Trending in the NFC South
Share by Email
The New Orleans Saints broke all sorts of records. The Atlanta Falcons broke down under the weight of expectancy. The Carolina Panthers broke out, thanks in part to Cam Newton. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Well they were broke heading into the season, we just didn’t realize how badly until they tried such advanced football concepts as tackling.
This was a year in the NFC South when the haves continued to dominate the have-nots, despite the Panthers suggesting they could challenge, while the Buccaneers showed everyone how beating teams with losing records can come back to haunt you a year later, if you fail to invest wisely. Take note Falcon fans.
So as we continue our look at some of the most notable individual performances of the 2011 season, let’s see what the NFC South has to offer, starting with those disappointed Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons
Most Improved
Sean Weatherspoon: From -10.2 (2010) to +20.4 (2011)
The Falcons were probably a little relieved when a non-serious injury meant they could afford to limit the amount of snaps they had to give Weatherspoon as a rookie. All too often out of place, he wasn’t able to put his physical talents to use in 2010. Fast forward a year and Weatherspoon looks like one of the best linebackers in the league. He could stand to improve in coverage, but his knack for making big stops and getting off blocks is impressive, and exactly what you’d expect out of a first round pick.
Biggest drop off
Kroy Biermann: From +12.7 to -10.1
You had to feel bad for Biermann. Here’s a player who constantly picked up pressure in 2010, yet the whole world seemed to be clamoring for his role to be reduced. It did with the arrival of Ray Edwards, and it led to the Falcons getting far less pressure on the other side of John Abraham then they anticipated for. Biermann didn’t seem to respond to the reduced role, and had something of a year to forget. On 92 fewer pass rushes, he picked-up 23 fewer QB disruptions. Would the Falcons have been better off keeping Biermann and not spending on Edwards? We’ll never know, but it’s a question their money men must be asking.
More snaps needed
Stephen Nicholas: +5.9 from 286 snaps
Atlanta didn’t get as much production from their pass rush as they had hoped, especially in their sub package defense on 3rd-and-long. Part of the problem came the lack of push up the middle from anyone not named Jonathan Babineaux. One way to counter this would be to get a bit more creative and use more 3-3-5 alignments, as had seemingly become the norm in 2010. Nicholas, who missed time through injury as well, would fit in very handily as one of these three linebackers, as he and Weatherspoon displayed an ability to generate pressure off the edge. However they do it, the Nicholas’ play seems to dictate he should be a bigger part of the defense.
__________________________________________________________________________
Carolina Panthers
Most Improved
Steve Smith: From -7.8 to +11.7
And here is why you don’t give up on talented players. As much as it appeared Smith was angling for a move after the 2010 season, a far greater concern for him should have been his performance. The erratic QB displays he was subjected to didn’t help, but he has to take a degree of responsibility for his failings. That was all a thing of the past as he rolled back the years on his way to our eighth-highest receiving grade of all wide outs. Still one of the most dangerous receivers in the league.
Biggest drop off
James Anderson: From +14.1 to -2.3
If 2010 was what Anderson is capable of, then 2011 was very much a letdown. Gone were the big plays that made Anderson stand out on a bad team, replaced with too many missed tackles (13) and not enough defensive stops (13 fewer than in 2010). Sometimes living up to a new contract can be something of a burden, and Anderson appears a prime example of this.
More snaps needed
Omar Gaither: +2.1 from 241 snaps
As we see more nickel and sub package defenses, it does, to a degree, help disguise the limitations of some linebackers. Gaither is one of those linebackers; excellent against the run and exploitable in coverage. He’s good enough to start, but not such that you want teams to be able to key in on him every down. So with the Panthers possibly re-tooling their linebacker group and Thomas Davis possibly on the way out, is there room for Gaither to get a full time starting job in the Panthers’ base? Carolina had a lot of linebackers get playing time last year, so it may be another team that gets the best use out of Gaither.
__________________________________________________________________________
New Orleans Saints
Most Improved
Jermon Bushrod: From -28.8 to +0.5
Let’s not go overboard, Bushrod in no way, shape or form deserved to make it to the Pro Bowl. He still benefits from playing in an offense that gets rid of the ball quickly, and is far from dominating. But he’s not the liability he once was, cutting back the number of QB disruptions he gave up despite having to spend more snaps in pass protection. He’ll never be a mauler at tackle, and losing Carl Nicks could possibly hurt him going forward, but he proved this year he can at least slow down the pass rushers he once seemed intent on ushering through to his QB.
Biggest drop off
Roman Harper: From +0.7 to -17.8
It may seem odd to be so critical of Harper in a year where he picked up nine sacks (including playoffs). Well, ignore that for a second, because that number owes to blitzing 153 times and to teams not picking him up (eight of his sacks were unblocked). Instead, focus on how Harper, a safety, struggled so much in coverage. Harper, who gave up six touchdowns, just can’t keep up with backs and tight ends and was found out on more than one occasion in the Saints’ aggressive scheme.
More snaps needed
Chris Ivory: +5.2 from 156 snaps
The problem for Ivory is there are three other running backs who could probably handle more snaps. It’s a shame because he has proved over the past two years he can pick up yards, with his 4.4 yards per carry being greatly assisted by forcing 14 missed tackles on his 101 attempts. Ivory may need to move elsewhere to see snaps, but at the very least, he looks like an excellent complement to a feature back at the RB spot.
__________________________________________________________________________
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most Improved
Michael Bennett: From -5.7 to +26.0
One of the few success stories of the 2011 season for the Buccaneers was the play of DLE Bennett. Unheralded–and then some–heading into the year, Bennett stepped up with a series of performances that should ensure the Bucs lock him down for the future. What most impressed us was how he was able to get plenty of pressure while playing the run so well. His dominance of the Colts in Week 4 showing just what he is capable of.
Biggest drop off
Quincy Black: From +8.1 to -20.9
Ronde Barber earned some serious consideration as he looked to have played one season too many, but for sheer ineptitude, Black takes it. Fresh off getting massively overpaid relative to his work on the field, Black contrived to miss 16 tackles, over-pursue numerous plays, and look anything but cut out for a three-down role. A real failure for Bucs management to put so much money in a player with such a limited body of work.
More snaps needed
Gerald McCoy: +5.5 from 228 snaps
How different could the Bucs year have been if McCoy hadn’t been lost for the year? The talented DT looks the kind of every-down player who can make plays regardless of what the offense is doing. One of the biggest things the new coaching staff can do is ensure McCoy is healthy, because if Tampa Bay is to challenge the powerhouses of the NFC South, they need players like him.
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled … and our main feed too: @ProFootbalFocus
