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NFC south

Sporting News, The, Nov 15, 2004

ATLANTA FALCONS

The best option in a third-and-long situation is sending QB Michael Vick on a rollout with TE Alge Crumpler and FB Justin Griffith as the first options. Vick can throw a soft pass over the linebackers to Griffith, whose route runs parallel to the rollout. Or he can throw across his body and over the middle to Crumpler, who has a size advantage against safeties.... Minor injuries have slowed RB Warrick Dunn. He's dropping easy balls and lacks the burst to avoid getting stuffed at the line. He still can catch short passes and run for first downs and is excellent at picking up blitzes. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: On long passes, CB DeAngelo Hall is the only player fast enough to close in man coverage, so the secondary coaches keep FSs Cory Hall and Kevin McCadam deep and allow CB Jason Webster and nickel CBs Kevin Mathis, Aaron Beasley and Allen Rossum to play farther off the line. The team sacrifices bump-and-run to get good angles on receivers, and it works.--George Henry

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CAROLINA PANTHERS

LE Julius Peppers finally is starting to reach his potential. He is drawing more blocking than ever but is making plays all over the field, He isn't giving up when double-teamed, which he sometimes did in the past. He's fighting through and getting more pressure on quarterbacks. He has improved as a run defender but still needs to get better.... Rookie WR Keary Colbert is making progress. He has good hands, is improving his route-running and is becoming a solid possession receiver. He's not much of a deep threat, but he should be an ideal No. 2 man next season when speedy Steve Smith returns. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: TE Kris Mangum has emerged as a receiving threat, and QB Jake Delhomme is looking for him more often. Mangum's receiving skills largely have gone unused in the past because he was asked to be primarily a blocker. But coaches have given him a bigger role in the passing game because he is one of the team's few reliable receivers.--Pat Yasinskas

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Look for RB Deuce McAllister to have a big second half of the season. His sprained right ankle is almost completely recovered, and he will be able to play without the protective brace that restricted his lateral movement. McAllister has a lot of pride and is disappointed with his slow start. He will run with conviction.... CB Fakhir Brown has won the starting spot on the right side from Ashley Ambrose. Brown (5-11, 192) is bigger, faster and more physical than Ambrose. His greatest attribute is his fearlessness; he's not afraid to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage.... FB Mike Karney has emerged as a solid lead blocker and has shown he could be a more complete player than former FB Terrelle Smith. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The presence of Brown and CB Mike McKenzie has improved the run defense. Those two players allow the Saints to play more man coverage, fleeing Ss Jay Bellamy and Tebucky Jones to concentrate more on stopping the run.--Jeff Duncan

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

QB Chris Simms is ready to return from a shoulder injury, but QB Brian Griese will start as long as the team is in the playoff race because he's playing some of the best football of his career. He's seeing the field better and moving through his progressions well.... DE Dewayne White has done so well filling in at tackle that the team might move him there permanently. He maximizes his quickness by strictly focusing on shooting through his assigned gap. At end, White hesitates because he doesn't want to get caught upfield if the play is a run. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The defense runs something it calls the "pursuit drill" almost every day. It calls for defenders to chase a ballcarrier from one end zone to the other without stopping until they either take him down or reach the end zone. It conditions players to never give up on a play. Against the Chiefs, SS Dwight Smith chased down WR Eddie Kennison and forced a fumble at the Bucs' 11 that was recovered by CB Brian Kelly.--Roy Cummings

NFC south

Sporting News, The, Nov 15, 2004

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