Skill Position Rankings - NFC South
August 18, 2008
QB:
1. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees is by far the best QB in the division. No argument. Year after year, he produces big numbers in a pass-oriented Saints offense and look for that to happen again this year.
2. Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme was on pace to have a career best year when injury stuck him. It’s hard to tell how he’ll bounce back from the season ending surgery, but his arm in better shape then ever according to him and that is enough for me to put him above the slowly rotting Jeff Garcia. He is a great leader and knows what it takes to lead a team to the Super Bowl.
3. Tampa Bay Bucs
Every year seems like its going to be the last for Garcia and it’s been like for as long as I can remember. Somehow, he is still the most mobile QB in the south and should have a nice year, maybe not as productive as the last, but better than Chris Redman. The fact that the Bucs showed that they were willing to push Garcia out of the way to clear the path for Favre means if they aren’t confident in him, how can I be?
4. Atlanta Falcons
It is obvious why they are last. Chris Redman should be the starter, but if he’s not, Matt Ryan will be bullied for his Rookie year. They should save Ryan’s career by starting Redman. It’s not like they can win a game anyway. Starting Ryan changes nothing but their future.
RB:
1. Atlanta
Michael Turner get’s no credit for his success behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Michael Turner could possibly be the best back in this division, which will be figured out by the end of the season. He has more big play possibility than any other running back in the division.
2. Carolina
Both running backs have looked sharp in camp and preseason and are both young could be a scary tandem and will tear apart defenses in the 2nd half because Stewart is a bruiser back and Williams will perfectly in the 4th quarter role running around tired defenses.
3. Tampa
Just because they have 141,785 running backs does not mean they are the best. Earnest Graham looks as old as Greg Oden and he will not have nearly as much success in this pitching rotation like backfield featuring Graham, Warrick Dunn, Cadillac Williams, Michael Bennett and you just know they’ll pick up Cedric Benson, Shaun Alexander, Najeh Davenport, Ron Dayne, Mike Bell, etc. to complete the backfield.
4. New Orleans
Deuce Mcallister’s career is coming to an end. He does not have much time left and either does Reggie Bush before he is labeled “BUST”. I know, every Saints fan has made the argument that yeah, he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, blah blah blah, he makes the plays when we need em’, blah blah blah. He is not an every down back, he is not what he way supposed to be. The Saints didn’t draft him so they could have a back who could average 3.7 yds per carry or average 5.7 yds per catch even if he does catch 73 passes. Case closed.
WR/TE:
1. Carolina
Steve Smith is the best receiver in the division, and D.J. Hackett produces more than any other player in the divison when healthy besides Smith of course. Muhsin Muhammad left returns to Carolina for his first time since putting up 1405 yds and 16 tds a long 3 years ago. He’s healthy and the Panthers have the best top 3 in the divison by far. Oh, and hey have Jeff King, Gary Barnidge and Dante Rosario.
2. New Orleans
Marques Colston is the 2nd best receiver in the south. David Patten is their no.2 receiver and who’s their number 3 receiver? Exactly, that’s why they can’t be number 1. Jeremy Shockey isn’t half bad though.
3. Atlanta
Roddy White is very underrated and will have a good career and I like Laurent Robinson and he’s not too bad of a no.2 receiver, better than Ike Hilliard. And that brings is to number 4.
4. Tampa
Joey Galloway is fast. Joey Galloway is old. Ike Hilliard is old too. Not so fast though. Alex Smith is young and so is Ben Troupe. Sooooooo…..what does that mean? I’m not sure, but they’re not weak in recieving.
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Written by Carolina Crazy · Filed Under Power Rankings
I discovered your homepage by coincidence.
Very interesting posts and well written.
I will put your site on my blogroll.
Nice Opinion Article. I like how your power ranking was completely devoid of any stat comparisons. You should consider sticking it to Kornheiser and taking his job on Monday night football. You seem funnier than him, on paper at least. More honest anyways. Not sure how well it would convert to a television personality but I would prefer any asshole over him. Keep up the good work.