Dark Horse Tavern » "The Falcons want their offense to be unstoppabl

We like the class Youth Mohamed Sanu Jersey , mostly, but we do have some questions.e. The defense? Not as much.Favorite Pick: Chris LindstromMost Questionable Pick: Jordan MillerI’m excited the Falcons finally, truly addressed the offensive line. No more patchwork lines of late round draft picks, cheap veterans, an an occasional above-average blocker. If the plan was to build one of the best lines in the NFL, then mission (probably) accomplished. My biggest question is why the team decided to double dip at corner and ignore adding a defensive tackle. Atlanta went heavy on offense and ignored outstanding defensive issues. —Matt ChambersDan Quinn thinks he’s a wizard Favorite Pick: Chris LindstromMost Questionable Pick: Qadree OllisonThe Falcons didn’t set out to be popular, and they didn’t set out to fix a defensive front seven they think just needs health and some good ol’ Dan Quinn magic to turn into a terrific unit. That’s a questionable decision, in my opinion, but the Falcons did get terrific athletes along the offensive line and at cornerback, setting themselves up to be great at both spots in the near future. I also really like the pick of John Cominsky, but as good as Ollison and as intriguing as Green look, I can’t figure out why it was necessary to use draft capital on a pair of offensive skill position players, especially running backs. The Falcons have told us repeatedly to trust that changes to the coaching staff will yield better results, and now we’re just left to wait and see if that plus some beef on the OL will do the trick. — Dave ChoateThe Falcons are remaking their offensive line—and I’m excited about it.Favorite Pick: OT Kaleb McGaryMost Questionable Pick: RB Qadree OllisonAs is tradition, I’ve really come around on this draft class after a little processing time. I think the additions of G Chris Lindstrom and OT Kaleb McGary are both excellent, and could be far more impactful in 2019 than fans realize. Lindstrom has the potential to be a top-tier guard immediately. After doing a little bit of a deeper dive on McGary’s unconventional technique Stitched De’Vondre Campbell Jersey , I think he’ll be the player that winds up surprising us all. He’s physical, athletic, and nasty—exactly the type of player that the Falcons want on their offensive line.The problem with this draft is the lack of an immediate impact addition to the defense. That being said, I do like all of Atlanta’s Day 3 defensive additions. CB Kendall Sheffield is raw, but might be the fastest player in the class—I love his potential as an elite slot CB in 2020 and beyond. EDGE John Cominsky is exactly the type of player that Quinn and TD love to add late in drafts: great size, fantastic athleticism, but significantly lacking in technique. CB Jordan Miller fell due to medical concerns, but he’s a talented outside option that could play a lot better (and sooner) than fans realize.The head-scratcher for me was RB Qadree Ollison in the early fifth round. Ollison is a big, physical back with good speed for his size and solid vision, but I thought there were better options on the board. I actually like the sixth-round pick, RB Marcus Green, better—he’s a versatile WR/RB hybrid that has elite athleticism, and he’s the favorite to be the team’s returner in 2019. The lack of additions to the defensive line, however, mean that the pressure is on to mold the pieces that the Falcons already have into a competent unit. Can Quinn do it? We’ll see. Quinn and Dimitroff’s jobs may depend on it. — Kevin KnightAnother draft that requires patience and trust Favorite Pick: Kaleb McGary or John Cominsky Most Questionable Pick: A guard at 14 (though I like Chris Lindstrom as a player)The Falcons haven’t made me feel this way about a draft class since 2016. I was proven very wrong then, and I’m accounting that my “it’s pretty good!” reaction will only get better when the season gets going and we see the fruits of this draft class. The team has a great track record with secondary players Youth De’Vondre Campbell Jersey , which gives me hope that Kendall Sheffield and Jordan Miller will be ready to go when the time comes. Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green are good depth pieces. I love Kaleb McGary’s tenacity, potential and be-a-bully mantra; the team has needed an offensive lineman like that for a long time. John Cominsky feels like a Dan Quinn special; the kind of raw athlete he can coach up into someone people double-take at being drafted in the fourth round. It’s the guard pick at 14 I still don’t get. This team is projecting a lot for its defensive line to make a turnaround with the minimal investments they’ve made. They also paid two guards good starting money, and with Chris Lindstrom now here, one of them is destined for the bench. He’s an improvement on that plan, though, and I think Lindstrom will be a very good player. I love that the offensive line looks pretty complete on paper. I really do! But a lacking pass rush can lose you championships (*leers into the distance*). Why not invest there with the top pick with good names left? I just don’t see the complete reasoning for some of the offseason right now. To be fair, I didn’t in 2016, either. - Cory Woodroof Protect the MVPFavorite Pick: OG Chris LindstromMost Questionable Pick: RB/WR Marcus GreenI mentioned in The Falcoholic Roundtable: 2019 First Round Mock Draft “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the current Atlanta Falcons staff and management, it’s that they’re very unpredictable.” – and they were exactly that during the 2019 NFL Draft.My favorite pick was the selection of Chris Lindstrom out of Boston College. Although like most people, I was initially thrown off, the Falcons made it clear that they wanted to protect Matt Ryan. Lindstrom is someone who can start for the Falcons for the next decade, and they’ll need it as Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times in 2018. The current complaint among most fans is the Falcons not selecting a defensive tackle. The Falcons have plenty of depth at defensive tackle, with new additions like Tyeler Davison and Ra’Shede Hageman. Most importantly, veteran Jack Crawford is a perfect complement to Grady Jarrett. Crawford had career-highs in both tackles and sacks last season, and even recorded his first ever interception. Dan Quinn was very high on Jack Crawford, which you can read by clicking here. — Evan Birchfield It’s easy to forget Stitched Brian Poole Jersey , but the Falcons drafted Freeman while Koetter was still in the building the first time." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesThe Falcoholic homepageHorizontal - WhiteThe Falcoholican Atlanta Falcons communityFollow The Falcoholic online:Follow The Falcoholic on TwitterFollow The Falcoholic on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchThe Falcoholic main menuFanpostsFanshotsLibraryFalconsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕The Devonta Freeman-Dirk Koetter reunion may be a big one New,41commentsIt’s easy to forget, but the Falcons drafted Freeman while Koetter was still in the building the first time. EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:The Devonta Freeman-Dirk Koetter reunion may be a big one TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThere were not many things that went well for the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, but the fourth round selection of Devonta Freeman will go down as one of the best decisions of that star-crossed year. Free was buried his rookie season behind Steven Jackson and company, but in brief glimpses we saw the player I got really excited about in summer 2014, the one with stellar vision and ability who just needed a shot.It’s worth remembering that now because 2014 seems like a million years ago instead of just six seasons. That year was Dirk Koetter’s final one in Atlanta, as the team fired Mike Smith and Koetter landed a head coaching gig in Tampa Bay. It was just the beginning for Freeman, who was arguably one of the best backs in the entire NFL in 2016 and 2017, with injuries impacting the end of 2017 and wiping out most of his 2018 season.Now the two are reunited. It’s difficult to project much of anything off that 2014 season—Freeman carried the ball 65 times for 248 yards and a touchdown, and reeled in 30 catches for 225 yards and another touchdown—but Koetter was clearly keen on Freeman being a major part of the offense over the long haul and got him involved in the passing game nice and early. If Freeman is truly healthy—always a big if when you’re dealing with the ten car pileup of injuries he suffered over the last couple of seasons—he shouldn’t lack for a role in the passing game or on the ground given the team’s stated commitment to the run. With Tevin Coleman headed elsewhere, the competition for snaps for Freeman will be limited to Ito Smith, Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green, none of whom figure to take on featured roles unless Free is hurt again. The run game was never Koetter’s forte in Tampa Bay—which does have to be held against him, considering he had a significant voice in personnel and never quite wound up with a quality attack outside of one year of Doug Martin—but he never had the talent on the offensive line or at the position that he’ll have in Atlanta.This is a roundabout way of saying that those “Freeman is poised for a resurgent season” and “Koetter’s eager to return to some familiar faces” storylines ought to converge in a big way for Freeman, and nothing short of injury ought to keep from enjoying the kind of big years he enjoyed in 2016 and 2017.