Offseason Analysis Series: Atlanta Falcons

Meaningful Additions: QB Marcus Mariota, QB Desmond Ridder, WR Drake London, CB Casey Hayward, LB Rashaan Evans, RB Damien Williams, Edge Arnold Ebikete, LB Troy Anderson, Edge DeAngelo Malone, RB Tyler Allgeier

Meaningful Losses: QB Matt Ryan, LB Foyesade Oluokon, WR Russell Gage, Edge Dante Fowler Jr, DB Fabian Moreau, RB Mike Davis, TE Hayden Hurst

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What Happened Last Year?

(7-10) Third in NFC South

Offense

As a whole, Atlanta's offensive attack finished with the fourth fewest yards and the seventh fewest points scored. Atlanta's passing attack finished right in the middle of the league in passing yardage at 16th. Longtime QB Matt Ryan had a modest year with 3968 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Ryan was not as sharp as he has been historically. Whether this was a result of age or a lack of weapons around him is unknown, but he certainly was not to blame for Atlanta's offensive struggles. Rookie TE Kyle Pitts looked like the dynamic pass catcher that he was advertised to be coming out of Florida recording over one thousand yards receiving and leading the team in that category. WR Russell Gage played well in the absence of the team's best receiver, Calvin Ridley, who missed 12 games for mental health reasons.

Atlanta's ground game was among the worst in 2021. They finished with the second fewest rushing yards (1,451) and third fewest yards per carry (3.7) in the league. Mike Davis who was brought in from Carolina to be the teams lead back in the previous offseason had a disappointing year and finished with just 503 rushing yards while averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson lead all Falcons backs with 618 rushing yards on 4.0 yards per carry and also recorded 548 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. His ability to make plays in between the tackles and out wide is special, but the Falcons really missed the presence of an effective downhill runner.

Defense

The Falcons defense was a bottom tier unit in 2021. The most troubling of their defensive woes was their inability to get to the passer. The team finished with just 18 sacks during the course of the entire 17 game season. That number was good for worst in the league with the next closest team having 11 more sacks. Their lack of talent up front was evident and it showed with a sack total that was historically low. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokon had a big year that lead to a big payday. Oluokon led the league with 192 total tackles and also recorded four tackles for loss, six pass defenses and seven QB hits. Fellow linebacker Deion Jones did not play with the same speed and athleticism that lead to him being named a Pro Bowler in 2017, but still had solid numbers recording 137 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 6 pass defenses. By far the team's best defensive player was cornerback AJ Terrell. Terrell was arguably the league's best corner in 2021 allowing no more then 32 yards in coverage in any game last season. Terrell shut down top WRs like Stefon Diggs and Mike Evans while compiling a whopping 16 pass defenses and three interceptions.

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What's Changed?

Out of Ice

The Falcons are ushering in a new era at the quarterback position this year. The team traded away franchise cornerstone and 2016 MVP Matt Ryan after trying and failing to trade for Deshaun Watson. Losing Ryan, whose veteran presence and experience at the position is going to hurt. Presumably, their starter will be Marcus Mariota. Mariota is a capable backup, but he has never proven to be effective as a starter. Before being supplanted by Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee, Mariota whom the Titans had used the number two overall pick on in the 2015 draft had a record of 29-32 as their starter and threw for 76 touchdowns and 44 picks. The 2019 season saw Mariota fall out of favor with the Titans and was also the same season that current Falcon’s head coach Arthur Smith had taken over as offensive coordinator in Tennessee. I am weary of Mariota being back in Arthur Smith’s offense and think that rookie Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati will get his fair share of snaps as the season progresses. Mariota is athletic and a sound decision maker, but I question if he can get past his tendencies to be too safe with his throws and hold onto the ball for too long.