, attributed to co-chairman Joel Glazer on Thursday afternoon:
“The report today by WDAE’s Dan Sileo about our family and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is 100 percent false. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not, nor have they ever been for sale. In addition, our family or any of our related companies have never invested one penny with Bernie Madoff. The report is baseless, irresponsible and slanderous. This type of behavior by Mr. Sileo and his company Clear Channel will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.”
Wow, that’s pretty strong wording for a press release by an NFL team. I’ve seen several thousand through the years and have never seen anything this strong or confrontational out of the Bucs. They got personal in a way that usually is done only by the Raiders.
The St. Petersburg Times now reports that Sileo has been suspended by the station.
I’ll leave it up to you to form your own opinion on this one, but I’d be wrong if I didn’t point out there have been rumors about the Glazers selling the team for years. But there never have been any substantiated reports to go along with that.
One other thing, and I’m no expert on business, but why do some think the Glazers are looking to sell at this point? I’ve heard the basic principle in real estate that you can increase your marketability and price tag by sprucing up your property. The Bucs have been gutted by a rebuilding mode in the last few months. That sounds a lot like ruining your house before you try to sell it. Wouldn’t this franchise be a lot more attractive and be worth a lot more with Jon Gruden still coaching and Derrick Brooks still playing?
Targeting Smith, other NFC South receivers
October, 29, 2009
10/29/09
3:00
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Steve Smith may feel like he’s no longer an asset to the Carolina Panthers. But the numbers show the Panthers are trying to get him the ball.
ESPN’s Stats & Information just sent out a large packet of statistics related to how often wide receivers have been targeted and there’s a lot of interesting stuff on the NFC South.
Smith still is one of the league’s most targeted receivers. He’s been targeted 55 times. Only seven receivers have been targeted more than him.
Smith also is one of the most targeted receivers on deep balls (passes of more than 20 yards), although he’s caught only three of those.
We’ll move away from the Panthers now and on to New Orleans receiver Marques Colston, who has been productive on deep balls and in the red zone. First, here’s where Colston stands among league leaders in deep passes.
Next, we move to some red zone numbers, where Colston has been very productive.
Steve Smith may feel like he’s no longer an asset to the Carolina Panthers. But the numbers show the Panthers are trying to get him the ball.
ESPN’s Stats & Information just sent out a large packet of statistics related to how often wide receivers have been targeted and there’s a lot of interesting stuff on the NFC South.
Smith still is one of the league’s most targeted receivers. He’s been targeted 55 times. Only seven receivers have been targeted more than him.
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Smith also is one of the most targeted receivers on deep balls (passes of more than 20 yards), although he’s caught only three of those.
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We’ll move away from the Panthers now and on to New Orleans receiver Marques Colston, who has been productive on deep balls and in the red zone. First, here’s where Colston stands among league leaders in deep passes.
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Next, we move to some red zone numbers, where Colston has been very productive.
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Sharper is NFC Defensive Player of the Month
October, 29, 2009
10/29/09
2:13
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
The NFL just announced that New Orleans safety Darren Sharper has been selected as the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Can’t argue with that one at all. Sharper had two interceptions that he returned for touchdowns in October and three total interceptions for the month. Sharper now has 11 career interception returns for touchdowns. That’s second in NFL history, behind Rod Woodson’s 12.
The NFL just announced that New Orleans safety Darren Sharper has been selected as the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Can’t argue with that one at all. Sharper had two interceptions that he returned for touchdowns in October and three total interceptions for the month. Sharper now has 11 career interception returns for touchdowns. That’s second in NFL history, behind Rod Woodson’s 12.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
Our weekly NFC South chat will be held Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s the link to get there. Please join us, if you can.
Our weekly NFC South chat will be held Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s the link to get there. Please join us, if you can.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
