Last season was only the second time since the NFC South was formed in 2002 that a team from the division did not reach the NFC championship game.

Tampa Bay won the division with a 9-7 record, but was knocked out the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 24-14.

CURTIS COMPTON/staff (ENLARGE)

Falcons rookie Matt Ryan (foreground) could be one of many new players on the field in key positions in NFC South in '08.

Your Turn Which NFC South team has made the most improvements in the offseason?   Falcons   Saints   Panthers   Buccaneers Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

This offseason each team — Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Atlanta — has undergone major overhauls.

The Buccaneers attempted to add some punch to their offense. Carolina hopes it has revamped its power running game, while New Orleans attempted to add some bite to its defense.

The Falcons have added some building blocks for the future in quarterback Matt Ryan and offensive tackle Sam Baker. They also made a splash in free agency by adding running back Michael Turner.

Here's a look at the NFC South's offseason retoolings:

Atlanta Falcons

• HELLO: RB Michael Turner (from San Diego), OL Alex Stepanovich (Cincinnati), DT Rashad Moore (New England) DT Kindal Moorehead (Carolina), FS Erik Coleman (New York Jets), CB Von Hutchins (Houston), TE Ben Hartsock (Tennessee), PK Jason Elam (Denver), DE Simon Fraser (Cleveland).

• GOODBYE: CB DeAngelo Hall (traded to Oakland), FS Chris Crocker (Miami), RB Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay), TE Alge Crumpler (Tennessee), DT Rod Coleman, LB Demorrio Williams (Kansas City), TE Dwayne Blakley (Tennessee).

• BEST DRAFT PICKS: QB Matt Ryan (starting quarterback in-waiting), LT Sam Baker (should start), ILB Curtis Lofton (MLB of future), CB Chevis Jackson (should play).

• KEY QUESTIONS: How long will it take to get Ryan ready to take over for Chris Redman? Will Turner find any room to run behind the offensive line? Can Baker have a Joe Thomas-effect along the offensive line? Who's going to replace Hall in the secondary?

• KEY GAMES: When the Chiefs come to the Georgia Dome on Sept. 21, the Falcons can see if they made a mistake in picking Ryan over DT Glenn Dorsey. Turner returns to San Diego on Nov. 30.

New Orleans Saints

• HELLO: LB Jonathan Vilma (trade with Jets), LB Dan Morgan (Carolina), DE Bobby McCray (Jacksonville), CB Randall Gay (New England), CB Aaron Glenn (Jacksonville), QB Mark Brunell (Washington), OL Matt Lehr (Tampa Bay).

• GOODBYE: C Jeff Faine (Tampa Bay), LB Brian Simmons, K Olindo Mare (Seattle).

• BEST DRAFT PICKS: DT Sedrick Ellis (will start), CB Tracy Porter (has a chance to start or play nickel), DT DeMario Pressley (should contribute), K Taylor Mehlhaff (will compete with Martin Gramatica).

• KEY QUESTIONS: Will Vilma and Morgan improve a weak defense? Will Deuce McAllister recover from surgeries on both knees? Will Reggie Bush finally live up to the hype?

• KEY GAMES: The Saints will "host" San Diego in London on Oct. 26. Play at Chicago on Dec. 11 in rematch of 2007 NFC Championship game.

Carolina Panthers

• HELLO: DT Ian Scott (from Philadelphia), DT Darwin Walker (Chicago), LB Landon Johnson (Cincinnati), WR Muhsin Muhammad (Chicago), DE Tyler Brayton (Oakland), G Milford Brown (St. Louis), CB Ricardo Colclough (Cleveland), RB LaBrandon Toefield (Jacksonville), G Keydrick Vincent (from Arizona), S Terrence Holt (Arizona), WR D.J. Hackett (Seattle).

• GOODBYE: RB DeShaun Foster (San Francisco), DE Mike Rucker (retired), DT Kindal Moorehead (Falcons), G Mike Wahle (Seattle), QB David Carr (New York Giants), WR Drew Carter (Oakland), WR Keary Colbert (Denver), C Justin Hartwig (Pittsburgh), S Marquand Manuel (Denver), LB Dan Morgan (New Orleans).

• BEST DRAFT PICKS: RB Jonathan Stewart (bruising runner style is a perfect fit), OT Jeff Otah (slight chance to start on right side — away from Panther-killer John Abraham), CB Charles Godfrey (will be groomed to take over safety spot while playing on special teams), LB Dan Connor (Penn State's all-time tackle leader).

• KEY QUESTIONS: Can QB Jake Delhomme put his injury woes behind him? Who's going to rekindle the fire under defensive end Julius Peppers, who had a big drop-off last season.

• KEY GAMES: Open NFC South play in Week 4 (Sept. 28) against the Falcons. They play at Green Bay on Nov. 30 and either will be in the playoff hunt or ready to go deer hunting.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• HELLO: RB Warrick Dunn (from Falcons), DE Marques Douglas (San Francisco), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (Kansas City), C Jeff Faine (New Orleans), WR Antonio Bryant (out of football last season), TE Ben Troupe (Tennessee), TE Daniel Fells (Oakland), TE John Gilmore (Chicago), LB Leon Joe (Buffalo), LB Teddy Lehman (Detroit), LB Matt McCoy (Philadelphia).

• GOODBYE: RB Mike Alstott (retired), TE Anthony Becht (St. Louis), CB Brian Kelly (Detroit), OL Matt Lehr (New Orleans), RB Michael Pittman, TE Jerramy Stevens (unsigned), C John Wade (Oakland).

• BEST DRAFT PICKS: CB Aqib Talib (could be the steal of the draft), WR Dexter Jackson (Dunwoody star will serve as an understudy to Joey Galloway) and QB Josh Johnson (fits the West Coast system but needs some polish).

• KEY QUESTIONS: Who's going to be the quarterback? Does Dunn have some gas left in the tank?

• KEY GAMES: The past two division champs face off in Week 1 (Sept. 7) when the Bucs travel to New Orleans. Dunn gets two shots — Sept. 14 in Tampa and Dec. 14 at the Georgia Dome — to show the Falcons he was not washed up.