Falcons preview: Avoiding the Super Bowl hangover
Training camps are still in the distance, but USA TODAY Sports is providing five things you need to know about every team in the NFL to catch you up on the offseason. Today, the Atlanta Falcons ...
1. The architect of last year’s offense is gone
The 2016 Falcons offense was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. It put up a whopping 540 points while facing the league’s second-toughest defensive schedule, according to Football Outsiders. The mind behind the unit, former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, is in San Francisco now as the 49ers head coach. Shanahan’s creative use of personnel groupings and formations made Atlanta nearly impossible to defend. His replacement, Steve Sarkisian, has never called plays at the pro level, so it would be foolhardy to expect him to match Shanahan’s accomplishments in Year 1. Atlanta’s offense should still be very good in 2017; it just might not be historically good.
2. The rest of the offense is back, though
The Falcons offense remains deep. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the reigning MVP, is back, as is a stellar group of receivers, led by the league’s most physically imposing wideout, Julio Jones. Mohamed Sanu will reprise his No.2 role, and big-play machine Taylor Gabriel will man the slot. Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman drive this unit. Both are dangerous on the ground and threats in the passing game. Their versatility and the rest of this talented offense will make Sarkisian’s transition to the pro game far less difficult.
3. The defense should only get better in 2017
Atlanta finished 25th in total defense and 27th in points allowed in the NFL, but those numbers were dragged down by early season struggles. By the end of the regular season, Dan Quinn’s defense was playing at a high level. The speed at the second level is the key to the defense. Linebackers Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell and box safety Keanu Neal fly to the football and rarely miss tackles. Those three set the tone for a defense that beefed up its pass rush with the signing of Dontari Poe and the drafting of Takkarist McKinley. This young unit could be special.
4. The Super Bowl hangover is real
Nearly 25 years have passed since a Super Bowl loser has made it back the next season. Atlanta could find it even harder to do that given the manner in which it lost Super Bowl LI, blowing a 25-point second-half lead against the New England Patriots. Quinn’s job will be to keep his team’s mind off the devastating loss and focused on the 2017 season.
5. New year, new stadium
After 27 years playing at the Georgia Dome, the Falcons are moving into Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The $1.6 billion, state-of-the-art complex, which seats 71,000, might give the fan base and the team a spark that will allow them to get over that crushing Super Bowl loss.
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