NFC South: Von Hutchins
Falcons release Hartsock, Hutchins
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
The Falcons, who had been incredibly quiet throughout the preseason, are making lots of noise Tuesday. They traded for cornerback Tye Hill this morning and they just announced the release of three players, including a couple of names you’ll recognize.
Tight end Ben Hartsock and cornerback Von Hutchins, two guys who were signed as free agents soon after general manager Thomas Dimitroff took over last year, were released along with defensive end Willie Evans.
Hutchins became expendable after the Falcons added Hill. Hutchins was viewed as a possible starter when the Falcons first signed him, but he went down with a season-ending injury in training camp last year.
Hartsock was signed as an all-purpose tight end and started 11 games last season. But the Falcons added Tony Gonzalez as a pass-catching tight end this year and appear ready to go with Justin Peelle and Jason Rader as his backups.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons just got finished with their morning session and I'm planning to have a sit-down interview with coach Mike Smith before the afternoon practice. In the meantime, here 
are some observations from this morning.
- I know there's been a lot of talk about the battle for the starting cornerback job opposite Chris Houston. But I'm not so sure this battle is really still a battle. It looks like Brent Grimes might have settled things already. The Falcons keep raving about Grimes' athletic ability. Rookie Christopher Owens, Chevis Jackson and Von Hutchins are still in the mix, but I think they might be fighting for the nickelback job. I'll have a more extensive column on Grimes in the next few days.
- A lot of people ask if the Falcons will get Jerious Norwood more involved in the running game this year. I can tell you this much -- they don't want Michael Turner carrying 376 times this year. But don't look for Norwood's carries to suddenly spike dramatically. He may get a few more carries and receptions out of the backfield. But there's a fine line here because you don't want to take the ball out of Turner's hands too much.
- The Falcons are still sorting out things for the No. 3 wide receiver spot after Harry Douglas went down with a season-ending injury. Much will be determined by the preseason games, but the early word is that Robert Ferguson, who was signed immediately after Douglas' injury, has made a very good impression so far.
- The Falcons are listing Grimes as their punt returner and Norwood as the kickoff returner right now. But that may be only temporary. If they're playing extensively at their regular positions, the Falcons may be hesitant to overload them. Look for Owens and some of the young receivers to get a look in the return game during the preseason.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Let's start this off with a very big thank you to Atlanta Falcons fans.
Earlier Sunday I asked you to help me out by freshening up your mailbag questions because we were in a unique situation. Because of Roddy White's signing of a new contract Saturday night, a lot of the questions in the mailbag suddenly had become outdated.
As I begin writing this, it's been just about 90 minutes since I issued that plea. It's a summer Sunday afternoon and I'm sure you've got plenty of other things to do. But, in those 90 minutes, more than 100 questions have come in -- and they're still coming in.
One other note, I'll be flying to Atlanta on Monday night and will spend Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday with the Falcons.
So let's move on to the Atlanta mailbag and thanks again for the great questions.
FalconAdict in Rockmart, Ga. writes: With Gonzalez @ TE and now douglas no longer in the line up, does the falcons offense look better or worse than last year? What about the front four of the defense better or worse?
Pat Yasinskas: I'd have to say the offense is probably better. Sure, the loss of Harry Douglas hurts because I think the Falcons had big plans for him. But they've still got two good starters in White and Michael Jenkins. Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson have been productive players in this league and they could fit in nicely as backups. More than anything, though, the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez should provide a huge boost. He might be the best pass-catching tight end ever. That creates a whole new dimension because the Falcons barely threw to their tight ends last year. As far as the defensive front, let me check it out in camp before offering an opinion. But Atlanta's got two quality linemen in end John Abraham and Jonathan Babineaux and I've heard only good things about rookie tackle Peria Jerry. If Jamaal Anderson can give them anything at the end position, this could be a very good defensive line.
ATLJBO in Atlanta writes: Jonathan Babineaux Led all DT in tackles for loss and was 3rd overall in the NFL... I feel like this guy does not get his due respect. Chuck Smith said Jonathan Babineaux can be a 10 sack a season type DT.
Pat Yasinskas: Glad you brought that up because I think Babineaux is one of the most underrated players in the league. Scouts, coaches and other players will tell you that, too. Part of the reason he doesn't get a lot of attention is because that's the nature of his position. But the Falcons certainly recognize his value and that's why they gave him a contract extension last year. If the rest of the defensive line steps up, I suspect Babineaux will start to get some of the recognition he deserves.
Mike in Jasper, Ga. writes: Pat,is there any news on who is winning the race for the starting cornerback positions for the falcons?
Pat Yasinskas: Again, I'll have a better idea on this once I get up to Flowery Branch and see things in person. But what I've heard so far is the Falcons have been delighted with the play of Brent Grimes. Yes, guys like Chevis Jackson, Von Hutchins and Christopher Owens are still in the mix for the starting spot opposite Chris Houston. But all indications are that Grimes is the early leader.
Doug in Canada writes: Pat, what do you do with a guy like Jamaal Anderson? You are paying him the Big Bucks but no QB pressure. Because QB's know ABE is coming from the other side JA should have more Sacks? He is a good run stopper but now we have Lewis and Jerry for that? I think this experiment is over. Just my opinion.
Pat Yasinskas: Your opinion could turn out to be right. But the Falcons aren't ready to give up on Anderson just yet. The guy still has a lot of raw potential and the Falcons have been trying real hard to coach it out of him since the end of last season. Mike Smith has a great coaching staff and Anderson might suddenly show up. If he doesn't, Chauncey Davis and Lawrence Sidbury are waiting in the wings and they're not bad alternatives.
Dave in Atlanta writes: Pat, In the playoff loss to Arizona Lawyer Milloy made a crucial error when he was beat by Boldin (or Fitz, can't remember) on that wheel route out wide. Also, Brooking made a huge mistake on the 3rd and 16 pass to the TE that sealed the game. My question is that although the media seems to be harping on the fact that we lost two veterans on D, I believe we are better off without them. It is better to have a young player that might make a mental mistake, but still has the youthfulness and skills to make up for the lapse with speed and athleticism than an older player who reads the play correctly and cannot get to where he needs to be like Milloy. Toughts?
Pat Yasinskas: Ding, ding, ding. You nailed it, Dave. At least that's exactly what the Falcons were thinking when they let Milloy and Keith Brooking go. Grady Jackson, too, for that matter. The Falcons got the most out of their defense last year and in some cases they did it with patchwork. There's no doubt Milloy and Brooking were old. There's also no doubt that Mike Smith didn't have exactly the kind of personnel he wanted on defense. With another offseason, he's gotten a lot closer to having what he wants. Yes, the defense will be much younger and that could cause some early mistakes. But I think this year's defense can be much better in the long run.
Mark in Dallas writes: I really don't think that the falcons should have paid white that much money. I mean because of White's selfishness Harry Douglas got hurt. I was hoping that Thomas Dimtroff would treat white exactly how the patriots treat their holdouts. Isn't that why the patriots are always super bowl contenders every year?
Pat Yasinskas: Very valid points,
Mark. I'm hearing from a lot of Atlanta fans who think the Falcons overpaid White and I won't argue with that because I tend to agree. Handing $50 million to a guy who has only had two good years seems a little risky. Giving White a big deal when he only would have been a restricted free agent in 2010 also sets a bit of a dangerous precedent. But there are several flip sides that might explain why the Falcons went ahead and did the deal. First, contracts tend to get outdated in a hurry and the Falcons actually might have saved money because White might have commanded an even bigger deal with another good season. Sometimes, it ends up being best, in the long run, to overpay. Second -- and this might be the most important thing here -- ending White's holdout brings peace and harmony to camp. It also gives Matt Ryan his top weapon back and the Falcons obviously are very committed to making sure Ryan has everything he needs. Finally, you mention White's "selfishness." I'm not sure White's holdout was the reason Douglas got hurt, but it could have been a factor. Yes, you can view White's actions as being selfish, if you choose. But being selfish isn't necessarily a bad trait in a wide receiver. In fact, it's very common. Think about the game's top receivers -- Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Steve Smith (the Carolina Steve Smith), Chad Ochocinco to name a few -- they've all got a selfish streak. That can be a pain at times, but it's also part of what makes them so good.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Atlanta Falcons
Training camp site: Flowery Branch, Ga.
Campfires: The offense is pretty much set with last year's starters virtually intact and the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez. That's going to put the focus of camp on a defense that overachieved last year and will have five new starters.
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The hottest battles will be in the secondary, where the Falcons have to replace safety Lawyer Milloy and cornerback Domonique Foxworth. Atlanta's coaching staff is hoping second-round pick William Moore can step in and start at safety, but second-year pro Thomas DeCoud provides a decent fallback option if Moore's not ready. DeCoud had a strong showing throughout the offseason and isn't going to give up the job without a fight.
Cornerback might be the most intriguing spot to watch in camp. The Falcons are set with Chris Houston on one side, but it's a wide-open competition for the other starting spot and the nickelback job. The plan is to throw Brent Grimes, Von Hutchins, Chevis Jackson and rookies Christopher Owens and William Middleton out there and see who rises up. Keep an eye on Jackson, who came on strong in the second half of his rookie season last year.
Camp will be a downer if ... there are any injuries on the offensive line. The Falcons have a starting five that probably played over its head last year and very little depth. Veteran Todd Weiner retired after last season and the Falcons tried to replace the flexibility he gave them by signing veteran Jeremy Newberry. But Newberry retired earlier this week because of knee problems.
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| Paul Abell/Getty Images | |
| Tony Gonzalez gives quarterback Matt Ryan another target in the Falcons' passing game. |
Coach Mike Smith is very good at mixing up the tempo of his practices, but he may have to be more cautious with his offensive line. Left tackle Sam Baker had back problems last year and center Todd McClure has wear and tear on his 32-year-old body. If some young linemen don't step up -- and there aren't many likely candidates -- the Falcons may have to keep an eye on the waiver wire for some depth.
Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Matt Ryan masters the offense he looked so good in as a rookie. That's a strong possibility. Although he already was very good, Ryan looked noticeably better in minicamp practices in the spring.
The Falcons didn't hold back much of the playbook from Ryan last season, but they're going to expand it significantly this year. The addition of Gonzalez suddenly gives the Falcons the pass-catching tight end they lacked last year. That should only help receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins, who blossomed with Ryan last year. And don't forget second-year receiver Harry Douglas. He showed some promise last year, but looked ready to take on a bigger role in offseason workouts.
The Norwood factor: One player to keep an eye on in camp and preseason games is running back Jerious Norwood. The Falcons realize they put a very heavy load on starter Michael Turner last season and they don't want him approaching 375 carries again. Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has to find a way to give Norwood some of Turner's carries. That's not as simple as just swapping them out. Turner is a
power runner and Norwood is a speed guy. The Falcons need to put in some wrinkles to take advantage of Norwood's skills.
Carolina Panthers
Training camp site: Spartanburg, S.C.
Campfires: The Panthers are returning 21 of 22 starters from a team that went 12-4. But the disastrous playoff loss to Arizona means that Carolina can't be complacent. Coach John Fox never has been able to put together back-to-back winning seasons and he needs to if he wants to stay off the proverbial "hot seat."
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| Paul Spinelli/Getty Images | |
| Jake Delhomme and the Panthers need to put last season's playoff loss to Arizona behind them. |
Fox needs to revitalize a defense that collapsed down the stretch last season and much of that responsibility will fall to new coordinator Ron Meeks. Barring injury or upset, the only new starter will be cornerback Richard Marshall, who will replace Ken Lucas. A lot of fans are wondering if Marshall is ready to be a starter. The coaching staff wouldn't have let Lucas go if Marshall wasn't ready. He's been a very good nickelback the past couple of years and should do fine opposite Chris Gamble.
The bigger question might be who's going to replace Marshall at nickelback? The Panthers seem to have rookie Sherrod Martin ticketed for that spot. That may seem a little risky, but Fox has a pretty good track record when it comes to playing rookie cornerbacks quickly. Marshall and Ricky Manning Jr. were able to step in and contribute as rookies.
Camp will be a downer if ... Steve Smith pulls a repeat of last year. Early in camp, Smith punched out Lucas, who was kneeling on the sideline. That led to a two-game suspension for Smith. The incident may have helped pull the team together in some ways, but the Panthers can't endure something like that again.
Things tend to get hot in Spartanburg, but Fox and his staff need to keep the ultra-competitive Smith cool. Smith's nasty streak is a big part of what makes him such a great receiver. But he needs to save that for the regular season and let the team get through camp peacefully.
Camp will be a success if ... the Panthers can put the Arizona playoff loss behind them. Losing badly at home was a terrible end to what had been a very nice season, and Fox has to eliminate any hangover from that. One of Fox's strengths is his ability to motivate and he's got to convince this team it can win big games when it matters most.
Fox has been adamant about sticking with quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had a disastrous outing against Arizona. That's a strong show of confidence from the coach. But Fox may have to spend part of camp convincing the rest of the team that the move is a result of confidence and not stubbornness.
It starts up front: Early in Fox's tenure, his defensive line was dominant and the team was built around the front four. That hasn't been the case in recent years. The back seven is very good, but it can become great with more production up front.
Although end Julius Peppers is the only big name on the line, the Panthers have the ingredients to be good up front. They didn't draft Everette Brown to spend his rookie season on the bench. He'll join in a rotation with Peppers, Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton. If Peppers can play at a level close to his $17 million franchise tag, there could be a lot of sack opportunities for Brown, Johnson and Brayton.
New Orleans Saints
Training camp site: Metairie, La.
Campfires: As far as pure numbers, the Saints have the most legitimate position battles in the NFC South. That competition should be a good thing for a team that underachieved, particularly on defense, last season.
General manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton did a nice job of creating competition with a bunch of offseason moves geared at making the defense better. Last year's biggest problem area was in the secondary and that's where the best camp battles will be. The Saints paid free-agent cornerback Jabari Greer big money and that probably makes him a starter.
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| Crystal LoGiudice/US Presswire | |
| Rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins will battle for one of the starting cornerback spots. |
But the battle for the other starting cornerback spot should be intense. The Saints used their first-round pick on Malcolm Jenkins, who probably has the most physical talent of any rookie on the roster. But Jenkins truly will have to earn the starting job because the Saints think very highly of Tracy Porter, who got off to a strong start before suffering an injury in his rookie season. Porter brings a high level of confidence and he's not going to give up a starting spot very easily. If the Saints open the season with Jenkins as their nickelback, they'll have far more depth than they've had in recent years.
Camp will be a downer if ... it's anything like last season. A rash of injuries started in last year's training camp and the plague continued through the regular season. That was a major reason why the Saints missed the playoffs. Even with added depth, they can't endure another season like last year. Payton ran the NFC South's most-intense camp last season and he may have learned from it.
The Saints have moved their camp back to their practice facility and a look at their schedule shows a large amount of afternoon practices in the indoor facility. There also are a fair amount of days where the Saints will practice only once. That should help keep the team fresh and cut down on the injuries. That's hugely important for a team that will open the season without s
tarting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant, who are suspended for the first four games.
Camp will be a success if ... Gregg Williams' defensive system takes hold quickly. Coordinator Gary Gibbs took the fall for last season's defensive failures and the Saints went out and spent big money to bring in Williams. Once viewed as one of the league's top defensive minds, Williams is looking for redemption after recent struggles in Jacksonville and Washington.
There will be some changes in the defensive scheme. But, more importantly, he'll be trying to install a mindset. Williams is known for having high-motor, aggressive defenses. The Saints haven't had anything that resembled that throughout Payton's tenure. There is plenty of talent in place and the defense showed signs it was developing an aggressive attitude in minicamp. If that continues, the Saints could have the one thing that's separated them from the playoffs the past two seasons.
Who will run the ball? That remains a huge question for a team whose passing game is pretty close to perfect. Payton's not going to take the ball out of the hands of quarterback Drew Brees, but the coach has made it clear he wants to develop a running game that's more consistent than last season.
With Deuce McAllister gone, the Saints have made it clear they plan to go with the tandem of Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Payton will use camp and the preseason games to experiment with their roles and try to put Bush and Thomas in spots that play to their strengths.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Training camp site: Tampa, Fla.
Campfires: Fans are going to need rosters for this training camp. Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Jeff Garcia and Warrick Dunn are gone. Tampa Bay's youth movement, which starts with new coach Raheem Morris, is in full swing as the Bucs truly look for a new identity.
Starting jobs are open all over the place, particularly on defense. The Bucs have moved safety Jermaine Phillips to Brooks' old spot at weakside linebacker and are putting Sabby Piscitelli in Phillips' old spot. If either of those moves fail, the Bucs could always move Phillips back to safety, but the team is planning on this switch working out. It better because the Bucs have plenty of other questions elsewhere. Is veteran cornerback Ronde Barber still capable of playing at a high level? Is defensive end Gaines Adams finally ready to play up to his potential?
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| J. Meric/Getty Images | |
| Play him or sit him? That's the decision the Bucs face regarding rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. |
But the biggest question of all -- and the one most fans will be watching -- is at quarterback. Tampa Bay used its first-round pick on Josh Freeman and Morris already has dubbed him as the franchise quarterback. The Bucs initially threw out all sorts of hints that Freeman, who left college a year early, would sit as a rookie. But he came on faster than expected in minicamp and that could change the thinking. The Bucs probably will enter the preseason looking to start either Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich. But it's not out of the question that Freeman could outshine both veterans. If that happens, the Bucs would have to speed up their plan.
Camp will be a downer if ... none of the quarterbacks steps forward. The rest of the offense is pretty solid, but this team won't go anywhere without a quarterback who can make the passing game work. There are reasons why McCown has never been a true starter and why Leftwich has gone from being a franchise quarterback in Jacksonville to being just a guy.
McCown has enough athleticism to make you believe there's upside, and Leftwich still throws the ball very nicely at times. But nothing is certain with either of these guys. If Freeman plays like a rookie in camp, the Bucs may have to settle on a quarterback by attrition. That's not a great situation because if McCown or Leftwich starts slowly, fans will be screaming for Freeman before he's ready.
Camp will be a success if ... the new schemes catch on. The Bucs aren't going to look anything like Jon Gruden's Bucs. New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is installing a power running game and a vertical passing game. New defensive coordinator Jim Bates is going away from the famed Tampa 2 defense and going with a system that relies heavily on pressure from up front.
The Bucs are young in a lot of ways, but they'll need new leaders like Barrett Ruud, Derrick Ward, Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant to step up and lead this team through the transition process.
Whatever happened to Michael Clayton? After a brilliant rookie year, the wide receiver spent the past few seasons buried in Gruden's doghouse. A lot of people were stunned when the new regime handed Clayton a big contract, instead of letting him walk as a free agent. There's a reason for that.
The new regime believes Clayton can be a productive starter. Forget all the talk about what a good blocker Clayton is in the running game. Sure, that will help. But Clayton isn't getting big money just to block. He got paid because Morris, general manager Mark Dominik and Jagodzinski think he can be a solid No. 2 receiver.
Trey Wingo, Cris Carter and Marcellus Wiley preview the NFC South.
Time for a quick trip through the mailbag.
Matt in Athens, GA writes: Pat, I gotta know, depending on how well the Falcons do this year (I'm saying 10 to 11 wins against that schedule), how much longer can this team hold together their superstar coaching staff? You've got Musgrave and Mularkey, and any Dawg fan worth their salt knows Coach Van Gorder is a superstar waiting to to explode on to the scene, possibly at a FBS school (and not, say, Georgia Southern). While the Falcons have a great core of players and front office people, I really believe it's this coaching staff that's their true ace in the hole. Losing Mularkey would mean an upgrade for Musgrave, but losing both could be catastrophic for Ryan's further development. And we saw last year what BVG did with all of those old wheels on the Falcons defense. Losing his smarts and emotional fire from that side of the ball would leave a gaping hole not easily patched. How do you see this playing out after this year?
Pat Yasinskas: Worrying about losing assistant coaches to other jobs is a nice problem to have. There's no question the Falcons have some rising stars on their staff. In fact, I think Mike Smith has one of the best coaching staffs in the league. But the good news is that staff is in place for this season. Another successful year could change that, but that's the nature of the business.
Sam in Oympia Wa writes: What will the Saints do to replace Deuce? Is Thomas the future and what will Bush's role be this year? Also are there any palyers at the position who could make an impact this year who didn't last year?
Pat Yasinskas: I think it's pretty obvious the Saints are planning to go with Pierre Thomas as the main guy in their running game. He did a nice job last year and Reggie Bush will mix in to take some carries, but I think you'll see Bush more involved in the passing game. The Saints still aren't sure who their short-yardage runner will be, but don't count out Mike Bell.Bobby in Charlotte writes: Hey Pat, I am a big panthers fan and I recently noticed a post that Aaron Kampman was not very happy playing his new position playing linebacker in the new 3-4 defensive scheme that the packers are installing and well I had a brilliant idea for a trade and wanted to know what your thoughts are on the possibility of the chances of this trade taking place. I am think that because Peppers would like to play that position and Kampman had made a name for himself as a DE that maybe there could be a trade between Green Bay and Carolina.
Pat Yasinskas: To be clear, I've not heard any talk about this possible trade, but it does make some sense. But trades aren't all that common in the NFL and I'm not sure the Packers would have that much interest in Peppers and the prospect of paying him a fortune.
sensiblefan in Detroit writes: Pat, Not sure if you've gotten a chance to look at Scott Reynolds' Fab 5 on Pewter Report but Fab #2 is VERY enlightening concerning the DT position in Jim Bates' scheme. It seems that the technique required to play the position has been truly downgraded from the Warren Sapp-like talent level necessary to play the Tampa 2. The requisite skills to play the position appear to be: be 300 lbs...and that's it; there's no thinking or even penetration required. I'd venture to say that the DT position is not really an issue anymore and passing on Peria Jerry and Ziggy Hood was not as egregious as most Buc fans (including myself) thought.
Pat Yasinskas: As always, Scott Reynolds makes a good point. Jim Bates is looking for guys to eat up space. The Bucs don't need a superstar defensive tackle, but I'd like to see them get one more guy with experience because Roy Miller has none, Chris Hovan is aging and Ryan Sims is ordinary.
Craig in Atlanta writes: hey Pat, i have been a falcons fan my whole life, good times and bad. i have, along with the rest of atlanta, fallen in love with mat ryan, but there is this concern in the back of my head that he could just be a rookie mistake. part of me thinks he could be the next Tom Brady, or Payton Manning, but another part of me thinks he could be the next cris wienkee, or joey harrington. what are your thoughts and do you have my same concern?
Pat Yasinskas: I understand your concern, but think about this: Chris Weinke and Joey Harrington never even came close to playing like Matt Ryan did last year. Ryan is the real deal and he's got a good offense around him. It's even better than last year with Tony Gonzalez on board.
GFalcons in Miami FL writes: Hey Pat how you doing? I'm concern everybody's talking about the corners the Falcons have but nobody is talking about Chris Houston are starting corner from last year.
Pat Yasinskas: In this case, it's a good thing nobody's talking about Chris Houston. It means he's set at one starting spot while Brent Grimes, Chevis Jackson, Chris Owens and Von Hutchins compete for the other one.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Here's a very nice story, courtesy of Big 12 writer Tim Griffin, about how Atlanta rookie William Moore will honor the memory of former college teammate at Missouri.
Moore initially was supposed to wear No. 24 for the Falcons, but he lobbied teammate Von Hutchins for No. 25 and succeeded in getting a switch. No. 25 was the number worn by Moore's former Missouri teammate, Aaron O'Neal, who died after a summer conditioning session four years ago.
In return for No. 25, Moore agreed to make a donation to the Lupus Foundation of America. Hutchins' mother suffers from that disease.
The Atlanta Falcons are the final stop in our series of team-by-team mailbags.
LR in Warner Robins, Ga., writes: Who you think will be the Atlanta Falcons starting Strong Safety, DeCoud or Moore?
Pat Yasinskas: Too early to tell right now. This is going to be one of the more interesting battles in training camp. In the recent minicamp, Thomas DeCoud worked with the first team and William Moore with the second. But it's common to open minicamp with the guy who's been around ahead of the rookie. The Falcons used a second-round pick on Moore and that means they think he can probably start. But that's not a given. DeCoud can win this job if he has the better preseason.
Steve in New Haven, Conn., writes: hey Pat, love the blog, while you were at camp, did you take a look at the CB's? It seems Houston is going to be our RCB, but at LCB we have an open competition. Who do you think will be the other starter? Grimes, Hutchins, Jackson, Owens? I'd like to see Jackson starting, Owens in the nickel, and Grimes or Hutchins fightin for the 4th CB spot. Anyways, how do you think it'll play out??? Thnks
Pat Yasinskas: I think the Falcons definitely view the cornerback spot opposite Chris Houston as an open competition. In this case, I think that's a healthy thing. They're going to throw Brent Grimes, Von Hutchins, Chevis Jackson and Chris Owens out there and see who rises up. They're high on Jackson after what he flashed as a rookie and they see Owens as a guy who can be a starter at some point. If Jackson and Owens have solid preseasons, they could join Houston in the trio of top cornerbacks.
Niklas in Aarhus, Denmark, writes: Hey Pat! Who do you see as next year's breakout candidates on the Falcons squad, and why?
Pat Yasinskas: I'll go with linebacker Stephen Nicholas. I think his skills fit what coach Mike Smith wants from the strong side and Nicholas has had time to develop. I know the Falcons lost Keith Brooking and Michael Boley after last season, but I think the linebacker corps can be better than it was a year ago.
Ben in Macon, Ga., writes: How long do you give the rest of the NFC South fans before they start REALLY hating the Falcons? All this national media attention, combined with media darling Matt Ryan, has to be grating on them. Am I right?
Pat Yasinskas: Wow, I'll leave that one up to the NFC South fans to decide. But there's no question the Falcons are becoming somewhat of the media darling of the division and Ryan is at the center of it all. Kind of amazing how much more respect the Falcons are getting than they did this time a year ago. They earned that respect with last season. But now they've got to keep that respect by playing well.
Dash in Nashville writes: Do you think there's any chance the Falcons can get any team to trade for Mike Vick? Even if it's a 7th rounder for next year?
Pat Yasinskas: Doubt it. I just don't see teams willing to give up a pick for a guy who's going to be cut anyway. If Thomas Dimitroff somehow gets anything for Vick, he's even more of a genius than I already think he is.
DBell in Rome, Ga., Writes: With Tony Gonzales giving the Falcons a serious TE threat, how will Ovie Mughelli's role at FB be affected? The Falcons paid him more than any other FB ever, and I feel he's been under-used. Do you think he'll now see less time with the Falcons likely to use more two-TE sets?
Pat Yasinskas: Don't sell Mughelli short. The guy played a huge role as a blocker for Michael Turner last season. Yeah, he doesn't get to catch or run the ball very often, but his role as a blocker is an important part of Atlanta's offense. Yes, you'll see some sets where the Falcons use two tight ends and have Mughelli on the sidelines. But I think he'll be on the field for a lot of running plays and to help protect Ryan on passing downs.
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| Dale Zanine/US PRESSWIRE, Paul Abell/Getty Images, David Stluka/Getty Images | |
| Peria Jerry, William Moore and Stephen Nicholas are among the young defenders Atlanta coach Mike Smith will be counting on this season. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Take just about any team that was in the playoffs last season and remove five starters from the defense. In theory, that team's probably not going back to the playoffs.
Now, take the Atlanta Falcons.
They got rid of almost half their defensive starters and expect to be better on defense. Wishful thinking? Not really.
Think about all the wonderful things that went right for the Falcons in a stunning 11-5 season. The defense wasn't really one of them. This fact kind of got lost in the hysteria of quarterback Matt Ryan having a great rookie season and Michael Turner running wild.
The simple reality is that Atlanta's defense wasn't very good. The Falcons ranked 25th in rush defense, allowing 2,046 yards on the ground. Against the pass, the Falcons allowed 3,526 yards. That's only 21 yards less than New Orleans allowed and the Saints were widely considered one of the league's worst defenses.
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| Greg Trott/Getty Images | |
| John Abraham collected 16.5 sacks and forced four fumbles last season. |
Sure, Atlanta's defense played well enough to help the Falcons win 11 games, but it was done with smoke, mirrors, John Abraham and a whole lot of luck.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith were painfully aware the defense wasn't going to get any better by standing still and that's why they didn't. Linebacker Keith Brooking, defensive tackle Grady Jackson, cornerback Domonique Foxworth and linebacker Michael Boley were allowed to walk in free agency and safety Lawyer Milloy was released.
The truth is Foxworth was the only one of the bunch the Falcons wanted to keep, but only if they could do it at a reasonable price and that didn't happen. Brooking, Jackson and Milloy were great players -- a few years ago. But last season, they were old guys and liabilities. Boley fell out of favor with the coaching staff and wasn't even starting at the end of last year.
The names of the guys who are going to replace those five aren't going to excite anyone, but maybe they should. Atlanta's defense is going to be better in the long run because of the housecleaning. But it also might be better right away.
"I came into the meeting (on the first day of last week's minicamp) and I saw Abe and a couple old guys," safety Erik Coleman said. "But for the most part, it was first- and second-year guys. I think it's a good thing. We've got a lot of youth on our team and a lot of guys that are hungry to show they can play."
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| NFL.com Video | |
| Falcons head coach Mike Smith talks about sustaining the success of last year's team. |
We won't know for sure if all the young guys can play for a few more months. But they might have a better chance than last year's defense. They at least fit the profile.
When Smith and Dimitroff came in last year, they focused most of their efforts on offense, signing Turner to a big free-agent contract and using the third overall draft pick on Ryan. Smith, who came with a defensive background, didn't truly have the kind of players he wanted on defense, so he had to make do.
But that's no longer an issue. Atlanta's offseason was all about defense and players who fit Smith's scheme. The Falcons are younger and the upgraded speed of the defense was obvious in minicamp.
They used their first-round pick on defensive tackle Peria Jerry and their second-round choice on safety William Moore. They're the likely replacements for Jackson and Milloy. They firmly believe that third-year pro Stephen Nicholas is ready to blossom and take over Boley's old spot on the strong side. They're not sure exactly who will start in Foxworth's spot, but they're going to throw Brent Grimes, Von Hutchins, Chevis Jackson and Chris Owens out there and see who rises up.
The Falcons didn't necessarily get younger at weakside linebacker where free-agent Mike Peterson is only a year younger than Brooking. But Peterson spent much of his career under Smith in Jacksonville and he wouldn't have been brought in if he didn't fit the system.
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| Sam Greenwood/Getty Images | |
| Mike Peterson could provide some of the veteran leadership that the Falcons lost this offseason. |
The one potential downside to the yout
h movement is that the Falcons lost a lot of experience and leadership in Brooking, Milloy and Jackson and nobody is denying that's a concern.
Smith doesn't believe in randomly anointing leaders and he's given a lot of thought to where his defensive leadership will come from.
"When you're a good player and you have success on the field, it leads to leadership," Smith said. "They become leaders."
At the moment, the Falcons don't have as many defensive leaders as a year ago. But Smith thinks that will change quickly.
Abraham's already a leader. Coleman was close to being one last year and should have room to spread his wings with Milloy gone. Peterson's a natural leader and already is getting comfortable with his new team. Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was thrust into a leadership role as a rookie by the nature of his position and Smith expects his development in that role will accelerate this year.
"Instead of having one or two leaders, you've got to have eight or nine leaders throughout the entire team," Smith said. "There has to be a balance there."
Balance really is what the Falcons are aiming for on defense. They've got veterans in Abraham, Coleman and Peterson, young guys in the rookies and second-year players and some guys in between like defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and cornerback Chris Houston.
"We've got enough veteran leadership that can work out with the younger players to be a great blend," defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. "With young players, it's always a process. Right now, it's crucial that we work hard to allow them to get comfortable so they can attach themselves to the leadership and let it shine through."
The Atlanta Falcons are the final stop on our tour of team-by-team mailbags.
Brett in Atlanta writes: Hey Pat, i read this blog alot but this is my first time sending a question. Anyways, i want to know how good do you think the falcons young defense can be?
Pat Yasinskas: I think Atlanta's defense now has the potential to be very good. Young guys like Peria Jerry, William Moore, Chris Owens, Stephen Nicholas and Chevis Jackson have lots of potential. Sure, the Falcons lost veteran leadership when they let Keith Brooking, Lawyer Milloy and Grady Jackson go. But they got fresh legs and I think this year's defense can be better than last year's in time. There might be some early bumps, but as Mike Smith likes to say, "It's a process''.
Mark in Houston: Hey Pat, did Jerious Norwood get any extra carries or extra attention during the mini-camp you attended? I remember you saying you'd post something on it, but I probably missed it. So will he get more than just the occasional catch and kick returns? Also, I've heard that Middleton will be the kick and punt returner this season. Any truth or backing to that? I thought Norwood and Douglas did a good job last season, but with Douglas getting a bigger role and hopefully Norwood getting a bigger role also, we might need someone to return. So is Middleton that guy? Thanks Pat.
Pat Yasinskas: Yes, I definitely noticed Norwood getting some first-team working as the Falcons rested Michael Turner some. It was only a minicamp, but I think that's a sign of things to come. I had one high-ranking person with the Falcons tell me, "The last thing we want is Michael having to carry 375 times again." Turner's still going to get a bunch of carries, but there's going to be a conscious effort to get Norwood a bit more involved. As for the return game, it's too early to say. All those guys you mentioned got work there in minicamp, but a lot is going to depend on if Norwood and Harry Douglas are taking on bigger roles with the offense. That will sort out in the preseason.
Dash in Nashville writes: Pat...love the blog. There was a rumor floating that 3rd round pick Chris Owens might have an opportunity to start for the Falcons...has he gotten any first team reps from what you've seen?
Pat Yasinskas: The Falcons would love it if Owens steps up and claims the job from Day One. That would mean he beat out Chevis Jackson, Von Hutchins and Brent Grimes. That's a lot to ask from a third-round pick, but it could happen and hopes are high. The Falcons aren't wed to Jackson, Hutchins or Grimes as starters. They're going to throw the four of them out there in training camp and see who steps up. One thing I noticed in minicamp was that Owens was getting a lot of attention from the assistant coaches. I usually take that as a sign a team wants a guy to catch on quickly. They also were doing the same thing with rookie safety William Moore.
Nathan in Cary, N.C., writes: Pat, Read your article on Jamaal Anderson of the Falcons. Kind of makes you feel for the guy. However, the title of him hoping for a breakout year is a little obvious. My question is, what happens to Anderson if this breakout year does not come to pass? How many more poor seasons are the Falcons willing to wait for this breakout?
Pat Yasinskas: This year could be it for Anderson if he doesn't step up. The Falcons re-signed Chauncey Davis as an insurance policy and drafted Lawrence Sidbury as a potential replacement. Anderson has to start producing now.
Mark in Chicago writes: Ryan best Rookie QB ever? No way - look at roethlisberger 2004 .13-0 as starter, Team was 15-1 overall after 6-10 season in 2003. Compare stats as well. Ryan very, very good but not best ever.
Pat Yasinskas: With all due respect to Ben Roethlisberger, who had a fine rookie season and has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league, I still give the nod to Matt Ryan. Roethlisberger joined a team that already had most of the other ingredients in place to be very good in 2004. He did a nice job managing games, but the team around him was the reason the Steelers were good that year. Think back to when Ryan first joined the Falcons. People said they might not even win a game because they were the worst team in the league and it would take years to recover from Michael Vick. The Falcons, who also were going through a coaching change, went out and won 11 games and Ryan won some of those games almost by himself.
Sokha in Richmond writes: Hey Pat, I was wondering why hasn't the Falcons signed Roddy White to a long term deal yet? He could be Matt Ryan's favorite target for years to come.
Pat Yasinskas: There have been some talks about an extension for White, but nothing's close to happening. The Falcons want to keep him and you may see them lock him up before the season. But there's not the usual urgency on this one because the free-agent system is a little different than usual right now without an extension of the collective bargaining agreement. Players now need to be vested for six years before they become unrestricted free agents. That means, although White's contract is up after 2009, he can only become a restricted free agent in 2010.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
It's time to talk about the Atlanta Falcons in our post-draft series of team-by-team mailbags.
Casey in Atlanta writes: What's up, Pat. I have like the Jerry pick, and the Gonzalez move was outstanding. Arguably, neither addition is as big as the Petersen pick-up. Still, my main concern (for the past year now) is when is Jamaal Anderson going to be cut/ released/ retired/ traded/ placed on practice squad/ rocketed to Mars, etc.?
Pat Yasinskas: A lot of Atlanta fans are wondering the same thing. But the Falcons aren't going to give up on Anderson after just two years. Mike Smith and his staff still see some potential and will try to coach it out of him in training camp and the preseason. If it doesn't start to surface, you may see Chauncey Davis move into the starting role and rookie Lawrence Sidbury could start off as a nice situational pass-rusher.
Ryan in Marietta writes: Pat, any thoughts on the falcons signing leroy hill now that the seahawks have made him available? they didnt really solve their need for depth at linebacker with the draft so he would be a good pick-up.
Pat Yasinskas: You never rule anything out, but the Falcons are intent on building their core through the draft (veterans like Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson are being used to fill holes for a year or two). Hill would qualify as a core player and his price tag may be more than the Falcons want to pay.
John in parts unknown writes: Pat, do you think that Coach Smith may use Lawrence Sidbury (I'll offer a nickname, "L Sid") in his 3-4 packages as a pass rusher off the edge? He's pretty darn fast in the "10", I hear. Thanks,
Pat Yasinskas: Tell you what, I like the Sidbury pick a lot. The guy has lots of upside and I think Smith and his coaching staff can make him into a player. He may be just a pass-rusher initially, but the Falcons wouldn't have taken him if they didn't think he could grow into an every-down end.
Allen in New York writes: Hey Pat, do you think Steve Nicholis is ready to start for the Falcons? The Falcons didn't really add anyone in the draft that could challenge him. Do you think it will be a training camp battle between him and Coy Wire?
Pat Yasinskas: I think Stephen Nicholas will get a long look in the preseason. Coy Wire did a nice job at strong-side linebacker late last season and may keep the starting job. But the Atlanta coaches are high on Nicholas and he could get a shot if he has a good training camp.
John in Atlanta writes: your blog has kept me alive this offseason, great job pat. I am satisfied with the falcons draft but our secondary and defense as a whole is now VERY young. this is obviously a good thing but with the falcons facing a brutal schedule how well do you see our ripe defense doing against the nfc east, tom brady, jay cutler and of course the rest of the nfc south?
Pat Yasinskas: Valid question. The coaching staff may be higher on the secondary than the rest of us. They should know what they have and they're counting on Chris Houston to be their lead corner with Brent Grimes or Von Hutchins on the other side. Houston continues to improve and Grimes and Hutchins aren't bad. I think the big question is at strong safety, where rookie William Moore and Thomas DeCoud will compete. Yes, this secondary might not look great on paper. But Smith got the secondary to hold up pretty well last season. He's brought in some younger legs and will try to help the defensive backs out by providing a pass rush that goes beyond John Abraham. One other thing I should mention: Assistant coach Emmitt Thomas works with the secondary and he's one of the best in the business.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
We'll go in alphabetical order (by city) today and start our series of team-by-team mailbags with the Atlanta Falcons.
OG in Ft. Lauderdale, FL writes: I see a lot of people mocking Brandon Pettigrew to be drafed by the Falcons. Don't you think LB and DT (i think there are no first round Safeties) would be a more pressing need, ala Clay Matthews, Evander Hood, Brian Cushing, or Peria Jerry? From my perspective, TEs like Shawn Nelson, Travis Beckum, and Chase Coffman will be available in the later rounds while there is more of a dropoff in LBs and DTs after round 3. In my opinion, wouldn't it be better to draft LB, then S, then DT or DT, then S, then LB and pickup a TE in round 4 or 5?
Pat Yasinskas: I know there are a fair amount of people thinking Brandon Pettigrew will end up with the Falcons. But I'm with you and I don't think it will happen. That's no knock on Pettigrew. He's the best tight end in the draft. But I just can't see the Falcons taking a tight end in the first round. Like you said, they've got bigger needs on defense. Also, I just don't see them changing Mike Mularkey's offense to make the tight end a huge part of the passing game. Yes, they might want to get a little more out of their tight ends as receivers, but they can find a guy who can help in that area in the middle rounds.
Allen in New York writes: Hey Pat, do you think the Falcons should get another cornerback in free agency. There seems to be too many holes to fill in the draft and there seems to be a decent market still out there for corners. I just dont see Chris Houston as a No.1 and I like Chievus Jackson, but I dont know if he is ready for a starting role. Im hoping Atlanta tries to sign a veteran. What are your thoughts?
Pat Yasinskas: Not sure you'll see the Falcons add a cornerback in free agency. If anything, it might happen in the draft. That's just the way the Falcons are operating now -- building through the draft. I agree, there is some uncertainty at cornerback. But Mike Smith and his staff might be higher on Chris Houston and Chevis Jackson than the rest of us are and they see those guys every day in practice. They've also got Von Hutchins returning from injury and Brent Grimes back. Not a desperate situation, but I would like to see the Falcons add one more cornerback to the mix.
Carter in Virginia Beach writes: Does the Atlanta coaching staff feel confident in the linebackers they already have or do you think they will try to add one in the draft or late in free agency?
Pat Yasinskas: I think it's very possible the Falcons use their first pick on a linebacker such as Clay Matthews or Brian Cushing. The coaching staff is sold on middle linebacker Curtis Lofton and probably will make him an every-down player. The Falcons signed Mike Peterson, who has a history with Smith in Jacksonville and he appears to be set as one of the outside linebackers. There are also high hopes that Stephen Nicholas can step into a starting role or be a key backup. But I think you'll see the Falcons add a linebacker somewhere early in the draft.
G Falcons in Miami writes: I'm hearing tony scheffler the tight end from the broncos wants a trade do you see us the falcons being interested in him and why are not signing free agents such as tank johnson or other DTs to help us at the line?
Pat Yasinskas: I don't think either truly fits the profile of what the Falcons are trying to do. They want to build through the draft.
Pro from College Park, GA writes: Pat, keepp the good work! Every year the Falcons say they are going to use Norwood more in the running game but all seem to use him about the same which is not alot. Do you think we will see more of him this year in a 2 back system, especially after the year Turner had. Or more of the same?
Pat Yasinskas: I think it's critical that the Falcons get Jerious Norwood more carries this year. Michael Turner is a workhorse, but the Falcons pushed the envelope by running him so much last year. They know that and they know they've got to lighten his load a bit. I believe they'll work on getting Norwood more playing time this year.
Jeff in Atlanta writes: Hey Pat, why have the Falcons not given Roddy White a contract extension yet? Is there any logic in waiting until the closing weeks of next season? I don't see any, and I think I speak for the majority of Falcons fans when I say: If the front office doesnt get him re-signed there will be riots in Atlanta. - Thanks
Pat Yasinskas: I think the Falcons are quietly working toward getting Roddy White locked up for the long term. In fact, I think that's a priority and part of the reason they've kept a decent chunk of salary-cap room open. I think you could see something happen with White before the season starts.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
I'm going to continue my temporary hiatus from Julius Peppers and Jay Cutler questions. That's why the Atlanta Falcons are up on our continuing team-by-team mailbags.
Relax Tampa Bay fans. We'll have a Bucs mailbag with lots of Cutler talk up in a bit.
Mark in Houston writes: Hey Pat, love reading the blog. My brother and I are a little worried with the Falcons' lack of offseason moves. I, personally, am unsure of the Mike Peterson move, both because he is getting older and had issues with Jack Del Rio last season. But other than the Mike Peterson signing, I haven't heard of them talking to any FAs or any trade rumors including the Falcons. I trust that Thomas Dimitroff has a plan, but it's still a little concerning for me to not hear anything. Have you heard of them talking to any free agents, or talking with any teams about a trade? And am I silly for being worried, or do you think this could be a real issue?
Pat Yasinskas: No doubt the Falcons have been very quiet in free agency. But Thomas Dimitroff has said all along that was the plan. I think that's a smart approach because Dimitroff and Mike Smith are building for the long term and not looking for one player to "put them over the top" as so many teams do. The Falcons have a good, young core in place. Yes, there are still some holes to be filled, but free agency's not over yet. The Falcons will get more involved with some remaining free agents a bit later on. The Peterson move might not seem like a big deal and it's not going to solve every problem, but it at least gives Atlanta some options at linebacker.
Jon in Huntington writes: What direction do you think the the Falcons will take in this years draft? I know we could use an effective pass rusher outside of John Abraham but it seems like we have a lot of holes on defense.
Pat Yasinskas: Teams always like to talk about taking the best-available player in the draft. But let's be honest, teams usually draft for need and Atlanta's needs are on defense. The only thing they really need on offense is a tight end and they're not going to use an early pick on a tight end because that position's not that big a deal in their offense. Realistically, I think the Falcons have to focus on defensive tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker, safety and cornerback early in the draft. They can take the best-available player as long as it's at one of those positions.
Wes in Clearwater writes: Hey Pat, First off I want to say I think you've been doing a great job covering the NFC South, but I have to address something I've seen in a few of your columns lately regarding the Falcons and Dominique Foxworth. As a life-long Falcons fan, I was a little disappointed in Foxworth's departure. But from everything I had seen regarding the deal, Atlanta had offered a larger contract than the Ravens. The deciding factor was Foxworth's desire to be closer to family, so he took less money. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I got. Keep up the good work.
Pat Yasinskas: I could be wrong, too. But everything I've heard about the Domonique Foxworth situation is that the Falcons had a limit of how much they would pay to keep him and the Ravens greatly exceeded that. Whatever the case, there's no doubt Foxworth's roots in Maryland played some role in his decision.
Jonny in Qunicy writes: I'm a huge falcons fan...do you think that we will have any success with our young secondary, or what? do you think it would be chris houston and chevis jackson starting....because i think jackson could be a great corner and houston is going to get better...do you think our defense is going to be good???
Pat Yasinskas: The fact the Falcons haven't made any moves at cornerback (other than letting Foxworth go) makes me wonder if the coaching staff has a higher opinion of the corners than the rest of us. Chris Houston developed nicely last season and Chevis Jackson came on well at the end of his rookie year. I know the coaches are high on those two guys. The Falcons also have Brent Grimes and Von Hutchins, who each missed some significant time with injuries, coming back. Could the Falcons still add a corner in free agency or the draft? Sure, it's entirely possible. But I'm also starting to think it wouldn't be a total disaster if they stick with what they've got.
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| Getty Images/AP Photo | |
| Aqib Talib, Jabari Greer and Richard Marshall are part of the changing of the guard at the cornerback position in the NFC South. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
In an otherwise-quiet offseason, the NFC South has turned the corners.
If there's one common theme in the division, it's that there will be lots of change and plenty of youth at cornerback. For better or worse, each team is going to have at least one new starter at cornerback and many familiar faces are gone.
Get used to guys like Richard Marshall, Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter, Aqib Talib and Chevis Jackson because they're going to be the new cornerback faces in the NFC South.
Yes, Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber and New Orleans' Mike McKenzie are still around, but that may be more for show and sentiment than anything. The days of big-name cornerbacks in this division are over -- at least until some of these new guys make names for themselves and they're going to get every chance.
Somebody has to step up and guard the likes of Steve Smith, Roddy White, Marques Colston and Antonio Bryant. That may seem like a big task for a bunch of young and unproven cornerbacks, but that's what it's going to come down to.
Every team in the division suddenly needs major production from young or new cornerbacks.
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| Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images | |
| The Saints get a healthy Tracy Porter back after injury cut short his promising rookie campaign. |
Start with the Saints because they could have the most change of all. The entire secondary has been a mess the last couple of years, but the problems have been particularly bad at cornerback. McKenzie's gone down with major injuries in each of the last two seasons and the Saints have been forced to go with the likes of the undersized Jason David and the antiquated Aaron Glenn playing big roles.
It hasn't really mattered how many yards Drew Brees has thrown for the last two seasons because the New Orleans defense has given up just as many. But the plan is for that to stop. Although McKenzie, David and Randall Gay remain on the roster, there's a chance the Saints could end up with Greer and Porter as their starters.
New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams wants to bring an aggressive approach and Greer has been the highlight of New Orleans' free-agency class. He was signed away from Buffalo, where he was a starter the last two years. The four-year, $23 million deal the Saints gave Greer likely means they're counting on him being the No. 1 cornerback.
But don't rule out the possibility of Porter being just as good before all is said and done. A second-round pick last year, Porter got off to a strong start as a rookie. He showed all the physical skills and tremendous confidence before going down with an injury just before midseason.
Tampa Bay also could have two new starters as new coach Raheem Morris takes over. You can pretty much assume that Aqib Talib, last year's first-round pick, will move into a starting role. Starter Phillip Buchanon departed through free agency and Talib showed promise as the nickelback last year. He may have to become Tampa Bay's No. 1 cornerback because nobody knows what the future holds for Barber, who is nearing the end of his career.
The Bucs pursued Greer and several other free-agent cornerbacks. They likely aren't done making moves at this position and that could be a sign that they're considering moving Barber to the nickel role.
Only a year ago, a lot of people thought Carolina had the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL. But that trio is now just a duo. Chris Gamble remains as probably the division's best cornerback, but he's going to have a new starter beside him.
The Panthers whacked veteran Ken Lucas in a salary-cap move this week. Lucas' play declined late last season. There are a lot of people who believe Richard Marshall, the nickelback the last couple of years, is ready to step in and provide an upgrade over Lucas.
That may turn out to be true, but Marshall's elevation raises another question that doesn't have an obvious answer: Who's going to be the nickelback? All the Panthers have at the moment is C.J. Wilson, who barely has played and veteran Dante Wesley, who may not be much more than a special-teams player. That means there's a good chance the Panthers, who have almost no salary-cap room, will have to draft a cornerback.
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| AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin | |
| Chevis Jackson, a third-round pick in 2008, should have a larger role in 2009. |
That's a route the Falcons may also follow because they have the division's least-defined cornerback situation at the moment. This team unloaded the talented, but troubled DeAngelo Hall before last season and made it to the playoffs with smoke, mirrors
and luck at cornerback last season. But some of that luck already is gone.
Domonique Foxworth, who emerged as a pleasant surprise last season, went to Baltimore after getting a massive deal in free agency. But the Falcons don't seem too worried. They could have made a stronger attempt to keep Foxworth, but didn't.
That makes you wonder whether coach Mike Smith has a higher opinion of his cornerbacks than the rest of us do. Chris Houston returns as a starter, but he hasn't yet shown he can be a true No. 1 cornerback. Smith must be thinking Houston can grow into that role because there aren't any other options on the roster.
In fact, it's far from clear who the other starter will be. Von Hutchins will be back after missing last season with an injury and Brent Grimes, who was a part-time starter last year, also remains a possibility.
But keep an eye on Jackson, a third-round pick last year, who started to show some big-play capability at the end of last season. The Falcons may be looking for Jackson to start or, at very least, be the nickelback.
If Jackson can do that, he'll fill a big void. He'll also be one of the faces of change at cornerback in the NFC South.
Lucas could fit with other NFC South teams
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
In the few hours since the Panthers released cornerback Ken Lucas, I've gotten a lot of questions in the mailbag about him.
Saints fans are asking if Lucas could end up in New Orleans. Bucs fans want to know if Lucas might be a fit in Tampa Bay. And Falcons fans are wondering if Lucas might be able to help the Atlanta secondary.
I see some merit to all those questions and I think there's at least a chance Lucas could end up staying in the NFC South. Keep in mind, Lucas turned down a trade to Detroit because he wants to play for a team that has a chance to win. The Bucs, Falcons and Saints are several notches ahead of the Lions and any of them could be contenders next season.
I'll examine each of these three scenarios and I'll go in order by which team I think might work best for Lucas.
SAINTS
It's no secret the Saints are working hard to overhaul their defense. They just signed Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter will be back from injury. But I think the Saints still would like to upgrade over Jason David and there's no guarantee that Mike McKenzie will return to full health. Lucas isn't the player he was a few years ago, but he's smart and could be a nice insurance policy. The Saints don't have a lot of cap room, but I don't think Lucas is going to command big money at this time. Plus, keep this in mind, coming to New Orleans would be a bit of a homecoming for Lucas, who is from Mississippi.
FALCONS
I know Atlanta fans may not be excited about the cornerback crew of Chris Houston, Von Hutchins, Brent Grimes and Chevis Jackson. But the coaching staff likes each of those guys. That said, it wouldn't hurt to have an experienced corner like Lucas. He's not the type of guy who would be a locker-room leader, but he could be a mentor to some of the younger cornerbacks. Lucas may not be a starter anymore, but he could be a nice third or fourth cornerback for a year or two.
BUCCANEERS
Tampa Bay has spent most of its offseason getting rid of older players and Lucas doesn't really fit their youth movement. He also isn't a real fit in the bump coverage coordinator Jim Bates plans to use. But, then again, veteran Ronde Barber doesn't seem to fit that mold either. In fact, at the current time, I'm thinking there's a chance Lucas might be better than Barber.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
The Atlanta Falcons are the final stop for today's team-by-team mailbags.
Greg in CT writes: Those who have questioned the Falcons tepid off season are told to relax that Dimitroff has never been wrong before. How can one (admittedly very successful) draft exempt him from scrutiny? The Falcons were VERY lucky in 2008, especially on defense, and nothing has been done to address defensive deficiencies. I would think after 40 years, Falcon fans have earned the right to be pessimistic. And until Dimitroff has a clear PATTERN of success, it's premature to start comparing the Falcons to the Patriots.
Pat Yasinskas: That's a very valid point. As of the moment, the Falcons haven't done much with their defense. In fact, they've gotten rid of players like Keith Brooking, Grady Jackson, Lawyer Milloy, Domonique Foxworth and Michael Boley. But that was mostly by design. Foxworth was the only one of that bunch the Falcons truly wanted to keep, but he got a big offer from Baltimore that the Falcons couldn't compete with. Brooking, Jackson and Milloy all were near the end of their careers and the Falcons want to get younger at those positions. They haven't done much in free agency so far, but that's mainly because they don't have a lot of salary-cap room. But the wave of big money in free agency is over and I think you'll see the Falcons start making some moves. Thomas Dimitroff had an excellent draft last year, but he can't fill all the defensive holes through the draft. In essence, the Falcons lost five starters on defense and you're not going to get five starters in the draft. The Falcons need to sign two or three free agents who can start for them.
Atljbo in Atlanta writes: Will the Atlanta Falcons go after Leigh Bodden ? I think he would fit in Falcons scheme nicely.
Pat Yasinskas: Oops. In the short time between when I first answered this question and now, Leigh Bodden has signed with the Patriots. So scratch him off the list. I agree he would have been a nice fit in Atlanta, but I'm not sure the Falcons thought he was worth the money and I don't think they were very involved in this one. Von Hutchins, Chris Houston, Brent Grimes and Chevis Jackson are all young cornerbacks with upside. But I'd like to see the Falcons add one experienced cornerback to the mix and I think they'll continue to look for one at a reasonable price.
Pabst in Vegas writes: Falcons signed Mike Peterson, what are your thoughts on this? Back-up? Starter? Improvement over Brooking? Or is this just loyalty from Mike Smith? Thanks, I read the column everyday. Keep up the good work, and go Falcons!
Pat Yasinskas: I'm having a tough time getting excited about the Mike Peterson move. He's only a year younger than Keith Brooking and most of his experience is in the middle. The Falcons are set with Curtis Lofton in the middle, so it's a pretty fair assumption they're planning on using Peterson on the outside. And they're paying him starter money -- a two-year deal that could be worth up to $6.6 million. Mike Smith has history with Peterson and knows his abilities. I'm hoping Smith sees something that's not very apparent to me right now.
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.
