Do Da Dirty Bird: Projecting the Falcons’ Projects

This is not a slideshow for NFL headline-skimmers. If you’re on the edge of your seat regarding Favre or Vick’s destinations, click away from this page.

However, if you’re a true Falcons fan or the sort who celebrates Christmas in July with the arrival of training camps, you may want to read on. With GM Thomas Dimitroff looking like he absorbed everything in his time with the Patriots organization and Mike Smith a proven developer of late-round and undrafted talent (see Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, and Bobby McCray), Atlanta’s projects warrant monitoring.

The fellas you’ll see on the following slides are those I feel have good chance or good reason to break out in 2009. Obviously, not all of them will; but with veteran free agent acquisitions kept to a minimum this summer (“just” Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson), it’s practically unavoidable that one of these guys will burst forth from their humble pro beginnings.

Do Da Dirty Bird: Taking the AFC East Part of the Sched to the Shed

It just had to happen this way, didn’t it?

A young Atlanta Falcons team, just having bounced back from the desertion of a coach and the arrest of a superstar quarterback, just had to draw the AFC East as their non-conference opponents.

OK, so the rest of the NFC South faces the same potentially disastrous fate, and it is our division’s turn to face these terrors of teams. I guess you can’t draw the AFC Worst (oh, excuse me, West) every year.

But right now, when we need to build upon the confidence gained from last season? When Matt Ryan will be trying to avoid the sophomore slump, Michael Turner will be facing defenses much better prepared to contain him, and the linebackers will be trying to recover from the departure of two starters?

Alas, the answer is yes, right now. For what it’s worth, though, we may have the more favorable home-and-away configuration with the Beasts of the East (three of whom had winning records last year, need I remind you): We play the foregone conclusion of a loss on the road, meaning that two of three winnables are in friendly confines.

 

Week One: Miami Comes to Town

In so many ways, the Fins mirrored us last year. This was a team that was supposed to be rebuilding fairly slowly under the tutelage of a new head coach and general manager, but instead, they increased their win total by 10 games.

This was a team that was supposed to have a big question mark at quarterback and looked to host a competition for the role, but instead, Week One starter Chad Pennington served as one of the steadiest at his position in the league.

And finally, this was a team that, despite a wild-card round playoff loss, could only be optimistic about the future.

But what matters now is what happens when these two “twins” meet. It will be an intriguing battle of a debut for both sides, but I’m going to give it to my boys based on two seemingly small things: home-turf advantage and special teams.

The thing is, when looking at the Dolphin O vs. the Falcon D or vice-versa, the strengths of each squad match up with the strengths of the other, and the weaknesses with the weaknesses.

One might call into question the receiving game of Miami, but that’s more or less made up for by the inexperience of the Atlanta secondary; and while the Dolphins’ pass rush is tremendous, the addition of Tony Gonzalez gives Matty Ice a reliable bail-out option in trouble spots.

That’s why it’s going to be little things, like playing in the Georgia Dome on the first Sunday, that turn the tide in the Birds’ favor.

The ATL has had all summer to bubble over with excitement following last year’s promising but ultimately unsatisfying campaign, so expect them to turn out in droves and bring the noise.

And yes, playing in the air conditioning will benefit both teams, but not as much as playing in the South Florida late-summer heat would have hurt the Falcs.

Also, the importance of special teams should never be underestimated, especially not in this game. Miami PK Dan Carpenter and P Brandon Fields are both young and a little bit nervous, just the opposite of Jason Elam and Michael Koenen.

The sketchy Fin coverage units should fear breakouts by Jerious Norwood and/or Harry Douglas, but the Falcons’ deep group doesn’t have much to worry about with Ted Ginn Jr. and Davone Bess.

Prediction: Falcons 27, Dolphins 21

 

Week Three: Atlanta Tries to Dirty Up Foxboro

I, like so many of you, have no soft spot for the Pats. I tire of the dynasty talk, of the Brady drama, and of seeing the poorly-dressed Belichick and his ugly mug. But I’m not swayed by my emotions to the point where I pick against this team at their place.

It’s pretty simple: Tom is healthy, and he’s behind his same old tough-as-nails line. Those names that we all know so well from recent Super Bowls (Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Nick Kaczur) are going up against an athletic but overall green bunch; Jamaal’s only been in the league three years, and Jerry is a rook, if you didn’t know.

Our line is not the 2007 Giants line that brought the undefeated bunch back down to Earth, and beyond that, our tendency to run the ball plays right into New England’s hands. You know they only allowed over 200 yards on the ground once last season, and over 150 only two times total?

Lighting the burner with Turner will be difficult, and, though I don’t wish to belittle Ryan, he’s nowhere near mobile enough to avoid the obscene number of sublime pass rushers that the Pats boast.

In other words, our defensive backs will get lit up by Randy and Wes, while out offensive stars meet their matches in Wilfork, Bruschi, and Thomas.

Oh well, at least we’re playing them early, so we don’t have to deal with that hideous Massachusetts winter weather. Why do you people live that far North, anyway?

Prediction: Patriots 28, Falcons 13

 

Week 15: Could a Falcon Burn a Jet?

Oh, this wacky sports media. Judging by the massive range of opinions on the Jets’ potential for the upcoming season, one might guess that two different teams play home games in the Big Apple.

Wait…what?

No, but really, the boys in green are being picked to finish just about anywhere in the division, and there’s decent reason to believe they could take first or fall to fourth.

On the one hand, they were 9-7 last season despite Favre’s collapse, and Thomas Jones and the O-line are a match made in heaven. An already great defense got even better with Rex Ryan taking over and bringing in several of his former players from Baltimore.

But then again, they’re likely starting a rookie at the most important position. Yeah, we did that last season, but at least Matt had proved himself at the college level; Sanchez has done little to convince me that he can manage a USC game, let alone the battle that is an NFL contest.

Mark, if he’s still on the field, will be so shaken by this point in the season that he’ll probably just take a knee as John Abraham comes off the edge, right?

Hold your horses; I want to be optimistic about my Falcs as well, but the truth is this: Atlanta is only superior to the Jets in the one area of receiving, but that may well be negated by strong play from the N.Y. secondary.

You may not know Darelle Revis’s name as well as you do Champ Bailey’s, but dude’s like white on rice when it comes to opposing wideouts.

That means Atlanta will be relying on the runs of Mike and Norwood, and electric as those two can be, they will have trouble as they attempt to pound through NT Kris Jenkins or evade ILB Bart Scott in the second level.

Meanwhile, Jones will scare us enough that we overcompensate and allow that same Marky-Mark I so doubted to connect with Cotchery and company.

The Falcons will display their mettle, but come away with little to show for it.

Prediction: Jets 21, Falcons 10

 

Week 16: Eff the Cold!

And now back to our regularly-scheduled Atlanta football. Why yes, it is rather comfortable indoors; you certainly wouldn’t find me in a place like Buffalo this late in December.

Besides, football is America’s sport, and don’t the Bills actually play in Canada?

Not yet? Soon enough. The T.O. (that stands for “Terribly Ostentatious,” no?) experiment is going to push these guys out of town, no matter how promising the rest of the roster is.

It’s not that Owens doesn’t provide the playmaking capability that the Bills so desperately need; he does. It’s just that he tears locker rooms apart, even if he loves “his quarterback” so. Such controversy doesn’t complement a rushing attack with its own fair share of drama.

Marshawn Lynch will be long back from his suspension by this late-season showdown; that’s not my point. Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes can keep them treading water, anyways.

My point is that QB Trent Edwards needs no distractions as he tries to prove himself mentally capable of being an NFL starter, but instead of being surrounded by a calm, peaceful supporting cast, the men around him are popping up in headlines all over the place.

And on the other side of the ball? Why, there are no headlines at all. Not saying a defense needs a star—indeed, of any unit in professional sports, a football defense may need standout individuals the very least—but who, exactly, scares our passer? This pass rush is just limp.

Sure, as one moves back, CBs Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee come into view, but if fed a steady diet of Turner charges, over-the-tops to Tony, and sideliners to Roddy White, the Bills are going to be outmatched.

Besides, like I said, we aren’t playing this game in Antarctica, or wherever it is these other guys have their home games.

Prediction: Falcons 35, Bills 21

NFL Whirlwind Previews: Cleveland Browns

Cheer up, Cleveland! Things could be worse…

Oh, who am I kidding? You guys up by the lake have had it rough; rougher than any other city in the States.

But you know what? There really is reason to feel good about your Browns. No, there’s no real chance for the postseason this coming campaign, and no, you guys won’t be a dominant offensive or defensive team.

But ownership does finally have it’s head on straight, and recent drafts and roster decisions have you lookin’ not so bad at all to more than a few analysts.

You’re sick of hearing this, but give it some time, and you’ll be pleased.

 

Offense: Alright Already

It took long enough, but the Browns seem to finally have determined their direction on O. It all started with head coach Eric Mangini making it clear early in spring that he favors Brady Quinn in the battle for starting quarterback.

It’s not that Quinn’s been that impressive when he has gotten snaps, but moving forward with the signal-caller position is paramount. Brady deserves a chance after being drafted so high a couple years ago, and if that chance happens to come now, that’s just fine. Derek Anderson is still here just in case, though now that he’s a backup, he’s ridiculously overpaid.

Brady certainly won’t be able to fault his protection if he fails; the O-line is a definite strength of this club, and I’m not just referring to cornerstone LT Joe Thomas (what a brilliant pick that’s turned out to be, huh?).

LG Eric Steinbach deserves all the credit he gets, and the two right spots will be well-manned by a combo of any of the following (in order of probable depth listing): Floyd Womack, Ryan Tucker, John St. Clair, and Rex Hadnot. All of these guys are flexible enough to go between both tackle and guard, as are both center candidates, the first-year favorite Alex Mack and incumbent Hank Fraley.

Also easing the former Irish’s (true) introduction will be his talented corps of targets. Even if worst comes to worst in the Stallworth situation, Braylon Edwards will be complemented by someone competent: Word is Brian Robiskie currently holds the slight edge for the No. 2 role, but David Patten is definitely capable.

Too bad that optimism can’t be stretched to the ground game. Jamal Lewis had a bit of a career revival in 2007 after arriving from Baltimore, but he regressed last season to the tune of about 400 yards fewer than the previous year. All indications are that it isn’t a physical matter at all; seems Lewis must build up his self-belief and trust in teammates to take the next step.

The good news is that apparently Jerome Harrison has been running with the first unit in OTAs, and rookie James Davis appears to be a serviceable worker. I doubt either was meant to be a feature back in the League, but they may well get an opportunity to carry a lot.

The tight end position is doing just fine, despite the departure of Kellen Winslow. The starter will be one of two experienced and well-rounded guys: either Robert Royal (the more likely) or Steve Heiden (an “on-field coach” type). Expect to see both, though, sometimes on the field together.

The talent is there, at least in the arena of the air, but with Quinn taking so much on his shoulders at once, consistent production is not a promise.

 

Defense: Generic Brand’s Just As Good

I bet you know Shaun Rogers, former Lions nose tackle, who came over to Cleveland last season and did just fine in his new home (don’t listen to all the haters; he was an anchor and posted a four sacks despite chaos around him).

At the same time, I’d also wager that you don’t know a whole lot of other Brown defenders. That’s OK; their names aren’t all that well-known, but they are creeping into the spotlight. This D ranked a respectable 17th last year, but you’ll recognize a couple more of these guys soon enough.

On either side of Rogers could be any number of starting-caliber ends. Everybody’s got ’em ranked differently right now (makes sense considering how early it is), but I’ll give you my stab at the rotation: Look for Kenyon Coleman and Corey Williams to be your Week One starters, backed up by Shaun Smith and C.J. Mosley (and maybe even Robaire Smith, depending on how he does up until then).

No matter who’s out there, though, the unit will be improved over last season simply because Rogers will be more comfortable and the increased competition will push each individual. But on to the ‘backing corps, which is less of a circus, more set-in-stone, and might just have even more potential than the corral of linemen.

First off, you got D’Qwell Jackson, a star in waiting. He led the team in solo tackles in ’08 (95!) and has quickly matured into a leader. He’ll be even better this year for having former Jet Eric Barton next to him on the inside, and behind them both is promising Beau Bell.

Outside there’s David Bowens (also a former Meadowlands denizen) and a name you know for the wrong reasons to this point, Kamerion Wimbley. The hope is that Mangini can milk the best out of the already-proclaimed bust, but Alex Hall is fresh and energetic behind him should he falter for the last time. I’ve personally got some confidence in Wimbley, though; 52 solos and four sacks last season showed more promise than any of his previous numbers.

So all that’s left is the secondary, and I can sum up up their penchant for performance pretty easily. How’s about three of the team’s top six tacklers came from that unit, and it was a down year for two of them?

CBs Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright along with strong safety Brodney Pool were all pretty productive in ’08 and made pass defense the only category in which Cleveland ranked in the top half of the league. The two former were supposedly having their “sophomore slumps,” yet still pulled off 64 and 61 solo tackles, respectively, and McDonald had five picks.

The starting free safety spot will almost surely go to Abram Elam (yet another acquisition from the Jets, and perhaps the most important), though Mike Adams will get burn too.

In summary, the faces on this defense are not all that familiar, but just watch the progress they make under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (a former Pats LB coach).

 

Overall Outlook: I Will Promise You Something

The Browns won’t be nearly as painful to watch this year as they were in ’08 (or ’06, or ’05…).

Ha, not quite the playoff guarantee you were looking for, right? Well, what about record?

The .500 mark would be so doable if it weren’t for some teams named “Steelers” and “Ravens” appearing twice apiece on the schedule. But there’s always the Bungals (who are headed in the opposite direction of this Cleveland franchise) to beat up on, and there are other winnables out there (the Chiefs, Raiders, and Bills all appear).

Keep the candle burning, Cleveland. I for one will refrain from using the phrase “Mistake by the Lake” as long as guys are developing and the brass seem interested in improvement.

NFL Whirlwind Previews: Jacksonville Jaguars

The 2007 Jacksonville Jaguars scared the then-perfect Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs. Now, a season and record inversion (they went from 11-5 to 5-11 in ’08) later, they’re practically back to the drawing board.

Or are they?

Yep, Jax seems to have taken on the classic “build from the trenches” mode, but that doesn’t mean all the important parts of their most recent successful iteration are gone.

But will the combination of remaining talent, signed veterans, and drafted building blocks result in a return to the postseason? Let me answer that in roundabout fashion.

 

Offense: Something Old (That’s Still Pretty New) and Something New (That’s Kinda Old)

To get the obvious out of the way: You done good, Jags, by locking up one Mr. Jones-Drew. Maurice may look diminutive, but boy, has he proved himself at the pro level.

Yes, when he was drafted it wasn’t a sure thing that he could be a feature back. And yes, mentor and franchise-face Fred Taylor is now gone, but I think it’s pretty clear MJD, at the ripe old age of 24 (how can he still be that young?), is the future.

Besides, he’s still running behind Greg Jones, who might just be the best fullback in the league. But beyond that killer duo, we’ve got question marks.

Quarterback is set, though not everyone is necessarily satisfied with the decision; David Garrard is still your Black and Teal signal-caller despite last season’s rocky performance. Not that there’s any real competition for him (Cleo Lemon and Todd Bouman are the backups), but Garrard must look more like himself of two years ago.

Good thing all reports through spring have been that he’s nailing it. Guy’s always had a plus arm, but he even more than other QBs needs time and competence around him to execute.

Receiver is, as usual, an area of concern as well. The Jaguars for years relied on the draft to acquire their catching threats and, though they definitely won’t abandon that strategy, they are now pulling in veterans with increasing frequency. The Jerry Porter experiment is over after one season, but Jax is giving it another go with a greybeard wideout. This time, it’s Torry Holt.

So that’s the change necessary?

OK, so it doesn’t look a whole lot different. Yet there are reasons to believe this corps will be better.

Word from OTAs is that Holt has inspired Dennis Northcutt and the field-ready Mike Walker. Hopefully, Troy Williamson can find ways to contribute, too. Perhaps Garrard will have just enough legitimate targets to keep defenses from keying on Jones-Drew.

Meanwhile, the line looks solid, though it faces pressure at both ends of the age spectrum. Freshly signed Tra Thomas, set to start at left tackle, has played 12 years already (most of them stellar campaigns with Philadelphia), while freshly drafted Eugene Monroe, Thomas’ potential competition (but likely backup for now), is remarkably talented but needs a tad bit of seasoning.

Too bad both of the trenchmen taken in the draft (Eben Britton of Arizona was the team’s second-round pick) have predominantly played the left side to this point, as the right could use some patching. Looks like Tony Pashos will be at right tackle again unless Britton fully commits to switching; solid Maurice Williams mans the RG spot.

At least Brad Meester is still at center and Uche Nwaneri provides great depth.

Now, seems like I’m forgetting something…

Oh yeah. Tght end Marcedes Lewis, please show up! At this rate, rookie Zach Miller could be pushing you.

 

Defense: Recapture the Magic

Seems like it should be easy, considering ten of the projected starters were on the roster last season.

But the scheme changes on this side of the ball make returning to the dominance of ’06 tough, as does the turnover at the coordinator position. This year we’ll see Mel Tucker man the spot as the third man in as many years. He makes sense as a candidate, considering his experience with secondaries and the strength of that unit on the Jags.

See, Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams have formed one of the best corner duos in the league for years running now. Free safety Reggie Nelson needs a little kick in the pants after a bit of a down second year; good thing Sean Considine was signed from the Eagles to man the strong spot and fuel the fire of his complement.

The linebacker rotation took a huge hit with the loss of team tackling leader Mike Peterson. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it: His departure for Atlanta makes the ‘backing corps worse.

Of course, a step up from Justin Durant (who still is criticized for not playing to his tremendous athleticism) could do a lot to make up for it. In all likelihood, he’ll be next to Daryl Smith, a guy who manages to get everywhere, and opposite Clint Ingram, who plays aggressively, getting two sacks in limited downs last year.

But even more than Durant’s play, it will be the “four” in the “4-3” that determine the play of the “three,” or the entirety of the D, for that matter.

The team can’t get around the fact that longtime stud tackle Marcus Stroud is now in Buffalo, but the front can create the pressure and plug the holes as effectively if John Henderson steps up.

Yes, your mate is a million miles north, man, but now you’ve got draftee Terrance Knighton to create competition at the spot beside you, where Derek Landri, Attiyah Ellison, and even incumbent Rob Meier are already battling. Use the extra energy from there to your advantage!

Heck, maybe you’ll further inspire one of those second-year ex-SEC ends (Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves) to continue their second-half improvements from last season. Or maybe Reggie Hayward will see another vet picking up the slack and want to pitch in.

In my mind, the D-line need only realize what they’re capable of as a group, and the Jacksonville defense could experience a resurgence.

 

Overall Outlook: The Stars Could Align

It would take Thomas defying his years or Monroe stepping in right away.

This team would need Henderson to play as though his old buddy were still there or the rest of the defensive front four immediately rising to their potential.

But the Jaguars could return to the playoffs. They’re similar enough to Jacksonville 2007, and if you don’t trust in “The Suit” (Coach Jack Del Rio), you must not trust your own father.

More likely? The team goes 6-10 and finally decides they need to draft a quarterback.

But Garrard and the rest have one opportunity to bounce back.

NFL Whirlwind Previews: Washington Redskins

It’s at times like this that Washington Redskins fans wish the nation’s capital could just be transplanted. Not that there’s anything wrong with the physical location of D.C.; more like it forces them to be a part of one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, the NFC East.

Geography might be the biggest obstacle in getting to the playoffs this coming season for the ‘Skins, as they’ve got a solid group but face a massive challenge in finishing better than fourth and remaining in Wild Card contention.

Oh, to play in the AFC West…

Offense: Play to Your Strengths

Offensive coordinator Sherman Smith has the right idea about things; by following that mantra in the above subheadline, increasingly introducing West Coast concepts to the Redskins offense, and actively employing his experience as a running backs coach, he’s molding the Washington unit into one that could serve a contender.

The ground game will remain the focus. While Clinton Portis is surely going to wear down fast at the rate of carries he’s getting, boy picked up darn near 1,500 yards last season and marched to the Pro Bowl. Ladell Betts brings experience and a different style as the backup, and both play well enough behind an aging line.

Ah, the line. The general attitude towards center Casey Rabach reveals a lot about the group: He’s a good guy, solid if unspectacular. For seasons, there have been more glaring needs than replacing him or anyone else of the five, and so…

The team is content to play out another campaign with minimal changes. Still, we will see Derrick Dockery back at guard; you didn’t miss his re-signing amidst all the other free agent talk, did you? Guy has excellent mechanics and is ready to deal with both rushes and run-blocking assignments.

And what about that area of great debate and much import—they call it the “passing game,” I believe—how will it fare?

It’s a matter of going to it. As I said earlier, Sherman seems to know his personnel very well and is aware that he must make gradual transitions; here’s hoping that means he’s going to go to the air a bit more this year.

I mean, why not, right? With a top-notch big target at tight end, Chris Cooley, and two stars for wide receivers in Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, shouldn’t the ball be flying in D.C.? Doesn’t everyone trust quarterback Jason Campbell?

Oh.

Well then, shame on you. I’ll get a little editorial here, but hey, it’s my article and that’s my prerogative: The former Auburn Tiger is a good (if not great) signal-caller. The more time he spends under center, the more sure you can be about him.

Campbell will never be in the discussion of the best pure QBs in the league, but in my mind, he’s quickly becoming one of those guys who just won’t lose you the game. He won’t wow you with a single big play, and besides, the smart Washington playcalling does not favor such feats. No, he’ll instead wow you with consistency and his ability to seek out the best of his options on each down.

Yes, Sherman will continue to emphasize the rushing attack because Portis is the man, after this receiving corps (note that young third receiver Devin Thomas says he’s fully recovered) and arm went so underutilized in ’08 (Jason had 13 passing touchdowns! 13!), I expect him to shift a bit, continue working in new short passing plays, and improve the production.

Defense: I’d Like to Welcome to the Stage…

Some dude named, uh, “Albert Haynesworth”?

Oh, so you know about the beast and his massive contract. Well then, do you know about the rest Redskins front four?

It’s a super-experienced bunch that features the ferocious Andre Carter, massive Cornelius Griffin, and reliable Phillip Daniels as starters plus terrific backups Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery, and the now-healthy Alex Buzbee.

They like to spread the stats around, so citing numbers isn’t going to necessarily impress, but take into account the lifetime production of just the three starters besides Haynesworth and you’ll get the idea. No, they can’t hang with the Giants D-line, but they’ll put up a heck of a fight.

As for the linebackers, I could do basically the same for them and just list the names: London Fletcher and his 96 solo tackles aren’t going anywhere, and neither are partner-in-crime Rocky McIntosh and his 60 solo. They welcome rookie Brian Orakpo—that’s right, he did fall to 13th overall, right in the Redskins’ lap—who is moving easily from the end position he played in college.

But you want a bit more than enumeration, I bet. Well, consider the way defensive coordinator rotates his ‘backers (by location, situation, and down) and his pedigree with the Bears, Colts, Packers, and Fighting Irish, and you might develop some faith in his schemes.

Oh yeah, he’s also got Alfred Fincher and H.B. Blades at his disposal off the bench. And that leaves us with just the secondary, which is cohesive to the point that one can feel confident yet will still spark debate.

So if you knew about Haynesworth, you might have caught wind of the large sums tossed DeAngelo Hall’s way. Yes, it was a lot to give a guy cut by the Falcons not long ago, and yes, some attitude problems have popped up in his past. But don’t be one of those people who seemingly forget his playmaking capability, overall athleticism, and youth (he’s only played six seasons).

With what he’s produced to this point and with the number of years he could have ahead of him, I think Washington’s going to look pretty smart down the road. Besides, he won’t feel so alone in the backfield as he did in Atlanta and Oakland; in fact, the pressure of playing alongside names like Carlos Rogers, LaRon Landry, and Chris Horton must be practically moot.

Those fellas were three of the team’s top five tacklers last campaign and combined for seven picks!

Overall Outlook: See What I’m Saying?

I mean, is it just me, or are the Redskins pretty stacked? Coach Jim Zorn had them on the upswing in 2007 and managed an 8-8 ’08 despite ridiculous divisional comp; like I stated before, if Washington were for some reason moved to the California coast and the Hogs could shift divisions…

Oh, and before you think I’ve forgotten special teams, I did see where the team picked up excellent punter Hunter Smith (who never got a chance in Indianapolis), and I’m fully aware of the tapestry that Rock Cartwright wove last season returning kicks (1,307 yards!).

In short, these Redskins have or are rapidly developing answers to most of the questions, but they might just be doomed because of where they play.

Dirty Bird Changes: Falcons’ Roster Moves Force Worthwhile Adjustments

As an Atlanta Falcons fan, I’m still basking in the glow of our 11-5 season in 2008. Unless you’ve followed a team that has never been able to put together consecutive winning seasons in their history and is still recovering from the incarceration of their superstar, you may not know how sweet ’08 was for us Dirty Bird faithful.

Right now, when people approach me with questions about the Falcs’ next season, I practically burst with optimism. I’m ready to just soak in some more success and repeat the mantra “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” over and over again.

And maybe I can, but as for the club itself, that’s a no-can-do. Opponents are going to be better prepared for the Birds this year; there will be no sneaking up on teams. New acquisitions will take some working in, no matter what pedigree they’re coming in with. And despite all the steps forward taken this past campaign, we must continue to develop all parts of the roster and remain vigilant to prevent regression.

What adjustments do I see my hometown team making to keep the feeling alive? Read on for the most noticeable changes I see occurring in 2009.

 

Addition of Tony Gonzalez: The New Dimension

You got tired of hearing it last fall, and if you read my Falcons pieces with any regularity, you’re no doubt sick of me saying it: All our O needed was a tight end to become dominant.

Boy, do we have a tight end now. In case you’ve been in a cave, let me update you: Tony Gonzalez has escaped from NFL purgatory and joined a suddenly potent Falcons attack.

And while I’m generally sunny when regarding the trade that got us the 12-year vet, I’m willing to recognize that simply putting a pass-catching machine on the field doesn’t necessary result in receptions.

So what specifically will happen to accommodate both Ton and the club?

Gonzalez will become the main target for Matt Ryan, but he will have to realize (as will the entire team) that Michael Turner’s ground work is just as important to the offense, if not more. The good news for Tony here is that Roddy White truly emerged last season and will create plenty of space.

Of course, both will hope that Harry Douglas improves even more. That will keep defenses honest on every down.

Personally, I think the greatest thing about this move is that Tony allows the Falcons to finally run legitimate two-tight end sets. The former Chief complements incumbent Ben Harstock rather well; Gonzalez is a solid blocker but a better receiver, while Harstock has always specialized in setting others up with his blocking.

So there’s one new look for the offense.

 

Further Development of White, Jenkins, and Douglas: Reaping the Receivers

Thank you, Roddy, for coming through. Hotlanta wasn’t sure you were going to live up to your first-round pick status, but with your kickass, Pro Bowl, record-breaking 2008, you made us all eat our words.

Now, pass along the secret to success to Michael and Harry.

That’s not to say Jenkins and Douglas were total slouches last year; the 50 receptions of the former and three TD (one receiving, one rushing, and one returning) of the latter were much appreciated. But I for one long for greater balance.

Had you said last year that we were going to run a three-wide set, I would have told you we must be in a pretty desperate situation. It’s not that I don’t trust these guys; it’s just that the run game was always the focus, and though Ryan performed beyond his years in pressure situations, we did lose all five games in which he had to throw 30 or more times.

In 2009, I want to have more confidence when the team fills the field with receivers, and I think the coaches want this too; for this reason, I expect to see them run more three-plus receiver sets to help build up experience. Having multiple deep threats is just the next logical step, seeing as how the team picked up their over-the-top target in Gonzalez.

Plus, being able to put that many receivers on at once would add another look to the O.

 

Substituting Mike Peterson for Brooking and Boley: Adjustments for All

If you really want to rain on my Falcons parade, you can always mention to me the losses of linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley. Those two were of high quality and had repped the team for some time.

But even if you manage to depress me for a moment, I’ll probably soon bounce back when I remember our pickup of Peterson. No, I’m not deluded enough to believe that one man will replace two, but getting excited about acquiring the leader of a tough Jacksonville D isn’t hard to do.

His 84 total tackles falls between Brooking’s 102 and Boley’s 70 from last season, but his sack count was infinitely higher than both of the ex-Birds’ combined.

OK, so he got one to their goose eggs, but that stat illuminates the point I really want to make: Peterson plays the ‘backer position a different way than both of the departures, and his unique methods fit our overall scheme well, perhaps even better than Brooking’s and Boley’s styles.

Mike is aggressive as hell, and he could therefore perhaps make a decent end with greater size. He plays the midfield and line tougher than the old fellas, and that’s not saying they’re soft.

I’m simply trying to explain that Peterson will stuff your runners and create havoc at close to the line before he’ll drop into coverage.

Yes, that will shift greater pressure to the other linebackers and the secondary in passing situations, but they’re ready for it. Do I need to remind you that Erik Coleman led the team in solo tackles last season, that Chris Houston made major strides, and that one of the other projected Falcons linebackers, Coy Wire, is himself a former defensive back?

That’s what makes Peterson a good match for the Falcons D: He shifts the responsibilities, but he allows each individual to play to his strengths.

 

Other teams will be better prepared for Atlanta this season; the Birds will not benefit from being underestimated in 2009 the way they did in ’08. And, yes, the schedule difficulty has dramatically increased.

But leave it to me to find the silver lining—I see the Birds making these changes and getting better for it.

The 1998 NFC Championship: Origins of a Falcons Fan

It’s a funny thing, the human memory.

It’s selective: It allows me to remember the seemingly trivial, yet occasionally forget the important. I mean, why do I remember how bad Joey Harrington was in Week Five of 2007 (2.81 yards per passing attempt!), yet forget how to conjugate Spanish verbs on my final exam?

And the human memory also has no regard for time: Hell if I could tell you what I wore yesterday, but if you want a description of my first time watching a Falcons game in person, I could even give you the details of how the air conditioning felt on the back of my neck in the Georgia Dome.

So I guess it’s just good luck that I remember the beginning of my, shall we say, “NFL consciousness.” Not all the details, mind you, but certainly the most important ones.

 

It was mid-January 1999, about halfway through my fifth grade year. My boy, Jay, and I were at some girl’s house working on a group project for school.

That is, the girls were working on the “group” project. My main and I were holed up in the basement, glued to the tube. Our freakin’ hometown Atlanta Falcons were in the playoffs, and even though we were both just discovering the wonderful world of sports at that age, we had to watch.

At the time, I couldn’t have told you that the Falcs had posted a 14-2 record during the regular season and had won the NFC West for only the second time in franchise history.

I only knew that we’d had an aberration of a season (they’d won games!), that we were already a lot further in the postseason than we were supposed to be, and that my eyes could not be pried from the “NFC Championship” against some “Minnesota Vikings.”

I also knew that, for that Sunday afternoon, Chris Chandler was darn near the best quarterback in the league. Only now can I truly appreciate the numbers (340 yards passing and three touchdowns), but even back then I could have told you that he was doing everything right.

And I was pretty sure Jamal Anderson was the most exciting player I’d ever seen. Too bad I hadn’t had the good sense to watch earlier, as his entire season had been tremendous; he finished ’98 with 1,846 rushing yards, 319 receiving yards, and 16 TD.

But perhaps what I was most certain of was that I truly cared how this game turned out. It was a heck of a nail-biter, an epic overtime thriller, and the start of something grand for both the city and for me.

I’ll cut to the interesting part, though, as I’m sure you’re tiring of all this reminiscence.

The entirety was back-and-forth like few other contests, but shortly before halftime, Atlanta grabbed the momentum. Still, they needed a 16-yard Chandler pass to Terance Mathis for a score to tie it up with just 49 seconds left in regulation.

In the extra minutes, nobody seemed capable of putting it away, as three consecutive possessions resulted in punts. But then a limping Falcons signal-caller just plain willed the ball downfield, setting up a field goal for Morten Anderson.

I’ll come totally clean: In my elementary school years, I was so ignorant of the athletic realm, I’m not positive I knew how many points a boot was worth in the game of football as Anderson kicked it.

All the same, I saw Mort knock it through from what had to have been a mile, and I knew something serious had gone down. The gridiron was only starting to become familiar to me, but I definitely knew the words “Super Bowl.”

Yes, the next day, I begged my father into buying me a khaki Falcons logo cap, which I believe I wore for two weeks straight once he brought it home.

And yes, our activity in P.E. at Annistown Elementary for the next few class sessions was learning Anderson’s celebratory “Dirty Bird” dance.

I’m not positive, but I bet I could still do it.

Jay and I watched the Falcons’ first appearance in the big game, and sure, we were disappointed with the outcome (for you young guns, that Elway character took the Lombardi once more). Still, I couldn’t help but feel a tad bit optimistic.

I’d found a new passion: football. I knew what needed to be incorporated into my life: sports.

Atlanta Falcons’ LBs Might Be Depleted, but Expectations Still High

Call me “Captain Obvious,” but my Atlanta Falcons are a heckuva lot better than they were at this time last year.

Sure, by May 2007, we’d signed our new running back in Michael Turner, and drafted a fresh face for the franchise in quarterback Matt Ryan. Still, there wasn’t much reason to expect more than a three—win improvement over the previous season’s 4—12 mark.

But look at us now!

After charging to the playoffs on an 11-5 record in 2008, picking up one of the top defensive tackles in the draft, and trading for a great tight end, we’re downright scary.

That being said though, I’m not going to act like all is peachy-keen here in the Peach State.

While Peria Jerry and Tony Gonzalez are two terrific additions, the departure of both Keith Brooking (Cowboys) and Michael Boley (Giants) leaves us a little thin at linebacker, to say the least.

How convenient that the two key defectors played the same position, no?

The good news is that the rest of the D looks solid. The line still has Jamaal Anderson and sack machine John Abraham on the ends with Jonathan Babineaux at one of the tackles. It’s quite possible that Jerry will get the majority of the time as the other DT, though Jason Jefferson did much to prove himself last year.

The secondary still sports Chris Houston at corner and Erik Coleman (the team’s solo tackle leader) at free safety. Lawyer Milloy (second on the team in tackles) may have been dropped, but that’s actually a good sign considering his age.

In all, I’m very pleased with this group, especially when I remember the dysfunction that was the ’07 defensive backfield.

But how do we remedy the weakness of our three in the 4-3? Monster in the middle Chris Lofton, the only returning starter, certainly can’t do it all on his own.

Good thing we picked up former Jaguar Mike Peterson.

He led Jacksonville in tackles last season and has all the experience necessary to not only step right in on the strong side and contribute, but also help young Stephen Nichols—who’s right behind him on the depth chart and will likely get decent time to develop.

As for the weak side, word right now is that Coy Wire, formerly a defensive back, is going to take the starting position. It’s an interesting proposition, and one I’m willing to give a try. The dude’s a touch undersized, but he’s proved that he can make things happen with his 28 solo tackles last year in limited time.

The Falcons also drafted Spencer Adkins out of Miami in the sixth round for a little extra depth.

All in all, I’m going to stay optimistic, even with the losses of Brooking and Boley. I doubted the Dirty Birds the tiniest bit going into the last campaign, and look how silly they made me feel.

Yes, it would have been great had one of the USC LBs of this draft fallen into our lap. But considering our first-round position, nabbing Peria is nothing to be upset about.

Let me leave you with a little limerick: Despite the losses to the ‘backing corps, the offense will score…and the Falcons will soar.

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