FALCONS FANTASY NEWS

February 7th, 2006 5:00 AM ET

Following an appearance in the NFC Championship game in 2004, the Falcons took a step backwards last season when they failed to qualify for the playoffs despite jumping out to a 6-2 start. The Falcons are still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but this could be a pivotal year for the franchise.

There is pressure on general manager Rich McKay to make a few key offseason additions despite the team's limited salary cap space. However, the Falcons' fortunes will likely be dictated by quarterback Michael Vick, who struggled at times last season, and no longer had flop wide receivers Peerless Price or Dez White to blame for his flaws.

The Falcons hired quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave last month to help aid in Vick's development. Musgrave has a long history in the West Coast offense, and he previously coached backup signal caller Matt Schaub at the University of Virginia.

Although Vick still has to improve elements in his own game, he is also counting on young wide receivers Michael Jenkins and Roddy White to live up to their first-round draft pick potential. Both receivers had their ups and downs last year, but they should benefit from the amount playing time they received.

Needs
McKay and Mora would like to beef up their offensive line. The unit consists of mostly no-name players, and there's only so much that part-time coach/offensive line guru Alex Gibbs can do with the talent he has to work with. Starting left tackle Kevin Shaffer is an unrestricted free agent, and there is some speculation that he will be too expensive for the Falcons to re-sign. Thus, don't be surprised if the team adds another tackle via free agency or the draft.

Believe it or not, the Falcons might be in the hunt for a running back. That probably sounds odd given that they have Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett on the roster, but there have been rumblings that Duckett could be traded this offseason. T.J. was dreadful during the last four games of the season when he took a total of 35 carries for 39 yards. The only other running back on the roster is DeAndra Cobb, who is considered a kick return specialist, so the Falcons would definitely need a capable backup for Dunn if they choose to deal Duckett.

No. 3 wide receiver Brian Finneran has already indicated that he intends to test the waters of free agency, although not opposed to returning to Atlanta. Team officials appear to have finally given up on Dez White, so the Falcons could be in the hunt for a new No. 3 receiver if they fail to re-sign Finneran, who was their most productive wideout in 2005.

On the other side of the ball, the Falcons still have the same secondary woes they had last year at this time. DeAngelo Hall is a world class cornerback, but there's no much talent around him, particularly at the safety position. With the exception of Hall, linebacker Keith Brooking actually had twice as many interceptions as any member of the Falcons secondary. Four safeties are free agents, and there's no guarantee that McKay will make a strong effort to re-sign any of them.

The Falcons had interest in free safety Darren Sharper before he signed with the Vikings last year. Thus, it wouldn't surprise us if free safety is a top priority during this offseason. It's worth noting that a traditional free safety would be more likely to play strong safety (and vice versa) in Atlanta due to Mora's unique defensive schemes.

Salary Cap Situation
Back in January, McKay conceded that his team will not be major players in free agency. "Based on certain needs, we might add a veteran or two or three," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Does that mean we go after a high-price player? No. We have a pretty good core of players we believe in."

In other words, forget about rumors that Terrell Owens will play in his hometown next season. The Falcons invested a pair of first-round picks in the last two drafts in Jenkins and White, and it's hard to imagine Mora bringing in a quarterback-taunting lunatic like Owens, particularly when he and other members of the organization have gone to great lengths to protect Vick.

Unrestricted Free Agents
QB Ty Detmer, K Todd Peterson, WR Jerome Pathon, FB Fred McCrary, T Barry Stokes, T Kevin Shaffer, DE Antwan Lake, LB Artie Ulmer, LB Erik Flowers, S Keion Carpenter, S Kevin McCadam, S Omare Lowe, S Ronnie Heard

Restricted Free Agents
C Austin King

The Draft
The Falcons hold the No. 15 overall pick in April's draft. They have used four of their last five first-round picks on offensive players, but that likely won't be the case this year unless a stud offensive lineman falls into their laps.

If the Falcons don't target safeties in free agency, they will probably use their first-round pick to address that need. Possible safety targets include Michael Huff (Texas), Darnell Bing (USC), LaRon Landry (LSU), Patrick Watkins (Florida State), and Greg Blue (Georgia).

Another area of concern is at defensive end, where starter Brady Smith missed 11 games with a turf toe injury. Smith is on the wrong side of 30, so the team will have to add some quality depth and an eventual successor at some point in the near future. If they choose to do so via the draft this year, the top players at the position are Mario Williams (North Carolina State), Mathias Kiwanuka (Boston College), Tamba Hali (Penn State), Quentin Moses (Georgia), Manny Lawson (North Carolina State), and Elvis Dumervil (Louisville).

Injury Watch
Alge Crumpler played the 2005 season with a sore knee and underwent arthroscopic surgery in January. He is planning to play in the Pro Bowl this weekend, so he should be available for all offseason workouts.

Hall also underwent arthroscopic surgery (shoulder) after the season ended and he is also planning play in the Pro Bowl. Thus, he should be joining his teammates for all the offseason workouts, as well.

Team officials have not commented on Smith's status for 2006, but we assume Brady will be healthy enough to take part in the offseason workouts.

Also missing 11 games was Edgerton Hartwell, who tore his right Achilles' tendon. The team's 2005 prize free agent acquisition underwent surgery to repair the damage in October. The injury requires significant rehab time, but he should recover before training camp opens this summer.

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