in

Off-season Report Card: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons host the Packers tonight.

This has been a tricky offseason for the Atlanta Falcons. The most prolific offensive in the NFL didn’t have a lot of attrition with key players on that side of the ball. Pretty much the entire team looks to start training camp together. It’s an important factor, because there are no guarantees in the NFL year to year, just ask the 2016 Carolina Panthers.

The Falcons do have some challenges they’ll have to address the entire offseason. They would not be the first team to suffer a Super Bowl hangover after a devastating and historic loss. Couple that with the loss of their most important assistant coach, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and there’s real reason for concern.

Free Agents Kept

Kemel Ishmael, Safety

Matt Schaub, Quarterback

Levine Toilolo, Tight End

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Defensive Back

Free Agents Gained

Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs

Andre Roberts, Wide Receiver, formerly of the Detroit Lions

Hugh Thornton, Offensive Guard, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts

Soma Vainuku, Fullback, formerly of the Houston Texans

Free Agents Lost

Patrick DiMarco, Fullback, signed with the Buffalo Bills

Aldrick Robinson, Wide Receiver, signed with the San Francisco 49ers

Paul Worrilow, Middle Linebacker, signed with the Detroit Lions

Dwight Freeney, Defensive End, currently a free agent

2017 NFL Draft

Round 1, Takkarist McKinley, Defensive End, UCLA

Round 3, Duke Riley, Linebacker, LSU

Round 4, Sean Harlow, Offensive Guard, Oregon State

Round 5, Damontae Kazee, Cornerback, San Diego State

Round 5, Brian Hill, Running Back, Wyoming

Round 5, Eric Saubert, Tight End, Drake

Proposed Offensive Starters

QB: Matt Ryan

RB; Devonta Feeeman

WR: Julio Jones

WR: Mohammed Sanu

WR: Taylor Gabriel

TE: Austin Hooper

LT: Jake Matthews

RT: Ryan Schraeder

LG: Andy Livetre

RG: Wes Schweitzer

C: Alex Mack

Offensive Outlook

The Falcons still have one more season of this core group and the depth, especially at running back with Freeman and Tevin Coleman. They need to enjoy it while it lasts. The biggest change for this squad is at offensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan to Steve Sarkisian is a major downgrade on anyone’s board. He has all the same toys Shanahan used last season, so it’ll be easy to point the finger if anything falters.

Ryan is coming off an NFL MVP season and Julio Jones, though held out of most of the preseason activities up to this point, should be fully healthy once the season starts. The fact that he played with turf toe most of last season and still put up freakshow numbers and Youtube highlights is astonishing. The Falcons will still likely split time at running back between Coleman and Freeman, but don’t be surprised to see Freeman’s role expand as Coleman’s diminishes. He’s just too good to take off the field and I don’t think Sarkisian will be as creative in finding ways to produce carries for both guys.

Up front, this is still a solid offensive line. Matthews continues to improve at left tackle, minus the rogue penalty or two and as long as Sark doesn’t try any nutso scheme changes, they should be fine. The Falcons even added some more depth in free agency and the draft.

Proposed Defensive Starters

DE: Brooks Reed

DE: Vic Beasley

DT: Dontari Poe

DT: Grady Jarrett

OLB: De’Vondre Campbell

OLB: Duke Riley

MLB: Deion Jones

CB: Robert Alford

CB: Desmond Trufant

FS: Keanu Neal

SS: Ricardo Allen

Defensive Outlook

This is an improved unit than last year’s Super Bowl squad that squandered a 28-3 lead in the second half. Dontari Poe is a significant upgrade on the interior of the line and Duke Riley, if he can stay healthy, should have an immediate impact as a rookie at linebacker. Riley did play a full season last year for the Florida Gators and hopefully with some pro-level training his injury issues will be a thing of the past. He’ll have to replace the departed Paul Worrilow who, like Deion Jones, was one of the most underrated players in the NFL

Vic Beasley finally blast onto the scene last season with 15.5 sacks. With the addition of Poe up front, Beasley should see a lot of the same match ups this season. If offensive lines try to move too much his way, they’ll just be opening up a bull rush on the inside. Rookie Takkarist McKinley will open the season backing up Brooks Reed, but don’t be surprised to see McKinley and Beasley bearing down on quarterbacks full time together by October.

The biggest addition from that Super Bowl unit is the return of Desmond Trufant. He’s one of the top corners in the game and missed the second half of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. Trufant, along with Allen, Neal and Alford are a monster defensive backfield, especially when you add in nickleback Brian Poole who accounted for 58 tackles, two fumble recoveries, 10 passes defended and a pick himself. This crew makes their own southeastern version of the Legion of Boom.

Grade: B+

The Falcons kept their team together, something not every Super Bowl team can do. The only reason Atlanta doesn’t get an “A” is the addition of Sarkisian at offensive coordinator. He has a lot to prove if he’s going to be a legitimate successor to Kyle Shanahan.

O/U wins: 10.5

Preseason Schedule

Week 1: at Miami Dolphins

Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 3: Arizona Cardinals

Week 4: Jacksonville Jaguars

Regular Season Schedule

Week 1: at Chicago Bears

Week 2: Green Bay Packers

Key test: The Falcons beat the Packers pretty thoroughly in the NFC Championship game last season. If they can come anywhere close to that performance in this game, at home, they can probably put fears of a Super Bowl hangover behind them. 

Week 3: at Detroit Lions

Week 4: Buffalo Bills

Week 5: BYE

Week 6: Miami Dolphins

Week 7: at New England Patriots

Key Test: How much do the Falcons want to show they robbed themselves in the Super Bowl. This is a major revenge game and one where each team could come in unbeaten. 

Week 8: at New York Jets

Week 9: at Carolina Panthers

Week 10: Dallas Cowboys

Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 13: Minnesota Vikings

Week 14: New Orleans Saints

Week 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 16: at New Orleans Saints

Week 17: Carolina Panthers

To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

SmackDown Recap: Carmella Wins the Briefcase Again

quicken loans national

2017 Quicken Loans National PGA DFS Lineup