NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Atlanta Falcons
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Second in NFC South
RECORD: 8-8
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 1-5
TOTAL OFFENSE: 374.4 (7th)
RUSHING: 100.7 (18th)
PASSING: 273.7 (6th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 347.6 (16th)
RUSHING: 105.0 (14th)
PASSING: 242.6 (18th)
COACH: Dan Quinn
2nd season as Falcons/NFL head coach
8-8 overall
XTRA FACTOR
–Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Matt Ryan must get on the same page. Shanahan tried to force-feed the offense last season, while taking some things Ryan has excelled at out of the attack. Ryan is spectacular when running the no-huddle offense, but Shanahan was reluctant to implement it and only used it sparingly. He also used Ryan on bootlegs and waggles and it wasn’t pretty. If they haven’t ironed out these issues, the Falcons will be headed for a losing season.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Matt Ryan. Backup — Matt Schaub
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Devonta Freeman, FB Patrick DiMarco. Backups — Tevin Coleman, Terron Ward
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jacob Tamme. Backups — Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo. Joshua Perkins.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu. Backups — Aldrick Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Justin Hardy, Eric Weems.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Jake Mathews, LG Andy Levitre, C Alex Mack, RG Chris Chester, RT Ryan Schraeder. Backups — G/C Ben Garland, T Tom Compton, G Wes Schweitzer. G/C Mike Person
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DE Brooks Reed, DT Grady Jarrett, DT Tyson Jackson, DE Adrian Clayborn. Backups — Dwight Freeney, Jonathan Babineaux, Courtney Upshaw, Derrick Shelby, Ra’Shede Hageman.
LINEBACKERS: Starters — SLB Vic Beasley, MLB Deion Jones, WLB De’Vondre Campbell. Backups — Paul Worrilow, Sean Weatherspoon, Philip Wheeler, LaRoy Reynolds.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Desmond Trufant, SS Kemal Ishmael, FS Ricardo Allen, RCB Robert Alford. Backups — SS Dashon Goldson, SS Keanu Neal, FS Robenson Therezie, CB C.J. Goodwin, CB Brian Poole, CB Jalen Collins (suspended four games)
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Matt Bryant, P Matt Bosher, KOR Tevin Coleman, PR Eric Weems, LS Josh Harris.
PRACTICE SQUAD: RB Gus Johnson, CB Deji Olatoye, WR J.D. McKissic, DE Nordly Capi, CB Devonte Johnson, DT Joey Mbu, FS Sharrod Neasman, QB Matt Simms, TE D.J. Tialavea
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, TAMPA BAY, 1:00
Sept. 18, at Oakland, 4:25
Sept. 26, at New Orleans (Mon.), 8:30
Oct. 2, CAROLINA, 1:00
Oct. 9, at Denver, 4:05
Oct. 16, at Seattle, 4:25
Oct. 23, SAN DIEGO, 4:05
Oct. 30, GREEN BAY, 1:00
Nov. 3, at Tampa Bay (Thu.), 8:25
Nov. 13, at Philadelphia, 1:00
OPEN DATE
Nov. 27, ARIZONA, 1:00
Dec. 4, KANSAS CITY, 1:00
Dec. 11, at Los Angeles, 4:25
Dec. 18, SAN FRANCISCO, 4:05
Dec. 24, at Carolina (Sat.), 1:00
Jan. 1, NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Carolina Panthers
FACTS AND STATS
2015 RECORD: 17-2
2015 Finish: First in NFC South
Record: 15-1, 2-1, lost Super Bowl
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 5-1
TOTAL OFFENSE: 366.9 (11th)
RUSHING: 142.6 (2nd)
PASSING: 224.3 (24th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 322.9 (6th)
RUSHING: 88.4 (4th)
PASSING: 234.5 (11th)
COACH: Ron Rivera
6th season as Panthers/NFL head coach
50-35-1 overall; 3-3 postseason
XTRA FACTOR
–The last time the losing Super Bowl team returned to the big game was when the Buffalo Bills did it in 1993, the last of four straight SB losses. The Panthers seem to have the pieces in place to make another deep run, but there is a prevailing sense in the building about an opportunity lost this past February. They played their worst game at the worst time, but they must need to move on from that before they can repeat as NFC champs. And as for quarterback Cam Newton, it seems no matter how much he wins he is still expected to validate himself. Rampant negative reaction to Newton is almost embarrassing.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Cam Newton. Backups — Derek Anderson, Joe Webb
RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Jonathan Stewart. Backups — FB Mike Tolbert, Fozzy Whittaker, Cameron Artis-Payne
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Greg Olsen. Backups — Ed Dickson, Scott Simonson
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess. Backups — Ted Ginn Jr., Philly Brown, Brenton Bersin, Damiere Byrd
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Michael Oher, LG Andrew Norwell, C Ryan Kalil, RG Trai Turner, RT Mike Remmers. Backups — T Daryl Williams, T Donald Hawkins, G Tyler Larsen, C/G Gino Gradkowski, G Chris Scott (suspended first four games)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Charles Johnson, DLT Star Lotulelei, DRT Kawann Short, DRE Kony Ealy. Backups — DE Mario Addison, DE Lavar Edwards, DE Ryan Delaire, DT Vernon Butler, DT Paul Soliai
LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Thomas Davis, MLB Luke Kuechly, SLB Shaq Thompson. Backups — A.J. Klein, David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Jared Norris
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB James Bradberry, RCB Daryl Worley, SS Kurt Coleman, FS Tre Boston. Backups — CB Robert McClain, CB Teddy Williams, S Dean Marlowe, S Colin Jones
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Graham Gano, P Andy Lee, LS J.J. Jansen, KOR Fozzy Whittaker, PR Ted Ginn Jr.
PRACTICE SQUAD: CB Zack Sanchez, WR Keyarris Garrett, LB Brian Blechen, DT Eric Crume, S Travell Dixon, G David Yankey, S Marcus Ball, TE Beau Sandland, RB Jalen Simmons, DE Larry Webster
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 8, at Denver (Thu.), 8:30
Sept. 18, SAN FRANCISCO, 1:00
Sept. 25, MINNESOTA, 1:00
Oct. 2, at Atlanta, 1:00
Oct. 10, TAMPA BAY (Mon.), 8:30
Oct. 16, at New Orleans, 1:00
OPEN DATE
Oct. 30, ARIZONA, 4:25
Nov. 6, at Los Angeles, 4:05
Nov. 13, KANSAS CITY, 1:00
Nov. 17, NEW ORLEANS (Thu.), 8:25
Nov. 27, at Oakland, 4:25
Dec. 4, at Seattle, 8:30
Dec. 11, SAN DIEGO, 1:00
Dec. 19, at Washington (Mon.), 8:30
Dec. 24, ATLANTA (Sat.), 1:00
Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay, 1:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: New Orleans Saints
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Third in NFC South
2015 RECORD: 7-9
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 3-3
TOTAL OFFENSE: 403.8 (2nd)
RUSHING: 93.2 (24th)
PASSING: 310.6 (1st)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 413.8 (31st)
RUSHING: 129.8: (31st)
PASSING: 284.0 (31st)
COACH: Sean Payton
10th season as Saints/NFL head coach
93-61 overall; 6-4 postseason
XTRA FACTOR
–The Saints are only 9-7 at home the past two seasons. They were 8-0 the last two times they made the playoffs, so holding serve at home is a key to returning to the postseason.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Drew Brees. Backups — Luke McCown, Garrett Grayson
RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Mark Ingram. Backups — C.J. Spiller, Tim Hightower, Travaris Cadet, Marcus Murphy, FB John Kuhn, Daniel Lasco
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Coby Fleener. Backups — Josh Hill, Chris Manhertz
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead. Backups — Michael Thomas, Brandon Coleman, Tommylee Lewis
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Terron Armstead, LG Andrus Peat, C Max Unger, RG Tim Lelito, RT Zach Strief. Backups — G/C Senio Kelemete, G Landon Turner
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Kasim Edebali, DT Nick Fairley, NT Tyeler Davison, DRE Cameron Jordan. Backups — DE Paul Kruger, NT John Jenkins, DE Darryl Tapp, DE Obum Gwacham, DT David Onyemata
LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Dannell Ellerbe, MLB James Laurinaitis, SLB Stephone Anthony. Backups — MLB Craig Robertson, WLB Nate Stupar, SLB Michael Mauti
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Delvin Breaux, RCB P.J. Williams, FS Jairus Byrd, SS Kenny Vaccaro. Backups — FS Vonn Bell, CB Cortland Finnegan, SS Roman Harper, FS Erik Harris, CB Ken Crawley, CB De’Vante Harris
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Kai Forbath, P Thomas Morstead, LS Justin Drescher, KOR/PR Marcus Murphy
PRACTICE SQUAD: C Jack Allen, CB Taveze Calhoun, CB Brian Dixon, G John Fullington, TE Garrett Griffin, FB Austin Johnson, WR Jake Lampman, DE Bobby Richardson, LB Tony Steward, WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, OAKLAND, 12:00
Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants, 12:00
Sept. 26, ATLANTA (Mon.), 7:30
Oct. 2, at San Diego, 3:25
OPEN DATE
Oct. 16, CAROLINA, 12:00
Oct. 23, at Kansas City, 12:00
Oct. 30, SEATTLE, 12:00
Nov. 6, at San Francisco, 3:05
Nov. 13, DENVER, 12:00
Nov. 17, at Carolina (Thu.), 7:25
Nov. 27, LOS ANGELES, 12:00
Dec. 4, DETROIT, 12:00
Dec. 11, at Tampa Bay, 12:00
Dec. 18, at Arizona, 3:05
Dec. 24, TAMPA BAY (Sat.), 12:00
Jan. 1, at Atlanta, 12:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Fourth in NFC South
2015 RECORD: 6-10
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 3-3
TOTAL OFFENSE: 375.9 (5th)
RUSHING: 135.1 (5th)
PASSING: 240.8 (17th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 340.4 (10th)
RUSHING: 100.4 (11th)
PASSING: 240.0 (16th)
COACH: Dirk Koetter
1st season as Buccaneers/NFL head coach
XTRA FACTOR
–Despite Lovie Smith’s emphasis on discipline, the Bucs tied Buffalo for the NFL lead with 143 penalties, finishing second to the Bills with 1,195 penalty yards. Too many of those flags came before the snap, extending opponent’s drives or creating first-and-15 issues. The Bucs aren’t talented enough to be that generous.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Jameis Winston. Backups — Mike Glennon, Ryan Griffin
RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Doug Martin. Backups — Charles Sims, Mike James
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson. Backups — Adam Humphries, Russell Shepard, Evan Spencer
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Cameron Brate. Backups — Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Luke Stocker, Brandon Myers, Alan Cross
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Donovan Smith, LG Kevin Pamphile, C Joe Hawley, RG Ali Marpet, RT Demar Dotson. Backups — T Leonard Wester, C/G Evan Smith, T Gosder Cherilus, G Caleb Benenoch
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LDE Robert Ayers, NT Clinton McDonald, UT Gerald McCoy, RDE William Gholston. Backups — DE Noah Spence, DT Akeem Spence, DE Jacquies Smith, DE Howard Jones, DT DaVonte Lambert, DE Channing Ward
LINEBACKERS: Starters — MLB Kwon Alexander, WLB Lavonte David, SLB Daryl Smith. Backups — Adarius Glanton, Devante Bond
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Brent Grimes, RCB Vernon Hargreaves, FS Cris Conte, SS Bradley McDougald. Backups — S Ryan Smith, S Keith Tandy, CB Alterraun Verner, CB Johnthan Banks, CB Jude Adjei-Barimah, CB Josh Robinson
SPECIALISTS: K Robert Aguayo, P Bryan Anger, KOR Ryan Smith, PR Adam Humphries, LS Andrew DePaola
PRACTICE SQUAD: C Josh Allen, LB Micah Awe, RB Peyton Barber, CB Javien Elliott, C Ben Gottschalk, RB Russell Hansbrough, S Isaiah Johnson, LB Josh Keyes, WR Freddie Martino, LB Jordan Tripp
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, at Atlanta, 1:00
Sept. 18, at Arizona, 4:05
Sept. 25, LOS ANGELES, 4:05
Oct. 2, DENVER, 4:05
Oct. 10, at Carolina (Mon.), 8:30
OPEN DATE
Oct. 23, at San Francisco, 4:05
Oct. 30, OAKLAND, 1:00
Nov. 3, ATLANTA (Thu.), 8:25
Nov. 13, CHICAGO, 1:00
Nov. 20, at Kansas City, 1:00
Nov. 27, SEATTLE, 4:05
Dec. 4, at San Diego, 4:25
Dec. 11, NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
Dec. 18, at Dallas, 1:00
Dec. 24, at New Orleans (Sat.), 1:00
Jan. 1, CAROLINA, 1:00