During the month of August, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be breaking down every division in the league by position. This article contains a position-by-position breakdown of the NFC South defenses. The breakdown will contain “the best” at each unit followed by “the rest” in descending order.
2019 NFC South Breakdown by Position: The Defense and Special Teams
Defensive Line
The Best: New Orleans Saints
The Rest: Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For much of 2018–and frankly since 2006–much of the praise given to the New Orleans Saints have been toward the offense. When the team’s offensive attack lost steam down the stretch, the defense played huge; that improved play was caused by the defensive line. Recording double-digit sacks for the fourth time in six seasons, Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan continues to be one of the league’s top edge rushers. Playing all 16 games and tallying eight takedowns, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins played at an All-Pro level; his career year aided New Orleans in finishing with the league’s second-best run defense. David Onyemata and Malcolm Brown are solid veteran contributors along the line. Marcus Davenport showed flashes as a rookie, but more consistent outings from him will further boost a defense that finished last year with 49 sacks.
The Panthers made a splash in June by adding Gerald McCoy to their defensive line. Coming off his seventh-consecutive season with at least six sacks, the perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle will be paired with all-star defensive lineman Kawann Short. McCoy’s presence should make matters simpler for Dontari Poe, who hasn’t performed at the peak Pro Bowl level from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. With the experience and pedigree along this front, Carolina should surpass the 35 sacks they collected in 2018.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarett was outstanding for Atlanta last season, compiling 52 tackles and six sacks from the inside. The 14-game display earned the 25 year old a lucrative four-year/$68 million dollar contract. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the elite-graded run stuffer is the only high-end contributor on the defensive line. Takkarist McKinley has 13 takedowns in two NFL seasons, but he hasn’t been transcendent enough to warrant much attention. Hopefully for Atlanta, newcomers Allen Bailey and Tyeler Davidson will help the team finish better than its 37 sacks from a season ago.
In efforts to replace Gerald McCoy, the Buccaneers acquired his 2010 NFL draft mate, Ndamukong Suh. Though he’s been a consistent rush stopper throughout his career, Suh hasn’t fully lived up to his potential. Since his strong 10-sack rookie outing, he’s only eclipsed eight or more takedowns twice since 2011. Drafted in 2013, William Gholston has been largely underwhelming throughout his time in the pros. Starting only eight games in 2018, Beau Allen should be significantly more productive than 20 tackles and two sacks. With the talented offensive lines in the NFC South, Tampa Bay will struggle trying to build off its 19th-placed sack total and 24th-ranked rushing defense.
Linebacker
The Best: Carolina Panthers
The Rest: New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons
Any linebacker corps that features Luke Kuechly will be formidable and highly regarded. The superstar backer posted his most tackles since 2014 (130) to go with his personal best 20 tackles for loss. Earning his sixth-consecutive Pro Bowl honor and fifth career First-team All-Pro designation, Kuechly remains the best at his position. Losing franchise great Thomas Davis, Bruce Irvin was brought in to replace him. Achieving career highs in stops (79), Shaq Thompson looks to be a reliable every-down starter.
Already an improved unit in 2017, the Saints linebackers were a brighter spot a season ago. Posting 110 tackles and setting career highs in sacks and forced fumbles, the Demario Davis free agent signing proved to be a success. A.J. Klein has also been an excellent off-season pickup for New Orleans. Despite currently being a backup, Craig Robertson is another player who can fill in at a moment’s notice. If he can shake off his injury woes, Alex Anzalone could develop into another key contributor. Regardless of who’s on the field, the Saints should be proud of the second-ranked rush defense product they have on the football field.
The Buccaneer linebacker position was decimated this off-season. From losing Kwon Alexander in free agency to losing Lavonte David to injury, the unit isn’t in the greatest place. The team did draft the highly-touted Devin White from LSU, but rookie performances can be unpredictable. Also, Tampa selected Anthony Nelson for insurance at the position. Having veterans Deone Bucannon and Carl Nassib produce at a high level would be greatest case scenario for the Bucs in 2019.
Alike its defensive line, Atlanta only has one elite-level player at linebacker while everyone else is essentially replaceable. Drafted in 2016, Deion Jones was a stat stuffer in each of his first two seasons. Dubbed as a Pro Bowl snub by our website as a rookie, the budding star backer made the NFL All-Star game in 2017. Injury ended his season in 2018, and his absence was sorely missed. Another 2016 draftee, De’Vondre Campbell, simply has yet to be a factor on defense. Excluding his explosive 15.5-sack 2016 campaign, Vic Beasley has not lived up to his draft billing. Despite the underachievements, Jones’ return should give this corps a boost.
Cornerback
The Best: New Orleans Saints
The Rest: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A liability for much of the Drew Brees–Sean Payton era, the Saints have found quality guys to play the cornerback position. Marshon Lattimore had an excellent start to his NFL career, winning the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Though he started slow in 2018, he gradually returned to his first-year form down the stretch. After an underwhelming time with the New York Giants, Eli Apple has shown that he can be trusted as a number-two corner.
The Falcons defense took a significant dip in 2018, but they still have cornerbacks they can rely on. From 2013-2018, Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford silently became a top-tier corner duo. Although Trufant has only made one Pro Bowl (2015), he’s recorded 72 passes defended and nine interceptions in his career. Though the franchise lost Robert Alford to the Arizona Cardinals, Isaiah Oliver was a solid second corner in 2018.
As still proven true, Carolina’s secondary hasn’t been the same since Josh Norman’s departure to the Washington Redskins. That said, James Bradberry has done his best to fill that All-Pro void with 35 defended passes and five interceptions the past three seasons. Donte Jackson gave the secondary a nice lift in 2018, so having him continuing to improve will bode well for the Panthers defense.
With longtime defensive back Brent Grimes no longer on the roster, the Bucs got much younger at the position by drafting two players at the position. Vernon Hargreaves broke up 10 passes as a rookie, but starting only eight games in two seasons, Tampa needs the former University of Florida defender to remain healthy and eventually take over as the number-one player on the defensive perimeter. Playing in 13 games a season ago, Tampa Bay needs Carlton Davis to be a major force at the cornerback spot.
Safety
The Best: Atlanta Falcons
The Rest: New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta was decimated with injuries throughout 2018; one of their casualties was Pro Bowl safety Keanu Neal. Putting up a career-best season in 2017, the Falcons sorely missed the defensive back’s versatility during his time away. Damontae Kazee did an unbelievable job in Neal’s absence–earning a spot on our site’s Pro Bowl snub list–put his performance wasn’t enough to overtake the team’s health issues. With Neal returning, along with the presence of veteran Ricardo Allen, the Falcons clearly have the best safety bunch within the division.
Football fans all over will forever reflect on the “Minnesota Miracle,” but even that iconic play should never take away Marcus Williams‘ awesome 2017 rookie campaign. After sporadic safety production in preceding seasons, Williams stabilized the position for the Saints with 71 tackles, seven pass deflections and four interceptions in his first season. He was so impressive that Pro Football Focus gave him an 89.2 overall grade, good for sixth at this position. Though he dipped statistically in 2018, Williams still graded out in the 70 range. Alike Williams, Vonn Bell also had stat reduction, but he did conclude last season with career highs in tackles (88) and tackles for loss (four).
In efforts to replace Kurt Coleman, the Panthers acquired Eric Reid in 2018. While not playing at the elite level from his early-San Francisco days, Reid did manage to achieve his highest tackle amount since his rookie season (71). Starting 13 games last year, Tre Boston set personal bests in stops (79) and pass deflections (nine). Notwithstanding their place in this safety hierarchy, they can be the best duo in the division by season’s end.
Tampa Bay has had steady productivity from eight-year defender Chris Conte. From 2012-2017, Conte recorded at least 64 tackles and five pass deflections every season except one. After playing only three games last year, the Bucs should get a huge jolt to their defensive backfield. Finishing with 71 tackles and four defended passes a year ago, Jordan Whitehead will be a nice complement to the veteran safety.
Special Teams
The Best: New Orleans Saints
The Rest: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Finishing ninth in field goals made last season, Wil Lutz has shown once again that he’s a dependable special teams scorer. Although 2018 was a quiet year due to the Saints’ high-octane offense, 2012 Pro Bowler Thomas Morstead continues to distance himself as the franchise’s greatest punter going into year 11.
With the struggles of Giorgio Tavecchio, the kicker position seems to be open for Matt Bryant. Already the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, the longtime special teams contributor can build on that mark even more. On the team since 2011, Matt Bosher is still the team’s go-to punter.
Carolina’s special teams group suffered a major loss as kicker Graham Gano will miss the entire 2019 campaign; rookie Joey Slye will reportedly take his place, per multiple reports. Even with solid punter Mike Palardy in place, headlines will absolutely revolve around the Panther kicking game.
Since the departure of Martin Grammatica, the Buccaneers haven’t had much consistency at the kicker spot. Their 2016 second-rounder Roberto Aguayo was a disappointment. Converting 83 percent with the New York Jets in 2017, Chandler Catanzaro seemed to be an upgrade, but he’s no longer on the roster. Averaging 44 yards per punt in 2018, the Bucs will hope that Bradley Pinion will be a plus in special teams.
NFC South Coaching
The Best: New Orleans Saints
The Rest: Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Drew Brees under center, Sean Payton turned the franchise into offensive juggernauts and perennial playoff contenders. The 2006 Coach of the Year has led the Saints to five NFC South Titles (2006, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2018) and the Super Bowl XLIV Championship. Since 2006, New Orleans has finished with a top-five offense every season except twice (six times as the league’s best offense). He is greatly responsible for bringing a historically-unsuccessful franchise, that was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, to its golden age. Holding the franchise record in career coaching wins (118), his offensive expertise has brought the Saints to unparalleled and unforeseen heights.
After missing the playoffs his first two seasons, Ron Rivera led the Carolina Panthers to postseason play in 2013 en route to claiming Coach of the Year honors. With the team’s dominant 15-1 campaign for 2015, Rivera took home the COY distinction for the second time. In a division that never had a repeat champion from 2002-2013, he guided his franchise to a three-peat during the 2013-2015 stretch. With a strong coach construbie a great foundation, the Panthers will always be a formidable franchise.
Serving as the defensive coordinator for an historically-great Seattle Seahawks group, Dan Quinn accepted the challenge of being head coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. Going 8-8 in his first year, he went 11-5 in 2016 and clinched a Super Bowl berth. Granted, he’s been fortunate to have immense offensive pieces like Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, but the former assistant coach constructed a top-ten defensive unit in 2017. With the team missing postseason play last year, a deep run into January should buy the veteran coach some extra time on the Atlanta sidelines.
With Jameis Winston’s starting role on the line, the Buccaneers called Bruce Arians to help guide the talented, yet embattled, passer. With an extensive track record of teaching up quarterbacks from Ben Roethlisberger to Andrew Luck to Carson Palmer, Winston seems to be in great hands. Arians will have his work cut out for him, however, as Tampa Bay still remains at the bottom of the NFC South barrel.
Check out the NFC South offensive breakdown.
NFC South Main Photo:
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