What Can Atlanta Learn From Seattle?
By Ben Sullivan
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Tony McDaniel celebrates after Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL is a copycat league. We hear it all the time, but it’s that way for a good reason. When you see one team have success, especially the kind of dominant success the Seattle Seahawks had from the start of the season this year to their blowout Super Bowl win, other teams have to take notice and try to emulate how they were able to be so much better than everyone else.
The Falcons need to study the Seahawks more than most teams. The things Seattle did so well this year — dominate on defense, play with emotion and make big plays on defense and special teams — are the things that Atlanta has struggled with. Not just this year, this past season will most likely go down as a blip on the radar due to injuries and bad luck more than anything, but these are the things that this team has had a tough time with for several years now.
I believe the Falcons are closer to a Super Bowl win than most do. I think they have the basic building blocks they need to go all the way, they just need to tweak a few things here and there. Most of those things have to do with how they’ve set up their roster, especially the bottom half.
If the Falcons want to find themselves in years to come to come where the Seahawks are now, they need to take these five lessons to heart.