2007 NFC South Division Preview by Marc Lawrence If defense floats your boat, then welcome to the waters of the NFC South Division. It’s where a pair of NFL Top-10 defenses resides, and two other teams knocking on the door. Don’t get too comfy, though, as the league’s newest gunslinger, Atlanta head coach Bobby Petrino, enters looking to sink a ship or two in his maiden season. Here is my take of teams in the NFC South Division for 2007. Be sure to check out the rest of my 2007 NFL Previews updated throughout the summer. Enjoy... Atlanta: Bobby Petrino, one of seven new head coaches on the scene in the NFL this season, left a lofty perch with the Cardinals (40-9 in four seasons with Louisville) to fly over to the Falcons for a lot of reasons. Surely, the lure of a boatload of dead presidents was a huge reason for the move, but the desire to make super scrambler Michael Vick a super QB, had the biggest impact on his decision. Uh oh. Now, the Falcons’ receivers Michael Jenkins, Joe Horn (free agent from New Orleans) and Roddy White are going to need career years. Suddenly, the onus is all on the arm (yikes) of Vick to redeem himself, in more ways than one. He’d better bring a clean, fresh water bottle. Play on Atlanta as an underdog at New Orleans. Carolina: On the heels of a coin-flipping 8-8 effort last year, the Panthers were active during the off-season. After extending star WR Steve Smith’s contract for an additional three years, they acquired the services of former Texan QB David Carr. He figures to keep the heat on Jake Delhomme. Lest we forget, Delhomme remains the absolute best underdog of all starting QB’s in the NFL (12-6 straight up and 15-2-1 ATS in career starts). Three heads-up picks in the NFL draft, LB Jon Beason (Miami), WR Dwayne Jarrett (USC) and DE Charles Johnson (Georgia) all figure to contribute. The return of MLB Dan Morgan, out most of last season with concussion problems, will be a huge plus provided he remains healthy. John Fox’s tendency of alternating playoff appearances makes him due this season. Play on Carolina as an underdog at Tampa Bay. New Orleans: If they gave a Rookie of the Year trophy in the NFL for coaches, Sean Payton would have won the award in a landslide. Inheriting a 3-13 squad that was last seen in the playoffs in 2000, Payton took his team to the NFC championship game before finally bowing out to the Bears. And the truth of the matter is they were better on the field than on the scoreboard winning the stats in fourteen of the eighteen games they played in 2006. The offense received a real shot in the arm last year with the addition of Pro Bowl QB Drew Brees and top draft pick RB Reggie Bush. This year they selected WR Robert Meachem (Tennessee) in the first round of the draft along with RB Antonio Pittman (Ohio State). They are building for the future. Play on New Orleans at Carolina. Tampa Bay: Jon Gruden bit the bullet and remained steadfast when he declined an opportunity to move up two slots in the draft to select WR Calvin Johnson. With too many holes to fill, he chose DE Gaines Adams (Clemson) with the No. 4 choice in the first round rather than giving away extra picks. By the end of the draft, Gruden had selected ten players that will become the focal point of the team’s future. Sure, they still need help at wide receiver and running back positions but at least they are solid footing for years to come. Addressing another need, Gruden signed free agent QB’s Jeff Garcia and Jake Plummer. Together, with incumbent starter Chris Simms, they form an experienced cast of signal callers. After being smoked in division play last season, look for revenge to be a driving force for the Bucs this year. Play on Tampa Bay at home vs. New Orleans. Remember to get Marc Lawrence’s Guaranteed NFL Football Winners this year right here at Vegas Experts, where you only pay after you win! And don’t forget to check out Marc’s 2007 College Football Previews, with free College Football Picks on nearly every team!