Grading Atlanta Falcons’ Through 4 Games
Sep 7, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) kicks the 52-yard game-winning field goal as Atlanta Falcons punter Matt Bosher (5) holds in their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 37-34 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams:
The offseason addition of return specialist Devin Hester, and former Falcon special teams star Eric Weems, demonstrated that the Falcons special teams would be a much more imposing one than in seasons past. So far, the results have been generally positive. Devin Hester continues to be a beast in the return game, having run back one TD in week 3 and threatening to do so many more times. He is currently ranked 4th in punt return yards, but the field position Hester has given us, as well as the threat, has been a huge boost to the Falcons special teams. Coverage wise, there is room to improve, but the Falcons have made the occasional stop inside the 10 yard line. The Vikings Cordarelle Patterson was the only player to continually hurt the Falcons, and so far we’ve held opponents to one big gain per game. Kicker Matt Bryant is as clutch as ever, booting two 50+ yard field goals in week 1 to send the game to overtime and steal the victory, and has only missed one field goal so far (a 59 yarder as time expired in week 3). Matt Bosher is punting well, averaging 47.3 yards per punt, and has boomed the third longest punt of the season for 66 yards. Grade: B-