We chug along with the 2008 Post Draft Yin and Yang. The AFC and NFC South teams are in the spotlight today. Did teams like the Texans or Falcons do enough to get better in their divisions? Did the Colts and Bucs do enough to remain on top? Cue the chanting:

Ommmmmmmmmmmm...

AFC South

Yin:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead and say it. The Colts blogger gives his favorite team props. Oh, who didn't see that coming. I'm sure some of you think that, but if you take the tin foil hat off for a sec you'll notice that many people thought the Colts did well with this draft. OG Mike Pollak, OC Steve Justice, and OL Jamey Richard give them excellent depth on the o-line. DE Marcus Howard will spell Freeney and Mathis as a pass rusher, and RB Mike Hart will help spell Joseph Addai. Colts addressed all their off-season needs in one draft. Solid, all around.

Yang:

The Titans reached big time for RB Chris Johnson in the 1st round despite having significant holes in their secondary and at DE. Jason Jones helps but he is not enough to stem the loses of both Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy to free agency. They didn't draft a DB until round 7 despite having horrid safeties and an aging Nick Harper.

Yin:

Criticize the move t trade up and get DE Derrick Harvey at #8 all you want, but you're wrong if you do. Many rated Harvey higher than DE Vernon Gholston. It was not likely Harvey was going to make it out of the top 10. Jacksonville targeted the guy they wanted and they got him, addressing the one weakness that has plagued the Jags defense for years: Lack of pass rush. DE Quentin Groves adds more pass rushing depth to the line. CB Trae Williams was also a good pick-up.

Yang:

The Texans had one of the worst drafts of 2008. Houston traded down in the first round, presumably thinking players like Sam Baker or Jeff Otah might be there. They weren't, and with no second round pick the Texans had to reach for OT Duane Brown, a guy who is a converted TE. Brown was also the only o-lineman Houston took even though their line has been horrible since their very creation as a franchise. Steve Slaton is a situational RB and not the full-time, carry the load RB the Texans sorely need.

Ommmmmmmmmmmm...

NFC South

Yin:

they couldn't get the guy they wanted, DT Glenn Dorsey, but the did get a pretty damn good one in DT Sedrick Ellis. The interior of the d-line for the Saints was putrid in 2007, and management made it their mission to correct that problem. Taking Ellis, and then later drafting DT DeMario Pressley, should correct that issue. I'm not big on CB Tracy Porter because of his questionable character, but his talent is undeniable. 

Yang:

The Bucs need playmakers on offense. Jeff Garcia is old, their WRs stink, and they have no legit receiving TE threat. Yet, despite these needs they take a CB, Aqib Talib, with their first round pick, passing on big potential play players like RB Rashard Mendenhall, TE Dustin Keller, or WR Limas Sweed. In the late 2nd round, they take WR Dexter Jackson who hadn't caught many passes in college, especially in comparison to players like Sweed. Jackson also drops a lot of balls, which is not good for Jon Gruden's West Coast-style offense.

Yin:

Taking QB Matt Ryan at #3 overall was smart. Ryan has all the tools, and it sends a clear signal to fans that the Michael Vick days are over. Ryan is now the face of the franchise. Getting WR Harry Douglas in round 3 is also a solid pick-up. They reached a bit taking OT Sam Baker late in round 1, but Atlanta is setting up a solid foundation for the future.

Yang:

Carlina's d-line, LBs, secondary, and QB position all needed addressing, in particular QB. Jake Delhomme simply can't stay healthy, but the Panthers opted to go with a RB who also has injury concerns: Jonathan Stewart. Stewart was a reach at #13 overall, and players like OT Chris Williams or OG Branden Albert were better prospects even though they didn't fill needs. Carolina had to trade back into the 1st round again to get Jeff Otah, a move they wouldn't have needed to make had they just taken Williams and not reached for Stewart. LB Dan Connor in round 3 was a nice pick-up, and several of their day two selections were quite good. But, they did not do well on the first day, and Jake Delhomme is not going to take them back to the Super Bowl.

Next up: We wrap it all up with the NFC and AFC West teams!