2011 NFL Offseason: Atlanta Falcons

Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents

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Atlanta Falcons (Last Year: 13-3) - Buy Tickets

2011 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
DE Ray Edwards.
Early Draft Picks:
WR Julio Jones, LB Akeem Dent, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, P Matt Bosher.
Offseason Losses:
RB Jerious Norwood, WR Michael Jenkins, G Harvey Dahl, DE Jamaal Anderson, CB Brian Williams, SS Erik Coleman, P Michael Koenen.

2011 Atlanta Falcons Offense:
The Falcons are finally making the switch from a run-oriented attack to a aerial-based offense. It's about time.

Matt Ryan is entering his fourth NFL campaign, and he's seasoned enough to carry the offense on his shoulders. Watching Michael Turner rush for four yards or fewer per attempt in the final six weeks of the 2010 season must have been agonizing for general manager Thomas Dimitroff, because he packaged most of his 2011 NFL Draft selections, as well as his 2012 first-rounder to move up for Julio Jones.

It was a lot to give up for Jones, but the Falcons wouldn't have found such a skilled weapon for Ryan elsewhere this offseason. The monstrous 6-3, 220-pound Jones is having a phenomenal training camp, and will make defenses think twice before doubling Roddy White this year. Jones will also serve as a very effective end-zone target, taking some of the onus away from severely declining Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez is coming back for one more season for a chance to win the first playoff game of his career, but he really has nothing left in the tank.

Having Jones and White on the field will also provide a boost for Atlanta's ground attack. Not only will the two stud wideouts keep defenses honest; Jones happens to be a tremendous run-blocker. Even if Turner still runs sluggishly coming off groin surgery, he'll automatically improve his numbers because of the Falcons' rookie wideout.

Keeping Turner healthy will be easier said than done. Forget the groin surgery for a second; Turner has led the NFL in carries two of the past three years, so he's automatically a major injury risk. It's safe to say that Jason Snelling will start a handful of games for Atlanta.

The Falcons' greatest concern this offseason wasn't improving the pass rush or finding an elite No. 2 weapon for Ryan; it was retaining their offensive line. Three linemen, right guard Harvey Dahl, left guard Justin Blalock and right tackle Tyson Clabo, were all free agents entering the offseason. Fortunately, Dimitroff was able to keep two of them, letting only the former slip away to St. Louis.

With that in mind, Atlanta should still have a very good offensive line, though the left tackle position is a concern because Sam Baker was guilty of 10 sacks and eight penalties in 2010. The right guard slot is also a big question mark. Garrett Reynolds, currently the favorite to start, has played in only four NFL games in his 2-year career.



2011 Atlanta Falcons Defense:
Smart teams like the Colts, Packers, Steelers and Patriots firmly believe in building through the draft. Thomas Dimitroff has employed the same strategy, albeit with a twist. In each of his offseasons, he has acquired one key player via free agency or trade. In 2008, it was Michael Turner. The year after, Tony Gonzalez. Last offseason, it was cornerback Dunta Robinson. Once the lockout was lifted, Dimitroff made sure he upgraded his pass rush by inking left end Ray Edwards to a relatively cheap 5-year, $30 million contract.

The market was surprisingly soft for Edwards despite the fact that he has registered 16.5 sacks in the past two seasons. The concern with him was that he benefited from having Jared Allen and Kevin Williams on the same defensive front. That's fair, but the teams playing Atlanta will also have to worry about John Abraham and his 13 sacks, as well as third-down specialist Kroy Biermann, an effective pass-rusher. The only possible issue here is that Abraham turned 33 in May, so a decline is possible.

Atlanta is also strong in the interior of its defensive front. Jonathan Babineaux is very good at collapsing the pocket, as he registered five sacks (one in the playoffs), which is a substantial number for a player at his position. The mediocre Corey Peters is currently penciled into the lineup next to Babineaux, but that could quickly change because 2009 first-rounder Peria Jerry is having a phenomenal training camp. Jerry suffered an ACL tear as a rookie, but finally appears to be healthy.

An improved pass rush is exactly what the Falcons need after getting torched by Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. With Edwards at left end and Jerry finally healthy, it's unlikely that Rodgers would be able to compile 366 yards in a meeting with the Falcons again.

Robinson had a decent 2010 campaign, but the star of Atlanta's secondary was Brent Grimes, who permitted a sterling 50.4 completion percentage to the receivers he was covering.

Free safety Thomas DeCould is solid, but unspectacular. Two areas of concern in the Falcons' secondary are at strong safety and nickel corner. William Moore, manning the former position, was absolutely abysmal in the aforementioned loss to Green Bay. Chris Owens was equally as bad, and then went on to get himself into trouble when he was investigated for allegedly trashing his girlfriend's apartment this summer.

Perhaps making up for the two holes in the secondary, the Falcons have a pretty strong linebacking corps, led by the man in the middle, Curtis Lofton. Lofton had a down year following a great 2009 campaign, but that was because he was battling nagging injuries all season. Weakside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was banged up as well, and like Lofton, he figures to be much better in 2011. Last but not least is Stephen Nicholas, who signed a well-deserved 5-year, $17.5 million contract this offseason.



2011 Atlanta Falcons Schedule and Intangibles:
In three seasons, Matt Ryan is 20-3 in the Georgia Dome. That's an impressive record on paper, but it didn't seem to matter much when the Packers waltzed into the Falcons' house and slaughtered them, 48-21.

Eric Weems was one of the league's top return specialists, scoring once on kickoffs and once on a punt return. He averaged 12.8 and 27.5 yards on each, respectively. The Falcons covered kickoffs and punts well, though they did surrender one in the former department.

Matt Bryant proved to be a reliable kicker for Atlanta last year, hitting 28-of-31 attempts, including 8-of-10 from 40-49 and 1-of-1 from 50-plus.

The Buccaneers overpaid for punter Michael Koenen in what was described as a "Millen on Millen Man Sex" contract in the free agency section. With that in mind, the Falcons will have to start rookie Matt Bosher at the position.

Atlanta has a brutal schedule. Four of its first five opponents were 10-6 or better last year: Chicago, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Green Bay. Later in the year, Ryan and company will have to deal with up-and-coming Detroit (road), Indianapolis (road) and Houston (road). Oh, and the Falcons have to battle the Saints twice.



2011 Atlanta Falcons Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

2011 Atlanta Falcons Analysis: The Falcons have a taxing schedule, but they have the elite talent and continuity in a shortened offseason (most of the players and coaches were retained) to make a Super Bowl run. Despite playing in a brutal NFC South, they have to be considered one of the conference favorites.

Projection: 11-5 (Tied 2nd in NFC South)


2011 Fantasy Football Rankings


More 2011 NFL Season Previews

*** 2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES, OFFSEASON NEEDS BELOW COMMENT BOARD ***

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   bigdwarf 06-25-2012 05:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.43 (total posts: 1) 321     95 falcons 31 stars,panthers 27 stars,panthers very hard schedule and you give us both a 10-6,how does that work apart from u dont like atlanta in general Vince 06-24-2012 04:04 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.99 (total posts: 2) 52     10 "Eric Weems, now on the Bears..." Uhh, okay, so who's the returner next year and what about him? greg 06-24-2012 11:54 am xxx.xxx.xxx.179 (total posts: 1) 137     92 come on man 2 stars for runningbacks?! dude you need to stop this Turner falling off a cliff thing every year you said this for 3 years now yet he was 3rd in rushing last year... yeah he's getting close to the end but even is he falls apart soon rodgers is something to watchout for Huh?!? 06-24-2012 03:02 am xxx.xxx.xxx.167 (total posts: 1) 91     15 If Peria Jerry were to explode on the field how would that be lucky. There would be blood and guts; people would be ruined for life having witnessed that. Unlucky is more like it. Phreek 06-24-2012 01:29 am xxx.xxx.xxx.130 (total posts: 1) 42     25 Eric Weems is on the bears now, not the falcons. Migelini 06-23-2012 11:36 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.175 (total posts: 1) 46     54 Taptua beest defenceman. Make falcon gong grate. Taptua send falcon bak to supergame. Falcon win divisin cause ryan Matt beeter throweer then Breez. Scott Carasik 06-23-2012 10:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx4.46 (total posts: 1) 14     12 Konz will not be playing C in the long term. that will be Hawley. the long term RG is Konz. ATL!!! 05-21-2012 06:44 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.212 (total posts: 2) 20     16 The Falcons got a good season ahead of them but the have to sign Marcus McNeil and a quality DT to rotate in unless we get lucky and Peria Jerry explodes onto the field!!! Scott Carasik 05-16-2012 10:29 am xxx.xxx.xxx.254 (total posts: 2) 64     18 Walk, the Falcons have McClure's eventual replacement at Center... Joe Hawley Mr. McSwag 05-04-2012 12:21 am xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 5) 29     27 Oh wait. My mistake - 4 teams were looking to trade up to get Jake Bequette, who was taken right before Lamar Holmes. I guess it was a reach by Atlanta after all. Falcons! 05-02-2012 06:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.212 (total posts: 2) 19     10 The Falcons had a good all around draft but still should address some positions in Free Agency. They still should land a LT, DT, LB and a Safety. Marcus McNeil, Aubrayo Franklin, and Yeremiah Bell would all be good signings and would definatly give ATL the push to control the divison Mr. McSwag 04-30-2012 04:08 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.165 (total posts: 1) 42     19 From what I've heard, there were 4 teams that were going to take Lamar Holmes in the 4th. The Falcons definitely wouldn't have gotten him. I think they should have traded down further if they could've for more picks, but when you consider that they took another 5th rounder and Lamar Holmes, it's pretty good. id 04-30-2012 02:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.219 (total posts: 1) 65     40 This whole/hole thing comes down to whether Holmes develops or not. Dimitroff and Smith both say he's got good feet, natural strength, an outstanding work ethic and a nasty streak. Most of the "experts" you can't really grade a draft pick until three years after he's drafted yet you guys are having a pissing contest over Mel Kiper's opinion. ... If Dimitroff quit and went to ESPN would his opinion mean more? .... Yeah, get a life. ego 04-30-2012 03:22 am xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 5) 13     80 Okay, okay. So your right. Who cares? We'll see in a few years who was ultimately right. Ego-less 04-30-2012 03:09 am xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 5) 24     105 Also, if you so strongly disagree with this website's opinion and you think it's worthless, why the heck are you even coming to the website? It's not like there are trick links that drag you here. It sounds like you're just trolling for the sake of it. That's even more pathetic. Man, get a life. Pages: 1 2 3 45 6 7 ...14 15

2011 NFL Draft Grades:

Last year, the Chargers felt as if they were one player away from competing for the Super Bowl, so they traded up and drafted Ryan Mathews. This strategy backfired, as their poor depth translated into abysmal special teams play.

The Falcons better be careful. If they felt as if they were a receiver and a pass-rusher (Ray Edwards) away from being the top team in the league, they could struggle in 2011. Remember, while Julio Jones is very talented, he's only going to be rookie. Relying on him to be Matt Ryan's No. 2 target could have unfortunate consequences.

Look, I'm not saying Jones is going to bust or anything. It's just that I disagree with Atlanta spending all of its resources to get him. I hate that the Falcons surrendered a 2012 first-round pick. What if they have a plethora of injuries next year? They'll miss out on a top-20 prospect.

I liked four of Atlanta's five other selections, with the punter being the only outlier. But I'm going to penalize the Falcons for giving up way too much for a receiver who wasn't even the top player at his position in this draft class.

Overall 2011 NFL Draft Grade given on 5/1/11: C



2011 NFL Draft Individual Grades:

6. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
This grade may be adjusted in the future once I learn what they gave up to move to No. 6. Assuming they didn't surrender too much, I like the pick. I respect Thomas Dimitroff for moving up 21 picks to get a guy he really likes. Julio Jones fills a huge need in Atlanta's thin receiving corps.

Update: Atlanta gives up the No. 27 pick, a 2nd- and a 4th this year, and a 1st and a 4th next year. That's pretty insane. I'm not a fan of taking receivers very high unless you know you're getting a Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. I don't think Jones is in that caliber. (Pick Grade: C)

91. Akeem Dent, LB, Georgia
A Mike Mayock favorite, Akeem Dent figures to help out at strongside linebacker. Dent fits the range as a late Round 3, early Round 4 prospect. I'm a bit disappointed that the Falcons failed to upgrade their pass rush, but maybe they're targeting Ray Edwards in free agency. (Pick Grade: B)

145. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
This is going to be one of my favorite Day 3 selections. Jacquizz Rodgers could have easily been chosen in the third round. The Falcons absolutely had to acquire a No. 2 running back and a possible successor for Michael Turner. (Pick Grade: A)

192. Matt Bosher, P, Miami
A punter? I know it fills a need, but, bleh! (Pick Grade: D)

210. Andrew Jackson, G, Fresno State
Some insurance just in case the Falcons lose a couple of linemen in free agency. Andrew Jackson could have been drafted a round or two earlier than this, so this is a really good value pick. (Pick Grade: A)

230. Cliff Matthews, DE, South Carolina
Awesome pick. Cliff Matthews was supposed to go way earlier than this, so the Falcons are getting a major steal. Atlanta is expected to go after Ray Edwards. If they can't get him, Matthews is at least some insurance. (Pick Grade: A)





Season Summary:
The Falcons had a great regular season, earning a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Unfortunately, they were exposed by the Packers as a bit of a farce, as Green Bay easily dispatched Atlanta, 48-21. The Falcons are a good team, but they weren't ready to win the Super Bowl just yet. They have a few things they need to fix.




Offseason Moves:

Falcons re-sign RB Jason Snelling

Falcons re-sign CB Brent Grimes

Rams sign RB Jerious Norwood

Colts sign DE/DT Jamaal Anderson

Falcons re-sign G Justin Blalock

Falcons re-sign WR/KR Eric Weems

Rams sign G Harvey Dahl

Falcons sign DE Ray Edwards

Falcons cut DE Jamaal Anderson

Falcons cut WR Michael Jenkins

Falcons re-sign OT Tyson Clabo

Buccaneers sign P Michael Koenen

Falcons re-sign K Matt Bryant

Falcons re-sign OLB Mike Peterson

Falcons re-sign OLB Stephen Nicholas

Falcons sign DE Ryan Winterswyk

Falcons tender CB Brent Grimes

Lions sign SS Erik Coleman

Falcons re-sign DT Trey Lewis

Falcons cut S Erik Coleman


Offseason Needs:

1. Two Wide Receivers: Michael Jenkins and Harry Douglas can't make plays. The Falcons desperately need to upgrade the receiver position. They may reach for Jonathan Baldwin or Torrey Smith with the 27th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Drafted Julio Jones
   
   
2. Left Tackle: Sam Baker really struggled as Matt Ryan's blind-side protector this year. He belongs at right tackle, so Atlanta may use its first-round pick on someone like Anthony Castonzo or Derek Sherrod.
   
   
3. Two Guards: Both starting guards - Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl - are free agents this offseason. The Falcons must keep their starting front line intact. Re-signed Justin Blalock; drafted Andrew Jackson
   
   
4. Strong Safety: William Moore sucked this year. He was torched in the playoff loss to Green Bay. An upgrade is desperately needed.
   
   
5. Strongside Linebacker: If Atlanta doesn't retain Stephen Nicholas, it'll need a new strongside linebacker. Re-signed Stephen Nicholas; drafted Akeem Dent
   
   
6. Nickel Cornerback: Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson are set as starters, but the Falcons can't have an aging Brian Williams or pedestrian Christopher Owens manning the nickel position again next season.
   
   
7. Tight End: Tony Gonzalez is coming back for one more year, but he's done. It's painful to watch him play. Atlanta should look for a young tight end in the middle of April's draft as a possible successor.
   
   
8. Defensive End: John Abraham is coming off a 13-sack campaign, but he'll be a 33-year-old entering his contract season in 2011. How much more does he have left in the tank? Signed Ray Edwards and Ryan Winterswyk
   
   
9. Running Back: Michael Turner led the NFL in carries last year, which does not bode well for his 2011 campaign. Re-signed Jason Snelling; drafted Jacquizz Rodgers; signed Noel Devine
   
   

2011 NFL Free Agent Signings:

1. Ray Edwards, DE, Vikings. Age: 26.
   Signed with Falcons (5 years)
   
   Ray Edwards had a tremendous year, registering eight sacks and shutting down the run on his side. The question remains: How will he fare without the opposition keying in on Jared Allen and Kevin Williams?
   
   
2. Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State. Age: 24. -- Signed with Falcons

Atlanta Falcons Free Agents:

Salary Cap: No cap.

1. Brent Grimes (RFA), CB, Falcons. Age: 28.
   Re-signed with Falcons (1 year, $2.6 million)
   
   Brent Grimes really improved his game and emerged as Atlanta's best cornerback in 2010.
   
   
2. Harvey Dahl, G, Falcons. Age: 30.
   Signed with Rams
   
   Arguably Atlanta's top offensive lineman, Harvey Dahl bounced back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for half the 2009 season. He's due for a big payday.
   
   
3. Matt Bryant, K, Falcons. Age: 36.
   Re-signed with Falcons
   
   Matt Bryant enjoyed an unbelievable 2010 campaign, drilling 28-of-31 field goals. He was 9-of-11 from beyond 40.
   
   
4. Tyson Clabo, OT, Falcons. Age: 29.
   Re-signed with Falcons (5 years)
   
   Tyson Clabo is a pretty decent right tackle, but a Pro Bowl appearance may inflate his market value.
   
   
5. Eric Weems, KR, Falcons. Age: 26.
   Re-signed with Falcons
   
   Listed at four stars for his special teams ability only, Eric Weems qualified for the Pro Bowl, thanks to a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns. Weems averaged 27.5 yards on his kickoffs and 12.8 yards per punt return.
   
   
6. Justin Blalock, G, Falcons. Age: 27.
   Re-signed with Falcons (6 years)
   
   An unspectacular, but solid starting left guard, Justin Blalock doesn't have any weaknesses in his game.
   
   
7. Stephen Nicholas, OLB, Falcons. Age: 28.
   Re-signed with Falcons (5 years, $17.5 million)
   
   Stephen Nicholas took over the starting strongside linebacker job in Week 4 and never looked back. He performed very well playing two downs for Atlanta.
   
   
8. Jamaal Anderson, DE/DT, Falcons. Age: 25.
   Signed with Colts (1 year)
   
   Jamaal Anderson can't get to the quarterback, but is an excellent run defender. I'm ranking him relatively high because I think he could be a really good 5-technique in the 3-4.
   
   
9. Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons. Age: 27.
   Re-signed with Falcons (1 year)
   
   A power back who doubles as a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield, Jason Snelling logged 44 receptions in 14 games this past season.
   
   
10. Michael Koenen, P, Falcons. Age: 29.
    Signed with Buccaneers (6 years)
    
    Michael Koenen has a strong leg, so you have to wonder why his punting average was just 40.9 yards in 2010, with only 29 of his 74 attempts placed inside the 20.
    
    
11. Brian Williams, CB, Falcons. Age: 32.
    Brian Williams was Atlanta's top corner last year, but suffered a season-ending injury in October. He did fine at nickel this season, but at 32, he's old and injury-prone.
    
    
12. Mike Peterson, OLB, Falcons. Age: 35.
    Re-signed with Falcons
    
    Mike Peterson did a decent job for the Falcons last year at weakside linebacker, but he'll turn 35 in June.
    
    
13. Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons. Age: 29. -- Signed with Vikings (3 years)
14. Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons. Age: 28. -- Signed with Rams
15. Erik Coleman, SS, Falcons. Age: 29. -- Signed with Lions (1 year)
16. Vance Walker, DT, Falcons. Age: 24.
17. Brian Finneran, WR, Falcons. Age: 35.
18. Trey Lewis, DT, Falcons. Age: 26. -- Re-signed with Falcons
19. John Parker Wilson, QB, Falcons. Age: 25.

2011 NFL Free Agent Rankings Coming Soon



Divisional Rival History:
Carolina Panthers: The host has won five of the past six meetings. Both games in 2010 were 31-10 in favor of Atlanta.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints have won eight of 10 in this rivalry. New Orleans can thank Garrett Hartley for missing an overtime field goal during one of those two losses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Ryan is 5-1 against the Buccaneers. Something tells me that Tampa Bay will beat him soon.



Features to be Posted This Offseason:

1. 2011 NFL Draft Grades (Pick-by-Pick NFL Draft Grades as well - Live on Draft Day!)
2. Detailed season preview
3. Fantasy football projections
4. Positional rankings
5. Daily updates on free-agent signings

More 2011 NFL Offseason Pages:

DAL / NYG / PHI / WAS /
CHI / DET / GB / MIN /
ATL / CAR / NO / TB /
ARZ / SEA / SF / STL /
BUF / MIA / NE / NYJ /
BAL / CIN / CLE / PIT /
HOU / IND / JAX / TEN /
DEN / KC / OAK / SD /




2011 NFL Offseason Pages


2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17


2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16


2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


NFL Picks - Feb. 3