The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Atlanta Falcons 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
Game, set … and end of season. This is unfortunately the doctrine that has too often punctuated the end of the exercise of Atlanta under the thumb of Arthur Smith, with records of seven wins and ten losses in the last two seasons. It’s not all because of head coach who, alongside the general manager Terry Fontenot, worked to rebuild the foundations of a franchise at the end of its cycle.
Having to manage cumbersome contracts, in particular those of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, the Georgian team only really had the financial margin this year to significantly renew its workforce. With the heightened expectations that go with it… Can these new-look Falcons finally make it to the playoffs? Response elements.
Last season: 7 wins – 10 losses, 3rd in NFC South, no playoffs
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Taylor Heinicke (QB), Mack Hollins (WR), Scotty Miller (WR), Jonnu Smith (TE), Calais Campbell (DL), Eddie Goldman (DL), David Onyemata (DL), Bud Dupree (EDGE) , Kaden Elliss (LB), Jessie Bates (S), Jeff Okudah (CB), Mike Hughes (CB).
Re-signings: Keith Smith (FB), Kaleb McGary (OT), Bradley Pinion (P).
Draft: Bijan Robinson (RB), Matthew Bergeron (OL), Zach Harrison (EDGE), Clark Phillips III (CB), DeMarcco Hellams (S), Jovaughn Gwyn (G).
Notable losses: Marcus Mariota (QB), Olamide Zaccheaus (WR), Elijah Wilkinson (OL), Isaiah Oliver (CB), Casey Hayward (CB).
The key word of this off-season will undoubtedly have been defense. On the first rampart, beyond the surprise return of nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who retired just as surprisingly a year ago, the main catches were made on the defensive line. David Onyemata arrives in the luggage of new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, from New Orleans, and has just finished his last season at five sacks. We no longer really present the other newcomer, defector from the Baltimore Ravens, and true leader: Calais Campbell, who is probably experiencing one of his last challenges by settling down in Georgia, at 36 years old.
In serious need of support, given any statistics of recent years, the pass rush is not left out, with an old acquaintance of Arthur Smith in Tennessee, the fragile but versatile Bud Dupree. Another newcomer from the Saints, linebacker Kaden Elliss has been able to transform more than once into a quarterback hunter since his arrival with the pros.
Also in defense, the biggest contract of this offseason was provided to former Bengals star safety Jessie Bates III. He will be responsible for supervising a backfield defensive made former high-sounding names and first round draft picks who had struggled to confirm until then: Jeff Okudah (ex-Lions) and Mike Hughes (ex-Chiefs). Drawn in the fourth round of the last draft, Clark Phillips III can also bring his qualities as playmaker in the slot.
Offensively, Terry Fontenot did not skimp either. Arguably the author of his best season in Atlanta, right tackle Kaleb McGary has been handsomely extended, and Canadian Matthew Bergeron is the rookie that Atlanta hopes to quickly polish on the left guard position.
Side playmakers, all eyes will of course be on the surprise eighth pick of the 2023 Draft, running back Bijan Robinson. In an attack already more than calibrated on the ground, the Texas nugget should compose an incisive trident with the Swiss army knife Cordarrelle Patterson and the emerging Tyler Allgeier.
The strong points)
In attack, one of the great paradoxes of this offseason is that the Falcons have enriched sectors that are already quite rich. Certainly, the departure of Elijah Wilkinson on the offensive line had to be compensated, but this squad has already shown that it has serious arguments. Aggressive, to the point of making Atlanta the third best team on the ground in 2022, behind Chicago and Baltimore, the quintet was also more solid on the pro pass, appearing at the gates of the top 10, with 37 sacks conceded last season.
As mentioned previously, the backfield offensive was a real satisfaction, long before the arrival of Bijan Robinson. Allgeier notably stood out, with a rookie season at more than 1,000 yards, despite 7 small games started as a real holder. If the Falcons want to start off on the right foot and even improve this year, it should first and foremost come through the factor of running and offensive speed.
Arnold Ebiketie has been surrounded to achieve a second season of top flight in the NFL.
The weak spots)
When is a real pass rush in Georgia? The question keeps coming up. Atlanta can thank Chicago in 2022 as the Illinois franchise saved them from finishing worse two years in a row pass rush of the league from an accounting point of view.
The balance sheet is even more edifying if we look back over the last three seasons: in total, the Falcons have collected 68 sacks there. That’s less than the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 fiscal year alone (70)!!!
Strong choices have been made on the first defensive curtain, but between young wolves, starters lacking real reference and established players but at the end of the course, the ingredients will have to be skilfully dosed to sharpen the defensive claws of the birds.
Player to watch: Desmond Ridder
This was already the case in 2022, and it has not changed: Desmond Ridder holds the future of Atlanta in his hands. Either his exercise is successful and the Falcons can see the next few months in a serene way, or he shows serious limits, and the site will be relaunched at the quarterback position.
Able to be a solid manager last season, while being deprived of Kyle Pitts, and crossing swords with unenviable teams (New Orleans and Baltimore away, Tampa Bay at home), the rookie knew improve the excellent work of his ground game by not conceding any loss of ball and finishing with a record of two wins for two losses. His football IQ and his composure will not be too much to compete with other NFC South formations, which have considerably strengthened in this sector, with the arrival of Derek Carr at the Saints and the draft of Bryce Young at Caroline.
Desmond Ridder is the new starting quarterback and must maintain that confidence.
X Factor: Star Receivers
Seeing the Falcons finish with seven wins last year is almost a miracle, as the local attack will have seemed one-dimensional. Able to be dynamic on the ground, the residents of NFC South also gradually lowered their feet in the air, like their disgraced quarterback, Marcus Mariota. With the arrival of Desmond Ridder at the controls, the priority targets are therefore expected at the turn. Injured at the end of 2022, Kyle Pitts was constantly ignored by the former starting quarterback and remains on three thin receiving touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons.
On the outside, the rookie Drake London was a satisfaction in terms of performance, less in terms of ball losses. With 3 fumbles lost, often in good position, the former USC first round must become this reassuring receiver and clutch what the franchise has been waiting for since the departure of Julio Jones.
With a thunderous ground game and more inspired targets in the air, Atlanta shouldn’t be a good customer to take!
2023 Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Panthers, Packers, @Lions, Jaguars (London), Texans, Commanders, @Buccaneers, @Titans, Vikings, @Cardinals, Saints, @Jets, Buccaneers, @Panthers, Colts, @Bears, @Saints.
The audio preview of the podcast
In summary
Catchy last year, with 7 losses of six points or less, the Falcons have not gone so far from a positive balance sheet at the end of the year. The talent is a little more palpable this season, due to the investments made, but the major question mark in terms of aerial attack and pass rush cast doubt on a real leap forward in the Georgian franchise.
Above all, it will be necessary to be strong at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, before achieving success outside, but with the calendar deemed the most affordable in 2023, Atlanta has the means to thwart the forecasts and to be a perpetual hair-to-be. -scratch.
