Crowded in the word of Atlanta Falcons training camp. Yes, the best time of the year is fast approaching. Less than a week and the gates at Atlanta Falcons training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga. will be open for business. Come Thursday, July 26, the business season is officially closed. All the work that the coaches, old and new, and players, old and new, have put in, will show their faces. The studying the playbook will continue for the players, but this is the time that the helmets are strapped on, shoulder pads on, and cleats laced up, and the playbook is run by the players on the field. According to CBSSportsline, the Falcons are poised to have a 12-4 season. I haven't seen any predictions on who will win the NFC South lately. But before 'bounty gate' happened, the New Orleans Saints were picked to win the the South. And if that is still true, then the worse the Saints can do will be 13-3. But again they could be tied with the Falcons, but win the series between the two teams, thus, taking the top spot in the division. Here's hoping for a worse record than that and the Falcons remain 12-4 or better and take the division out right. But any team can win in any given Sunday, so Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers could fight for the spot as well. I hope not, but anything is possible. Look at last year with the SF 49er's winning the NFC West and downing the Saints, even with bounties against them, to take a playoff win. Who would have thunk that. But this entire post shows how good the Falcons look on paper, nothing will become official until the games start, and the real analysis begins.
But back to talking about the Falcons. With two new coordinators, the pressure is on them to come up with schemes that dominate the opponents. Word has it that Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter's scheme is going to be more vertical and down field, and not relying on the run a lot. RB Michael Turner's carries will drop if that's the case. Hopefully he will help out in other ways and block, and not be upset, because this is a team effort. According to NFL Network's Total Access Show, the Falcons have the 5th best receiving duo in the NFL from 2011 behind the NY Giants ( V. Cruz & H. Nicks 2728 rec yards), Detroit Lions (C. Johnson & N. Burleson 2438 rec yards), Pittsburgh Steelers (M. Wallace & A. Brown 2301 rec yards), and NE Patriots (W. Welker & D. Branch 2271 rec yards). Falcon receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones combined yardage last season was 2255 rec yards with 155 total catches between the two. With another year under them, and hoping for a better vertical game this year, those stats could go up. And lets not forget about the missing link in all this. Slot receiver Harry Douglas role could increase with a better passing game. But Douglas might be leaned on more heavily as punt returner.And all this can't be possible unless the offensive line holds up and gives QB Matt Ryan ample time to throw the ball downfield.
On defense, new Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan's 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme will call for more pressure on the quarterback. This will be a welcome sight to me after suffering through so many years of soft coverages with no pressure on any player, much less the QB. With DE John Abraham resigned and another year with Ray Edwards on the other side, look for both players to get more work. I have never worried about the Falcons linebacker corp. This year will be no different, with Sean Weatherpoon taking charge for this group, I have no worries. Last year Akeen Dent stepped in and played a pivitol role when fellow linebacker Stephen Nicholas missed games due to injury. Look for his roll to increase and maybe even start with middle linebacker Curtis Lofton going to the dark side, signing with the NO Saints. And FINALLY the Falcons have a good secondary that will bring pressure to opposing receivers. Hard hitting William Moore and Tomas DeCoud man the reigns in the middle at Safety. And with the signing of CB Asante Samuel, Falcons have legit cornerbacks in the backfield. Fellow cornerbacks Dunta Robinson will be in the middle with Brent Grimes on the left outside and Samuel on the right. But the left and right side CB between those two guys could change depending on the play and what receivers are on the field.
So all these battles will be played out in the coming weeks to see who fits best where. Lets hope that both sides of the ball gel well together so once the opening regular season game vs Kansas City arrives, the Falcons new look with be unleashed. And only 20 more days until first preseason game vs the Baltimore Ravens at the dome.
Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.
But back to talking about the Falcons. With two new coordinators, the pressure is on them to come up with schemes that dominate the opponents. Word has it that Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter's scheme is going to be more vertical and down field, and not relying on the run a lot. RB Michael Turner's carries will drop if that's the case. Hopefully he will help out in other ways and block, and not be upset, because this is a team effort. According to NFL Network's Total Access Show, the Falcons have the 5th best receiving duo in the NFL from 2011 behind the NY Giants ( V. Cruz & H. Nicks 2728 rec yards), Detroit Lions (C. Johnson & N. Burleson 2438 rec yards), Pittsburgh Steelers (M. Wallace & A. Brown 2301 rec yards), and NE Patriots (W. Welker & D. Branch 2271 rec yards). Falcon receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones combined yardage last season was 2255 rec yards with 155 total catches between the two. With another year under them, and hoping for a better vertical game this year, those stats could go up. And lets not forget about the missing link in all this. Slot receiver Harry Douglas role could increase with a better passing game. But Douglas might be leaned on more heavily as punt returner.And all this can't be possible unless the offensive line holds up and gives QB Matt Ryan ample time to throw the ball downfield.
On defense, new Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan's 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme will call for more pressure on the quarterback. This will be a welcome sight to me after suffering through so many years of soft coverages with no pressure on any player, much less the QB. With DE John Abraham resigned and another year with Ray Edwards on the other side, look for both players to get more work. I have never worried about the Falcons linebacker corp. This year will be no different, with Sean Weatherpoon taking charge for this group, I have no worries. Last year Akeen Dent stepped in and played a pivitol role when fellow linebacker Stephen Nicholas missed games due to injury. Look for his roll to increase and maybe even start with middle linebacker Curtis Lofton going to the dark side, signing with the NO Saints. And FINALLY the Falcons have a good secondary that will bring pressure to opposing receivers. Hard hitting William Moore and Tomas DeCoud man the reigns in the middle at Safety. And with the signing of CB Asante Samuel, Falcons have legit cornerbacks in the backfield. Fellow cornerbacks Dunta Robinson will be in the middle with Brent Grimes on the left outside and Samuel on the right. But the left and right side CB between those two guys could change depending on the play and what receivers are on the field.
So all these battles will be played out in the coming weeks to see who fits best where. Lets hope that both sides of the ball gel well together so once the opening regular season game vs Kansas City arrives, the Falcons new look with be unleashed. And only 20 more days until first preseason game vs the Baltimore Ravens at the dome.
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| Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley I am a loving husband, father. God and family are #1 in my life. Kennesaw State Univ alum in Journalism. Academic librarian/writer/blogger. "Your thoughts are better organized when they are written." |
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