Atlanta Falcons: 3 Glaring weaknesses entering 2020 training camp
Atlanta Falcons Glaring Weakness No. 2: Cornerback
Another area that will be interesting to keep an eye on for the Falcons during the 2020 NFL season comes at the back end of the defense and at the cornerback spot.
Last season, the Falcons struggled to keep opposing teams from airing it out, allowing just under 4,000 passing yards on the year. That wasn’t enough to allow Atlanta’s top-notch offense to try and outscore opposing squads week-in and week-out, with the team often times falling on the wrong end of a high-scoring contest.
Unfortunately, the 2020 season could be more of the same given the inexperience of the Atlanta cornerbacks.
During the free agency period this offseason, veteran defensive back Desmond Trufant left the Falcons to join the Detriot Lions, leaving the Falcons with a group of young cornerbacks to rely on picking up the pace within the position moving forward.
After drafting rookie A.J. Terrell in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft in April, Atlanta has cornerbacks Isaiah Oliver, Terrell, Kendall Sheffield and some others that will see a large amount of playing time on defense both this season and beyond.
The lack of deep talent at the position and the apparent weakness at cornerback that remains for the Falcons could end up resulting in the team dipping into free agency once again to bring in a player to step into a starting or backup role at cornerback this season. The good news for Atlanta is that there still is a good mix of relatively young and also some experienced veteran players remaining on the free agent market.
It has yet to be seen just how quickly the current Falcons cornerbacks will be able to get acclimated to taking over key roles at the back end of the defense this season and leading into the future, but this position should be viewed as one of their biggest weaknesses leading into the regular season.
And with a schedule featuring opposing quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, among others, we will all find out quickly just how fast the Atlanta cornerbacks will be able to take over in bigger roles this year.