Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching in a week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. Today, the Atlanta Falcons are under the microscope. Holding the 17th pick in the NFL Draft, Atlanta has several areas of need with their 8-8 finish after starting the 2015 season 5-0. Missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, what pieces do the Falcons need to reclaim their top spot in the NFC South?
Atlanta Falcons 2016 Off-season: Top 3 Needs
Pass Rusher
In Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos demonstrated perfectly how impactful a consistent pass rush can be versus opponents. In their championship victory over the tackle-needy Carolina Panthers, Von Miller and Demarcus Ware combined for four and a half sacks with six hits on the quarterback. If the Falcons want to get back into contender conversations, wholesale changes are needed along the trenches. Atlanta mustered up a league-worst 19 sacks in 2015. To put that in perspective, Houston Texans star J.J. Watt alone had 17.5. The Falcons total takedown numbers have decreased each season since 2013. In fact, the last time the team had a double-digit sack player was John Abraham in 2012. Both the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints had a lineman with least 10 takedowns last year. Being that the quarterback is the deepest position in the division, having someone to make them uncomfortable is imperative.
Most mock drafts have the Falcons selecting Alabama’s inside linebacker Reggie Ragland at No. 17. If they were to go defensive lineman, however, Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence may be in play.
Linebacker
Whether it’s a pass rusher or a quarterback of the defense, Atlanta’s front can definitely use support from the second level. Rookie backer Vic Beasley led the team in sacks with four in 2015. Entering year two lacking size and girth, the Falcons need to pick someone who can alleviate Beasley’s load. Going the inside linebacker route is also a good idea. From 2008-2011, Curtis Lofton was the perfect “do-it-all” defender for Atlanta, silently stuffing the stat sheets with tackles, pass deflections and forced fumbles. The NFC South features two of the best linebackers in the NFL: Carolina’s Luke Kuechly and Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David. Although New Orleans’s Stephone Anthony isn’t in the same class as Kuechly or David, he did finish top five in tackles and forced fumbles among rookies.
As mentioned before, mock drafts predict that Reggie Ragland will end up with the Falcons. Free agent James Laurinitis is also a smart veteran option in free agency. Regardless if they go defensive line or linebacker, Atlanta needs to reestablish its defense.
Pass Catcher
It was a toss-up for me in deciding whether to put pass catcher or center at this number three spot, but ultimately I gave the slightest edge to pass catcher. Despite being vastly improved from the previous two seasons, the weakest part of the Atlanta Falcons offensive line was the center position. Mike Person had struggles snapping the ball in 2015, breaking the flow of the offense in the process. Despite the individual miscues, Pro Football Focus rated the Falcons unit fourth-best in football. The team can easily find solace in another snapper via free agency.
With that said, the Falcons desperately need help in the passing game. Julio Jones led the team with 136 catches; the second place man was running back Devonta Freeman with 73 (emphasis on running back). Tight end Jacob Tamme finished third with 59 grabs. From 2012-2014, Atlanta boasted the league’s best wide receiver tandem in Jones and Roddy White, the franchise’s all-time best receiver who was released this week. With White’s decreased role last season, too much was placed on Jones’ shoulders (or hands in this case). Also, the Falcons have yet to find the successor to Tony Gonzalez.
Atlanta should take advantage of the young playmaking wideouts in free agency. Travis Benjamin, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones and Rueben Randle are just a few of the plethora of possibilities on the outside for the Falcons.
