NFC South: What to Watch in Week 2 of Preseason Games

So maybe we'll know more by Sunday in the NFC South after this next round of preseason games.

Or maybe we won't.

There are so many players out with injuries that the kid gloves are on to keep players healthy. It's no time to press for answers all at once.

But we can try. Here are storylines for the four teams this week.




Falcons vs. Patriots

Get a good look at Harry Douglas. The slot/wide receiver had a good rookie season in 2008, then got hurt and missed 2009. He was special when he was healthy and now he has a chance to shine with a more veteran Matt Ryan.

Douglas is a chain mover, a guy who slips underneath, grabs the pass, makes some moves. His surgically repaired knee has held up so far in camp and now he gets to work the slot against the Patriots tonight.

Michael Jenkins, the veteran flanker, is out another three to five weeks with an undisclosed shoulder injury. This is Douglas' chance to be the No. 3 guy in the rotation for the ball. Roddy White is a given at split end. Tony Gonzalez is the favorite target at tight end. The Falcons all but ignore flanker Brian Finneran.

What would it mean for the Falcons to have a third go-to guy as receiver, somebody like Douglas? Michael Turner, the running back, said he wants to catch passes, but I bet the Falcons give Douglas plenty of chances to shine Thursday night.

Panthers vs. Jets

Carolina was 27th in the NFL with the pass in 2009. Keep an eye on receiver Dwayne Jarrett. Does he take the job this week and start to put to rest all this talk he is a bust?

The Panthers desperately need another wideout to step up as a target for quarterback Matt Moore. Rookie Brandon Lafell has had his moments in camp, but Jarrett still has a chance to take things back.

Of course, Moore needs time to throw. He got trampled by the rush in Baltimore last week.

Saints vs. Texans

Jonathan Casillas went undrafted in 2009. Now look. He has been so good in camp in 2010, that the Saints have made him a starter at weakside linebacker. What a story....if he keeps the job.

Scott Fujita left for Cleveland and there was a job open at strongside linebacker. Casillas, however, looked like the backup for Scotty Shanle on the weakside and then, suddenly, Shanle was moved to strongside linebacker and Casillas is the starter. He had 10 tackles against the Patriots last Thursday and made explosive plays.

Casillas is 6-1 and seems a little light at 227 pounds, but maybe this aggressive scheme of the Saints means Casillas can thrive with his speed and instincts. The Saints made a living last season on turnovers while giving up some yards. This season, they want to stop the yards and get the turnovers.

Bucs vs. Chiefs

The player to watch? Derrick Ward, of course. It's one thing to get 20 yards on 12 carries, like he did last week against the Dolphins. It's another thing to bitch about the conditions. The conditions were bad and they probably had something to do with his bad game, but nobody wants to hear it when you were the big free agent signee coming off a bust of a season in 2009.

Ward better break out or, sooner or later, somebody is going to write his terrific season in 2008 had more to do with the Giants offensive line than him.