ATLANTA FALCONS
Last year's record: 7-9
Head coach: Dan Reeves (6th year with Falcons, 188-157-1 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Michael Vick (6-0, 215, 2); RB- Warrick Dunn (5-9, 180, 6); FB- Bob Christian (5-11, 232, 10); WR- Brian Finneran (6-5, 210, 3), Willie Jackson (6-1, 212, 9); TE- Alge Crumpler (6-2, 262, 2); LT- Bob Whitfield (6-5, 310, 11); LG- Martin Bibla (6-3, 306, R); C- Robert Garza (6-2, 296, 2); RG- Kynan Forney (6-2, 305, 2); RT- Todd Weiner (6-4, 300, 5).
Offensive strength: Vick can be a great playmaker with Dunn. Rookie running back T.J. Duckett (6-0, 254) should be the power runner in Reeves' somewhat conservative offense.
Offensive weakness: The interior line is very young. Vick's willingness to run leads to injuries.
Defensive starters: DE- Travis Hall (6-5, 295, 8); Brady Smith (6-5, 275, 7); NT- Ed Jasper (6-2, 293, 6); OLB- Patrick Kerney (6-5, 265, 4), Matt Stewart (6-3, 232, 2); ILB- Keith Brooking (6-2, 245, 5), Chris Draft (5-11, 232, 4). CB- Ashley Ambrose (5-10, 187, 11), Ray Buchanan (5-9, 186, 10); S- Keith Lyle (6-2, 210, 9), Gerald McBurrows (5-11, 208, 9).
Defensive strength: Cornerbacks Ambrose and Buchanan have some mileage on them, but are still All-Pro caliber.
Defensive weakness: Moving their top pass rusher Kerney (12 sacks) from defensive end to outside linebacker in the move to the 3-4 might hold back his growth.
Crystal ball: When Vick is healthy, the Falcons can play with anyone. But he won't be healthy for 16 games.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Last year's record: 1-15
Head coach: John Fox (1st year with Panthers, 0-0 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Chris Weinke (6-4, 232, 2); RB- Lamar Smith (5-11, 225, 9); FB- Brad Hoover (6-2, 225, 3); WR- Muhsin Muhammad (6-2, 217, 7), Issac Byrd (6-1, 188, 6); TE- Wesley Walls (6-5, 250, 14); LT- Todd Steussie (6-6, 308, 9); LG- Jamar Nesbitt (6-4, 330, 4); C- Jeff Mitchell (6-4, 300, 6); RG- Kevin Donnalley (6-5, 310, 12); RT- Chris Terry (6-5, 295, 4).
Offensive strength: The offensive line has four solid players and Weinke is improving at quarterback.
Offensive weakness: Smith is not the answer for the running game and could be passed by rookie DeShaun Foster. No quality receivers beyond Muhammad.
Defensive starters: DE- Mike Rucker (6-5, 258, 4), Julius Peppers (6-6, 283, R); DT- Brentson Buckner (6-2, 305, 9), Sean Gilbert (6-5, 318, 10). OLB- Mark Fields (6-2, 244, 8), Hannibal Navies (6-2, 240, 4). MLB- Dan Morgan (6-2, 233, 2); CB- Fred Vinson (5-11, 180, 3), Terry Cousin (5-9, 181, 6); S- Deon Grant (6-2, 207, 3), Mike Minter (5-10, 188, 6).
Defensive strength: Morgan can be a star in the middle.
Defensive weakness: The corners couldn't start on any other team in the NFL. Gilbert has been a bust since they sent two first-round picks for acquire him.
Crystal ball: Without much of a running game and the inability to stop the run, it's likely to be tough times in Carolina this season.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Last year's record: 7-9
Head coach: Jim Hasslett (3rd year with Saints, 18-16 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Aaron Brooks (6-4, 205, 4); RB- Deuce McAllister (6-1, 221, 2); RB- Terrelle Smith (6-0, 246, 3); WR- Joe Horn (6-1, 206, 7), Jerome Pathon (6-0, 182, 5); TE- David Sloan (6-6, 260, 8); LT - Kyle Turley (6-5, 300, 5); LG- Wally Williams (6-2, 321, 10); C- Jerry Fontenot (6-3, 300, 14); RG- LeCharles Bentley (6-2, 300, R); RT- Victor Riley (6-5, 328, 5).
Offensive strength: Brooks-to-Horn is a great pass combination. McAllister gives the Saints a more explosive runner.
Offensive weakness: McAllister, Pathon and Sloan have had injury problems for their whole career.
Defensive starters: DE- Darren Howard (6-3, 281, 3), Charles Grant (6-3, 282, R); DT- Norman Hand (6-3, 310, 8), Grady Jackson (6-2, 330, 6); OLB- Darrin Smith (6-1, 230, 10), Sedrick Hodge (6-4, 244, 2); MLB- Charlie Clemons (6-2, 250, 5); CB- Fred Thomas (5-9, 184, 7); Ken Irvin (5-11, 186, 8); S- Sammy Knight (6-0, 205, 6), Jay Bellamy (5-11, 200, 9).
Defensive strength: The tackles plug the run and the ends can bring heat off the corners.
Defensive weakness: Probably the slowest secondary in the NFL.
Crystal ball: They can keep changing the faces, but the problems remain the same. Injuries will keep this team from making the playoffs.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Last year's record: 9-7 (0-1 in playoffs)
Head coach: Jon Gruden (1st year with Bucs, 40-28 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Brad Johnson (6-5, 226, 10); RB- Michael Pittman (6-0, 218, 5); FB- Mike Alstott (6-1, 248, 7); WR- Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 212, 6), Keenan McCardell (6-1, 191, 11); TE- Ken Dilger (6-5, 255, 8); LT- Kenyatta Walker (6-5, 302, 2); LG- Kerry Jenkins (6-5, 305, 5); C- Jeff Christy (6-2, 285, 10); RG- Cosey Coleman (6-4, 322, 3); RT- Jerry Wunsch (6-6, 339, 6).
Offensive strength: Depth everywhere. The Bucs are at least two-deep at every position.
Offensive weakness: No stars. Other than Keyshawn, the offense lacks All-Pro caliber players.
Defensive starters: DE- Simeon Rice (6-5, 268, 8), Marcus Jones (6-6, 278, 7); DT- Warren Sapp (6-2, 303, 8), Anthony McFarland (6-0, 303, 4); OLB- Derrick Brooks (6-0, 235, 8), Alshermond Singleton (6-2, 228, 6); MLB- Shelton Quarles (6-1, 225, 6); CB- Ronde Barber (5-10, 184, 6), Brian Kelly (5-11, 193, 5); S- John Lynch (6-2, 220, 10), Dexter Jackson (6-1, 203, 4).
Defensive strength: The defensive line is among the best and the cornerback's play is high because of it.
Defensive weakness: Other than Brooks, the linebackers are average.
Crystal ball: Gruden will take an average group of players and mold them into a high-scoring machine. This time he will have a defense to take him to the Super Bowl.
