Falconsroach7
Starter
A fantastic season with a bitter end. Nearly everything went right for Atlanta in the regular season, but, against dallas on sunday, everything went wrong. The run game never got going. The pass defense was weak throughout. Julio Jones cracked his collarbone. Matty ice, the MVP, threw 3 interceptions, including a game-sealing pick 6 and it was too much to overcome. That's not to say that atlanta should lose sight of what they accomplished. Here, we'll break down the strengths and weaknesses of the 2015 squad and look forward to what we could be seeing in free agency or the draft.
Offense:
Tevin Coleman. Welcome to the NFL. With a monstrous season, Coleman nabbed offensive rookie of the year honors and was most definitely a top 5 RB in the league. Atlanta has found their back of the future. Meanwhile, finally supported with a steady running game, Matty ice threw 40 touchdowns and claimed MVP. Julio Jones also ate secondaries alive, proving his worth at a top 3 WR in the league. A surprising (disappointing) note for this squad was the lack of a true #2 option at WR. Rodd white simply isn't explosive enough anymore and Leonard Hankerson nor Levine toilolo aren't refined enough. A rumor that is currently circulating is that atlanta is in the market for a receiver to pair up with Julio Jones and solidify this offense. Roddy White is also reportedly on the trade block, as Atlanta is trying to stockpile draft picks. Another note of concern would be the offensive line. Jake Matthews and Ryan Schrader are great tackles, and Andy levitre was a great pickup for left guard, but chris Chester and especially Gradkowski were disappointments, failing to open up holes in the middle of the Defense and stop defensive tackle from applying pressure up the middle. The falcons will have to beef up the interior of this line to maintain a steady run game and keep Ryan upright. This was a top 5 offense this year, and a piece or two could Make them the most formidable unit in all of the NFL.
Defense:
This is where Quinn left his mark...to some degree. The defense was a major improvement this season, but a ton of work still needs to be completed. Beasley looks like he'll become a household name as he registered 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Ra'shede Hageman also stepped up as a Sophomore and it appears he's ready to be the #1 DT and pass Babineaux. The promise along the defensive front is very exciting, but the linebackers need some major renovations. Brooks reed and Justin Durant were brought in just a year ago, but competition could be good there. Paul worrilow just isn't good enough. Quinn needs a Bobby Wagner. Look for an athletic instinctual MLB to be the #1 priority of this offseason. Desmond Trufant really became a #1 CB while Jalen Collins displayed a high amount of potential, so expect those two to continue to grow together. Ishmael is a lock at SS due to his run support and ball hawking skills, but Ricardo Allen may see a new FS added to the roster since he surrendered a ton of big yardage plays. The defense is looking better, especially since they're taking the ball away so much, but they have to limit yards. This could be a top 10 defense in year 2 of the Quinn project
Future
This man IS the future. The team will go as he goes. Quinn has brought new energy to reinvigorate what was a stale franchise. The players have bought into his message. The majority of the pieces are in place to earn a title, and the falcons should hold some good draft selections again. If Quinn can have another offseason like his rookie one, with immediate impact players from the draft and free agency, this team could really compete for a superbowl title. It's all about his leadership.
Rise up!
Offense:
Tevin Coleman. Welcome to the NFL. With a monstrous season, Coleman nabbed offensive rookie of the year honors and was most definitely a top 5 RB in the league. Atlanta has found their back of the future. Meanwhile, finally supported with a steady running game, Matty ice threw 40 touchdowns and claimed MVP. Julio Jones also ate secondaries alive, proving his worth at a top 3 WR in the league. A surprising (disappointing) note for this squad was the lack of a true #2 option at WR. Rodd white simply isn't explosive enough anymore and Leonard Hankerson nor Levine toilolo aren't refined enough. A rumor that is currently circulating is that atlanta is in the market for a receiver to pair up with Julio Jones and solidify this offense. Roddy White is also reportedly on the trade block, as Atlanta is trying to stockpile draft picks. Another note of concern would be the offensive line. Jake Matthews and Ryan Schrader are great tackles, and Andy levitre was a great pickup for left guard, but chris Chester and especially Gradkowski were disappointments, failing to open up holes in the middle of the Defense and stop defensive tackle from applying pressure up the middle. The falcons will have to beef up the interior of this line to maintain a steady run game and keep Ryan upright. This was a top 5 offense this year, and a piece or two could Make them the most formidable unit in all of the NFL.
Defense:
This is where Quinn left his mark...to some degree. The defense was a major improvement this season, but a ton of work still needs to be completed. Beasley looks like he'll become a household name as he registered 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Ra'shede Hageman also stepped up as a Sophomore and it appears he's ready to be the #1 DT and pass Babineaux. The promise along the defensive front is very exciting, but the linebackers need some major renovations. Brooks reed and Justin Durant were brought in just a year ago, but competition could be good there. Paul worrilow just isn't good enough. Quinn needs a Bobby Wagner. Look for an athletic instinctual MLB to be the #1 priority of this offseason. Desmond Trufant really became a #1 CB while Jalen Collins displayed a high amount of potential, so expect those two to continue to grow together. Ishmael is a lock at SS due to his run support and ball hawking skills, but Ricardo Allen may see a new FS added to the roster since he surrendered a ton of big yardage plays. The defense is looking better, especially since they're taking the ball away so much, but they have to limit yards. This could be a top 10 defense in year 2 of the Quinn project
Future
This man IS the future. The team will go as he goes. Quinn has brought new energy to reinvigorate what was a stale franchise. The players have bought into his message. The majority of the pieces are in place to earn a title, and the falcons should hold some good draft selections again. If Quinn can have another offseason like his rookie one, with immediate impact players from the draft and free agency, this team could really compete for a superbowl title. It's all about his leadership.
Rise up!