Atlanta Falcons 53-man roster leaves some questions

This offseason for the Atlanta Falcons should’ve been about two things: improving the line on both sides of the ball and ensuring roster depth should injuries creep up the way they did last season.

It seems the Atlanta Falcons only accomplished one of those items. The roster was trimmed down to 53-men on Saturday. And for some reason, the Falcons felt the need to keep six running backs in the quiver. That’s not a typo. Six.

In a league where the running back seems to be devalued each week Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon go without a new contract, the Falcons took the running back by committee idea to an entirely new level.

During the team’s Super Bowl run, it was the combination of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. During the Michael Vick era it was Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett. You get the pattern, it’s about one-two punches. Not one through six.

Sure, Freeman is questionable due to his injury history but if you’re that concerned, hang on to three and a full back and if you need to, sign a free agent later in the season. But Dirk Koetter seems to like the ability to pick from a gaggle of guys.

In 2012, when he ran the offense en route to a 13-3 season, four running backs saw action in at least 13 games: Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, Antone Smith and Jacquizz Rodgers. Looks like Koetter hopes to emulate that same type of system this year.

Ah yes, remember those injuries? Namely guys like Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen going down with season ending ones? While that’s unlikely to happen again, the Falcons left themselves relatively thin and untalented at those positions beyond the starters.

Once again, they will turn to Sharrod Neasman and Kemal Ishmael. Neasman struggled last year in back up duty and doesn’t seem to have game changing talent, let alone able to consistently make plays in that role.

But the entire secondary is a question. Outside of Desmond Trufant and Damontae Kazee, who primarily played at safety last year, the Falcons have some young guys and others who just haven’t made the plays needed at a very key position.

Much in Atlanta fashion, that means the roles of Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley increase even more. When you’re secondary is unproven, the best way to help is a pass rush. And the Falcons have a lot of depth at the defensive line position.

But it’s hard to make a 53-man roster in the NFL. So to the man who did, good luck this season. Let’s go get a Super Bowl.