Two Atlanta Falcons players under the most pressure this year

How did Matt Ryan get the nickname “Matty Ice”? Easy. He’s cool under pressure. He’s orchestrated 36 game-winning drives during his 10 year career under center for the Atlanta Falcons.

There is plenty of pressure at any given moment of every game. Whether it’s needing a stop, a first down or the game winning score. There are two players in particular for the Atlanta Falcons who are under the most pressure in 2019.

Giorgio Tavecchio

Now, Tavecchio isn’t here by his own volition. He was pressed into duty last year after Money Matt Bryant went down with a hamstring injury. Over three games, Taves, his last name is long enough for a shortened version, went five for five. He even hit a 56-yarder against the New York Giants.

Here’s the thing, Bryant is an all time great. The Falcons don’t beat Seattle in the playoffs in 2012 season without him and they don’t win their final game of the year last year without him. The Falcons cut him anyway to get younger and somewhat cheaper at the position.

Taves will also be handling kick off duties as the Falcons look to rest up punter Matt Bosher’s leg. So why so much pressure? Because a solid field goal kicker is the difference between playoff glory and defeat.

Ask the Bears who are still trying to find a new kicker after their guy last year cost them a trip to the divisional round in the playoffs. Remember the Vikings blowing it in the playoffs too?

And hey, the Rams don’t make the Super Bowl without a massive kick.  Despite the ups and downs over the past few seasons, Falcons fans could always rest easy knowing Bryant was coming on for the field goal. If Taves falters early, it could be a long season.

Vic Beasley

Beasley is in a different category. He is fully on this list due to his lack of performance on Sundays. In 62 career games, he has 29.5 sacks. But keep in mind more than half of those came in one season, 2016. Then, he exploded for 15.5.

That is clearly a fluke in the system. He has had three other seasons of four, five, and five. For a player picked in the top 10, that isn’t going to cut it. Beasley also had his $12.8 million option picked up by Atlanta.

The Falcons aren’t ready to give up on him and Dan Quinn believes he can help turn things around for his young player. But Beasley is also playing for his NFL future. If he flops this year, sure there will be another team willing to take a chance on him, athletic players always get more chances than they deserve.

But another five sack year, not making a difference on the field, and poor play means his time in Atlanta is over. In fact, we could be looking at the latest version of Jamaal Anderson. Remember him? Picked eighth overall, just like Beasley. Played four years in Atlanta, Beasley at least is going on five.

Underwhelmed and ended up out the league two years after leaving Atlanta. If Beasley wants to avoid that fate, he’d better let the pressure fuel him.