Atlanta Falcons Roster 2020 Atlanta Falcons Roster

Top Falcons Roster Questions of 2020

How Much of an Impact Will Their Returning Players Make?

The Falcons missed the playoffs in large part because they couldn’t even play one full game with all their starters fully healthy. They were besieged by injuries early in the year, with key players like safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal all suffering season ending injuries by week 3. Their starting left guard Andy Levitre suffered a season ending injury in week 2 as well. Starting linebacker Deion Jones and started running back Devonta Freeman also missed most of the regular season because of injury. The Falcons had some of the worst luck from injuries last year, but it’s unlikely fortune this bad strikes again this year. The Falcons have a chance to be one of the most significantly improved teams from last year by just getting so many core players back from injury. At the very least, their defense, which ranked 28th in yardage last year, should be much better.

How Much Help Can Their Two First Round Selections Provide?

Although the Falcons offense was pretty potent last year, their offensive line was pretty subpar. The Falcons decided to make this a priority in their draft, as they selected offensive guard Chris Lindstrom with their first-round pick than traded up to select offensive tackle Kaleb McGary at the end of the first round. The Falcons will hope those two players, along with the return of their starting left guard, can transform their offensive line. Although Lindstrom and McGary are both rookies, it’s likely they’ll be asked to start right away. Whether they’re truly ready or not, they’ll be playing in meaningful games from the get-go, as this Falcons team is one that hopes to contend. Matt Ryan isn’t getting any younger, so the Falcons will likely play with urgency, knowing their super bowl window may be closing. Although McGary and Lindstrom are rookies, the Falcons likely drafted them thinking they’d be able to contribute right away, as they’d be unlikely to draft players that didn’t fit their timeline.

Will the Falcons Offense be Better or Worse with Dirk Koetter?

After a frustrating two seasons with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, that famously included a lot of red zone woes, the Falcons decided to replace him with former Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter. Koetter brings familiarity to the Falcons, as he was their offensive coordinator from 2012-2014. Although he was unable to find success on the Buccaneers, he still often led some quality offenses. It’s unlikely any offensive coordinator the Falcons get will be as good as Kyle Shanahan, who helped make the 2016 Falcons one of the best offenses in league history, but Koetter still should be an upgrade over Sarkisian. The Falcons have some of the best weapons in football, with arguably the best receiving core in the league. If the offense disappoints this season, it’ll likely be because Koetter fails to take advantage of the team’s talent. Dan Quinn is a solid coach but has never been a great offensive mind, which is why surrounding him with an elite, creative offensive coordinator is important. Although Koetter is no longer a head coach, there’ll likely still be significant pressure on him to perform.