2006 NFL Preview: The Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback- Michael Vick is an incredible athlete and an adequate NFL quarterback but the question remains whether or not he can lead a team for an entire NFL season to prominence in the league. Vick needs to answer the durability questions first and then prove that he can make the routine plays that an NFL quarterback needs to make even if it is at the detriment to the ESPN highlight reel plays that he will make on occasion. Defense and running win championships and poor quarterback play can lose them. Backing up Vick is more conventional quarterback Matt Schaub, who won’t be with the Falcons after the 2006 season when the Falcons try to move him at the height of his trade value to them. Schaub will make a great NFL quarterback in the future and the Falcons are lucky to have kept him as long as they have. In the third quarterback role, rookie D.J. Shockley of Georgia will probably end up with the position given his potential and his athleticism (they may be able to use him on special teams).
2006 NFL Grade: B+
Running back/ Full back- The running back situation in Atlanta remains fairly solid, with Warrick Dunn continuing to overachieve despite his smallish frame. Dunn has been a consistent performing since entering the league as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and as a Falcon his off the field leadership and ability to bring up the play of his teammates has made him invaluable in Jim Mora Jr.’s offense. Backup running back T.J. Duckett will provide a durable alternative to Dunn, considering his size and his hard nose style of running up the middle. Fullback Justin Griffith continues to provide solid run and pass blocking from the back field and can go out in short patterns to help Vick create plays.
2006 NFL Grade: B+
Wide Receiver/Tight End- While tight end Alge Crumpler remains Vick’s biggest target in the passing game, the receiving corps will attempt to become a cohesive unit in 2006. Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran, and Jerome Pathon are good individual receivers but are not super star material. However, it appears that the Falcons and Jim Mora are going the receiver-by- committee route rather than the super star route among their receivers, considering their failure with players like Peerless Price.
2006 NFL Grade: B-
Offensive Line- With the play calling emphasis largely on the running game and the West Coast offense for Jim Mora and the Falcons, offensive line play will be critical to their success this upcoming NFL season. None of the Falcons’ linemen are outstanding talents (though Kynan Forney is pretty solid) but overall they are a good unit. Guards Forney and Matt Lehr, tackles Todd Weiner and Wayne Gandy, and center Todd McClure should be fairly solid this year in giving Vick some time in the pocket (when he chooses to stay in the pocket, that is).
2006 NFL Grade: B
Defensive Line- With Falcons mainstays Patrick Kerney and Rod Coleman sure to bring in good performances in 2006, the key to the defensive line will be the performance of John Abraham. Abraham did not live up to his potential in 2005 and the Falcons need him to be an outstanding pass rusher to get some pressure on the improving quarterbacks in their division. Don’t expect miracles from Abraham but the aforementioned linemen, along with Jonathan Babineux and Chad Lavalais, should give the linebackers and defensive backs some help in 2006.
2006 NFL Grade: B
Linebacker- The Falcons’ linebackers will continue to be a solid group in 2006 and the entire defensive group will become cohesive as a result of their play in the middle of the defense. Linebackers Edgerton Hartwell, Keith Brooking, and Demorrio Williams have another year under their belt and will be integral to the Falcons’ playoff chances.
2006 NFL Grade: B
Defensive Back- Second year cornerback DeAngelo Hall gets some help on the other side of the defense with the Falcons’ 2006 first round selection in the draft, former Virginia Tech corner Jimmy Williams. While Williams is brash and a bit of a braggart, his football skills are unquestioned and the two corners will play off of each other very well in 2006. The duo will also develop into better plays because of each other and their differences in style and personality.
2006 NFL Grade: A-
Kicker/Punter- At the kicker position, the Falcons will have an open competition between youngsters Zac Derr and Tony Yelk. Unless the Falcons are able to find a veteran kicker, it is a crap shoot with either of these guys to figure out who is better prepared to play in the NFL. It is tough to break in young kickers with little to no NFL experience and the Falcons may have some special teams woes in the kicking and kick off games. Punter Michael Koenen will continue to work on his punting technique in 2006 but will do a fine job for the Falcons in setting up good field position for the Atlanta defense.
2006 NFL Grade: C+
2006 NFL Projection- The Carolina Panthers will win the NFC South but the Falcons and Bucs will face off for the wild card spot and the possibility of contending in 2007 for the divisional lead. The Falcons probably are not capable of overtaking the Bucs due to their experience in the playoffs and in clutch situations and the Falcons will go 9-7.
