NFC Team Needs!!!

As the Draft approaches and Free Agency begins to slow down, let’s take a look at every team and what they need the most in order to make them better. Some teams have glaring holes in many places while others simply have some light patch work. Sometimes filling these holes is easy and other times it’s not so simple. In this 2 part series we are going to first look at the NFC. Let’s go around the league and see who needs what – Skinny Post Style!

Arizona Cardinals -
The Cardinals have some holes after losing so many talented players via Free Agency and Retirement respectively. They’ve tried to fill the gaps as best they could, they lost Antrell Rolle and traded for Kerry Rhodes, they lost Karlos Dansby and picked up Joey Porter, they lost Kurt Warner and signed Derek Anderson, they lost Anquan Boldin and have other guys on the Roster who can step up – the problem? Each one of those replacements is of lesser talent than the guy they lost. The biggest need in our opinion is at Quarterback. This a QB driven league and you simply have to have a guy back there that can get the ball to your talented playmakers. The real question is will the presence of Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston be such an upgrade at WR that Derek Anderson shines? Matt Leinert has much work to do!

Atlanta Falcons -
The Falcons have a few holes and have been, for the most part, quiet in Free Agency except for the atrocious signing of Dunta Robinson. It’s not that Robinson is a bad player, on the contrary, he’s a former 1st pick with loads of talent however he has yet to reach that potential and the Falcons panicked and signed him to a contract as if he was a top player at the position…which he simply isn’t. On Offense the Birds seem set, good QB, good WR and a Running game and their TE is a Hall of Famer while the Line is adequate. The main problems with the Falcons is on Defense. They brought in the aforementioned Robinson to help shore up a weak Cornerback crop but their glaring weakness is at Linebacker. The Falcons would be well served to draft a guy like Sean Weatherspoon to bring an impact at the OLB position. If they don’t go Linebacker, look for the Falcons to get an edge rusher to eventually replace John Abraham, whose production is beginning to wane.

Carolina Panthers -
The Panthers have some great things working for them and some not so great things. The former would be their Running Game and the latter would be their Wide Receiver corps and Defensive line. Even though Steve Smith is still on the roster the Panthers really need another Wide Out to compliment him which right now they simply don’t have. A big target would do them just nicely. After losing Julius Peppers to Free Agency the Panthers also need to beef up their Defensive Line. They let go Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu has gone the way of Peppers and signed elsewhere. Hollis Thomas is exploring his Free Agent options as well and that leaves a big hole in the trenches. Look for the Panthers to try and find some gems in the late rounds of the draft as they hold no 1st Round selection.

Chicago Bears -
The Bears have been the biggest player so far in Free Agency in 2010 and most of it is due to having a depleted Draft stock. By trading away so many Draft selections the team really only has a few options to improve their team, either trade future selections or sign Free Agents. The signings of Chester Taylor and Julius Peppers show that the Bears are committed to improving their squad, the question is have they done enough to make them competitive. The biggest and most glaring need for the Bears is at Wide Receiver, Safety and Cornerback. Brian Urlacher will return and give the middle of the D’ a boost but the lack of talent in the Secondary is troublesome. They don’t have much to start with and no real solutions to get any help. On the offensive side, ’09 Rookie Johnny Knox was a pleasant surprise. Devin Hester still scares teams but not as a WR only as Punt Returner/Kick Returner. The Bears desperately need a big Wide Out to give Jay Cutler a reliable 3rd Down target. Big plays are nice but in the end it’s the WR that keeps the chains moving that is vital and right now the Bears don’t have it. It may take a year or two until they do but they have added talented veterans to make them better in 2010!

Dallas Cowboys -
The self proclaimed “America’s Team” has a very nice roster on paper. Look at the positions from QB to DB and you think, wow this team can compete with anyone and the reality is they can, if they play smart – mistake free football. So where are the holes? The biggest need that pops out at me is ….KICKER?! Wait, really? Yup! Nick Folk fell from grace rather quickly and the Boys need to shore that up. Some talented Safeties would help the Defense out as well as the Cowboys are lacking talent in that area. On the Offensive side, Roy Williams has been a bit a disappointment at the Wide Receiver position but a much bigger need presents itself in Big D’ and that is at Guard along the Offensive Line. Rumor has it that the Cowboys have been one of many teams to show interest in Baltimore Ravens Restricted Free Agent Jared Gaither. The Cowboys haven’t gained or lost a player yet in Free Agency and it is kind of odd that when there is no Salary Cap, ole Jerry Jones has yet to make a move.

Detroit Lions -
The Lions, and don’t laugh because I’m serious, have a good young core of Offensive talent. With Matt Stafford, Kevin Smith, Brandon Pettigrew and Calvin Johnson all in the fold the Lions have a punchers chance in every game they play. They will continue to get better and they have some young talent along the O-Line with Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus, both will only continue to improve as they get their NFL legs underneath them. While these youngsters have solidified their positions there are other positions that are downright awful. Let’s be honest, most of it resides on Defense. The Secondary is bad, Corners – bad, Safeties are OK and that’s only because of Louis Delmas! Their Defense is devoid of talent along the D-Line and aside from surprising Jordon Dizon the entire front 7 is not good. Julian Peterson came over from the Niners last year but he is aging and just gets lost in the mix of other guys you’ve never heard of. The Lions need some talented Pass Rushers and Run Stuffers and they need them soon. Trading away recalcitrant Shaun Rogers may have been necessary but it really left a gaping hole in the Defense and Leigh Bodden who they traded for is not even on the roster anymore. My advice, draft a big stud up front and get your hands on an edge rusher and maybe Cornerback or two…then you’ll be heading in the right direction.

Green Bay Packers -
The Packers really started to come into their own at the end of 2009 and made a nice push into the playoffs. The biggest reason for that was the improved play of the Offensive Line. At the beginning of last season the Packer O-Line was horrid. Aaron Rogers never had time to find his talented Wide Outs and he paid the price by getting sacked hard and often. On Defense, they may have the Defensive Player of the Year in Charles Woodson who did play very well but the truth is that both Corner positions are getting long in the tooth. They will need to start grooming the CB’s of the future as soon as they can. The Pack got great play out of their Linebackers while 1st Round pick in ’09 B.J. Raji was a bit of a disappointment but honestly it takes a few years to get production from Rookie Lineman. My advice for the Pack is build an O-Line that is stout in Pass Protection and opens up holes for the talented Ryan Grant. The Packers have lots of good players and with a few good additions they could definitely make a run for a title.

Minnesota Vikings -
The Vikings were, literally, one play away from playing the Colts in the Super Bowl. Had Brett Favre not thrown that ill advised, across your body duck that was intercepted the Purple People Eaters would have defeated the New Orleans Saints but destiny was not on their side. So what do the Vikes need to put them over the hump again? Well, they lost Chester Taylor so they could use another Running Back to compliment Adrian Peterson but mostly could use some help at Left Tackle! The Saints in the Title game really battered and bruised Brett pretty good and former Miami Hurricane Bryant McKinney had struggled all season long so protecting the Quarterback is a need. The Vikings did hit a home run with Wide Receiver Percy Harvin and with a year under his belt he should be even more dynamic in 2010. Minnesota has a great team, a solid Defense and a big play Offense, the biggest question all summer is what will Brett Favre do? WHO KNOWS!!

New Orleans Saints -
Hard to say that they team that most recently hoisted the Lombardi Trophy has holes but the truth is, you can always get better. The Saints are no different and, depending on what happens in the next few months, the Champs may have a few major holes. On Offense, the Running Backs might be shuffled. Reggie Bush is set to be the highest paid RB in the league when his 2nd Overall contract hits its high point and that might force the Saints to make a move either to restructure or move in a different direction. Even with an uncertain Running Back situation, the biggest team need for the Saints lies on Defense. Defensive End, especially an edge rusher, along with some quality Defensive Tackles will surely be sought after in the draft. The entire Defensive line could use an infusion of talent. The Saints also decided to not Franchise Darren Sharper and are letting him test the Free Agent market. He was vital in their Super Bowl run and if he does sign with another team, a leader and playmaker like that will be very tough to replace. The Saints also need some help at Strong Side Linebacker in their 4-3 Set. When Scott Fujita left town he left a hole at that position but last year when needed, Jonathan Casillas or Jo-Lonn Dunbar showed they could probably handle the job.

New York Giants -
The Giants already filled a big hole by signing Free Agent Antrell Rolle, the Free Safety formerly with Cardinals. They may have overpaid for his services but that’s a different discussion all together. The one player that the G-Men will be getting back in 2010 is Kenny Phillips. When Phillips went down with injury the Defense took a major step backward. The Giants need some run stoppers. They have had issues stopping the run and in the talented NFC East it is vital that you stop the run. Eli Manning and his Receivers has shown that they could get along just fine without Plaxico Burress but surprisingly it was the run game that was lagging in 2009. Brandon Jacobs had trouble staying on the field while Ahmad Bradshaw stepped up and took over as the best back in NY. The Giants need help at Linebacker, especially after releasing long time standout Antonio Pierce. Danny Clark is an Unrestricted Free Agent and he might be gone as well. Along the Defensive Line, Tackle is a need. Fred Robbins is getting older and it’s time for a new infusion of youth and talent. Offensive Line could also use some draft picks come April to help solidify the Run game and give Eli needed time to throw the ball.

Philadelphia Eagles
For the Eagles, their Offseason wish list is pretty easy. They need help in the trenches! Offensive and Defensive lines need a new infusion of talent. They recently released Shawn Andrews, their best Guard on the O-Line and too often in 2009 Donovan McNabb was running for his life. The Eagles could use some big men to help McNabb stay upright and a shiny new running back would be nice as well. Andy Reid decided that the Brian Westbrook era in Philly has run it’s course so the Birds could use a new back to help carry the load with 2nd year guy LeSean McCoy. On the Defensive side, the Eagles need an edge rusher. Some Eagle fans were secretly hoping that Julius Peppers would be an offseason addition but that never came to fruition. Come draft day, the Eagles will probably go after a Safety. Even though they signed Marlin Jackson he is coming off of two ACL tears in as many years and is hardly a sure bet. They Eagles also need some interior lineman and perhaps a Linebacker or two.

San Francisco 49ers –
San Fran has some obvious holes but the most glaring need is at Quarterback. Anytime you bring David Carr into the fold, it isn’t good. Alex Smith showed flashes last year, enough to let Shawn Hill leave but even so, we don’t have that much confidence in the signal callers out in the Bay. The Niners have a great Running Back in Frank Gore, a great Tight End in Vernon Davis (who had a bit of breakout year in 09) and an up and coming Wide Receiver in Michael Crabtree. It will be interesting to see how he plays with a full offseason of preparation and training camp. To solidify the Offense the Niners really need some talent along the Offensive Line especially at Tackle. The big guys in the middle are vital to opening up holes in the run game and allowing Gore to do his thing. In addition to Tackle the Niners could use a compliment Running Back to Gore. Someone with an outside presence, perhaps a “CJ Spiller” type of back to bring a thunder and lighting effect. On defense, Cornerback help is needed. The Niners have a very solid Corner in Nate Clements but are letting Dre’ Bly test the Free Agent market and no proven player to replace him. Also look for the Niners to add some pop in the Return game. They need to draft someone that can handle return duties on Special Teams because right now they don’t have one!

Seattle Seahawks -
The Seahawks have made a ton of noise so far in 2010 and haven’t really added any talent to their roster….yet! The biggest move so far was bringing Pete Carroll in as Head Coach. The former USC Trojan Coach has made a major splash by trading for a Quarterback to compete with Matt Hasselbeck. Charlie Whitehurst was acquired from San Diego with a swap of 2nd Round Picks and a 3rd Rounder in 2011. The Seahawks have kicked the tires regarding Brandon Marshall. The Wide Receiver from Denver would cost the Seahawks their 6th overall pick in April and as of yet, they haven’t offered him a contract, perhaps they are waiting for the Broncos to ease on the asking price as the Draft approaches. But back to the Hawks needs! Deon Grant was let go in a cost saving move and the 31 year old Safety was the veteran anchor in the secondary and now the Seahawks need to find a playmaker and a difference maker at the Safety position. If they do still hold the 6th Pick when that time comes it will be interesting to see if Pete Carroll is tempted to take a Safety that he coached at USC, that being Taylor Mays. 6th Overall may be a bit high for Mays but stranger things have happened. The Hawks will also probably allow Patrick Kerney to hit the road in another cost saving move. Kerney is set to make $5.16 Million in 2010 and Seattle didn’t exactly crush QB’s last year so Defensive End will be a position that Seattle looks to boost. Another position that Seattle will likely build up is Offensive Line especially Tackle. Longtime standout Walter Jones is likely to retire and finding his replacement will be top priority. A couple of young Running Backs couldn’t hurt either!

St. Louis Rams -
The Rams have a ton of holes obviously as they pick 1st overall in the Draft, they lost the most games and have some areas that need fixing. They have options to make improvements but it really is one that is of the utmost importance to get it correct. They could decide to take a Franchise Quarterback and build around him or they could decide that one isn’t in this draft and they take the best player at a position of need like the Defensive Tackle from Nebraska Ndamukong Suh. These decisions are tough and it’s very important to get it right. If you feel that their is a Quarterback that can be your Franchise player for a decade or more, than you have to take him. The Rams could use some help along the Offensive Line but they do have some young guys that will get better in time. They also need some Wide Receivers to take some of the heat off of Steven Jackson. If they can find a guy who can stretch the field and keep the Safeties honest that would really open up running lanes for the talented back. If the Rams shore up their QB situation, get a couple of D-Lineman to give them solid input and a WR or two to open up the offense the Rams could get much better and rather quickly too!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -

The Buccaneers have a few holes to fill. They’ve found their Quarterback of the future in Josh Freeman and may have even found a trade bargaining chip in Josh Johnson. The Bucs have holes at Wide Receiver and lost leading Wide Out Antonio Freeman to Free Agency. They also need some serious work on Defense. The Bucs have an aging Corner in Rhonde Barber and really no Safety talent. Biggest need right now is along the Defensive line. The Bucs need to find a difference maker that they haven’t had since Warren Sapp left town. Aside from the aforementioned Wide Receiver need, Offensive line is also a position that could use some shoring up. The QB’s in 09 were being flushed from the pocket far too often and nothing rattles young QB’s like pressure. The heat is on 2nd year Head Coach Raheem Morris to start turning this franchise around. It will be interesting to see what direction the Bucs go in the draft with the 3rd overall pick. They could take the best D-Lineman available or Eric Berry who may be the most sure fire pick in the 2010 Draft!

Washington Redskins -
The biggest acquisition that the Redskins made this year was hiring a future Hall of Fame coach in Mike Shanahan. The Skins have brought in a man that knows how to make the most out of guys on offense. If he can get Jake Plummer to 13-3 and the AFC Championship game in 2005 he can do anything! Shanahan will install his version of the West Coast Offense and will build the offense to his Quarterbacks strengths. If Jason Campbell is the man, than Shanahan will work to his strengths. One thing that I learned about football many years ago is that a new Head Coach usually means a new Quarterback. The Redskins are in a good position to draft a very talented QB if that is the direction that Shanny decides to go. The Offensive Line will be taught to Zone Block and Clinton Portis excelled in that style running while in Denver. The Skins do have holes and most of them are on offense. They need O-Line help, especially at Tackle. Chris Samuel has retired and the Skins haven’t brought in anyone to replace him as of yet. The Right Tackle, Stephon Heyer, might be the starting Left Tackle if they don’t sign anyone so that instantly becomes a position of need as well. Quarterback is still the big ? but have faith in Shanahan, he knows how to get the most out of players. On Defense, the Skins have a solid unit but need a little help at Free Safety. Ever since the unfortunate passing of Sean Taylor, Washington has had trouble filling that role but clearly the issues in Washington are on the offensive side of the ball, specifically the O-Line.