Ryan Dunleavy previews the NFC South as The Submit offers division-by-division breakdowns forward of the 2022 NFL season.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coach: Todd Bowles
2021 document: 13-4
O/U wins: 11.5
Key additions: WR Julio Jones, WR Russell Gage, G Shaq Mason, G Luke Goedeke, TE Kyle Rudolph, S Logan Ryan, DT Akiem Hicks, DE Logan Corridor, S Keanu Neal
Key departures: TE Rob Gronkowski, G Alex Cappa, TE O.J. Howard, RB Ronald Jones, S Jordan Whitehead, EDGE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Ndamukong Suh
First-and-goal: Championship-or-bust is the philosophy for so long as 45-year-old QB Tom Brady performs, which he briefly determined in opposition to throughout a 30-day retirement early within the offseason. Ryan and Jones continued the custom of taking contract reductions to play with Brady after he unretired. Top-of-the-line receiving duos — Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — turned the perfect receiving quartet with these additions. And but the Bucs supposedly are going to focus extra on the run to realize offensive stability — so long as RB Leonard Fournette can keep in form. Carlton Davis is creating right into a lock-down cornerback.
Fourth-and-long: Brady took a mysterious 11-day absence from coaching camp. Is the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion above reproach or do veteran teammates resent that he needed to work much less exhausting as a result of his household time issues greater than theirs? Bowles managed video games rather more conservatively throughout his four-year stint main the Jets than his predecessor Bruce Arians ever would, however Bowles didn’t have Brady to fall again on again then. Three new inside offensive line starters disrupts continuity — and the easiest way to beat Brady is with a go rush in his face. Gronkowski’s retirement leaves a gap at tight finish. Will they nonetheless have the NFL’s finest dashing protection with out Suh?
Dunleavy’s Determination: 13-4. Doesn’t it simply really feel like Brady goes out on high, like Peyton Manning and John Elway? Definitely not by dropping a house playoff recreation like final yr.
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2. New Orleans Saints
Coach: Dennis Allen
2021 document: 9-8
O/U wins: 8.5
Key additions: WR Jarvis Landry, WR Chris Olave, OT Trevor Penning, S Tyrann Mathieu, S Marcus Maye, QB Andy Dalton, S Daniel Sorensen
Key departures: LT Terron Armstead, QB Trevor Siemian, S Marcus Williams, LB Kwon Alexander, S Malcolm Jenkins, CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
First-and-goal: Perhaps the most important “addition” is the return of WR Michael Thomas (averaged 126 catches per season from 2017-19) after lacking all of final season. These numbers gained’t be duplicated as a result of the high-octane offense fueled by coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees (each retired) goes to get replaced by a extra methodical tempo to restrict QB Jameis Winston’s turnovers. The job didn’t look too massive for Winston earlier than his season-ending torn ACL. Move rushers Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport, LB DeMario Davis and CB Marshon Lattimore type the inspiration of a top-five protection. Landry and Mathieu are former LSU stars coming residence.
Fourth-and-long: RB Alvin Kamara is going through a possible midseason suspension (relying on the timing of the authorized course of) stemming from an arrest on a battery cost. The again finish of the protection was remade, after Williams was misplaced to a wage cap crunch and Jenkins retired. Allen was an uninspiring 8-28 as Raiders head coach from 2012-14. With Payton out of the equation, the versatile Taysom Hill mistakenly might be minimized as a decent finish. The Saints made a first-round draft commerce and wage cap maneuvers (reportedly clearing $110 million in house) to recommend they nonetheless are working in win-now mode, which feels naïve.
Dunleavy’s Determination: 8-9. Shut the guide on the perfect period in Saints historical past, although it’s disappointing that annual playoff journeys solely resulted in a single championship.
3. Carolina Panthers
Coach: Matt Rhule
2021 document: 5-12
O/U wins: 6.5
Key additions: QB Baker Mayfield, G Austin Corbett, C Bradley Bozeman, RB D’onta Foreman, WR Andre Roberts, DT Matt Ioannidis, LB Cory Littleton, S Xavier Woods, OT Ikem Ekwonu, P Johnny Hekker
Key departures: QB Cam Newton, C Matt Paradis, CB A.J. Bouye, DT DaQuan Jones, CB Stephon Gilmore, EDGE Haason Reddick
First-and-goal: Good factor the Panthers traded for Mayfield after they did, as a result of preseason accidents to QBs Sam Darnold and Matt Corral would’ve meant misplaced negotiation leverage. The offensive line was partially accountable for Darnold’s shortcomings final season, which explains concentrating on three starters. Mayfield was superb in 2020, main the Browns to the second spherical of the playoffs for the primary time since 1994. Can he show final yr’s struggles have been injury-related? WR D.J. Moore might be a star with regular quarterback play. The younger secondary — with S Jeremy Chinn and CBs Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson now surrounded by the veteran Woods — may flip elite.
Fourth-and-long: The Panthers have been 4-3 when RB Christian McCaffrey performed final season and 1-11 when he didn’t. It’s harmful to be that reliant on an injury-prone again, even when he's a menace for two,000 yards from scrimmage when wholesome. If Mayfield falters, it is going to be tempting to return to Darnold (excessive ankle sprain) when he's wholesome. The Panthers have began 4 quarterbacks over Rhule’s two seasons. With Rhule on the new seat, he'll most likely be linked to each main head teaching emptiness that opens throughout school soccer season, making a distraction. It’s previous time to repair the annual kicking situation, too.
Dunleavy’s Determination: 7-10. When making trades, the Panthers give away draft picks like candies, in order that they higher get good shortly.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Coach: Arthur Smith
2021 document: 7-10
O/U wins: 4.5
Key additions: QB Marcus Mariota, RB Damien Williams, WR Drake London, LB Lorenzo Carter, CB Casey Hayward, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, OLB Arnold Ebiketie
Key departures: QB Matt Ryan, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Russell Gage, EDGE Dante Fowler, LB Foye Oluokun, S Duron Harmon, CB Fabian Moreau
First-and-goal: What's there to be enthusiastic about? Even common supervisor Terry Fontenot stated, “We’re taking it on the chin this yr.” Mariota, who's 29-32 in his profession as a starter, is a placeholder — perhaps for third-round rookie QB Desmond Ridder or perhaps for a high draft decide subsequent yr. Former particular groups ace Cordarelle Patterson discovered a house with 205 offensive touches final season — 120 greater than in any of his first eight NFL seasons. It might be enjoyable to look at the athletic duo of TE Kyle Pitts and WR Drake London sky for fades — if the Falcons ever get into the pink zone.
Fourth-and-long: By pursuing QB Deshaun Watson (and developing empty), the Falcons price themselves Ryan, who was traded with damage emotions. That call turned 2022 right into a rebuilding yr with $63 million in lifeless cap house, which could not be a foul factor if the choice was combating for mediocrity with a 36-year-old quarterback. Even with London, the receiver corps is perhaps the worst within the league as a result of the group’s finest participant, Calvin Ridley, is suspended for the season attributable to playing. The protection solely managed 18 sacks final season and didn’t add a confirmed go rusher.
Dunleavy’s Determination: 2-15. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Younger? That is perhaps the query the quarterback-needy Falcons are asking by Halloween.
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