Approve under the assumption that tillers assumption that macs assumption is correct.
Falcons turn the page – 2021 Season Preview
The last 3 seasons for the falcons were filled with hope and optimism, only to be crushed come playoff time. The team has gone 45-3 in the regular season over three years. Unfortunately that success hasn’t translated to the playoffs (2-3). Management knew they had to shake something up while keeping the team on the track. First sign we got that changes were coming was post-game after their embarrassing CC loss to the cardinals. Not even 10 minutes after the game it leaked that ATL had fired their OC. The offense has definitely been carried by the defense, however I don’t think their OC was the main problem. Nevertheless the falcons moved on. About a month later in a surprise signing the Falcons hired from Dallas QB Tony Romo as their new OC. Tony has been in the booth announcing game for a couple years now and we really don’t know what he brings to the team as an OC. He was an above average QB in league, but word is his mind about football is one of the best around. I sat down with him for a quick interview about his thoughts on joining the Falcons.
Interviewer: Tony, glad you see you wear the ATL scrubs. Fans all over Atlanta are excited for this offense to take off. Can you compare your offense to anything in the league?
Tony: Thanks for having me. Let’s get right into it…my offense will be COMPLETELY different than what the Falcons have been running so far. I’ve been in constant contact with the players. Talking points about what I want and what I need from them. Also finding out what their strengths and weaknesses are. Really it’s just getting an idea of how to shape my offense around this talented roster.
Interviewer: You were here pre-FA and pre-Draft so I assume you had a part in the players that makeup this year’s roster?
Tony: Ummmmm haha
Interviewer: I just mean your input was heard by current GM Epstein.
Tony: Yes, yes of course we talked about how my offensive scheme would work with certain players. Theo and I have a close relationship and we feel like the moves we made over the offseason help our team. My offense will be unveiled week 1 and I hope it lives up to the hype.
Let’s take a look at some of the Falcons offseason moves to give you a better idea of what Tony will be talking about. The big subtractions from this year’s roster are QB Matt Ryan and TE OJ Howard. The team released a statement about the Matt Ryan move below…
“Matty “ice” Ryan was a stable Atlanta Falcon for a long time. We have nothing but respect for Matt. His dedication and commitment to this franchise and city was second to none. My job is manage this team and figure out what the best moves are for the franchise going forward. In light of that, we decided to move on from Matt and turn the page (get it? article title lol)”.
The OJ Howard trade can be attributed to the new OC Tony Romo. It’s obvious the TE position won’t be a huge part of the offense going forward. The only reason you trade a stud like Howard is if you have no use for him. We’ll see how this pans out – check back in 6-8 weeks.
As for additions we saw 0 FA pickups – the team was salary cap strapped and didn’t have much room for anything. I think that played a part in the Ryan trade. By trading Ryan the falcons freed up 21 mil in cap space. This allows the team to do a couple things. One spend more than a penny in the offseason and two sign their players long term. I know LT Wynn 24yo stud upcoming contract talks were on their mind. The man is going to get paid!
Moving onto the 2021 Draft. The falcons traded up in the 1st round to pick 9. At this point Matt Ryan was still on the team, so fans were wondering what the falcons were trading up to get? Maybe a DB? Nah they got DB U already. An LB? Haha with Deion and Campbell, funny. DL? Uhh have you seen Tak eat? Safe to say the city of Atlanta had no idea what GM Epstein had cooking up. Pick 9 rolls around and the best player on Mel Kipers board was DE Cornelius McBride. I’d say most of American thought the falcons were adding yet another QB killer. I was back in the green room watching McBride and hoping to snap a pic of him on the phone….it didn’t ring. I look over my right shoulder and there’s Texas longhorn QB Nick Eversole on the phone with his parents clapping. This can’t be the falcons right? – I thought that to myself then it hit me. This is one of those moments that may go down in history. Y’all know the story from here QB Eversole was drafted by the Falcons at pick 9. The best QB in the draft without a doubt, fell to 9 and the Falcons pounced. Eversole had a great college career capped off by runner up in Heisman voting his junior year. At 21 years old Eversole looks to be the next franchise QB for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons weren’t done yet, and you didn’t think they would leave a draft without some defensive stud somehow. DT Griffin Pelshak was sitting ripe for the picking at pick #33. The 6’7 306 DT is a perfect fit the DT needs of the falcons defense. They have veteran DT Jarrett and 2nd year pro bowler DT Simmons ahead of him. I expect Pelshak to get some reps here and there but the plan looks to be giving the rookie some time to adjust. When you have one of the best defenses in the league, it’s hard for a rookie to step right in and get playing time. We’ll see how much he plays this year but big things are in this kid’s future, I loved the pick.
The later rounds are guys you never know how they’ll pan out. C Folkerts was drafted in the 3rd and word out of training camp is he’s competing for the starting job. We may actually see him week 1 as our starting center. SS Brazell will need some time to develop his raw skills but he’ll get to sit behind one of the best in SS Neal. CB Dorsey was one player that gained some media attention as a late round pick. The 6’2 CB has all the physicals you could want but was actually a WR at Clemson. The falcons believe he has the tools to make the move. He’ll be a big special team’s guy for a couple years. The Falcons last pick was TE (something), I actually don’t even remember his name because less than 5 minutes after the draft he was released. At least he can tell his kids he was drafted? I guess….
Overall the Falcons made some pretty big moves while keeping the main core in tack. The defense we won’t even talk about because it’s just about the same guys with some new faces for depth. The offense though with a new QB at the helm and a new OC will be exciting to watch. I urge fans to temper expectations at the start of the season. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I’m sure there will be growing pains, and some miss plays by the rookie Eversole. At the same time expectations are high and SB aspirations are on the table. The 20201 season begins Wednesday night at 7 eastern VS the Chicago Bears.
Regular Season prediction: 12-3
LG Cole Wong - 76 overall – 24 yrs old
Wong has been working his ass off during the offseason to transition to G from T. The 2nd year pro has the body of a mammoth, he just needs to hone his craft in blocking. Veteran Jake Matthew has taken him under his wing showing him the ins and outs. As a result Wong has gained and lost some abilities.
+3 Run Block
-3 Pass Block
+3 Pass Block Power
-3 Run Block Power
+2 Pass Block Finesse
-1 Lead Block
-1 Impact Block
LE Rashan Gary – 84 overall – 22 yrs old
Gary sits in the film room, the weight room, and the locker room next to Tak. Tak is one of the premier pass rushers in the league. Teaching this 2nd year pro how to get to the QB is all Tak knows. The spoon eating celebration is a stable in Atlanta and Gary should be doing it more often with his off season improvements.
+3 PMV
-3 FMV
-1 Accel
+1 Pursuit
-2 Tackle
+1 Hit power
+1 Block Shed
Wong 6'8 325 is described as a raw mauler by the falcons developmental team. Originally a LT the team has decided to move him inside to better fit his run blocking skill set
Falcons get
2021 3rd
Broncos get
Matt ryan 88 ovr
full contract is the big part of this deal - saves falcons 21 mil
Falcons get
round 2 pick 18
Saints get
round 2 pick 24
round 3 pick highish?
falcons moved up to get their guy