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NFC south

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005

ATLANTA FALCONS

WR Michael Jenkins has started only two NFL games and deserves the benefit of the doubt, but he can't afford to keep dropping passes. That can ruin confidence--not only Jenkins' but the amount QB Michael Vick and the coaches have in him. Jenkins' problems mostly are related to concentration and can be corrected.... CB DeAngelo Hall has the skills to be an elite player, but the defensive scheme can't afford for him to take a lot of risks and guess wrong on receivers' routes, as he did when he anticipated a slant and Darrell Jackson beat him for a 41-yard post pass in the loss to the Seahawks. Hall is allowed to play man coverage while the rest of the secondary stays in a zone, so he really hurts the defense when he lets receivers run past him. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Running backs coach Ollie Wilson has a ball security drill in which running backs and fullbacks take handoffs and run straight ahead with a taut rubber rope tied to the back of a vest the players wear. A sudden jerk that yanks the players backward is designed to make them concentrate on not letting a defender knock the ball away.--George Henry

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CAROLINA PANTHERS

Expect opponents to challenge the middle of the defensive line, which will be without DT Kris Jenkins (knee) for the rest of the season. Replacements Jordan Carstens (6-5, 300) and Kindal Moorehead (6-2, 285) are smaller than Jenkins (6-4, 335), who kept blockers off MLB Dan Morgan and Es Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker.... Ricky Proehl, 37, continues to produce as the third receiver, and he remains ahead of Rod Gardner on the depth chart. Proehl has lost speed, but he is intelligent and has excellent hands. He's a precise route runner, and QB Jake Delhomme always knows where he will be. Gardner, 27, is more talented than Proehl but isn't as reliable. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: CB Ken Lucas received a big free-agent contract from the team in the offseason for his coverage skills and his tackling ability. Carolina was displeased with how its cornerbacks tackled in 2004, and it believed that Lucas (6-0, 205) would provide an upgrade. The plan has worked so far; Lucas has given the run defense a big lift. On pass defense, he can cover the opponent's biggest receiver.--Pat Yasinskas

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

All signs point to this being the breakout season for fourth-year WR Donte' Stallworth, the 13th overall pick in the 2002 draft. He's healthy and coming off a terrific offseason, and now that veteran Jerome Pathon is gone, Stallworth is starting alongside No. 1 WR Joe Horn. Stallworth can play in the slot in certain formations but still serves as a downfield burner in the base offense.... Second-year FB Mike Karney will have a big impact as the Saints use a more run-oriented offense this season. Karney's bruising blocking has paved the way for RB Deuce McAllister, who is expected to get even more work this year. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Saints have made a commitment to the power running game and a clock-control offense. The team has scrapped nearly all of the four-receiver sets from its playbook. As Karney continues to develop, McAllister will put up better numbers and the running game will become even more potent. Should McAllister need a breather, the Saints are deeper than ever at running back; veteran backups Aaron Stecker and Antowain Smith are proven NFL talents.--Mike Triplett

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

RT Kenyatta Walker has become a far more aggressive player, largely because he has more confidence. Walker still makes mistakes, but he no longer dwells on them to the point where one error turns into a string of them.... The Bucs are using three first-time starters on the offensive line, and their lack of experience is forcing the team to use two-tight end sets more than planned. That gives coach Jen Gruden more options and makes it more difficult for defenses to figure out his game plan. However, Gruden also likes to spread out his receivers because that opens up room in the middle of the field for backs running between the tackles. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Bucs want to do a better job of filling running lanes on defense, so they've spent more time this year running a drill designed to make them more sure of their assignments. In the drill, players walk through their assignments on each play in the playbook. The extra work appears to be paying off. Through two games, the team has allowed just 80 yards rushing.--Roy Cummings

NFC south

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005

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