NFC South: Meet 'The Fixers'

So who is the real player in the NFC South, the guy who elevates, the guy who stretches himself over the hole in the floor so others can walk across his back to safety? Every team has a guy, the fixer. The Saints had that guy in 2009 with Darren Sharper, who fixed a defense with his ball-hawking and big plays.

Who's next in 2010?

Here is a list of the NFC South's "Fixers":

Dunta Robinson, Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons secondary had more holes than a yard-sale blanket in 2009. Early in the season, the holes were covered up by a ferocious pass rush. But when defensive end John Abraham was schemed and handled (just 5.5 sacks) and rookie tackle and first-round pick Peria Jerry was lost for the season with an injury, the secondary had to stay on receivers longer and could not. They gave up one explosive play one after another.

The fixer is Robinson, a 5-foot-10, 184-pound corner who signed a six-year, $57 million deal. He was a nice player for the Houston Texans, but now he becomes Atlanta's best cover corner and he has to be more than nice, he has to be terrific.

Now, here's the rub. Robinson has not made a Pro Bowl in six seasons. Is he worth this kind of money? Was his problem playing with a weak defensive front that could not chase a quarterback off his spot? We'll see. I think if Abraham rediscovers his magic, Robinson is going to be worth the coin.

Gerald McCoy, Bucs (pictured)

Do you know any athletic 300-pound people? Exactly. That's why when you are an NFL talent scout and you see one, you take him. The next thing you do is line him up between the offensive guard and tackle, a three-technique, and you make him the lynchpin of the defense.

The next Warren Sapp in Tampa is Gerald McCoy (295 pounds, close enough). Sapp was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 because he got sacks and stuffed the run. Can you imagine a better player to have on defense? A guy that will not let an opponent demoralize you by running over you and a guy who can make your secondary better because he assaults the quarterback.

The Bucs picked McCoy with the third pick overall and they have immediate demands on the rookie. Fix the defense, which was the worst in the NFL against the run. Imagine teams having to throw the ball now against Tampa. That means more chances for turnovers.

Sedrick Ellis, Saints

He's not a new guy, you know, the fixer brought in to remedy the trouble and be the sheriff, but Sedrick Ellis better start playing like a big-time free agent who parachutes to the rescue. The guy was the seventh pick in the 2008 draft. The Saints traded up to get him.

He needs to bust out right now. But can he stay healthy? The knees are an issue. Ellis has to play better because who can count on the Saints to be such thieves again on defense with their takeaways. You think 34-year old Darren Sharper coming off surgery has another nine-pick year in him?

There are opponents who have watched Ellis on film and have been underwhelmed. He's good, but he has not played like the No. 7 guy overall. The Saints brought in Alex Brown to replace departed D-lineman Charles Grant, but the guy to watch for a Pro Bowl season is Ellis. He has to deal with double teams and break out.

Everette Brown, Panthers

The Panthers did not take back nine starters from the 8-8 2009 team. The club was either saving money or jettisoning used up players. The player they will miss the most, of course, is defensive end Julius Peppers, who went to Chicago.

Somebody has to fill that crater in the stat sheet (Peppers had 10 sacks).

Brown is entering his second season and he is a pass rushing demon, or at least he was at Florida State. He's not big, but he's explosive. He needs to produce and, if the bromide is true that players improve the most between the first and second season, this is his time to get some traction in the NFL.

The Panthers need to give him a shot and not just use him on third downs.