Atlanta Falcons Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - Any Falcon fan that believes in the sophomore jinx must be feeling a bit nervous as 2005 nears.

In his rookie year as a head coach, Jim Mora turned Atlanta from a 5-11 bottom-feeder to an 11-5 contender, guiding the Falcons all the way to the NFC Championship, where they lost to the Eagles. Logic dictates that the team is on the rise, but anyone that watched Bill Parcells and the Cowboys go down in flames during his second season with America's Team has to be doing some serious pondering about whether the same fate could befall Mora and company.

To the credit of Atlanta's front office brass, the Falcons will hardly be resting on last year's laurels. In an effort to bolster a passing game that served as an anchor at times last season, Atlanta shuffled the depth chart at wideout and brought in a potential No. 1 receiver in UAB's Roddy White. On the other side of the ball, the linebacking corps has been significantly upgraded and the secondary is undergoing a shift. Whether those moves turn to gold, as did everything Mora touched in 2004, will determine whether Atlanta moves nearer to a first-ever Super Bowl title. If it doesn't happen, many Falcon supporters will undoubtedly chalk it up to that dreaded jinx.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Atlanta Falcons, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: One of the great successes of Mora and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's first year in Atlanta was finding an appropriate balance for running backs Warrick Dunn (1106 rushing yards, 9 TD) and T.J. Duckett (509 yards, 8 TD). Dunn should continue to see 18-20 carries per game, and Duckett should again get about 8-12. Jason Wright appeared in two games for Atlanta in his first season out of Northwestern, but might have trouble holding off sixth-round draft choice DeAndra Cobb (Michigan State) for a spot on this year's roster. The Falcons are set at fullback, with veterans Justin Griffith (22 receptions, 1 TD) and Fred McCrary holding down the fort there.

WR/TE: Atlanta received minimal production from its receivers last season, and Mora has shaken things up in an effort to improve things in that regard. First-round draft choice Roddy White (UAB) is being counted on to stretch the field and become the No. 1 target the team has lacked. Second-year man Michael Jenkins (7 receptions), a major disappointment after being selected in the first round out of Ohio State, has nonetheless been promoted to a starting job in place of Peerless Price (45 receptions, 3 TD). Price is in training camp with the Falcons, but there is speculation that either he or fellow veteran Dez White (30 receptions, 2 TD) could be excised on the final cut-down day. Brian Finneran (23 receptions, 2 TD) comes off his least productive year since 2000, but will make the squad due to his value on special teams. The team's best pass-catcher a year ago was tight end Alge Crumpler (48 receptions, 6 TD), who made his second straight Pro Bowl. Dwayne Blakley (4 receptions) played in 15 games as Crumpler's backup, and converted interior lineman Eric Beverly appeared often as a blocking tight end.

OL: The Falcon line struggled to pass protect at times during 2004, but there is hope that Vick's increased familiarity with the offensive system will take some pressure off of the trench unit. Four of five starters return up front - left tackle Kevin Shaffer, center Todd McClure, right guard Kynan Forney, and right tackle Todd Weiner. The fifth starter - left guard Roberto Garza - defected to the Bears via free agency. Taking his spot will be either Michael Moore, who lost the last 15 games of 2004 to a shoulder injury, or former Cowboy Matt Lehr, who started 22 games in Big D over the past three seasons. Backup candidates on the line include Barry Stokes, who last played with the Browns in 2003, 2004 backups Martin Bibla and Austin King, and fifth-round draft choice Frank Omiyale (Tennessee Tech).

DL: Atlanta's defensive line was among the best in the league last year, thanks in large part to tackle Rod Coleman (40 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 INT), who likely would have made the Pro Bowl had he not missed three games due to injury. Ends Patrick Kerney (66 tackles, 13 sacks) and Brady Smith (30 tackles, 6 sacks) benefited from the attention Coleman received, and will again take their places on the edge. Smith was expected to miss most of training camp following neck surgery. The fourth starter up front will likely be nose tackle Chad Lavalais (28 tackles), who will attempt to take over full- time for the departed Ed Jasper (32 tackles, 2 sacks). The team used a second- round draft pick on Jonathan Babineaux (Iowa), and would like for the former Hawkeye to bulk up and eventually take Lavalais' spot. Other reserves at tackle should include 2004 backup Antwan Lake (5 tackles) and former Patriot and Seahawk Brandon Mitchell (16 tackles, 1 sack with Seattle). At end, rookie Chauncey Davis (4th Round, Florida State) will look to crack the rotation along with '04 reserve Khaleed Vaughn (3 tackles).

LB: There are major changes here, as '04 starters Matt Stewart (71 tackles) and Chris Draft (56 tackles) have taken their acts to Cleveland and Carolina, respectively. In to patrol the middle is former Raven Edgerton Hartwell (97 tackles with Baltimore), who should bloom now that he is operating outside Ray Lewis' substantial shadow. On the strong side, former backup Demorrio Williams (56 tackles, 2.5 sacks) should have little trouble stepping in, and former Eagles special teams ace Ike Reese (36 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) is there should Williams falter. The lone holdover on the unit is weak side man Keith Brooking (101 tackles, 3 INT, 2.5 sacks), who led the club in stops a year ago. Atlanta used draft choices on Cal Poly's Jordan Beck (3rd Round) and Southern Miss' Michael Boley (5th Round), and the pair will compete for backup jobs.

DB: The Falcon secondary was something of a liability last year, but made enough big plays to compensate for the ones it allowed. Cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall (34 tackles, 2 INT) and Jason Webster (40 tackles, 1 INT) are pencilled in as the starters as the season nears, but Allen Rossum (20 tackles, 2 INT) and Kevin Mathis (65 tackles, 2 INT) both have starting experience as well. Aaron Beasley (22 tackles, 4 INT), who led the club in picks a year ago, has departed, meaning Christian Morton (2 tackles) could make the team as a backup. At safety, both projected starters are coming off injuries. Bryan Scott (96 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT), who would play free safety, is attempting to battle back from a torn rotator cuff that required surgery, while would-be strong safety Keion Carpenter is looking to return from a knee injury that forced him to miss all of 2004. As insurance, the Falcons invested in former Rams starter Rich Coady (40 tackles) and former 49ers regular Ronnie Heard (68 tackles, 1 INT), who will battle with holdover Kevin McCadam (19 tackles) for a reserve job.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game has undergone an offseason transformation, with Todd Peterson (18-22 FG with the 49ers) replacing Jay Feely (18-23 FG) and Toby Gowin (38.2 avg. with the Jets) occupying the spot formerly held by Chris Mohr (40.6 avg.). Gowin will also handle kickoffs. Allen Rossum (21.6 kickoff return avg., 12.4 punt return avg., 1 TD) made the Pro Bowl as a return man last season, but might field only punts in 2005. Sixth-round draft choice DeAndra Cobb had four kickoff returns for scores in two years at Michigan State.

PROGNOSIS: The Falcons cruised to the NFC South title last season based as much on their own strong performance as the ineptitude of their division foes. Tampa Bay was 0-4 following its first month, Carolina was 1-7 before waking up in the second half, and New Orleans couldn't seem to answer the bell until December. Mora's team probably won't be as lucky this year, especially if the Panthers are healthy, but Atlanta should be just as good as in 2004. Vick needs to make some strides in the passing game during his second year in the system, and all indications are that he will. A defense that will look markedly different at linebacker and significantly different in the secondary needs to jell, but the talent is certainly present. If things go as planned, Atlanta will win the NFC South again and have a shot at challenging the Eagles and Vikings for a trip to the Super Bowl. But their path to the top doesn't figure to be nearly as clear as last season, which at the very least, will make the NFC South race an interesting one.

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