NFC south.(NFL)

ATLANTA FALCONS

Switching former SLB Demorrio Williams to the weak side was a good move. Williams' speed helps him make plays off the edge in his new role but did nothing to advance his ability to shed blocks against big tight ends on the strong side. Rookie Michael Boley is a better fit on the strong side than Williams because he's a bit bigger and more physical. ... RB Warrick Dunn is having a career year because he reads defenses well and usually picks the best cutback lane to run through in the team's successful zone-blocking schemes. OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: QB Michael Vick and his receivers lack the patience needed to develop a passing attack that threatens opponents on the perimeter. Vick's tendency to hold the ball too long leads to a lot of sacks and increases his injury risk. The top four receivers all have an obvious weakness: Brian Finneran is too slow, Michael Jenkins is too stiff, Roddy White is too inexperienced, and Jerome Pathon is too small. But credit the coaches for demanding better production and in the process releasing Peerless Price and demoting Dez White, who dropped too many passes and went from being the No. 2 receiver to the No. 5.--George Henry

CAROLINA PANTHERS

WR Steve Smith is even better than he was before breaking his leg last year. His speed always has made him a top deep threat, but he has improved his hands and route running and is more consistent on short and intermediate passes. He's undersized (5-9, 185) but is physical enough to take balls away from corners.... RT Jordan Gross has prospered since moving back from left tackle. He was dominant on the right side as a rookie, then moved to the left side, where he wasn't as comfortable, last season. Gross' play has solidified the right side of the line, which was a major weakness in 2004 and forced the team to run most of its plays to the left. OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: The inconsistencies on offense can be traced to problems in the running game. The run blocking has been adequate, but RBs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster haven't been consistently productive. Defenses have been putting eight men in the box and bottling up the running game, and QB Jake Delhomme hasn't made them pay. The team needs to throw more on early downs and needs Delhomme to use more receivers. He has been overreliant on Smith.--Pat Yasinskas

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Even with Joe Horn (hamstring) out, the receiving position is deep and talented--but inconsistent. Donte' Stallworth is the go-to receiver now, but defenses have been able to take him out of games. Az-Zahir Hakim is an elusive runner who finds openings in the middle, but he has been bothered by injury. Devery Henderson, who is a burner, has struggled to develop a rapport with QB Aaron Brooks.... A lack of interceptions continues to frustrate the defense. It has four in seven games despite a consistently effective pass rush from the front four. The secondary has been solid and has overcome injuries to three of the four Week 1 starters. But for whatever reason, the defense can't make big plays, thus the team's minus-13 turnover ratio. OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: Heading into the season, the club promised to simplify the playbook and rely more on a power running game. The strategy has worked on occasion. Despite solid line play, the running game has been hurt by inconsistency, penalties and turnovers. Also, the team has struggled to establish the run because it usually trails ...