Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart 2018 Falcons Depth Chart

Preseason Analysis: An Imposing Offense with a Smothering Defense – The New Look Atlanta Falcons in 2018

It has been a bland offseason for Atlanta, with the only major move coming in the draft. The Falcons have a nag for Atlanta wideouts it seems, drafting Calvin Ridley in the first round. Ridley was a highly touted receiver coming out of the draft, and should make an impact this season. Mohamed Sanu still holds rank on him, but that should change at some point during the year. Outside of that, this offense remains the same as the draft focused on defense this year. The duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman still remains one of the better ones in football, and both remain fantasy relevant moving forward. Coleman is on the final year of his contract, and it could end up moving to another team for a starting role. Atlanta drafted Ito Smith to potentially be a guy that becomes Coleman, but that will not be the case this year. Austin Hooper has been in the waiting for some time, yet has not cracked his way up the Falcons totem pole for relevance. Matt Ryan has the weapons to rebound this year, especially if Ridley steps up into the player a lot of people believe he can be, there is huge potential.

A High-Powered Offensive Philosophy

The Atlanta Falcons are but two years removed from a devastating second half meltdown against the New England Patriots. Many of the same players who steamrolled their way through 2016 NFC playoffs are still on the roster. They lost again in 2017 to the eventual Super Bowl Champion, so Atlanta has a roster full of hungry players who come so close to a coveted ring. Atlanta built a winning reputation on the philosophy that it doesn't matter how many points we surrender, as long as we score more. An all-out aerial attack, blended with just enough rushing. The theory worked well. Offensively talented starting lineups managed to propel them into four consecutive NFC playoffs. However, back-to-back losing seasons saw the exit of head coach Mike Smith and the start of a more defensive-minded strategy. Current head coach Dan Quinn, still armed with prolific pass catcher Julio Jones and perennial Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan, will have an offense that can move the football with consistency.

However, it's the improvements on defense that have experts talking. Heading into 2018, Atlanta will score points with the same basic cast that finished 8th overall in total offense this past season. On defense, they have retooled some of the weaker positions to load up on the 3rd best defense in the 2017 playoffs. The Falcons will still score points in 2018, but now they can also shut down their opposition. During the regular seasons last month stretch for the 2017 playoffs, Atlanta faced five high-powered offenses, twice against NFC South rival New Orleans. The most points they surrendered was 23 in a tough loss at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to the Saints.

An Ever-Improving Defense

While the offense seemed to level out, the defense consistently improved in 2017. Free agency saw the departure of defensive tackle Dontari Poe to rival Carolina, but 3rd round draft pick, 314 pound Deadrin Senat out of South Florida, is already turning heads. Atlanta also feels they will get a boost from the signing of former Tennessee Titan cover-corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson. As the Falcons steadily improved on defense down the homestretch, the offense did lose some of its famed luster. Jones was banged up, down the stretch, and Ryan couldn't seem to find a consistent connection with other wide receivers. Enter Atlanta's first round selection in last April's draft.

Fresh off a BCS college championship, Calvin Ridley is going to draw a huge amount of focus away from Jones and the other Atlanta pass catchers. Devonta Freeman will look to spend more time healthy and combine with the Falcon's two-headed rushing attack that features Tevin Coleman on most passing downs. Keep an eye as well, on Atlanta's explosive 4th round pick, Ito Smith out of Southern Mississippi. Smith has good hands and superb speed, something the fast-paced Atlanta offense loves to utilize. However, driven by a tough division schedule in the NFC South, the Falcon's new philosophy is geared more towards a balance between a good offense and a smothering defense. Heading into 2018, they still loaded with high impact superstars in Atlanta, now on both sides of the ball. With some of their veterans slowly aging, the window of opportunity can slam shut in an instant, and that instant is creeping closer for the Falcons. Look for Atlanta to be a tough match up every Sunday, with maybe fewer points on the scoreboard, but a chance at double-digit wins again.