Five looming questions for the Atlanta Falcons off-season Have they been answered
Five looming questions for the Atlanta Falcons off-season Have they been answered
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The 2024 off-season has a chance to be a transformational one for the Atlanta Falcons.With the departure of Arthur Smith, the Raheem Morris era of the Falconsmakes its beginningandithas gotten off to an explosive start.With the overhaul Miye Oni Jersey of the roster, building this team in the image of the three-headed monster of Morris, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Atlanta has come out of the first wave of the off-season as the betting favorites to win the NFC South, according to DraftKings Sportsbooks.Before the off-season started, the Falcons had five questions looming that they needed to answer for it to be called a succe s. We look into whether or not these five looming questions havebeen answered.Answer: Yes, maybe too much...?At the end of 2023, 30 quarterbacks had 320+ quarterback plays, according to rbsdm.com. Desmond Ridder ended the year 24th in the league in adjusted EPA/play. The quarterbacks worse than him?Washington's Sam HowellPittsburgh's Kenny PickettMinnesota's Josh DobbsNew England's Mac JonesCarolina's Bryce Young andNew York's Zach WilsonThe only player out of that list still on their 2023 team is Young, and that's because the Panthers invested a first-overall pick on him. The Falcons had to upgrade at quarterback...even if they did it questionably.Atlanta did everything in their power to secure Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, including giving him a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, but the Falconsweren't donethere.With Cousins coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and backup Taylor Heinicke not giving much confidence in his abilities in his play last year, Atlanta took quarterback with the eighth overall selection in this year's draft.Was it overkill? Could be. But if this goes as the Falcons believe, Atlanta is set at the quarterback for at least the next half-decade to a decade.Answer: Unconventionally, but yes.Over the past decade-plus, the Falcons' pa s rush has been virtually non-existent. How much? Since 2014, only 41 teams have had le s than 30 sacks throughout an NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons are the owners of six of those teams. The next team on the list is Oakland/Las Vegas, with three seasons.The Falcons pa s-rush needed help, even if they did get over the 40-sack mark for the first time since 2004 last season. So, did they? The answer is yes, but , the word of the year for the Falcons' approach to team-building.With the Falcons selecting Penix at eight, they forwent the opportunity to add a potential premium pa s-rusher in the draft, and they didn't add a pa s-rusher at all in free agency. And after losing roughly 13 of those sacks in the lo ses of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, there had to be somesort ofanswer.Their answer was to add more to the defensive line rotation with not one, not two, but three draft picks spent on the interior of the defensive line. The player with the most upside? The long, athletic . The player with the most potential to have an immediate impact? The versatile, powerful . Then, there's the ma sive mountain of a man in , who could find a role as a nose tackle.The Falcons also added one of the potential steals of the draft in to add to the edge rush rotation, but thisoff-season showed that they are taking a large bet on those on this roster taking ma sive steps into their development. 2022 second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie is the top returning sack-getter with 6.0 from last season. If Ebiketie can reach/get close to that double-digit sack total, the Falcons could get to and beyond that 40-sack mark.Is 40 sacks a low bar? Absolutely, but we have to start somewhere.Answer: Work in progre s...Speaking of bets that this year's team is making on last year, the Falcons seemingly refused to addre s the CB2 position. A.J. Terrell is in a contract year and has beenteeteringbetween elite and good status since his breakout 2021 season. He's talented and worthy of that extension, but he and safety Je sie Bates III .Atlanta made a few signings, adding , and to the roster throughout free agency. However, the second cornerback position is up for grabs for most of the cornerback room.Mike Hughes and Jarrell Brantley Jersey Clark Phillips III both have claims to the position as Phillips played admirably in his opportunities last season, whileHughes showed flashes of solid play the last time he was a full-time Karl Malone Jersey starter on the outside in 2021, as a Kansas City Chief.Filling out that other spot is still a , but they have at least tried to addre s the situation. How well did they? That remains tobe seen.Answer: AbsolutelyDrake London led all Falcons receivers with 905 yards receiving last season. The next wide receiver? Mack Hollins with 251. London hasn't needed help like this since 1666, and it came in droves this off-season.Atlanta brought in former Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney in the first wave of free agency, then found a way to pull off the rare player-for-player trade as they acquired receiver/offensive weapon Rondale Moore for quarterback Desmond Ridder, both of which needed a fresh start.Even with these additions,the Falcons weren't finished. They drafted Illinois' outside ball-winner in the sixth round as another potential draft steal.It was clear that the word of the off-season for the receiver room was speed, and they added plenty of it. With this overhaul, London got plenty of help, and this offense got a much-needed face-lift that could help them compete for a playoff spot in 2024.Answer: On paper? YesQuarterback Baker Mayfield was overlooked as a signing to the Bucs last season as theywere seenas a rebuilding roster in the wake of Tom Brady's departure. Instead, Tampa Bay won nine games, including five of their final six, to take the NFC South for a third consecutive year.After outfitting this roster with offensive weapons galore, the Falcons got rid of Smith to get the modern-day mold of a contender: A Shanahan/McVay-type offense and a quarters-heavy, bend-but-don't-break defense. Was that enough to overtake them for the division? On paper, yes.Gamesaren't playedon paper. The Bucs retained a large part of their core, including Mayfield, star wide receiver Mike Evans and star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., making them as formidable as they were last season. If the Falcons' plan goes as planned, it won't matter. Atlanta will have too much talent for Tampa Bay to overcome.
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