NFL: 5 best bets to be new playoff teams in 2014
By Phil Watson
Atlanta Falcons (2013 record: 4-12)
Just about everything that could go wrong for the Falcons did go wrong, as they missed the playoffs for just the second time since 2008 and had a losing record for the first time since the post-Michael Vick apocalypse season of 2007.
That was the year before Mike Smith and Matt Ryan showed up in the ATL and changed the culture.
The Falcons couldn’t seem to keep anyone healthy, particularly on offense. Julio Jones missed 11 games, Roddy White missed three, Steven Jackson missed four, the fullback position was a revolving door, Sam Baker, Garrett Reynolds and Jeremy Trueblood missed large chunks of the season, destabilizing the offensive line.
Defensively, the Falcons were banged up, as well. Outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon played just seven games, as did Akeem Dent in the middle and the Falcons had to start former seventh-round pick Robert McClain five games at cornerback.
Atlanta had the worst running game in the NFL, but have added Devonta Freeman to the backfield to match with veterans Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers.
They will lose the production from soon-to-be Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez at tight end, but will have Jones and White healthy along with Harry Douglas at wide receiver.
The addition of rookie Jake Matthews should help stabilize the offensive line, along with the return of a healthy Baker. The Falcons are going to be young at linebacker, but an infusion of youth on the defense might not be the worst thing in the world. Weatherspoon will miss the entire season, but I like the idea of going young at LB.
If there’s a big question defensively, it’s the pass rush, but teams don’t have to have a 15-sack guy to make the postseason, so long as they are able to manufacture pressure from multiple rushers.