00:00Our SIN division previews continue with just a couple weeks to go before the 2025 season kicks off.
00:06So let's wrap up the NFC with a look at the South.
00:10A two-horse race last year between the Buccaneers and the Falcons.
00:17And it looks to be more of the same in 2025.
00:20The Bucs made the playoffs as division winners, but the run came to an end very quickly.
00:25The Falcons hope they're taking a leap.
00:28But the biggest questions center around the pair of teams that won just five games in 2024.
00:35In Carolina, quarterback Bryce Young has shown some improvement.
00:40The Panthers' defense is the problem.
00:42They allowed 31.4 points per game in 2024, the third most of any team in the past 20 years.
00:49New safety Trayvon Morig is positive even after giving up 30 to the Browns in their first preseason game.
00:56I think we're just constantly improving.
00:58Every time we turn on the film and, you know, going against the Browns and then coming here, I think we're just always improving, getting better.
01:03And obviously there'll be stuff to look at the tape and get better at.
01:07But like I said earlier, I like the energy and I like our passion that we come out here with.
01:11The Saints have a tougher job.
01:13After quarterback Derek Carr's abrupt retirement, it's rookie second-round pick Tyler Shug and last season's backup Spencer Rattler battling in camp.
01:21The Saints' defense is also kind of suspect.
01:25It could be a rough season for fans in the French quarter.
01:28The Bucs may have had it easy last year beating up on the two teams I just mentioned, but the offense, led by Baker Mayfield, scored the fourth most points in the league.
01:37Baker may even play in the preseason.
01:39It's execution, getting guys in and out of the huddle, game-like situations, real-time, real refs, everybody's on the sideline.
01:46It's really the 11 that are out there once you get the play call, seeing how people operate and just handling it the right way.
01:52The Bucs' defense could use a little work as well.
01:54They were ranked 16th last year with just seven interceptions, their lowest number in 24 years.
02:00They're hoping to get a breakout season from cornerback Zion McCollum, entering his fourth year.
02:06The front office drafted two high-round defensive backs to push him.
02:10Others on our breakout list include the eighth overall pick in the draft, Tetaroa McMillan, who could give Bryce Young a boost with some big playability.
02:19First-year head coach Kellen Moore in New Orleans needs to get the most out of whichever quarterback he picks to lead the Saints.
02:26And second-year star Michael Penix Jr. is getting all the hype in Atlanta.
02:30His position coach, DJ Williams, believes he can handle it.
02:33Just his leadership is off the charts.
02:35I think obviously it's hard when you're the backup quarterback and you're kind of just going through it and finding your way through it.
02:41But now it's your show.
02:42We're doing a lot of things that really fit your skill set, and so you can really have a command of it.
02:47If Penix is the quarterback the Falcons think he is, they could certainly push the Bucs for that division title.
02:54They beat Tampa twice during the regular season last year.
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