(Sportsbooks) - Though he came to the
Atlanta Falcons with a background in defense, then-rookie head coach Mike Smith made rebuilding his offense priority No. 1 in 2008.
Mission accomplished.
Fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2004, the Falcons and Smith hope they can do with the defense what they did with last year's offense. Smith's two big moves last year, the signing of running back Michael Turner and the drafting of quarterback Matt Ryan, showed that he may in fact have a Midas touch.
Ryan was superb in his first NFL season. A 23-year-old rookie out of Boston College, Ryan played in all 16 games and helped the Falcons transform from a 4-12 afterthought to an 11-5 playoff club. More importantly, he restored a positive image to the club in the wake of the Michael Vick era, which finally came to an official end when the former Atlanta QB was released this past offseason.
Mix in Turner and the emerging Roddy White and the Falcons offense more than compensated for the struggles of the defense.
That is where the second phase of Smith's plan comes in. Looking to shore up a group that struggled versus the run and the pass, the Falcons signed linebacker Mike Peterson to offset the losses of both Keith Brooking and Michael Boley. But more important to Smith's long-term plans, the Falcons used their first five picks in the 2009 draft to get younger on the defensive side.
Atlanta will need the depth, having also lost safety Lawyer Milloy, corner Domonique Foxworth and defensive tackle Grady Jackson.
"We've expanded in all areas, not just on the offensive side of the ball," said Smith. "We've got some guys that understand our verbiage and understand how we do things in all three areas. So we have evaluated everything we've done and you're going to see differences in what we did in 2008. It's a different football team."
Smith might not have done enough to make the defense a whole lot better this year, but hopes he slightly improved a unit that bent but didn't break every time last year, and managed to rank 11th in scoring defense.
Hey, who are we to doubt a man that matched the best record for a rookie head coach taking over a team that finished below .500 the previous year?
But just in case the defense can't keep opponents out of the end zone at a better rate, Atlanta gave its second-year signal caller another potent weapon in former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez. That could translate into an even bigger year for Ryan, who is ready to handle more responsibility while hoping to lead the Falcons to consecutive playoff berths for the first time in team history.
"We asked all of our guys, not just Matt, to really evaluate what they feel are the pluses and minuses of the team and come up with what they thought was their plan of action to get better," Smith said.
It is going to be hard to top an 11-win season, but the Falcons seem ready to give it their best shot.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Atlanta Falcons, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2008 RECORD: 11-5 (2nd, NFC South)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Arizona, 30-24, in NFC Wild Card
COACH (RECORD): Mike Smith (11-5 in one season with Falcons, 11-5 overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Mularkey
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Brian VanGorder
OFFENSIVE STAR: Matt Ryan, QB (3440 passing yards, 16 TD, 11 INT)
DEFENSIVE STAR: John Abraham, DE (38 tackles, 16.5 sacks)
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 2nd rushing, 14th passing, 10th scoring
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 25th rushing, 21st passing, 11th scoring
KEY ADDITIONS: RB Verron Haynes (from Steelers), TE Tony Gonzalez (from Chiefs), WR Robert Ferguson (from Vikings), WR Marty Booker (from Bears), T Will Svitek (from Chiefs), C Brett Romberg (from Rams), DT Peria Jerry (1st Round, Ole Miss), MLB Mike Peterson (from Jaguars), LB Jamie Winborn (from Broncos), CB Chris Owens (3rd Round, San Jose State), S William Moore (2nd Round, Missouri)
KEY DEPARTURES: WR Laurent Robinson (to Rams), TE Marcus Pollard (not tendered), T Todd Weiner (retired), T Wayne Gandy (not tendered), DT Kindal Moorehead (released), DT Grady Jackson (to Lions), DE Simon Fraser (released), LB Michael Boley (to Giants), LB Keith Brooking (to Cowboys), CB Domonique Foxworth (to Ravens), SS Lawyer Milloy (not tendered)
QB: Ryan was perhaps Atlanta's biggest question mark heading into last year, but performed better than anyone could have hoped. That was a blessing for the Falcons, who were unable to successfully replace Vick and Matt Schaub in 2007 with the likes of Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman. Thrust into action, Ryan was up to the task, throwing for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a 61.1 completion percentage. The Offensive Rookie of the Year became one of two rookie quarterbacks in NFL history to total over 3,000 yards passing in his first season, joining the Colts' Peyton Manning. Ryan started every game for Atlanta last year, keeping Redman and No. 3 QB D.J. Shockley on the sidelines all season long. That could be bad news for the Falcons if Ryan is to miss time this year. Atlanta will also hope Ryan can avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx as he adjusts to the schemes his opponents have developed to stop him.
RB: It's fair to say that the year Turner had as a first-time starter went a long way in helping Ryan's adjustment. Led by Turner's 1,699 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, the Falcons ranked second in the NFL in rushing behind only the New York Giants. The 27-year-old had spent his previous four seasons as LaDanian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego, but showed he is an NFL starter by ranking second in rushing yards on the season and posting a league-high 376 carries. With Turner in the fold, 2006 third-round pick Jerious Norwood (489 rushing yards, 4 TD) stays in a backup role and offers a change-of-pace. Norwood brings a speed element to Atlanta's ground attack and is always a danger to break one if he gets into the open field, especially in the passing game. Norwood was third on the club last season with 36 receptions. Third-year pro Jason Snelling is third-string. Fullback Ovie Mughelli will the pave the way for Turner and company again after joining Atlanta prior to the 2007 season.
WR/TE: Atlanta's receiving group is one of much talent, but is also a little thin. That is because Harry Douglas, a rookie out of Louisville last year, suffered an torn left ACL during training camp and is done for the season. It's a good thing, then, that the Falcons and star wideout Roddy White (88 receptions, 7 TD) agreed to a new contract during training camp that ended the 27-year-old's holdout. White set a franchise record a year ago with 1,382 receiving yards that also ranked fourth in the NFL, and made his first Pro Bowl. As good as White was last year, he could be even better in 2009 since teams have to also account for Gonzalez at the tight end spot. Acquired from the Chiefs for a 2010 second-round pick, the 33-year-old Gonzalez (96 receptions, 1,058 receiving yards, 10 TD) is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and owns NFL career records for tight ends with 916 receptions, 10,940 yards and 76 touchdowns after spending 12 seasons with the Chiefs. Michael Jenkins (50 receptions, 3 TD) should also see more open field thanks to the athletic Gonzalez, and is Atlanta's deep threat. The Douglas injury led to Atlanta signing both Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson to compete with long-time Falcon Brian Finneran for reserve time. After making 11 starts last year, Justin Peelle will back up Gonzalez.
OL: No running game is successful without an offensive line and the Falcons return essentially the same unit minus retired left tackle Todd Weiner. In addition to Atlanta's outstanding running game, Ryan was sacked just 17 times a year ago. Atlanta hopes that 2008 first-round pick Sam Baker can fill in at the left tackle spot after being limited to five games a year ago because of injury. Justin Blalock is set to start at the guard spot next to Baker, while center Todd McClure has started 112 straight games. Harvey Dahl and Tyson Clabo return to the right guard and tackle spots, respectively, while tackle Will Svitek and center Brett Romberg are new additions to the bench. Svitek will be the first to get time if Baker fails to stay healthy.
DL: After ranking 25th versus the run last year, the Falcons didn't surprise many by grabbing 290-pound tackle Peria Jerry out of Ole Miss with their first-round pick. Jerry posted 11.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss in 38 games in college and should step right in for Jackson, who signed with Detroit. Jonathan Babineaux should start next to Jerry after notching 38 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks last year. At end, Atlanta will have to be careful about how much it uses 31-year-old John Abraham this year. However, it could be tempting to leave him on the field at all times after he set a club record with 16 1/2 sacks a season ago. Fellow defensive end starter Jamaal Anderson is entering a key year, as the eighth overall pick of the 2007 draft managed just two sacks in 15 starts last year. He'll be pushed by Chauncey Davis (35 tackles, 4 sacks), Kroy Biermann or maybe even 2009 fourth-round pick Lawrence Sidbury for time, while those three will also try to keep Abraham fresh.
LB: This unit will have to function without Brooking, who left Atlanta after spending his first 11 seasons with the club, and four-year Falcon Boley. With those two free agents now gone, more pressure falls on 2008 second-round pick Curtis Lofton (108 tackles). He should be up to the task seeing as how he was the club's Week 1 starter at middle linebacker last year as a rookie. However, the Falcons did bring in some help in the form of Mike Peterson, who enters his 11th NFL season. Peterson had 139 tackles and seven sacks with Jacksonville last year, but also clashed with the coaching staff. Smith is well aware of his ability, having coached him with the Jaguars. Coy Wire and Stephen Nicholas battle for the other starting strong-side linebacker spot. Jamie Winborn and Tony Gilbert are also reserves.
DB: After Jerry, the Falcons spent their next two picks upgrading the secondary. Safety William Moore was drafted in the second round to push Erik Coleman, who led the club with three interceptions last year to go along with 127 tackles out of the strong spot. Moore could also take over the free safety spot vacated by Milloy, while Thomas DeCoud or Antoine Harris could figure in as well there. With corner Domonique Foxworth now a Raven, Brent Grimes (36 tackles, 1 INT) will get a chance to regain the starting left spot, which he lost to Foxworth after Week 6. He figures to face competition from Chevis Jackson and 2009 third-round pick Christopher Owens. Chris Houston (59 tackles, 2 INT) figures to have the starting right corner spot locked up after starting all 16 games there last year, in his second NFL season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Falcons defense should again be helped by punter Michael Koenen, who ranked fourth in the NFC last year in punts inside the 20-yard line with 25. Behind his leg and hang time, the Falcons set an NFL record by allowing just 49 punt yards a season ago and the club also ranked second in the NFL in opponents average starting field position (24.6-yard line average). Kicker Jason Elam enters his 17th NFL season and second with the Falcons. The three-time Pro Bowl kicker hit 29-for-31 field goal tries last year and his 129 points were the second most in club history. Norwood averaged 25.7 yards per kick return average last year, while Grimes is slated to replace Douglas in returning punts. A 2006 Pro Bowl pick, Mike Schneck handled all long- snapping duties for Atlanta last year and should do so again this year.
PROGNOSIS: The Falcons have set the bar pretty high for themselves after reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2004 last season. However, a loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Wild Card round denied the Falcons their first playoff win since '04, so that would be a good place to start in terms of 2009 goals. Atlanta made a very good offense even better with the addition of Gonzalez, which should help Ryan take the next step as an NFL quarterback. Ryan now has a pair of go-to weapons in the passing game in White and Gonzalez, and that coupled with a rushing duo of Turner and Norwood give the Falcons enough talent on offense to make a run at defending NFC South champion Carolina. However, the Falcons lost 340 tackles between Brooking, Milloy and Boley, and though Atlanta addressed its defensive unit in the draft, younger does not always translate into better. However, if Smith can squeeze out as much production as possible from his defense, the Falcons have a good shot at winning their first division title in five years.
