2008 Atlanta Falcons
Sometimes the most poignant performances come about when you least expect it. Out of the absence of expectation comes the bright light of achievement.
There isn’t a single thing expected of the 2008 Atlanta Falcons. Two wins, three wins…. Nobody would really be surprised if they were the worst team in the league. After last years debacle, it’s almost as if they’re being given a free pass to be pathetic.
Forgive me if I don’t buy the sob story.
Realistically, this team was in dire need of a makeover. Offensively (bye, bye Crumpler and Dunn), defensively (see you later Mr. Hall), throughout the coaching staff (we hardly knew ya Coach Petrino) and with the fans, positive change was a must. Some people refuse to give in to the hype surrounding off season acquisitions. I’m not one of them. Michael Turner, Sam Baker, and eventually Matt Ryan are going to make a difference. Let’s look at the offense.
Any real success offensively starts with the offensive line. This unit should be healthy and , more importantly, they will be engaged in physical play week in and week out. They won’t be asked to do much more than knock people around. I see their play improving exponentially. The subtraction of Warrick Dunn and Alge Crumpler will hurt in the locker room more than on the field. Both were leaders and engaging personalities. Outside of that factor I don’t think their loss is too substantial. Dunn is in the tail end of his (wonderful, classy) career and Crumpler is too finesse for what this offense is going to be (smash mouth). I see progress. What the Falcons will not have are distractions. What they will have is promise. The skill positions are a work in progress, but all they have to be this year is adequate.
With the defense, again, we’re looking at addition by subtraction. DeAngelo Hall was a top flight corner but he wore out his welcome by talking too much and, more importantly, giving up too many touchdowns. Players like Boley, Abraham, Milloy, and Brooking remain but I see this unit as being a “whole is better than the sum of its parts” type ensemble. They will stop the run, limit the big plays and live to fight another day.
This team will be playing with something to prove. The holdovers from the Vick era , and the demise thereof, still bear the burden of proving this franchise wasn’t about one man. The ownership must win back the fan base. The new players must prove that they belong and are worth their paychecks.
I think the Falcons are up to the task.
Cynics will say it can’t get any worse than last year. Realist know that the NFC South has proven to be the most inconsistent division in football. They also know that the NFC is weaker from top to bottom than the AFC. The schedule isn’t merciless. Aside from their NFC opponents they draw the AFC West (San Diego, Denver, Kansas City and Oakland), the NFC North (Minnesota, Green Bay, Detroit, and Chicago) and Philadelphia.
6-10 is probably most realistic. 8-8 deserves a parade down Peachtree.
Thanks Jerold. Good work.
For the good folk of the ATL, I was sent this last night…
DTLR will be hosting their annual FREE back to school haircuts courtesy of Atlanta Falcon Chauncey Davis and Albert Mills of Video Image Barbershop. It will be at the Memorial Bend (#028) from 12-4pm on this Sunday, August 10, 2008.
Get out there people!
-Mizzo
I can’t see how they’re going to finish 6-10 with that Offensive Line and the holes they have on Defense. I don’t even have to go into detail about how pathetic the O-Line is, so i’ll digress.
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They’ll start off playing either Harrington or Chris Redman at QB (my guess would be Redman), and will eventually get Matt Ryan in there by game 5 or 6. He will get killed behind that line….period point blank. Michael Turner was a great back up, but now we’ll see just how good he is behind that O-Line. I expect Roddy White to have another solid year but the jury is still out on the other WRs. With Crumpler now in Tennessee, what role will the current TE Ben Hartsock play in the offense? I expect him to primarily be a blocker due to that poor O-Line.
On Defense, Rod Coleman is gone, so you have no pressure up the middle. Abaraham is a beast, but will he stay healthy? Jamaal Anderson had no sacks last year, so if Abe gets doubled, the QB will probably have all day to throw.
Getting Grady Jax back was a smart move but just how much does he have left in that 360 lb tank? They had a promising young run-stuffer in Tommy Jackson, and unless i’m mistaken they didn’t re-sign him. Keith Brooking is “garbage” and if he’s playing the middle, teams will take advantage of his dismal ability to cover on routes over the middle. Michael Boley is solid on the strong side but he needs a complimentary MLB who can bring it on every down.
The 2ndary is basically crap. D-Hall was the best corner and now he’s gone. They acquired Von Hutchins to fill D-Hall’s spot, but he’s lost for the season after fracturing his foot. Lawyer Milloy is solid against the run but he can’t cover like he used to. Chris Crocker is gone. Not that he was any good, but he was solid in run situations. I think Chris Houston will be solid but he won’t be enough to help the secondary.
My Prediction:
3 – 13, last in the NFC South
Peace!
What GrandNubian said, cept I’ll say 4-12
I think the Falcons will be 4-12 as well. Coincidently, I’m having an interview with Chauncey on my website.
Who cares! When does Mike get out of jail??
I heard that…