2015 NFL Predictions: NFC South in-depth preview
Atlanta Falcons:
Key Additions: TE Jacob Tamme, DE Adrian Clayborn, DE/OLB O’Brien Schofield, OLB Brooks Reed, OLB Vic Beasley, CB Jalen Collins, RB Tevin Coleman, WR Justin Hardy
The addition of Jacob Tamme gives the Falcons a new starting TE. Tamme is far from elite, but is definitely better than anyone else they had. Clayborn is a good addition if he can stay on the field which was his biggest problem in Tampa Bay. Schofield is a player Quinn knows, but he will likely not be more than a rotational players.
Adding Reed adds an above average linebacker who should be able to help a struggling defense. I listed the Falcons top four picks because they were exceptional picks. To me Beasley was the best pass rusher in the draft, Collins a good CB, Coleman should be able to make an impact right away and Hardy also coud develop into a good WR.
Key Losses: RB Steven Jackson, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR Harry Douglas, G Justin Blalock, DT Corey Peters, OLB Sean Witherspoon, FS Dwight Lowery
The Falcons let the aging Jackson go and also the pass catching Rodgers, mostly because they believe Coleman and Freeman are better. Douglas was the No.3 wide receiver for the past years, but he only really had big games due to high volumes of targets.
Losing Blalock hurts the offensive line as they don’t really have good replacement options. Peters had a disappointing 2014, especially after being very good in 2013. Witherspoon was held to only seven games through injury, but he is a very good linebacker who will be missed in Atlanta. Lowery was a bad player in last years bad secondary and won’t be missed much at all.
Verdict:
The Falcons offense always has potential with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones as a part of it. Ryan is a very good quarterback, but while many say his surrounding cast has been so great, it actually isn’t. White hasn’t been what he used to be, and Hester and Hankerson as No.3 and No.4 WR isn’t very good either, though Justin Hardy definitely could end up being the No.3 by the beginning of the season. Tamme is an upgrade at TE, but not a big one.
The running game could improve this year, especially if Coleman can have a good year, but that will be difficult due to the bad line. The Falcons line is a problem for both the running and passing game and will handicap the offense a lot.
The defense really isn’t that good either. Beerman is coming off an okay year and Clayborn could be a good opposing DE if healthy, but Hageman and Soliai are weak up the middle. They should be building Jarrett in at DT as well.
At linebacker Reed will be a solid player, Worrilow has really played well his first two years racking up the tackles and then Vic Beasley should be a very dynamic pass rusher, but he will have to improve his run defense. Outside of Trufant, the secondary was atrocious last year and I don’t really see that changing much. Alford simply isn’t very good and safeties Godfrey and Moore aren’t either. If Collins can have a good rookie year then the secondary might have chance to be decent.
Prediction:
Best Case Record: 10-6
Worst Case Record: 5-11
Prediction: 6-10
Team’s Offensive MVP: WR Julio Jones
Team’s Defensive MVP: CB Desmond Trufant
Rookie Standout: OLB Vic Beasley
The Falcons have the potential to put up a lot of points, but their defense simply won’t be very good once again. They have a lot of upside simply because they have an extremely easy schedule which they could beat up on. I think in this case both Justin Hardy and Tevin Coleman would have to have great rookie years.
The defense would also have to be a lot better than it was in past years. Worst case scenario is that they struggle against their own division and lose a couple of their easy games and really disappoint. In this case I think the offense would be very one-dimensional and focused on Jones and the defense would be about what it was last year.
Next: Carolina or New Orleans?