2022 NFL Team Preview: Atlanta Falcons -

With Matt Ryan playing in Indianapolis, can the Atlanta Falcons begin their new era on a positive note?

For the first time in fifteen seasons, Matt Ryan will not take snaps with the Atlanta Falcons. As a result, things appear different in Atlanta. With most of the Super Bowl roster already departed, the Falcons begin to carve their own path. Whether the plan works or not, Atlanta needed to start anew.

Mariota In Georgia

Replacing a franchise quarterback looks seemingly difficult. Yet, Marcus Mariota may possess the proper mental makeup to accomplish just that. Granted, Matt Ryan’s shadow will hover above this franchise until they start winning games again. However, Mariota seems singularly focused on this season. From all reports, he’s completely coachable, works hard, and leads by example. Mariota’s athleticism, underrated velocity, and knack for the big play will suit him in Atlanta.

Putting The Big In Big Play

Everyone knows that Kyle Pitts will command the bulk of the targets. Yet, the offense will need others to stand up. Although drafting Drake London eighth overall felt like a catastrophic reach, you can see the Falcons thinking this through. In London, Atlanta sees a big-bodied wideout that should win most contested catches, especially in the red zone. At the same time, an under-the-radar trade actually bolsters the Atlanta offense. In trading for Bryan Edwards, the Falcons place another bigger receiver on the outside, in the hopes of punishing secondaries. Despite his frame, Edwards averaged seventeen yards per catch during his tenure in Las Vegas.

Whatever Works

In his first full season as a starting running back, Cordarelle Patterson abused defenses for eleven total touchdowns from the line of scrimmage. What makes Patterson dangerous is not just the explosive speed, but the vision and knack for finding open space. In a league where running backs devolved into a committee concept, Patterson remains an anomaly. For the Falcons, he makes the offense unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Repairing The Pass Rush

In 2021, the Atlanta Falcons could only muster eighteen sacks. Opposing quarterbacks felt unfazed and relaxed in the pocket. To remedy that, Atlanta drafted DeAngelo Malone and Arnold Ekibetie. Each brings the twitch, motor, and necessary bend to chase quarterbacks. If you focus on Ekibetie, you will see a rusher with a bit more strength than Malone. Meanwhile, Malone gets to the corner and wins with a burst. Either way, you slice it, the defense needs any semblance of a competent pass rush to hold their own in games.

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by Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 3:58 pm

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Linebacker Rotation

With Deion Jones and Rashaan Evans entrenched as the starters, any injury or misstep could see rookie Troy Andersen step in. Andersen’s feel for the run game immediately helps the Falcons. The defense can actually enjoy something they have lacked for the better part of three years: linebacker depth. As each linebacker flashed the consistent ability to flow sideline to sideline, teams won’t feel confident in perimeter plays. As a result, this aspect of the team is a plus.

The One You Need To Know

While Jalen Ramsey and Jaire Alexander garner the biggest share of attention, A.J. Terrell enjoyed a monster season. No, he didn’t pull down double-digits interceptions. However, what he accomplished is greatly improving on every single aspect of his game. Teams only completed fifty percent of their passes against him. Furthermore, Higgins cut both of his touchdowns allowed and missed tackles to roughly half of their 2020 totals. A.J. Terrell doesn’t need fanfare. His results produce for themselves.

Overview

Granted, no one expects the Atlanta Falcons to challenge Tampa Bay for divisional supremacy. Nevertheless, the franchise began to slowly piece together young talent, in the hopes of building a perennial winner. Although this roster doesn’t look formidable, bits and pieces of it look intriguing from a talent standpoint. 2022 could be the year, detractors start to ease up on the Atlanta Falcons.