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There’s an age-old theory in the NFL when it comes to left tackles. It’s pretty simple, really and it goes something like this: Every decade or so, you use a first-round draft pick on a left tackle. You throw him out and there and he anchors your offensive line for 10 or 12 years.

Think Anthony Munoz or Jonathan Ogden. You get a guy like that and, chances are, he’s going to be around through at least a couple of coaching regimes and you’ve got one position you don’t need to worry about.

It’s a philosophy that’s been so rock solid through the years, that every team subscribes. But what happens when the subscription runs out or someone steals the magazine out of the mailbox?

Well, that’s sort of what’s happening right now in the NFC South -- the division without a stud left tackle.

It wasn’t planned this way at all. But the Carolina Panthers were starting Travelle Wharton, who truly is a guard, at left tackle when they lost to the Dolphins on Thursday night. Come Sunday, there’s a very good chance Wharton, who was a third-round draft pick, might have the best pedigree of any starting left tackle in the division.

There’s a very real chance that the other three NFC South teams will be starting left tackles who were not drafted, drafted late or born in the Czech Republic. Yes, this is what it has come to as we head for the playoff stretch.

Where have you gone Willie Roaf and Paul Gruber?

It’s been this way through parts of the division for much of the season, but the trend suddenly has grown because of injuries. The amazing thing is that the lack of blue-chip left tackles hasn’t caused a disaster for any of the NFC South teams --at least not yet.

Here’s a look at each NFC South team’s situation at left tackle:

Atlanta. The Falcons are the only team in the division that could end up with a first-round draft pick playing left tackle any time the rest of this season. That would be Sam Baker, whom the Falcons drafted out of Southern California last year. They used their second of two first-round picks to get Baker to protect the blindside of top pick Matt Ryan.

Baker’s been fine -- when he’s been on the field. But the problem is he’s already had a disturbing assortment of injuries. He missed last Sunday’s game against Carolina and the Falcons were forced to throw Will Svitek out there at left tackle and ask him to block Julius Peppers.

Svitek got through that game without much problem, but that was mainly because Peppers was playing with a broken hand and played only part of the game. Svitek’s the kind of guy who can get you through a game, but he’s not someone you want to hang out there for the rest of the season. The Falcons are 5-4 and have problems all over the place. To have any shot at the playoffs, they need to get Baker healthy and back into the lineup.

Carolina. Entering the season, the Panthers had the best left tackle in the division -- maybe in the NFL -- in Jordan Gross. They drafted him early in the first round back in 2003 and gave him a massive new contract after last season.

But disaster struck last week when Gross broke his ankle and went down for the season. That forced Carolina to drastically overhaul its offensive line because the Panthers don’t have another true left tackle on the roster. They’ve shifted Wharton to left tackle and inserted Mackenzy Bernadeau, who made his first NFL start Thursday night, at left guard.

Wharton’s been a starter at left tackle before and he’s serviceable there. But he’s not nearly as good at left tackle as he is at guard and he’s not nearly as good as Gross. There’s also a big drop-off from Wharton to Bernadeau at left guard and the 4-6 Panthers will have to pull off miracles on their offensive line if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.

New Orleans. The Saints thought they got their left tackle for a generation when they used the 13th overall pick in 2005 to take Jammal Brown out of Oklahoma. That move was working out just fine as Brown made the Pro Bowl in the 2006 and ’08 seasons.

But trouble surfaced in the preseason when Brown had to have surgeries for a hip injury and a sports hernia. Initially, the Saints thought he could return around midseason, but his recovery was slow and New Orleans decided to place Brown on injured reserve.

Brown’s injuries have given rise to one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. That’s Jermon Bushrod, who was thrust into the starting lineup after spending his first two seasons on the bench. A fourth-round pick out of Towson State, Bushrod suddenly was placed in charge of protecting Drew Brees’ back.

The amazing thing is Bushrod has done just fine. Give him lots of credit for that, but don’t go thinking he’s a Pro Bowler and the Saints should try to trade Brown in the offseason. Bushrod is not Brown. He has limitations and the Saints know it. If you watch their offense, they’ve done a lot to help Bushrod. They give him blocking help with their tight ends, fullback and running backs and it also helps that Brees has a quick release and doesn’t take many deep drops.

Tampa Bay. Part of the reason Jon Gruden was fired after last season was because he never instituted a long-term plan and this was especially true at left tackle. He was bringing in washed-up veterans like Luke Petitgout, but that might end up being a blessing for Raheem Morris and the current regime. Totally by accident (and injuries to Petitgout), the Bucs discovered Donald Penn.

He wasn’t even drafted out of Utah State, but he’s turned out to be a solid starting left tackle. He may never be dominant, but Penn has played well enough that the Bucs are likely to try to sign him to a big contract before the start of free agency in February.

Penn and Bushrod have shown that you don’t always have to find a left tackle in the first round of the draft. But they’re the exceptions. It’s nice when you can find gems like them and surround them with a good offensive line. But it’s even nicer when you draft a blue-chip tackle in the first round and build your offensive line around him.

	Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
	Tony Gonzalez needed to be on a contending team and the Falcons needed another weapon for Matt Ryan. Atlanta is counting on the partnership to lead to a title.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Tony Gonzalez was sitting on some bleachers after practice on a recent morning and talking about his new quarterback, Matt Ryan.

"I don't know why people always talk about 'it,'" Gonzalez said. "I think you can break it down and actually put your finger on it. First of all, he's got great talent and he's willing to work hard. Harder than anybody else. On our first day off of camp last week, he was in here working out at 3:30 on a Sunday. He's always watching film.

"I feel like I'm the same way. That's what makes great players. There's no substitute for it. That is the 'it' factor, you're willing to not just do what everybody else is doing. You're willing to go above and beyond.''

Camp Confidential: NFC South • Panthers: Thurs., Aug. 6 • Saints: Mon., Aug. 10 • Falcons: Sat., Aug. 15 • Buccaneers: Tues., Aug. 18 • Training camp index

Ten minutes earlier and 30 yards away, Ryan sat in a chair and said basically the same thing about Gonzalez.

"There's no mystery why that kind of stuff happens,'' Ryan said. "It's not just a fluke or anything like that. He works so hard. He puts in the time, works hard in the weight room and on the practice field and takes care of his body. It's been impressive for me to see what it takes to be at that level at your position in this league and being one of the best players in the league.''

Yes, greatness realized and greatness on the verge are colliding in Atlanta this summer. It's no accident. Matchmakers Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff have put Ryan and Gonzalez together in an attempt to give each of them perhaps the only thing they were lacking. Quite simply, Ryan and Gonzalez needed one another.

Ryan needed a tight end to go with running back Michael Turner and receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins as he attempts to follow up on an astounding rookie season. In the post-Michael Vick reconstruction of Atlanta, the Falcons give Ryan whatever he wants and needs.

That's why they went out and got the most productive tight end ever. Not thrilled with the prospect of another rebuilding year in Kansas City, Gonzalez said he was contemplating retirement. That all changed when Dimitroff and Smith started talking to the Chiefs about a trade. Atlanta sent its second-round pick in 2010 to Kansas City in exchange for Gonzalez because the future is now for the Falcons, who stunned the world by going 11-5 and making the playoffs last season.

Gonzalez needed a reason to keep playing and, most importantly, he needed a quarterback. You can see the chemistry coming together on the field. You can see it off the field, as the quarterback and tight end have been training-camp roommates and fast friends.

"We have the potential to be the best football team I've ever played on,'' Gonzalez said. "Offensively, we can be better than any team I've played on and that's saying a lot with the teams I played on with Dick Vermeil, Priest Holmes and Eddie Kennison. I loved (quarterback) Trent Green, but Matt's one of those Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman kind of guys. He's got the potential to be one of the best players ever.''

Now, Ryan is throwing to one of the best players ever.

Key questions

1. Can Atlanta's defense, with five new starters, be as good as the offense?
Yes. Smith got his defense to overachieve in his first season as a head coach and that came without him truly having time to stock his roster with his type of personnel. The Falcons made the playoffs with linebacker Keith Brooking, safety Lawyer Milloy and defensive tackle Grady Jackson serving as stopgaps near the end of their careers.

Those three are gone and so are linebacker Michael Boley and cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who was the only one of the five the Falcons had any interest in keeping. The Falcons drafted defensive tackle Peria Jerry and believe they had some replacements that fit their scheme in linebacker Stephen Nicholas, safety Thomas DeCoud and cornerback Brent Grimes.

They also signed free-agent linebacker Mike Peterson to take Brooking's place. Peterson, 33, doesn't make the defense any younger, but he spent the best years of his career in Jacksonville, where Smith was his defensive coordinator. Smith likes to talk about the "process'' and the defensive overhaul is the next step. The Falcons put last year's emphasis on building the offense. This year, they're trying to assemble a defense to match it.

	AP Photo/John Bazemore
	The Falcons need Matt Ryan to continue to improve in his second year.

2. Are the cornerbacks good enough to stop the top passing games?
A lot of fans seem concerned about a cornerback group that has Chris Houston and Grimes as the starters with rookie Chris Owens and second year pro Chevis Jackson as the top backups.

None of them fit the profile of a true shut-down corner, but Smith and Dimitroff seem to have a lot more faith in this group than their fans do. Houston's not the most physical cornerback around and Grimes' size (5-foot-9, which might be generous) could cause some matchup problems. But the Falcons didn't seem worried enough about either of those things to go out and splurge for a free agent.

That's because Smith and his staff believe they can coach Houston to be more aggressive and they believe Grimes is so athletic that he would have been a first-round pick instead of an undrafted free agent if he were a couple inches taller. The belief is that Grimes can make up for his lack of height with his rare leaping ability (he has a 42-inch vertical jump). Of course, it would only help the corners if John Abraham can produce another year of double-digit sacks and Jamaal Anderson can start showing why he was a top 10 pick in 2007.

3. Will there be a sophomore slump for Ryan?
That's usually a legitimate question when a guy has a remarkable rookie season. But this guy is different than any quarterback to come along in recent years.

Ryan's got an offensive line that showed it could protect him last year. He's got a top-notch runner in Turner, a Pro Bowl receiver in White and a solid possession guy in Jenkins. Add Gonzalez to that and Ryan's only going to get better.

Market watch
Quietly, the coaching staff is raving about what Nicholas has shown in camp so far. They say he's a completely different player and person than he was last year when he was flying back and forth to Boston to be with his infant son, who was awaiting a heart transplant. Stephen Nicholas Jr. got a new heart in mid-October and is completely healthy now. His father is able to focus completely on football now and the coaches firmly believe he's ready for a breakout season.

It's obvious this is a make-or-break year for Anderson at defensive end. He's got to show something and show it quickly because the Falcons aren't going to be patient much longer. They've got Chauncey Davis, who's ready to play immediately, and rookie Lawrence Sidbury, who has lots of potential, waiting to take over.

The Falcons must be very confident that left tackle Sam Baker is fully recovered from the back surgery that interrupted his rookie season. Atlanta didn't go out and get any other strong alternative and that's significant because Baker is the guy responsible for protecting Ryan's blind side.

Ferguson

Finneran

Newcomer watch
It's early yet, but the Falcons believe they might have hit on something when they signed veteran Robert Ferguson after Harry Douglas went down with a season-ending injury early in camp. Ferguson looks like a guy intent on redeeming a career that seemed to be stalled. There's no doubt the Falcons will miss Douglas because they wanted him to stretch the field. But Ferguson and veteran Brian Finneran might give them some quality depth.

The Falcons had planned to let Owens focus solely on playing cornerback as a rookie. But the injury to Douglas leaves the team with a big question mark at punt returner. Owens has return abilities and the Falcons are going to use the preseason to take a look at him in that role.

Observation deck
The Falcons went with Chris Redman as Ryan's backup last season and had D.J. Shockley as their third quarterback. But there's a chance Shockley and Redman could flip roles. Shockley's had a strong camp and has lots of upside. ... The annual speculation that running back Jerious Norwood should get more carries is rolling again. There might be some truth to that because the Falcons don't want Turner handling 376 carries again. But Norwood's still going to be a situational player and his carries aren't going to increase dramatically. ... White's contract holdout didn't seem to set him back. He looks like he's in the best shape of his career. ... Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was a force as a rookie last year, but the Falcons are going to ask even more from him this year. They want him to be an every-down linebacker. ... A lot of people like to bash the right side of Atlanta's offensive line. It's true that guard Harvey Dahl and tackle Tyson Clabo might not be the most talented guys. But offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and line coach Paul Boudreau do a good job of playing to their strengths. Dahl and Claybo are aggressive as run blockers and Mularkey and Boudreau do a good job of covering up their deficiencies as pass blockers by giving them help and not having Ryan take many deep drops.

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.

Division Camp Previews • Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North • Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East • Thursday: NFC South | AFC South • Friday: NFC West | AFC West MORE • Camp battles: AFC | NFC • Schedule: Training camp dates

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.

	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 i
s a power runner and Norwood is a speed guy. The Falcons need to put in some wrinkles to take advantage of Norwood's skills.

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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."

	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.

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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.

	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 witho
ut starting 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.

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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?

	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.

	Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
	As impressive as Matt Ryan's rookie season with the Falcons was, the second-year quarterback downplays it as just "a good start."

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Prepare yourself for the least-glowing review you'll ever hear about perhaps the best rookie season ever by an NFL quarterback.

"It was a good start, that's all," Matt Ryan said Friday afternoon as he sat on a porch overlooking the Atlanta Falcons' practice fields.

While the rest of the world uses the word "great" or something more elaborate to describe last year, Ryan almost shreds it. He came to a team that was supposed to be the worst in the league, threw for a touchdown on his first pass and kept growing all the way to the playoffs.

An encore of that 11-5 season probably would be good enough for Atlanta fans every year. But that's not nearly good enough for Ryan. He truly believes last year was just a start.

"I learned a lot about a lot of different things and I think that will serve me well heading into this season," Ryan said.

That attitude and a whole bunch of other things are the reasons why there will be no "sophomore slump" for Ryan. He's only going to keep getting better. Here are five reasons why:

1. He's stronger. If you haven't seen Ryan for a while -- and the last time I saw him in person before today was after the playoff loss to Arizona in January -- he appears leaner.

"I've noticed that, too," Ryan said with a laugh.

He went on to explain that he's still carrying 220 pounds, but he's carrying it a little differently.

Ryan's spent the bulk of the past two months working very hard with the team's strength and conditioning staff. He's added muscle and said he's in much better physical condition than he was a year ago.

"My goal was to get a little stronger physically, a little tighter and just in better shape overall," Ryan said.

There were suggestions late last season that Ryan was hitting the traditional "rookie wall." He still disputes that, but admits he feels better now than he did at any point last year. But that might not be all about physical strength.

2. He's been through it before. While Ryan's been working his body, he's been resting his mind. That's a good thing because no matter what happens the rest of his career, Ryan's never going to face a more difficult situation than last year.

Drafted third overall, he instantly was asked to make Atlanta forget about the mess surrounding Michael Vick and the fiasco that was the Bobby Petrino coaching tenure in 2007. From the day he walked into Atlanta to the day the Falcons lost in the playoffs, Ryan had to be the face of a franchise under intense scrutiny. He seemed to handle it flawlessly, but Ryan admitted Friday he was ready for a break after last season ended.

"I took a little vacation and was down in the Virgin Islands for 10 days and kind of got lost on the beach for a little while, which was nice," Ryan said. "It's been so much more laid back than last year."

Ryan's a bit of a workaholic and is known for spending a lot of time studying film. After his vacation, he's gotten back into that routine, but also has managed to take a few trips back home to the Philadelphia area to visit family and friends.

There's a bit more balance in Ryan's life now. It's not like last season when he was learning a new offense and getting used to a new city. The coaching staff -- notably offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave -- has remained largely intact and the playbook hasn't changed. Neither has the roster.

Matt Ryan #2 QB Atlanta Falcons 2008 STATS YDS CMP% TD INT RAT 3,440 61.1 16 11 87.7

3. The offense is better. Well, there is one significant change to the offensive roster. That's tight end Tony Gonzalez, acquired in trade with the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago.

"Any time you add a first-ballot future Hall of Famer to your team, you've gotten better," Ryan said.

Gonzalez has caught more passes than any tight end in history. The Falcons completed fewer passes to their tight ends than any team in the league last season. It's safe to look at what Atlanta's offense did in 2008 and say Gonzalez was the only missing link.

Just about everything else is back on offense and better than it was a year ago at this time. Receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins and running back Michael Turner all had breakout seasons. The offensive line, which seemed like it was overachieving early last year, is pretty much intact and should keep improving.

4. The defense will make Ryan better. Let's be real honest here. Despite a playoff run, Atlanta's defense wasn't all that good in 2008. Linebacker Keith Brooking, safety Lawyer Milloy and defensive tackle Grady Jackson were old and coach Mike Smith and coordinator Brian VanGorter squeezed every ounce of talent out of their defense.

The defense didn't always get off the field when it should have and Ryan and the offense had to pull out some games. But there have been huge changes on the defense and Smith and VanGorter now have their kind of players. They didn't have that luxury last year when they spent their early focus on offense, bringing in Ryan, Turner and left tackle Sam Baker. This year's offseason has been all about getting younger -- and better -- on defense with rookies Peria Jerry and William Moore as the top two draft picks.

5. Ryan is still Ryan. A few minutes after finishing my interview with the quarterback, I picked up a Falcons publication and read an interview with team owner Arthur Blank. He was asked about Ryan's future and made a comment about how he thinks it's important for the quarterback to keep his humility.

Blank, who went through hell with Vick, shouldn't have to worry about Ryan's humility. This guy is as grounded as they come and last year's success hasn't changed him a bit. Ryan was remarkably smooth on the field and off it last season. He still is the same guy.

After all, he might be the only guy in Atlanta humble enough not to get carried away with last season.

"You have to understand your role on the team," Ryan said. "As a quarterback, you have to be able to distribute the ball to the guys around you and try to put them in position to make plays. Fortunately, I think I've got some great guys out there who can make some plays. My focus has been on doing my job and not doing anything more or anything less -- just distribute the ball and put those guys in good positions."

Remember, that's only the start.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Team needs: Defensive line, outside linebacker, safety

	Todd Kirkland/Icon
	The Falcons could use some pass-rush help in the form of Georgia Tech's Michael Johnson.

Dream scenario: The Falcons already had the ultimate dream scenario last year when they hit big at quarterback (Matt Ryan), left tackle (Sam Baker) and middle linebacker (Curtis Lofton). Still, their defense wasn't that good last year and Atlanta is looking to get younger in several areas. The best way to improve a defense overall is to start with the pass rush. In that area, the Falcons, who have the 24th pick in the first round, have nothing but John Abraham. They could get him some help and score some major points with the hometown fans if they can land Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson.

Plan B: Drafting so late in the first round means the Falcons can't lock in on any one position. If Johnson or another quality pass-rusher isn't available, it will be easy for Atlanta to move in another direction. The Falcons let outside linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley go through free agency. Although they brought in free agent Mike Peterson, they need another starting outside linebacker. USC's Brian Cushing or Clay Matthews could fit nicely.

Scouts Inc.'s take: "It's a defensive pick, obviously. When you're picking that late, it's the best available defensive player. Thomas Dimitroff is a Scott Pioli guy, so there's always the chance they could trade and go back a few picks if the defensive player they want is there. The one thing that kind of intrigues me is Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas. Would the Falcons take a chance on him? It's a potential-type pick, but he has the athletic ability and size to be a top-flight NFL safety. But how quick is a guy from Western Michigan going to be able to step in?" -- Jeremy Green of Scouts Inc.

Who has final say: Coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff are one of the most harmonious duos in the league. They almost always come to a mutual conclusion because they're usually on the same page. But Dimitroff does have the final say if a dispute ever arises.

Now On the Clock: New England Patriots, March 24.

Previous On the Clock: Miami Dolphins. The team-by-team series.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

This one's not a big surprise. Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff was named Sporting News magazine Executive of the Year today.

Dimitroff was a driving force in turning the Falcons into a big success story in his first season with the team. He made all the right moves in the draft, choosing quarterback Matt Ryan, tackle Sam Baker, linebacker Curtis Lofton and some other contributors. In free agency, Dimitroff's big move was signing free-agent running back Michael Turner.

But Dimitroff also made some other small but crucial moves, like trading for Denver cornerback Domonique Foxworth.

Atlanta's Mike Smith was named the magazine's Coach of the Year and Ryan was the Rookie of the Year. The Atlanta sweep marked the first time one franchise has captured all three awards in the same season.

	Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
	Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan helped the Falcons improve greatly this season but came up short against the Cardinals.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The moment lasted perhaps 15 seconds. Its implications went a year into the past and years into the future.

In a hallway leading to the Atlanta Falcons' locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium Saturday, coach Mike Smith stopped briefly and hugged team owner Arthur Blank and his wife, Stephanie.

"We're glad you're with us,'' Stephanie Blank said to Smith.

"We're going to get better,'' Smith said.

Yes, the season is over for the Falcons, but "the process'' isn't. This might have been only the start.

Recording an 11-5 regular season and their first playoff berth since 2004, the Falcons showed just how far they have come from the dark days of last season. Bobby Petrino and Michael Vick brought the franchise to its deepest point.

A 30-24 wild-card playoff loss to the host Arizona Cardinals showed just how far the Falcons have to go to complete the process Smith is always talking about. This team is good, but it's not yet perfect.

"I'm disappointed but not discouraged,'' Smith said.

There's really no reason Smith should be discouraged. If he can accomplish half as much in his second season as he did in his first, the Falcons won't be losing playoff games.

All season, Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff would never talk about any specific goal for winning a certain amount of games. They'd talk only in the most general terms about "the process'' and make it sound like they weren't all that surprised by the team's success.

Deep down, though, does anybody really believe Smith and Dimitroff ever thought they'd be 11-5 and in the playoffs until maybe a week or so ago when they were 11-5 and in the playoffs? Did anybody really expect anything like this?

No way.

What the Falcons did this season was accelerate "the process." Let's be real honest. When Smith and Dimitroff looked at their roster coming out of training camp, they had to know they had some holes. Smith and his staff did a masterful job of hiding them for 16 games.

That was good enough to bring life back to a franchise and its fan base. The Falcons got more out of quarterback Matt Ryan than anyone could have imagined. The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year never really played like a rookie -- until Saturday. The Cardinals intercepted Ryan twice and sacked him three times. He completed 26 of 40 passes for 199 yards.

"In games like this -- and, hopefully, we'll be in games like this in the future -- you can't make mistakes,'' Ryan said.

But don't put all the blame on Ryan. The Falcons weren't able to do the basics they'd done all season. They couldn't run the ball as Michael Turner finished with 42 yards on 18 carries. The Falcons' defense couldn't match up with Arizona's passing game.

Ryan and Turner are the reasons the Falcons even reached the playoffs. The flaws around them were exposed by the Cardinals and that clears the way for the next step of the process.

It's now obvious what Smith and Dimitroff need to work on in the offseason. In no particular order, they need a pass rusher besides John Abraham, another quality defensive tackle, more speed at linebacker and some more talent in the secondary. On offense, they need to give their $73 million investment (Ryan) an upgrade or two on the offensive line and a pass-catching tight end.

Funny thing is, Dimitroff and Smith probably knew all those needs were there at the start of this season. You can change the direction of a team in one offseason by drawing out every bit of its talent. But it takes two or three offseasons to assemble the roster you want.

The Falcons have the major chunks in place with Ryan, Turner, offensive tackle Sam Baker, receiver Roddy White, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and linebacker Curtis Lofton. That's a great start. Throw in role players such as receiver Michael Jenkins, cornerback Chris Houston and a fruitful draft class beyond Ryan, Baker and Lofton that included contributors such as receiver/return man Harry Douglas and defensive back Chevis Jackson. The Falcons have the nucleus for a very good team.

Now, it's time for Smith and Dimitroff to add some more pieces and try to make this a great team.

"We're going to remember how we feel as a team because we plan on being back in this situation and we want to remember how this feels,'' Smith said.

The loss might sting a bit right now. But, someday, the Falcons might look back on this game and view it as just one more step in "the process'' of winning a Super Bowl.

	Dale Zanine/US Presswire
	Michael "Burner" Turner had eight 100-yard games and two 200-yard games this season for the Falcons.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

PHOENIX -- In this age of "Smash and Dash" and "Double Trouble," people in Atlanta only need a one-word nickname to describe the Falcons' running game.

That's because Michael "Burner" Turner is the Falcons' running game.

No running back carried the ball more often in the regular season. Turner had 376 carries (23.5 a game) for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. If you think that sounds like a case of overusing a single player at a time when most coaches prefer some sort of two- or three-headed backfield, you'd be wrong.

The proof is in the end result. Giving the ball to Turner repeatedly has worked wonders for the Falcons. They're 11-5 and in the playoffs for the first time since 2004 when they take on the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

"Michael just gets stronger and stronger as the game goes on,'' first-year coach Mike Smith said. "Going into the playoffs, we want to be able to run the football and it looks like Michael is very healthy."

Insider: Scouting Report Scouts Inc.'s Tag Ribary breaks down Saturday's NFC wild-card game between Atlanta and Arizona. Scouting Report

It's tough for any running back to stay completely healthy for an entire season and that's why so many coaches like to spread carries around. But Turner and the Falcons are the exception and it's not by accident.

This is exactly what the Falcons planned when they wouldn't let Turner leave their facility without signing a contract at the start of free agency. What the Falcons essentially were purchasing was a new car that had been test driven only a handful of times.

Although Turner had been in the NFL for four seasons, his odometer showed only 228 carries after playing behind LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. Fresh legs and a fresh body made Turner precisely the type of workhorse running back the Falcons knew they needed and this was long before they even knew they would draft quarterback Matt Ryan to run the offense.

In the complicated world of the NFL, Smith is as simple a guy as there is. As he inherited the mess caused by Bobby Petrino and Michael Vick, Smith came with a strong defensive background and only one philosophy on offense.

No matter what, he wanted to be able to run the football and run it frequently. Smith cut veteran Warrick Dunn, a 10,000-yard career rusher, and knew he needed more than backup Jerious Norwood (a classic speed back).

Turner had shown some flashes in his time with the Chargers, but the Falcons were taking a leap of faith in thinking he could give them 23 carries a game. That turned out to be the single-best move in all of free agency last year.

Ryan has been better than anyone expected, receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins have turned into a nice tandem, the special teams are excellent and the defense has played over its head.

But Atlanta's success story all stems straight from Turner.

"I believe in my abilities," Turner said. "I just show up to work every week and see what happens."

What's happened has been nothing but good things. Turner gave the Falcons eight 100-yard games and two 200-yard games. He has taken the pressure off Ryan and let the defense stay fresh by keeping the clock moving.

All that has come behind an offensive line that's full of no-name guys, unless you count rookie left tackle Sam Baker, who missed a large chunk of the season because of injuries. Todd Weiner, Todd McClure, Justin Blalock, Harvey Dahl and Tyson Clabo aren't especially talented as individuals. But they're strong as a group and they're coached by one of the league's best offensive line coaches, Paul Boudreau.

"They were the hardest-working group in the offseason," Turner said. "They are tough on the football field. I wouldn't have that many yards if those guys weren't doing what they were doing on the football field."

Turner gets only an occasional breather. Norwood carried 95 times for 489 yards and four touchdowns while getting a lot of playing time in passing situations. But most situations are about running for the Falcons and that's why they keep Turner on the field so much.

He's only 25 and the wear and tear of this season hasn't shown any real negative effects. It's a pretty safe bet that, in the future, the Falcons don't want Turner carrying 376 times a season. Doing that for more than one season probably would be asking for trouble and a short career for Turner.

At some point, the Falcons would like to give Norwood more carries and maybe even bring in another running back to help lighten Turner's load a bit. But that's in the future.

Against the Cardinals and however long the Falcons last in the postseason, they're going t
o keep handing the ball to Turner as much as possible. Yes, that's a heavy load for one player. But Turner has shown he's strong enough to handle everything the Falcons put on his shoulders.

He has carried them this far and, at this point, there's no sense in the Falcons worrying about how many carries Turner is getting. Let the Cardinals and any other defense Atlanta plays worry about that.

	US Presswire
	Mike Smith, John Harbaugh and Tony Sparano are standout rookie head coaches. Does one merit coach of year?.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham, James Walker and Pat Yasinskas

The debate over who should be the NFL's coach of the year begins with three rookies who assumed control of woebegone teams and brought them back to relevancy.

Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith, Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh have been sideline miracle workers. The Falcons already have clinched a playoff berth. On Sunday, the Dolphins can claim the AFC East, and the Ravens can clinch the final wild-card berth.

ESPN.com bloggers Pat Yasinskas, Tim Graham and James Walker discuss who is more deserving of the award, breaking down the debate into the three significant issues: team infrastructure, personnel at their disposal and obliterating expectations.

Which coach had to deal with the most daunting organizational strife?

Tim Graham: The Dolphins blew themselves up at the start of the year. Bill Parcells arrived late in 2007 and didn't see much he liked from a team about to miss the playoffs a seventh straight season. The team was going through the motions of a 1-15 campaign that was even more ridiculously bad than the record indicated. So the Dolphins started from scratch. Parcells fired the general manager, the head coach and got rid of all the captains.

Tony Sparano became the fifth head coach in the past five years, taking over a team that hadn't recorded double-digit wins since the glorious Jay Fiedler era. Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga, meanwhile, was unloading a good portion of the team, creating a widespread uneasiness at the Davie, Fla., headquarters even in the offices outside of the football operations department.

A good time was not being had by all.

Pat Yasinskas: Sorry fellas, but this one's not even a contest. Yeah, the Ravens and Dolphins had their problems. But let's face it, at the end of last year, the Falcons were the most dysfunctional franchise in the history of football. Their franchise quarterback, Michael Vick, had just gone off to jail.

Their coach, Bobby Petrino, had walked out on them for a more talented roster at the University of Arkansas. The city, which never truly embraced the Falcons, now turned its back on them completely. Even Rich McKay, the team's general manager, president and perhaps only lingering thread of sanity, got pushed out of the football side and into the business side of things. Then owner Arthur Blank did the most daring thing of all and hired Mike Smith, who had never been a head coach before, and Thomas Dimitroff, who had never been a general manager before. It looked as if it was going to be a classic case of the blind leading the blind.

James Walker: Let me add this, Pat and Tim. Much is being made of Miami's 1-15 record last year, but keep in mind which team that victory came against. Yes, it was the Baltimore Ravens. That was a rock-bottom moment, not only for the season but I think for the 12-year history of the franchise.

Baltimore's biggest issue moving forward was where it would go from there. The Ravens' situation was unique in that they had to consider what type of transition to make.

Was Baltimore in need of a complete overhaul or just retooling? Sometimes, that's harder to accomplish in the NFL than what the Dolphins and Falcons did by completely starting over. Those two teams at least knew their direction early on.

The Ravens had to tread a more delicate path in bringing in some new coaches such as Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, while keeping others such as defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. They brought in some new players to help certain spots and trusted others to bounce back, either from injury or poor performance.

Baltimore also traded down in the draft to land more picks and first-round quarterback Joe Flacco, who was a bigger unknown than Matt Ryan or Jake Long. So there were certainly some issues with the Ravens. It just happened that Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome pushed most of the right buttons.

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(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Here's a quick roundup of the events of the day in the NFC South.

PANTHERS
Cornerback Ken Lucas was listed on the injury report with a head injury, but he fully participated in Wednesday's practice. Linebacker Adam Seward (ankle) and defensive end Hilee Taylor did not practice.

Guard Travelle Wharton gets some international pub for his big fumble recovery Sunday and his strong season overall.

BUCCANEERS
Tampa Bay didn't practice Wednesday, but they did put out an injury report, as required by the NFL. The Bucs specified that the report is only an estimate, but they estimated that defensive tackle Jovan Haye (knee) wouldn't have practiced and quarterback Brian Griese (elbow), receiver Ike Hilliard (shoulder), tight end Alex Smith (ankle) and defensive end Gaines Adams (hip) would have participated on a limited basis. The Bucs return to practice Thursday.

SAINTS
Fullback Mike Karney practiced for the first time since suffering a knee injury Nov. 9. Running back Reggie Bush also participated fully. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn (shoulder) did not practice and is doubtful for Sunday's game with Atlanta.

The Saints signed defensive end Rob Ninkovich and safety Terrence Holt to fill the roster spots for the suspended Deuce McAllister and Will Smith.

FALCONS
Rookie left tackle Sam Baker took a big step in his return from back surgery. He's been out since Week Six, but returned to the practice field on a limited basis Wednesday. But my best guess is we're at least another week away from seeing Baker in a game.