Houston Texans

Key Additions: Rex Grossman (QB), Dan Orlovsky (QB), Cato June (LB), Antonio Smith (DE), Buster Davis (LB), Shaun Cody (DT), Deltha O'Neal (CB), Adrian Jones (G), Khary Campbell (LB)

Key Losses: Sage Rosenfels (QB), Ahman Green (RB), Ron Dayne (RB), Ephraim Salaam (OT), Morlon Greenwood (LB), Anthony Weaver (DE), Will Demps (S), Mark Bruener (TE), Cecil Sapp (FB),

Draft Picks: Brian Cushing (LB-USC), Connor Barwin (DE-Cincinnati), Antoine Caldwell (C-Alabama), Glover Quin (CB-New Mexico), Anthony Hill (TE-NC State), James Casey (TE-Rice), Brice McCain (CB-Utah), Troy Nolan (S-Arizona St.)

The Houston Texans finished up 8-8 in 2008, much the same as the previous year. That may not seem like an impressive record, but considering they play in the AFC South with some very talented teams, it's not so bad. This team has been steadily building and improving over the past few seasons, and if they played in different division, like the AFC or NFC West, they'd probably be contenders to make the playoffs at this point. That is not the case however, so while the Texans get better, the playoffs still seem like a pretty far off destination.

Last year's team can best be described as streaky. They started off 0-4 last year, then won 3 in a row, lost 3 in a row, and won 4 in a row before splitting the final 2 games of the season. They went 3-3 within the AFC South, but lost both games to Indianapolis. They did however keep both games very close and were leading for much of the first meeting, until Sage Rosenfels (playing for an ill Matt Schaub) choked away the game with an epic fumble that was returned for a TD.

Schaub had a pretty solid season in '08, but missed 5 games due to illness/injury. The Texans will need him healthy for the entire season if they hope to make any noise, as new backups included Rex Grossman and Dan Orlovsky, neither of which screams out winner to me. He has one of the best targets to throw to in all of football, and it amazes me that Andre Johnson is just now finally start to come into more national attention. His numbers last year were extremely impressive at 115 receptions, 1,575 yards, and 8 TDs. TE Owen Daniels has also become an increasingly popular target as he pulled in 70 receptions last year.

Steve Slaton had a terrific rookie campaign as well, taking over the starting RB job in his first year. He carried the ball for 1,282 yards and 9 TDs, and also grabbed 50 receptions in addition. Slaton's durability worries me a bit as he's not the biggest guy, but if he stays under 300 carries again this year, it should work well for him. Houston moved the ball well last year, producing the 3rd most yards in the NFL offensively, but were only middle of the pack in terms of scoring.

Conversely, on defense, they seemed to struggle a bit and were in the lower third of both yards and points surrendered. The addition of veterans like LB Cato June and CB Deltha O'Neal should help bolster a young defense. 2006 #1 overall pick, DE Mario Williams has finally started to develop into a high level player for the Texans and managed to accumulate 12 sacks last season after having 14 the year before.

If the Texans defense can tighten up just a bit more this year and the triumvirate of Schaub, Johnson, and Slaton stay healthy, Houston should continue to build on its success. Indy and Tennessee might finally be starting to slip backwards just a bit, which could potentially lead to Houston battling for a wild card spot. They start off with a pretty easy schedule, with only Tennessee and maybe Arizona as top level teams in the first 8 weeks of the season, so look for them to get out to a good start.

Last Season: 8-8

2009 Prediction: 9-7

Indianapolis Colts

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: Dominic Rhodes (RB), Marvin Harrison (WR), Keiwan Ratliff (CB), Hunter Smith (P), Kenton Keith (RB), Corey Hilliard (OT), Darrell Reid (DT)

Draft Picks: Donald Brown (RB-UConn), Fili Moala (DT-USC), Jerraud Powers (CB-Auburn), Austin Collie (WR-BYU), Terrance Taylor (DT-Michigan), Curtis Painter (QB-Purdue), Pat McAfee (P-West Virginia), Jamie Thomas (OL-Maryland)

The Colts finished the 2008 season with at least 12 wins for the 6th straight year, becoming the only team to ever accomplish that feat. The 12 wins didn't get them very far however as San Diego shocked them and knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round with an overtime victory. Heading into the 2009 season, a few familiar faces will be missing from the Indy sidelines, as Head Coach Tony Dungy has retired and WR Marvin Harrison is currently unemployed.

The Colts are getting older and maybe on the start of a downward slide after so many years at the top. Peyton Manning put up fantastic numbers yet again last season, passing for 4,002 yards and 27 TDs, but each year he seems just a touch less dominant than the one before lately. Make no mistake, he's still one of the Top 3 QBs in this league, but the options around him on the offense are starting to fade as well. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes split the running duties last season and neither of them eclipsed 550 yards. Addai missed 4 games and will look to improve upon those numbers this year, as he has new competition in the form of rookie Donald Brown, who was an absolute work horse at Connecticut a year ago.

As far as receivers go, Reggie Wayne is clearly the number one guy now, but that also means he's going to be doubled a lot more since Marvin Harrison is now gone. Anthony Gonzalez and TE Dallas Clark make for great secondary options, but unless rookie WR Austin Collie can step up his game quickly, the Colts options to spread the ball around through the air have decreased just a bit. If the Colts can establish a more dominant ground game then they've had in quite some time, they'll probably be much better off this year.

While the Colts' offense actually was only middle of the pack statistically last year, their defense actually was near the top of the league. Only 6 teams gave up fewer points than Indy last year. Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney were disruptive bookends last year along the line, amassing 11.5 and 10.5 sacks respectively. Gary Brackett and Clint Session are solid linebackers in the 4-3 defense and FS Antoine Bethea was amongst the team leader in tackles. Former Defensive Player of the Year SS Bob Sanders missed much of last year due to injury and is still struggling with knee issues heading into this year, though reports indicate he is on track to make it back this season.

Indy is still a top team in the AFC, but they have begun to move backwards towards the rest of the competition, and dealing with a tough Tennessee and Houston team twice a year doesn't help them much. I expect to see them in the postseason again this year, barring catastrophic injury to Peyton Manning, but their window for a second Super Bowl is quickly coming to a close.

Last Season: 12-4

2009 Prediction: 10-6

Jacksonville Jaguars

Key Additions: Torry Holt (WR), Tra Thomas (OT), Marlon McCree (S), Adam Seward (LB), Sean Considine (S), Montavious Stanley (DT)

Key Losses: Fred Taylor (RB), Cleo Lemon (QB), Matt Jones (WR), Dennis Northcutt (WR), Reggie Williams (WR), Jerry Porter (WR), Drayton Florence (CB), Pierson Prioleau (S), Mike Peterson (LB), Khalif Barnes (OT), Tutan Reyes (G), Paul Spicer (DE), Chris Naeole (G), George Wrightster (TE)

Draft Picks: Eugene Monroe (OT-Virginia), Eben Britton (OT-Arizona), Terrance Knighton (DT-Temple), Derek Cox (CB-William & Mary), Mike Thomas (WR-Arizona), Jarret Dillard (WR-Rice), Zach Miller (TE-Nebraska Omaha), Rashad Jennings (RB-Liberty), Tiquan Underwood (WR-Rutgers)

What a difference a year can make in the NFL. Jacksonville went 5-12 in 2008, just a year after an 11-5 campaign that saw them advance to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. Almost anything that could go wrong for the Jaguars did go wrong last year.

It started just before the season when OT Richard Collier was shot 14 times and left a paraplegic. A slew of injuries to the offensive line later, and the season was over almost before it started. David Garrard was sacked 42 times on the season and while previously known for rarely ever throwing interceptions, tossed 13 of them on the year. He also only managed 15 TD passes. Though, to be fair, he had nobody to throw the ball to either. The leading receiver for the Jaguars was Matt Jones who may or may not have been coked out of his mind at the time. He pulled in 65 catches, and no other WR had more than 44. Big free agent signing Jerry Porter didn't play in 6 games and only managed 11 catches in the 10 games he did play in.

The Jaguars at least realize where their problems lay and attempted to address them in the off season. Free agent signings included WR Torry Holt from the Rams and OT Tra Thomas from the Eagles. Jacksonville's draft also focused heavily on those positions, taking two of the top tackles with their first two picks and also adding 3 receivers on Day 2. Obviously only time will tell if these moves paid off or not, but there really wasn't anywhere to go but up.

The lone bright spot on the offense has to be RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Even he struggled along the rest of the team, but did manage a combined 1,389 yards and 14 TDs rushing and receiving. With Fred Taylor moving on to New England, MJD is officially the man in Jacksonville. There is of course, still the other side of the ball to worry about too.

Defensively, the Jaguars weren't horrid last year, but they weren't too good either. They gave up right around 23 points a game, which puts them in the bottom third of the league. The issue heading into 2009 is that they lost some of their leaders on the defense too. Leading tackler Mike Peterson is now an Atlanta Falcon, DE Paul Spicer and S Pierson Prioleau have joined the Saints, and CB Drayton Florence now resides in Buffalo. Jacksonville is going to have a rough time stopping teams this year as they don't get much pressure on the quarterback and they're going to really have to rely on young players stepping up both on the defensive line and at the linebacker position.

I can't see things getting too much worse than last year in Jacksonville, but they need to find a way to turn things around. They already have one of the worst fan bases in terms of attendance as it is and they could find themselves seriously in danger of losing their franchise in the near future. I know the numbers reported say they have nearly capacity attendance for their home games, but I'm not buying it. I was there in Week 2 last year and on top of them tarping off several sections of the stadium, there were a lot of empty seats as well.

Last Season: 5-11

2009 Prediction: 5-11

Tennessee Titans

Key Additions: Patrick Ramsey (QB), Nate Washington (WR), Rocky Boiman (LB), Jovan Haye (DT), DeMarcus Faggins (CB)

Key Losses: Chris Simms (QB), Albert Haynseworth (DT), Justin McCareins (WR), Roydell Williams (WR), Brandon Jones (WR), Eric King (CB), Reynaldo Hill (CB)

Draft Picks: Kenny Britt (WR-Rutgers), Sen'Derrick Marks (DT-Auburn), Jared Cook (TE-South Carolina), Ryan Mouton (CB-Hawaii), Gerald McGrath (LB-Southern Miss.), Troy Kropog (T-Tulane), Javon Ringer (RB-Michigan St.), Jason McCourty (CB-Rutgers), Dominique Edison (WR-Stephen F. Austin), Ryan Durand (G-Syracuse), Nick Schommer (S-North Dakota St.)

Count me amongst those that think the Titans were highly over-achieving when they finished 13-3 last season. Tennessee started off 10-0 and ended up winning the AFC South, but were defeated in their first playoff game by the Baltimore Ravens. They return with much of the same roster this year in an attempt to recreate their regular season success.

Vince Young went down in game 1 last year and Kerry Collins took over the QB spot for the rest of the season, playing solidly, but not spectacularly. The grey bearded Collins heads into 2009 as the starter despite the fact that he's 35. He threw for just 2,676 yards and 12 TDs a year ago, but it didn't matter as the Titans relied heavily on their ground game to get the job done.

Expect more of the same this year, as Collins is just another year older and doesn't have much in the way of targets to throw to. TE Bo Scaife lead the team with 58 receptions last year and Justin Gage is the team's top returning WR, having just 34 catches a year ago. Free agent pick up Nate Washington comes over from Pittsburgh and will likely be the top target this year, where he'll be joined with first round draft pick Kenny Britt. Britt has good size but most 1st year WRs struggle with the transition to the NFL game, so his output should be expected to amount to much.

The ground game is what it's all about though in Nashville. Last year, rookie RB Chris Johnson exploded onto the scene with 1,258 yards and 9 TDs. He split time with LenDale White, who was the Red Zone specialist, racking up 15 TDs to go along with his 773 yards. The Titans play old school football, running the ball frequently and successfully, usually winning the time of possession battle in the process. They also rely on one of the best defenses in the league to shut down the opposition.

Tennessee trailed only Pittsburgh in scoring defense last year, allowing just 14.6 points per game. Teams averaged under 300 yards per game against the Titans, and other than a drubbing at the hands of the NY Jets in week 12, very few teams had any real success against them. Tennessee may have lost Albert Hanyesworth in the offseason, but they still have several talented players on their defense, including Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse on the defensive line. Keith Bullock leads the linebacking corps, while Michael Griffin and Cortland Finnegan combined for 12 INTs last season in the secondary.

The Titans defense may be just a notch below last year without Haynesworth, but they'll still be one of the best in the NFL. The offense is where my concern lays. It'll surely be tough to stop the running attack of Johnson and White, but the passing game is mediocre at best. I know they managed to win a lot of games last year with that scenario, but I can't help but think it'll cost them a few times this year. Just the same, I expect them to battle Indy for the top spot in the AFC South once again, though I still don't seem them getting far in the playoffs.

Last Season: 13-3

2009 Prediction: 10-6

Atlanta Falcons

Key Additions: Marty Booker (WR), Tony Gonazlez (TE), Jamie Winborn (LB), Mike Peterson (LB), Brett Romberg (C), Troy Bergeron (WR)

Key Losses: Michael Vick (QB), Wayne Gandy (OT), Lawyer Milloy (S), Dominique Foxworth (CB), Keith Brooking (LB), Michael Boley (LB), Grady Jackson (DT), Jeremy Newberry (C), Rod Coleman (DT)

Draft Picks: Peria Jerry (DT-Mississippi), William Moore (S-Missouri), Christopher Owens (CB-San Jose St.), Lawrence Sibury (DE-Richmond), William Middleton (CB-Furman), Garrett Reynolds (T-North Carolina), Spencer Adkins (LB-Miami), Vance Walker (DT-Georgia Tech)

Rookie QBs in the NFL tend to go through growing pains more often than not, but Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons was an exception to that rule. In his first season in the league, he took Atlanta to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. The Falcons didn't make it out of the Wild Card round, as they were knocked off by eventual NFC champions, the Arizona Cardinals. Just the same, the season proved much more successful than most were expecting for Atlanta after a miserable 4-12 campaign in 2007.

I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I really like what the Falcons have done in rebuilding this team the past 2 years after the entire Michael Vick debacle went down. They seem to be doing things the right way and have become a fairly young, certainly exciting team to watch. The expectations have certainly been raised after last year's effort, but a difficult NFC South division will force them to battle hard if they hope to return to the playoffs. The Falcons made one big step in the right direction during the offseason as they acquired Hall of Fame bound TE Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs. He may be 33 years old, but he's still one of the most prolific players at his position, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs in KC last season. Gonzalez will give Matt Ryan a great option on intermediate routes to accompany the dynamic young WRs he has in Michael Jenkins and Roddy White.

White stepped up his game and proved himself to be amongst the NFC's best receivers as he made 88 grabs for 1,382 yards and 7 TDs last season, earning himself a trip to the Pro Bowl in the process. Joining him in Hawaii was RB Michael Turner, who signed with the team heading into 2008. He proved to be another extremely valuable pick up as he gained 1,699 yards on the ground and scored 17 times, good enough for 2nd in the NFL in both categories. The offense is certainly not an issue in Atlanta, as they were in the Top 10 in scoring last year. The defense on the other hand, can be a bit spotty.

The Falcons gave up a lot of yards last season and were near the bottom of the pack in the league. They did however manage to keep teams out of the end zone for the most part, which would go a long way in explaining their excellent record. John Abraham was a beast at DE last season with 16.5 sacks on the year, but nobody else on the defense could really be considered a playmaker. Only 4 teams had fewer interceptions than the Falcons did and they ended up a -3 in the turnover department for the season. On top of that, they lost some key components from their defense, as 4 of their top 9 tacklers from last season are gone now, including team leader Keith Brooking.

The Falcons focused on defense in the draft and will hope that those players develop quickly and that free agent acquisitions, veteran linebackers Jamie Winborn and Mike Peterson can fill the shoes of Brooking and Michael Boley. If the defense can be even decent again this year, the offense will carry this team a long ways. I expect them to be competing for the division title again this season and they should make the playoffs as well.

Last Season: 11-5

2009 Prediction: 10-6

Carolina Panthers

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: Geoff Hangartner (C), D.J. Hackett (WR), Nick Goings (FB), Frank Omiyale (OT), Adam Seward (LB), Mark Jones (WR), Donte' Curry (LB)

Draft Picks: Everette Brown (DE-Florida St.), Sherrod Martin (CB-Troy), Corvey Irvin (DT-Georgia), Mike Goodson (RB-Texas A&M), Tony Fiammetta (FB-Syracuse), Duke Robinson (G-Oklahoma), Captain Munnerlyn (CB-South Carolina)

Seemingly lost amongst all that happened in the 2008 season is the fact that the Carolina Panthers were 12-4. I imagine it was forgotten somewhere around the time the Arizona Cardinals were destroying the Panthers, in Charlotte, in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Carolina was humiliated in that game, losing 33-13, while Jake Delhomme managed to throw 5 interceptions and fumble the ball away as well. The team would surely like to erase that game from their mind as they head into 2009.

The Panthers struck gold with their running back combination last year as DeAngelo Williams had 1,515 yards and 18 rushing TDs, while Jonathan Stewart tacked on an additional 836 yards and 10 TDs. With a running game like that, being able to throw the ball was just icing on the cake. Delhomme was solid for the most part and Steve Smith was his favorite WR as usual. Despite missing the first 2 games of the year due to a suspension, Smith still managed 78 catches, 1,421 yards, and 6 TDs on the season. Despite his small stature, Smith is clearly one of the top receivers in the NFL right now.

Defensively, the Panthers are lead by LB Jon Beason who is entering his 3rd season in the league, and who is coming off a team leading 138 tackle season. Beason also managed 3 interceptions, tying him with Chris Gamble for the team lead. Julius Peppers was a pass rushing force at DE as usual, racking up 14.5 sacks for the year. The Panthers were middle of the pack in terms of yards given up last year, but were in the upper portion of the league when it comes to points against, which is truly the stat that matters defensively. Carolina drafted LB/DE hybrid Everette Brown out of Florida St. in the second round, hoping to compliment Peppers pass rushing efforts in the coming year. Brown, though a bit undersized, will likely line up at DE for the Panthers.

Interestingly, Carolina steered clear of the free agent market this offseason, electing to not sign a single veteran player. The organization seems to be pleased with its current roster and must think that their playoff destruction last year was an anomaly rather than something to be concerned with. The usually tough Panthers' Defense is going to need to be able to shut down some explosive offenses as they face Atlanta and New Orleans twice each, as well as a rematch with Arizona in Week 8, in Glendale. The Panthers will likely be dueling with Atlanta for the NFC South crown, but I'd expect both to make it to the playoffs once again this year.

Last Season: 12-4

2009 Prediction: 10-6

New Orleans Saints

Key Additions: Darren Sharper (S), Jabari Greer (CB), Pierson Prioleau (S), Paul Spicer (DL), Roderick Coleman (DT), Anthony Waters (LB), Dan Campbell (TE), Darnell Dinkins (TE), Heath Evans (FB)

Key Losses: Deuce McAllister (RB), David Patten (WR), Mike McKenzie (CB), Dan Morgan (LB), Josh Bullocks (S), Darian Barnes (FB), Mike Karney (FB), Eric Johnson (TE), Hollis Thomas (DT), Antwan Lake (DT), Brian Young (DT)

Draft Picks: Malcom Jenkins (CB-Ohio St.), Chip Vaughn (S-Wake Forest), Stanley Arnoux (LB-Wake Forest), Thomas Morstead (P-Southern Methodist)

The New Orleans Saints had a very back and forth season in 2008 on their way to an 8-8 record. The team never won or lost more than 2 games in a row all season long and battled the injury bug throughout. The Saints have a solid passing game intact, but questions galore with their ground game. Defensively, they've got some definite issues and were in the bottom third of the league in points surrendered last season.

The high point of the 2008 season for the Saints was clearly the play of QB Drew Brees. Brees was on the verge of breaking Dan Marino's single season record for passing yards, but came up just short with 5,069, which he complimented quite nicely with 34 TDs. 7 different players had 30+ receptions for the team, but WR Lance Moore lead the way with 79 grabs, 928 yards, and 10 TDs. Devery Henderson established himself as a deep threat, averaging 24.8 yards per catch. Offensively, the Saints' struggles all stemmed from their ability, or lack thereof, to consistently run the ball.

Injuries made for something of a revolving door at the RB position for New Orleans, as no back had more than 129 carries. Pierre Thomas was the man to hit that mark, and he managed 625 yards and 9 TDs in the process. Relatively unknown coming into the year, he made the most of the opportunity he was given and will look to further those numbers as he takes over as the starter in 2009. Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister both missed significant time due to injuries, and for McAllister, it ultimately cost him his job with the Saints, as he was released in the offseason. Bush had huge expectations leveled on him coming out of USC a few years back, but so far hasn't been able to be counted on to shoulder the load as a traditional RB. The Saints have realized this and have sought to make him more effective by getting him the ball in space, using him more frequently in pass catching roles.

Jonathan Vilma made the most of his first season in New Orleans, leading the team in tackles with 132, and earning himself a contract worth $34 million over 5 years in the process. The Saints had a very young defense in 2008 and at times, it showed. They look to add some veteran leadership by bringing in guys like Paul Spicer, Pierson Prioleau, and Darren Sharper, all of which will be in at least their 10th year in the league. Sharper is not the same player he once was with Green Bay and Minnesota, as his stats have continued to dwindle over the last few years, but he should be key in the leadership department.

The Saints are capable of putting a lot of points on the board with their potent passing game, but last year they proved just as capable of giving up a lot of points. Teams head into this year knowing what to expect from Brees and company, and will probably key on stopping the passing game. Pierre Thomas seems to hold the fate of the Saints in his hands a bit in 2009, as his ability to build on a strong late season performance last year will be the key to the Saints maintaining balance on offense. I see a letdown in the making and expect New Orleans to struggle a bit more this season.

Last Season: 8-8

2009 Prediction: 6-10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key Additions: Byron Leftwich (QB), Kellen Winslow Jr. (TE), Angelo Crowell (LB), Derrick Ward (RB), Dirk Johnson (P)

Key Losses: Jeff Garcia (QB), Brian Griese (QB), Warrick Dunn (RB), Joey Galloway (WR), Ike Hilliard (WR), Alex Smith (TE), Luke Petigout (OT), Kevin Carter (DE), Cato June (LB), Derrick Brooks (LB), Phillip Buchanon (CB), Jovan Haye (DT)

Draft Picks: Josh Freeman (QB-Kansas St.), Roy Miller (DT-Texas), Kyle Moore (DE-USC), Xavier Fulton (OL-Illinois), E.J. Biggers (CB-Western Michigan), Sammie Stroughter (WR-Oregon St.)

Perhaps no team will look as different in 2009 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After finishing the 2008 season at 9-7, the team has been blown up on a large scale. Raheem Morris takes over the head coaching duties at just 32 years old, and a new general manager is also in place. Virtually every long time, recognizable Buccaneer's face was shown the door as well, including names like Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks. Josh Freeman was drafted as the QB of the future for the team, but he's not without plenty of competition at the position.

Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese both saw significant time as the starting QB last year for Tampa, and both have left town since. Byron Leftwich was brought in from Pittsburgh to compete for the starting job alongside Luke McCown and as of the writing of this article, the winner has still not been settled. Leftwich appeared to slightly be in the lead heading into the 2nd preseason game, but he did not perform too well and McCown stepped up his game. Raheem Morris had stated that he expected to name a starter following this 2nd preseason game, but his decision appears to have been made even more difficult. Each bring a slightly different skill set to the table, so it's an interesting debate.

Antonio Bryant will likely be the primary target of whichever QB wins the battle, as the WR lead the team last season with 83 receptions, 1248 yards, and 7 TDs. Nobody else was really even close, and Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway are also no longer on the team. The receiving corps of the Bucs is thin at best, and both QBs seem like a downgrade from Jeff Garcia to me. Additionally, the running game in Tampa is questionable as well. Last year's statistical leader Warrick Dunn is currently unemployed and the two incumbents each spent a good deal of last year injured. Cadillac Williams didn't play until week 12 last year, when he took over for then injured Earnest Graham. Neither were remarkable, but Graham was probably more reliable. Derrick Ward comes over from the NY Giants, where he broke 1,000 yards on less than 200 carries last season. He looks to be the front runner as the starter heading into the season, but only time will tell how he handles the spotlight.

As usual, Tampa was one of the better defenses in the league last season, and with Morris being a defensive minded coach, I'm sure his emphasis will remain there. However, veteran linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June were amongst the casualties of all the offseason changes, and they are not easily replaced. Angelo Crowell comes over from Buffalo where he had shown signs of being a talented, up and coming OLB before an injury requiring knee surgery cost him the 2008 season in its entirety. Last night in the team's preseason game against Jacksonville, Crowell injured his arm and may be out again for this season. With the exception of a few players, notably S Ronde Barber and DT Chris Hovan, the Bucs have an extremely young defense. Morris will have to hope his young talent overachieves to have a chance at being close to last year's level of play.

In the NFL, it's very hard to completely change the look of an organization and have success right away. Tampa will be no exception in my opinion. I see them taking a hard fall this year as they search for an identity. Morris will have his hands full as a young first time head coach staring at a team full of question marks. I fully expect them to be bringing up the rear of the NFC South this season.

Last Season: 9-7

2009 Prediction: 5-11