How bright is the Atlanta Falcons future?

When you’re having a downward slump like the 2018 and 2019 Atlanta Falcons, it becomes super easy to want to clear house of both players and coaches. Sometimes, that simply just isn’t the solution.

While yes, the Atlanta Falcons desperately need a coaching and GM change and there are plenty of names that will be thrown around the rumor mill when that time comes. However, in what should be a very popular assumption, the Atlanta Falcons have a really good and talented pool of players.

For starters, it is pivotal to have a strong showing at the quarterback position. The Atlanta Falcons have just that in Matt Ryan. Year after year Matt Ryan proves that he belongs in the elite group of quarterbacks that he is so often left out of; a lot of times, by Atlanta Falcons fans.

There are some guys, like Jared Goff, who benefit more from the style of offense the play under instead of their actual ability. Matt Ryan has been handcuffed to vanilla offenses his entire career and never once had a head coach who’s priority was on offense.

Matt Ryan is also one of only 10 quarterbacks in NFL history to surpass the 50 thousand-yard mark. Even in a league growing fruitfully in the passing game, this is still an achievement that is coveted by a lot of quarterbacks. Not to mention, Ryan still has many more years and probably another contract or two to sign with the Atlanta Falcons and many more records to break.

That’s if he can stay healthy.

Missing only three games in his entire 12-year career shows just how reliable and durable he is.

While the offensive line for the Atlanta Falcons has seemingly fallen flat the last two seasons, there is still some upside.

The Atlanta Falcons have two all-pro linemen in Alex Mack and Jake Matthews – who was extended five seasons heading into 2018.

These two paired up with Kaleb McGary and Chris Lindstrom could mean that the Falcons may have a better offensive line if these guys pan out past their rookie seasons. Lindstrom missed almost all of the 2019 season due to an injury sustained in week 1.

The Atlanta Falcons need to be very patient with this line. Maybe try and improve the left guard spot to give Jake Matthews a solid partner to roll with.

Matt Ryan was sacked a total of five times in the two games that featured all four players on the field. Albeit, the four sacks that came in week 1 can be due to that being both Lindstrom and McGary’s first-ever NFL start.

You cannot mention the Atlanta Falcons offense without mentioning arguably one of the biggest names in Atlanta sports. Julio Jones. Even after being in the league for 9 seasons, Julio proves every single season as to why he is the best receiver in the NFL.

It seemed like the Atlanta Falcons receiving corp would take a huge drop off with the loss of Mohamed Sanu to New England, however, the Falcons may have found some new young blood for this offense.

Rookies and second-year guys like Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Christian Blake, and Olamide Zaccheaus have major upsides that have the potential to make this the best group of six receivers in the league if you count Austin Hooper at tight end – that is also if the Falcons have the ability to resign him, which may be a possibility with the new salary cap increase.

The Atlanta Falcons need a guy who can really take ahold of this offense and run with it … not literally because the Falcons have no run game at all.

While a large portion of the offseason focus will be on defense, the Atlanta Falcons need a true answer to the running back position. Maybe it is too early to tell, but Brian Hill hasn’t impressed during his time as a full-time starter and wit Ito Smith out for the season, the Atlanta Falcons didn’t have the ability to assess his capabilities to be the main guy.

Obviously, the type of running back needed will be determined by the style of offense that the new coach brings to Atlanta. It is just safe to assume, Freeman has simply gone stall in Atlanta and a change is needed.

In addition, the Atlanta Falcons have some key pieces on the defensive side of the ball.

Grady Jarrett, who signed a new contract in the offseason is having the best season of his career, and at only 26 years old, he could develop into one of the league’s best interior lineman.

The Atlanta Falcons still lack a decent pass rush on the edge. The Atlanta Falcons need to address this position first and foremost in the 2020 draft because even with the best coverage in the world, the longer the quarterback holds onto the ball with no pass rush, the better chance the receiver can break away from the coverage.

Even with Kendall Sheffield showing steady improvements and Damontae Kazee is laying claim to his new home at safety, these guys can’t do their job properly if the quarterback isn’t getting pressured.

Sheffield, Kazee and Deion Jones will be stapled to the Atlanta Falcons secondary for years to come. While De’Vondre Campbell has been the main starter alongside Jones, second-year guy Foye Oluokun has shown significant promise this season and after Dan Quinn let go of play-calling duties, he really started to improve and get more playing time.

Oluokun is a guy the Falcons should look to a lot more going forward.

There still are needs that the Atlanta Falcons should address for this secondary, such as new safety and a possible Desmond Trufant replacement.

While Trufant is still a very talented cornerback, he takes up a lot of the cap space on a team desperate to clear some space to be able to sign players who can help in other areas.

Could this be the last we see of Trufant who will miss the rest of 2019 due to having surgery on his broken forearm sustained against Carolina in Week 14?

Sheffield has shown a lot of promise, however, Isaiah Oliver has seeming fallen flat this season with more bad moments than good. Oliver has improved over the recent weeks, and this is in large part due to the newfound pass rush after the bye week. It is still unclear if Oliver is a viable pairing with Sheffield.

With Keanu Neal missing a large portion of 2019 and 2018, it is unknown if he can be relied on going forward. Ricardo Allen will need a strong pairing because while Kazee has proven to be a great answer at safety, his natural position is still cornerback and he can be really useful in both positions.

In the past two seasons at safety, Kazee has tallied a total of 10 interceptions. Easily becoming one of my favorite guys on the defensive side of the ball.

In conclusion…

There is no question that the Atlanta Falcons have one of the most talented rosters in the league, it’s just not being used properly, and that falls on the coaches and staff of the organization.

The Atlanta Falcons need a new coach and General Manager. This team will waste another season if Dan Quinn is retained as the main guy and Thomas Dimitroff is Arthur Blanks, right-hand man. Everyone has an opinion on who the Atlanta Falcons need to approach but after three straight defensive guys, it is time we bless our offense with the fresh air it so desperately needs.

The super bowl window is closing faster and faster as each season progresses and they don’t often reopen quickly once that window shuts. It’s essentially now or never for the Atlanta Falcons.