Atlanta teams having similar paths...

Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez: photo Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

If you paid attention to the Atlanta Falcons season last year, and if you are now keeping up with the Atlanta Braves season so far, you might see a similar pattern. The Falcons ended the regular season last year at 10-6, but lost to the now Super Bowl Champs New York football Giants 2-24 in the opening round of the playoffs. The Atlanta Braves are about a month out from the midseason break (All-Star Game), and yet, have a winning record at 34-29 and tied in the third spot of the NL East with the New York Mets.

But both teams have stayed consistent. Not consistent in a good way, consistent in a bad way. Both teams have played very inconsistently. Lets take the Falcons for example. Last year they would win by a big margin and blow a team out as they did when playing the Indianapolis Colts, and score every time the O had the ball,  then turn around beat the Tennessee Titans, but go four or five straight drives and go three and out. Be it they did win, but it was almost like biting fingernails to win the game. Lets go one year farther back. The Falcons play tremendous in the 2011 season, earn first dibs in the playoffs with a home playoff game. And they lay an egg versus the Green Bay Packers, who go on to win the Super Bowl. Could it have been the offensive scheme, in which many players came out and said it was way to predictable. There is not much that the defense has to plan for when they already know , for example, that the opening play for the Falcons is more than likely RB ZMichael Turner up the middle for no gain or a two yard gain. Here's wishing the new offense under Dirk Koetter is fit for the Falcon's roster, and there's a balance in the attack that always has the defense guessing.

New Falcons D Coordinator Mike Nolan (L) and O Coordinator Dirk Koetter (R), along with Head Coach Mike Smith (C): Photo/ Atlanta Journal Constitution

Ok, how about the Atlanta Braves team. Lets start with last year's team. Very good throughout the season, so my guess was there wasn't much change from Bobby Cox to present manager Fredi Gonzalez. Gonzalez uses a lot of Cox's principles and techniques, and was even on Cox's staff as the third base coach a couple years. But with about 31 games left in the regular season, Braves were looking good in the wild card race, up by seven games on the St. Louis Cardinals, and ended up losing the last 20 out of the last 31 games to not make the playoffs, and to watch the Cards take that sport, then end up winning the World Series. And the lack of that consistency has carried over into the 2012 campaign. Yes, they have a winning record, but if you take a closer look at that record, you see an eight game losing streak, then a six game winning streak that gimproved the Braves back to one game behind division leader Washington Nationals. And now the Braves are on a current four game losing streak. The Braves beat the teams they are suppose to beat, but lose to the top teams. Braves will never get over the hump and win the championship again until they become consistent. Losing one or two games here and there is common. But don't go six, seven game losing streak. It was once told to me by my late grandfather that ever baseball team, no matter how bad or good you are, will always win and lose at least 54 games. Doing my research I have found that to be true. If you can find a team that doesn't meet that criteria, I will stand corrected.

Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley

So Braves, let's get that consistency back for the long stretch for the rest of the season and make the playoffs, and go deep in playoffs, and maybe bring a second World Series trophy back to Atlanta. And to the Atlanta Falcons. I believe that the change in both coordinators that have long histories in the NFL, will bring an upgrade and boost the team to the next level.

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.