Atlanta Falcons 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
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Atlanta Falcons 2009 NFL Record: 9-7 Home: 6-2 Away: 3-5
Atlanta Falcons 2010 Preview
The Atlanta Falcons in 2009, completed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. But now it’s tinle to turn the corner. The Falcons failed to make the playoffs last year, and expectations are high that they will get there in 2010. The Falcons have a superb stable of running backs, a talen ted passing ganle and a veteran line, giving them balance on offense. The defense could rank among the most improved in the NFL. The Falcons signed free agent cornerback Dunta Robinson in an attempt to improve a vulnerable secondary and used their first-round draft pick on Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Neither side of the ball should be overmatched most weeks. The Falcons were ravaged by injuries a year ago, but that won’t be a viable excuse if they don’t produce this year. Atlanta needs to take the next step, and that’s to challenge New Orleans for the NFC South title and get back to the postseason.
2010 Atlanta Falcons Quarterbacks
To say Matt Ryan had a sophomore slump would be unfair. While his numbers were down cornpared to his 2008 rookie season, Ryan had to deal with a painful turf toe injury and showed growth on the football field, especially with his decision-making. He was asked to throw more as Mularkey opened up his playbook and put more trust in his young quarterback. Year 3 for Ryan should involve fewer growing pains and more successful plays. Ryan has the intangibles and is lauded by his teammates as one of the hardest workers on the team. Backing up Ryan is Chris Redman, a veteran from Louisville who stepped in for three games when Ryan was hurt last season. Redman is a capable backup and understands the offense well. However, Redman’s ability to read blitzes has been a problem during his career.
2010 Atlanta Falcons Running Backs
Last season was disappointing for Michael Turner, who was coming off of a Pro Bowl, 1,699-yard effort the year before. He battled a nagging high ankle sprain that sidelined him most of the last half of the season. If Turner stays healthy, he’ll rack up plenty of yards and touchdowns, although he might find himself sharing a few more carries with the playmakers behind him. The Falcons are three-deep at running back. Backup No.1 is Jerious Norwood, a shifty and speedy scatback who is dangerous in the open field. Three concussions and other nagging injuries limited his touches last year. Backup No. 2 is Jason Snelling, a hybrid tailback/fullback who finished 2009 with 613 yards rushing, most of thern coming after Turner injured his ankle. Atlanta has one of the league’s best fullbacks in Ovie Mughelli. Not 11luch of a threat to run or catch the ball, Mughelli is the prototypical blocking fullback you want leading the way.
2010 Atlanta Falcons Receivers
Tony Gonzalez is 34, but he doesn’t look like it. Still considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL, Gonzalez caught 83 passes for 867 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. He became Ryan’s go-to guy on third down and in the red zone and should play the sallle role this season. Roddy White has recorded three straight 1,100-yard seasons and is always a threat to stretch the field. Former first-round pick Michael Jenkins is a possession receiver who can flash glimpses of brilliance on occasion. But he also has had his share of drops and goofs over the years. Behind the two starters is Harry Douglas, a speedster who missed all of last season with a torn ACL he suffered at the beginning of training camp. Douglas; who will do nlost of his work out of the slot, is the X-factor of this unit. He caught a combined 142 passes for 2,424 yards in 2006-07 at Louisville, and his speed and ability to run deep and over the middle could open up the passing game for White, Jenkins and Gonzalez
2010 Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line
Atlanta’s starting line is a combination of young, vibrant talent and fundamental veterans collectively known for their mean streak. The line battled numerous injuries throughout 2009, so the No.1 goal this season is to stay healthy. Left tackle Sam Baker, left guard Justin Blalock and center Todd McClure are strictly business and provide solid run-blocking and pass protection. Right guard Harvey Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo are nasty, smashmouth linemen who have a reputation for their physicality. Just ask Albert Haynesworth, who said on a radio show that he doesn’t have patience for Dahl’s and Clabo’s style of play. This is a solid, cohesive group that can provide the holes for lots of rushing yards. These same five starters led the way for the team’s 2,443 rushing yards (No.2 in the NFL) in 2008.
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2010 Atlanta Falcons Defense
A year after ravaging quarterbacks with 16.5 sacks, right end John Abraham slipped to just 5.5 last season. He was frustrated by double-teams, largely the result of rookie tackle Peria Jerry going down in Week 2 with a torn ACL. At that point, the penetration up the middle ceased. The Falcons are hoping Jerry’s return will boost a pass rush that last year gave quarterbacks time to find receivers against a young and vulnerable secondary, which resulted in a lot ofpoints (seven games allowing more than 25) and yards (349 per game). Tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who shouldered most of the inside work last year, will work alongside Jerry. Kroy Biermann spent much of last year spelling Abraham at right end, and doing it quite well (49 tackles and five sacks as a backup). He should start at left end this year. Jamaal Anderson has become a hybrid up front, playing tackle as well as his natural end spot, but he hasn’t lived up to billing as the eighth overall pick in the 2007 draft. With just 2.5 sacks in three seasons, it’s time for Anderson to produce.
You could make a case that middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was a Pro Bowl snub last season. Lofton, who enters his third season after tallying 133 tacldes and two forced fumbles a year ago, is solid in run support, flies to the ball and rarely misses tacldes. Starting weak-side linebacker Mike Peterson is the veteran leader of this unit, but following the selection of Weatherspoon in the first round of the draft, his starting job could be in jeopardy by the middle of the season. Weatherspoon is agile, has great lateral speed and was excellent in pass coverage at Missouri, where he earned All-America honors in 2009. Strong-side linebacker Stephen Nicholas, a fourth-year pro out of South Florida, is solid against the run but could use work in defending the pass.
Robinson might be the missing piece to Atlanta’s secondary puzzle. Atlanta ranked 28th in the NFL against the pass in 2009 (242 yards per game), and Robinson’s presence as a lockdown corner should give the linenmen an extra second or two to get to the quarterback. Robinson can play both corner spots and nickelback. So can Brian Williams, who enters his second year with Atlanta and ninth in the NFL. Before Williams, who also contributes at safety, ended his season with an ACL tear against Chicago in Game 5, the Falcons had given up more than 20 points in only one gan1e (a loss to New England). The first week without Williams, the Falcons allowed 37 points to Dallas as the secondary issues began to spiral downward. Chris Owens, a second-year corner from San Jose State who jumped into the starting lineup at the end of last season, has a lot of upside and will likely play right corner in nickel packages or when Williams is . lined up at safety. Thomas DeCoud could be poised for a breakout year at free safety. He’s knowledgeable and reacts well in passing situations. Strong safety Erik Coleman adds veteran leadership, and second-year safety William Moore, sidelined by injuries last season, looks to add quality depth as he can play both safety spots.
Atlanta Falcons 2010 Season Prediction
Last season, the Falcons struggled against a difficult schedule and with a number of injuries. Though health can’t be predicted, it does appear that Atlanta has a much more n1anageable schedule in 2010. The team has upgraded at cornerback with Robinson and at linebacker with Weatherspoon, and Jerry’s return will help up front. So, the defense will be expected to keep opponents from racking up points the way it did last year. The offense is as balanced as you’ll find, and Ryan and Co. should be able to move the ball on just about any team in the league. The Falcons have the talent and experience to make a deep run in the playoffs. Anything less than a postseason berth will be a disappointment.
We predict that the Atlanta Falcons will finish 2nd in the NFC South, with a record of 8-8.
Atlanta Falcons Betting
NFC South Odds: +200 NFC Conference Odds: 13-1 Super Bowl Odds: 30-1
Atlanta Falcons Five-Year Win Betting Trends
2005: 8 2006: 7 2007: 4 2008: 11 2009: 9
Bet on the Atlanta Falcons
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