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Atlanta Falcons: 2017 Training Camp Burning Predictions

By Raekwon Gilbert

Aug 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff (left) talks with team president Rich McKay on the field during training camp at the Flowery Branch Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff (left) talks with team president Rich McKay on the field during training camp at the Flowery Branch Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian reacts during the third quarter against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian reacts during the third quarter against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Is Steve Sarkisian The Guy?

Everyone loves a good comeback story of how someone is knock down from the high stoop in life and fights their way back to being better than what they were before but the NFL isn’t an exactly a fairytale factory. After a historical offensive season with former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in 2016, Dan Quinn made a daring decision to bring along Steve Sarkisian, a once troubled college football head coach dealing with off-field issues, even after only having the status of offensive coordinator for one game at Alabama.

Though the decision made have made some fans skeptical, it seems as if the decision to have Sarkisian on the coaching staff was made a period of time before his tenure at Alabama. Before the start of the 2016 season, Sarkisian visited the Falcons training facilities for both himself and Dan Quinn to pick the brain of each other and it seems as though the plan may have worked. In a number weeks after the Super Bowl, the Falcons announced that Sarkisian would take the reigns of offensive coordinator but many fans wonder if he’ll be able to elevate the NFL’s most high-powered offense or will it become another mistrusted decision.

Sarkisian’s past may have it’s wrinkles with off-field issues dealing with alcoholism but his imprint as head coach at USC and Washington can not be gone unnoticed. Powered by similar offensive approaches in a heavy-zone scheme introduced by Kyle Shanahan, Sarkisian has own his own twists and mixtures involving power runs like counter that will cause for more in-between the tackles run instead of just a heavy dose of outside zone runs which Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman succeeded in last season. MVP quarterback Matt Ryan may see an increase in freedom in being able to change plays from Sarkisian’s more traditional shotgun formation which may allow them to run a tad more unbalanced formations and no-huddles.

Prediction:

I don’t expect for there to be too many changes from the transition of Kyle Shanahan to Steve Sarkisian as far as personnel decisions are made but there may be an increase of power plays that will give Atlanta to chance to assert dominance between the trenches. In all It should be fun to watch how the Falcons continue being one of the best offenses in the NFL.

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