NFL Preview: Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons 


Key Additions:
WR Julio Jones (draft)
DE Ray Edwards (FA)


Key Departures:
DE Jamaal Anderson 
G Harvey Dahl
WR Michael Jenkins
P Michael Koenen
RB Jerious Norwood


Report:

The top seed in the NFC is back and ready to have another great season. Leading that rush is Pro Bowl QB Matt Ryan. Ryan enjoyed his best season of his career which propelled him into the elite category of NFL quarterbacks. RB Michael Turner made his job much easier after returning from injury. Complementing him is RB Jason Snelling after Jerious Norwood left for St. Louis. A team that has great season usually has players that step and have career years like WR Roddy White had. Roddy White led the NFL in receptions and became Ryan's go-to guy. Atlanta hopes they become more explosive on offense with the addition of WR Julio Jones from Alabama. Atlanta gave up a lot to get the explosive receiver. At tight end future HOF Tony Gonzalez is a reliable target and a veteran leader to this offense. The Falcons have a sturdy offensive, and kept 2 of the 3 free agents. The only casualty was G Harvey Dahl. T Tyson Clabo and G Justin Blalock decided to stay the solidify the protection for Matty Ice.  

The mainstays of the Falcons defense are all back, joining them is DE Ray Edwards. Edwards came from Minnesota where he didn't post double digit sacks with Jared Allen and the Williams brothers around him. Around him in Atlanta is DE John Abraham who has resurrected his career. Ray Edwards will most likely take DE Kroy Biermann's position in the starting lineup. Biermann was expected to breakout last year but did not have the season most were expecting. At the tackles Jonathan Babineaux is a consistent player. The Falcons need DT Peria Jerry to stay healthy and be a plug in the running game. Linebackers Curtis Lofton, Mike Peterson, and Stephen Nicholas are all back, but they want second year player Sean Weatherspoon to be more effective. The pass defense wasn't the strength of the defense and Aaron Rodgers proved that in the playoffs. CB's Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are back along with S's Thomas DeCoud and William Moore. The secondary needs to perform better if Atlanta wants to win it all.  



K Matt Bryant is a dependable kicker, especially in a dome. The Falcons lost P Michael Koenen, but picked up P Ken Parrish and will be starting him. Returner Eric Weems is consistent, and broke one for a touchdown last season.


Review:
The Atlanta Falcons are a motivated and narrow-minded group. Their eyes are set on the championship after getting the best thing you can get to help you win, home field advantage. The key players are all back and are young for plenty of year for contending. Julio Jones is the piece in the last piece that Atlanta thinks they need. This team should be in Super Bowl talks and may even win it all this year.


Division Finish: TBA