The impact players: NFC South

Atlanta: DE Jamaal Anderson

APJamaal Anderson

The Falcons have an excellent edge rusher in DE John Abraham, but for this team to challenge for the division title, it needs to find someone within its corps of defensive linemen who can not only add to the sack total but also take pressure off Abraham to make all the plays.

Abraham totaled 16 sacks and four forced fumbles in ’08, while Anderson chipped in with only two sacks. That’s not going to get it done. Whenever offenses set their protections, they will either scan the running back for help or send the back to the biggest threat, which in Atlanta’s case is Abraham. So Anderson should have plenty of opportunities to beat the man across from him in a one-on-one match-up — and he has to produce.

But until he shows that he can consistently win against NFL tackles, teams will continue to slant their protection to Abraham and shut down the Falcons’ four-man rush, forcing Atlanta to bring pressure from the linebackers and the secondary — leaving their corners out to dry. Not a good thing in this division with the talent that exists at the wide receiver position.

Carolina: WR Dwayne Jarrett

APDwayne Jarrett

We all understand that Carolina’s offense is predicated on the running back combo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, along with the explosive threat of WR Steve Smith constantly lurking on the outside -- but where is the production from Jarrett?

WR Muhsin Muhammad played the No. 2 role to Smith last season and filled the stat column with 65 receptions, 923 yards and five touchdowns — but Muhammad is 36 years old, and to count on the veteran again to produce those type of numbers might be asking too much. Enter Jarrett. It’s time for the young receiver from USC to make his mark as a pro in this offense and develop into a weapon that QB Jake Delhomme can use — especially when teams begin to roll their safeties over the top of Smith and use various combo coverages in sub packages to take him out of the game in third-down passing situations.

Last season, Jarrett caught 10 passes in very limited action — and that’s not good enough for this team. We know the Panthers will run the football effectively in ’09, and we also know that Smith is going to produce and give Carolina multiple game-changing plays, but Jarrett can make this team dangerous on third downs, and he has the talent to develop into a No. 2 role.

New Orleans: CB Jabari Greer

The Saints paid some money to bring Greer to New Orleans from Buffalo, and they also have a new defensive coordinator in town in Gregg Williams — someone with whom Greer is very familiar. 

APJabari Greer

Greer spent time in Buffalo when Williams was the head man, and he knows what to expect from the former Jacksonville coordinator: tough practices, thick playbooks, high demands and expectations to produce every Sunday or you’ll find yourself on the bench, no matter how big your paycheck is. 

Greer is a playmaker when the football is in the air, and from my experience with him as a teammate in Buffalo, there aren’t many corners in this league who can plant and drive on the ball like he can. He doesn’t posses the ideal size for a corner, but he is an efficient tackler — something every defender in New Orleans will be taught under Williams. In this scheme, Greer will be expected to play man-to-man coverage in blitz situations with no help, and he will be expected to close the edge on any outside run. Corners in this scheme have several responsibilities that are sometimes avoided on other clubs, but the Saints signed Greer to be that type of player. If they can play defense, they will be tough to beat.

Tampa Bay: RB Derrick Ward

APDerrick Ward

The Bucs signed Ward this offseason for one reason — to be their featured running back. I fully understand that Tampa has a stable of running backs when we include Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams, but those were former head coach Jon Gruden’s guys. Ward is new coach Raheem Morris’ guy.

Ward steps into the feature role for the first time in his career, and he has to show Morris and the staff that he can handle a bigger workload and has the same type of burst and big-play ability he had in New York when he played in a No. 2 role behind Brandon Jacobs. However, considering that the Bucs still have Graham and Williams as holdovers, Ward will be able to share time in the backfield, which will enable him to run the football in December just as he did on opening day — crucial to any running game in this league.

The Bucs have some big decisions to make at quarterback, but whomever they decide to start on opening day will benefit from knowing they have a capable back behind them -- someone who can control the clock and keep the opposing offense off of the field by moving the chains. I expect a big season from Ward in Tampa.

Next: The impact players of the AFC West

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