Atlanta Falcons: What’s Still Missing From This Team?
The Falcons have spent most of free agency adding key pieces to the current roster. However even with the additions that they’ve made we must ask the question. What’s missing?
The Atlanta Falcons have been pretty decent so far in free agency. Looking back in recent years, free agency for the team hasn’t produced many stellar results. Last year, Brooks Reed and Justin Durant were the big signings, the former barely made an impact in 2015 and the latter is no longer with the team.
In 2014 the team signed Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson as two stud defensive linemen looking to become more stout and aggressive up front. Soliai is no longer with the team and Jackson, like Reed, has made very little impact in his time with the team. The year before, Osi Umenyiora and Steven Jackson came in to take the team to the promises land, neither of which is still with the team.
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The Falcons hope to rid themselves of the free agency curse that has plagued the team the past several years. Their intentions have seemingly been good, however the results from incoming players just has not paid off. Add in the fact that the teams recent draft history hasn’t been excellent, it’s a wonder that the team has won as many games as it has.
Having stud receiver Julio Jones and franchise quarterback Matt Ryan does pay dividends to those wins, however it leaves one thinking how much better could the team have been if they had selected impact players?
This offseason, the Falcons made some moves that could bring immediate impact and necessary change. The signing of center Alex Mack, will bring stability to the offensive line and provide Ryan with a level of comfort that any quarterback needs to survive. Since Todd McClure‘s departure in the 2013 offseason, the center position for the Falcons has been in flux and Ryan’s play has suffered.
A quarterback without a good center is similar to going to war with a battered wooden shield. Your confidence will drop when you see opponents swinging at you with full force because you know that your shield is not fit for battle. Mack is much more than a battered wooden shield. His presence alone should allow Ryan to relax in the pocket and become Matt Ryan again.
Julio Jones will be receiving much of Matt Ryan’s passes, however opposite of him is newcomer Mohamed Sanu. Sanu was never a featured number two receiver during his time in Cincinnati. That is the only saving grace for his low numbers while there. In Atlanta, he will have every opportunity to thrive off of the max coverage that Jones will receive. Wide receiver was one of the teams most important holes to fill following the release of Roddy White. The staff has confidence in Sanu’s ability, however his impact is yet to be seen.
Unlike the offense, the defense a step forward in the 2015 season. After finishing dead last in the league in total yards allowed in 2014, the team improved to 16th in total defense this past season. The unit added rotational lineman Derrick Shelby (Dolphins), former Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and Super Bowl XLVII champion/linebacker Courtney Upshaw (Ravens) to name a few. If the defense could improve on their performance from last year and the offense can get back on track and back in sync, 2016 may just be a grand year for the Falcons.
So what’s missing?
All of these acquisitions look golden before any actual football is played. In reality, who knows what will happen? The worst possible signing could bring the biggest impact and the best signing by opinion could continue the Falcons’ trend of horrible free agency. All of this is yet to be seen. What cannot be ignored are the holes that still exist on the team.
Safety William Moore‘s departure creates a gaping hole at the position for the time being. I also believe that Paul Soliai will be greatly missed in running situations. Paul Worrilow at MLB is another concern. Worrilow has posted awesome tackling numbers but mainly from cleanup. Worrilow lacks the “it” factor to be an elite starting middle linebacker in the league. The team pursued both linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman (and lost both to the Bears). Their last hope linebacker signing to relieve Worrilow of the starting position was James Laurinaitas, who signed with the division-rival Saints.
Now, it seems the Falcons must look to the draft to fill these needs. Safety Keanu Neal is a powerful hard hitting safety that could plug and play in Moore‘s former position. Second-year defensive lineman Grady Jarrett should see increased playing time with Soliai’s departure, and I’m confident that he will have a breakout season. In limited playing time last season he made himself known, so with the right opportunity, the results will come.
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Middle linebacker is my biggest concern entering the season. Worrilow is a competent NFL starter capable of making tackles on most players while providing minimal coverage skills. Sitting at No. 17 in the draft, it’s unlikely that the Falcons will get the a high level linebacker that could potentially replace Worrilow.
Reggie Ragland has been linked to the Falcons in recent mock drafts and would provide an intriguing camp battle at the position. Whatever the case, the Falcons should look to plug these holes in the most effective ways before the season begins. If they do, their odds of making some noise in the NFC South would greatly increase.