1 Under-the-Radar Problem Every NFL Team Must Fix in Training Camp Jul 21, 2014 
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press Will Nick Foles regress after a breakout 2013 season? With training camps set to begin this week, the 90-man NFL rosters are largely set in their personnel. Though development, regression and injuries will alter perceptions during the season, we do have a preliminary read on each team's strengths and weaknesses.And while many want to focus on the former during this time of optimism, when every team is undefeated, the latter is ultimately what differentiates squads once the games count. The nature of the large rosters means that every team has weaknesses, but the ability to compensate for deficiencies is nearly as important as highlighting strengths.Most teams have glaring holes that have been dissected endlessly throughout the offseason. The majority of fans have a grasp on the quarterback competitions around the league, and various team-specific crises (wide receiver in Carolina, middle linebacker in Dallas, etc.) have worked their way into the mainstream consciousness as well.Instead, it might be more helpful to illuminate the more neglected soft spots. These holes might not stand out as clearly to the casual observer, but unless teams rectify them quickly, they could develop into disastrous defects that derail the season.
Atlanta Falcons: Running BackThe Atlanta Falcons inked Steven Jackson to a three-year deal last offseason and drafted his potential successor in Devonta Freeman this year. Nevertheless, the position could still yield below-average returns this season, placing more pressure on Matt Ryan and the passing game.Last year, the Falcons averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt on a league-low 321 carries. Part of that stemmed from falling behind in games, but Jackson's 31.0 elusive rating (a metric that measures how hard a runner was to bring down) ranked 21st out of 32 qualified backs. His 2.03 yards after contact per attempt ranked 25th, representing a steep decline from his 2.69 mark in 2012 and by far the lowest of his career.Freeman's all-around skill set could alleviate some of Jackson's decline, while Jacquizz Rodgers remains a deadly weapon in the passing game. However, ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure believes that new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will still keep the offense a pass-centric unit:“Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has acknowledged a renewed emphasis on the run game. But a crafty playcaller such as Koetter knows protecting quarterback Matt Ryan and allowing him to sling the ball to the likes of Julio Jones and Roddy White is what helped the Falcons get one step from the Super Bowl two years ago. "We're not going to be a run-first football team, by any means, with those two great receivers and that great quarterback," [offensive line coach Mike] Tice said bluntly.”Despite Freeman's intriguing upside, it's not difficult to envision Jackson's decline placing the Falcons in a few too many 2nd-and-long situations. Until the Falcons supply Ryan with an above-average ground game, Atlanta's franchise quarterback will continue to bear a huge burden.
Carolina Panthers: SecondaryEvaluating the Carolina Panthers secondary is difficult, as plenty of unknown variables create a wide range of potential performance. However, while the unit possesses enough talent to deliver above-average results in 2014, it also deserves a healthy amount of skepticism until such results arrive.At corner, free-agent signing Antoine Cason and second-year incumbent Melvin White have the inside track on outside positions. Both have plenty to prove, but they also have shown enough promise that the Panthers figure to receive at least passable production from them.The slot could prove more worrisome after Captain Munnerlyn's departure. Converted safety Charles Godfrey, coming off a torn Achilles, will likely compete with fifth-round rookie Bene Benwikere for the role. The rookie did stand out in minicamp, per Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer, taking the majority of the first-team nickel reps.At safety, two free-agent signings, Roman Harper and Thomas DeCoud, look like the Week 1 starters. However, both graded out as below-average safeties last year, combining for a minus-17.9 overall grade. Carolina generally played conservative coverage schemes with their inexperienced safeties last year but will certainly miss Mike Mitchell's versatility to play both in the box and in the deep center field.Until preseason supplies a look at game situations, it's hard to say how so many disparate and still-developing cogs will mesh together. You would be forgiven for feeling as though this slide focuses too heavily on the individuals rather than how they may function together as a cohesive unit.And yet, Carolina faces the same problem. Playing behind arguably the league's best front seven will help, but it is still fair to question how the Panthers will hold up when they face prolific passing games like New Orleans, Atlanta and Chicago.
New Orleans Saints: Middle LinebackerLong reliant on the right arm of Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints have retooled their roster and boast one of the most talented defenses in the league. With edge-rushers Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette as well as a star-studded secondary, the Saints are well-equipped to combat the spread-offense attacks around the league.However, if there is one Achilles' heel on the unit, it is the middle linebackers. Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne may have experience on their side, but both had subpar seasons in 2013. Lofton and Hawthorne aren't necessarily poor starters. However, both are below-average coverage linebackers, as each ranked as one of the league's 10 worst pass coverage inside linebackers based on how frequently they conceded receptions. Combined, Lofton and Hawthorne conceded 85 completions on 111 targets (77 percent) for 777 yards and three touchdowns.Tackling has proved to be problematic for the pair as well. Lofton and Hawthorne ranked 31st and 33rd, respectively, out of 40 qualified inside linebackers in tackling efficiency. The two combined for 33 missed tackles on the season, including 20 in the running game.The Saints continue to play both in sub-packages, where they are passable but not spectacular contributors. New Orleans did draft Khairi Fortt in the fourth round to potentially succeed one of them, though both are in the early stages of five-year contracts.Neither is a crippling weakness for the Saints, and Rob Ryan is creative enough to design schemes to accentuate his stronger personnel (perhaps we'll see more "Big Nickel" packages with three safeties). Nonetheless, inside linebacker is one of the areas where the Saints have clearly received poor value.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cornerback DepthThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among the hottest sleeper picks in the NFL following major offseason renovations. With new head coach Lovie Smith importing his experience and Tampa 2 principles, a young defense led by All-Pros Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David could shortly become one of the league's elite units.In order to reach that level, however, Tampa must find the right corner to play opposite Alterraun Verner. Second-year pro Johnthan Banks and free-agent signing Mike Jenkins stand as the two likeliest options, with ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas expecting a "strong competition" between the duo.Considering his high snap total, Banks fared reasonably well his rookie season. While there were several instances (Week 11 vs. Atlanta, Week 6 vs. Philadelphia, etc.) where Banks gave up too many big plays, he generally demonstrated solid zone awareness and the ball skills that made him a first-round pick.Jenkins is more of a mystery. After an unceremonious end to his Cowboys career, he received plenty of reps in Oakland but was dogged by the same inconsistencies. The instances when he looked dominant (Week 8 vs. Pittsburgh) were matched by the times when he appeared severely overmatched (Week 11 vs. Houston).Tampa would likely prefer to see Banks win the outside job. Neither has much experience in the slot—Jenkins played a total of 28 snaps there last year, while Banks played 13—so incumbent slot corner Leonard Johnson or free-agent signing D.J. Moore figures to fulfill that role.Essentially, it appears the Bucs are married to Banks and his development. That's not necessarily a bad thing for a first-round pick who did not appear too overmatched in his rookie season. But if Tampa is to fulfill the playoff hype that many have heaped upon the team, Banks must take a decisive leap forward.For every team.....link
