The Atlanta Falcons are not void of talent.
Although the 2020 season has not gone according to plan for the Atlanta Falcons, the team has had its fair share of standout performers through the first half of the season.
Yes, the Atlanta Falcons have once again, for the third straight season, started slow. This has become consistent within the organization, which is one of the many reasons Dan Quinn is no longer here.
The slow starts have continually killed the season, only for the team to find its groove way too late in the season.
Since Raheem Morris has taken over this season, the team has looked rejuvenated. The Atlanta Falcons have performed exponentially better over the last four weeks, with plenty of great performances from young guys looking to make a name, and older guys proving they are still among the league’s best.
This team still has plenty of upsides and could be 6-3 at least, if not for the late blown leads that have plagued this organization under Quinn’s tenure. This is a good team and the players know that if they continue to play as well as they have the last four games, then they could play spoiler to the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There are five guys in particular that have stood out this season for the Atlanta Falcons. No matter what was going on with the team on and off the field, these five continue to play well and give it their all, even when the team was at its lowest.
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan is a constant professional that held his head up high, knowing that everything was going to hell.
He tried his best to stay positive and optimistic, playing hard week in and week out, regardless of what was being said or what was taking place.
So far, Ryan leads the league in passing yards with 2,746 yards. He also has 15 touchdowns and is completing 67.2% of his passes. Ryan has done everything he can for the Atlanta Falcons during this rough three-season stretch, and for that, he deserves respect.
He continues to put this team on his back and has proven that he is indeed one of the greatest to ever play the position. Many will continue to say he sucks or is overrated, but he doesn’t care. He continues to give back to the community and has further proven his love for the city.
Ryan is not getting younger. He knows his time may be drawing to a close within the next few years, and he is playing like it. He wants to leave his all on the field and we should be thankful that he is still performing at a high level.
AJ Terrell
AJ Terrell, the Atlanta Falcons’ first-round pick out of Clemson, had a bit of a shaky start in his first couple of games but has since become one of the most consistent defenders on the team. He has perfumed exceptionally well over the last four games under the guidance of Jeff Ulbrich and Raheem Morris and will only get better with more experience.
Some “analysts” were not high on the Atlanta Falcons selecting Terrell as high as they did, but this selection is proving to be a smart move as he has really come into his own as a starting corner in the NFL.
Many critics were skeptical of Terrell, but he has proven them wrong so far, as he has become the best corner on the roster in a very short time.
Has Terrell been perfect? No, of course not.
He is a rookie and has made rookie mistakes. No corner in the league is perfect. Terrell has made strides and looks to be a key piece to the Atlanta Falcons defense for many years to come.
Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley has quickly become one of the best receivers in the league in a short span of time. He has made strides to enter into the “elite” conversation through his great route running and speed. Ridley has gotten even better this season, already catching six touchdowns and accumulating 657 yards on 43 receptions.
Ridley wanted to enter into the elite conversation coming into the season and it is hard to argue with his production, which would be even better if he hadn’t of left the second matchup with the Carolina Panthers with an ankle injury, which forced him to sit out against the Denver Broncos last week.
If not for his ankle, Ridley would be top five in the NFL in yards and maybe even touchdowns, which is really saying something when comparing his numbers to some of the other elite receivers in the league.
The one concern with Ridley is he has missed action in back-to-back seasons due to injury.
Other than that, he has been everything the Atlanta Falcons have hoped for and has been a great addition alongside Julio Jones.
Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley was signed on the assumption that he still had some left in the tank. Through the first nine games of the season, it is safe to say that he still has plenty left in the tank. Has he been great in every game?
No, not necessarily.
He has struggled at times, but that is not all on him as the offensive line has not been consistently stout. With that being said, Gurley has been great for the Atlanta Falcons for the most part and should be offered a contract to stay on the team once the season is over.
Gurley has been a blessing in the red zone, piling up nine touchdowns on the year. He has also run for 584 yards already on 159 carries.
It has been a while since the team has had a consistently good running back and Gurley has proven to be a great asset in scoring opportunities and short yardage, two areas the team has struggled greatly in for years now.
He hasn’t necessarily been dominant like he used to be, but he gets the job done and makes life easier for Ryan, so all in all, he has proven to be a great signing so far and should at least get an offer for another contract once the season ends.
Foye Oluokun
Foye Oluokun has been an absolute beast so far this season for the Atlanta Falcons. He showed great potential over the last two seasons, but he has really taken that next step in 2020.
He has done it all for the team this season, accumulating a sack, 3.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
As if that wasn’t enough, he also leads the team in tackles with 64. The stats speak for themselves, the dude is a machine and has arguably been the brightest spot on the team this season.
He is quickly becoming an elite level talent on defense and should be someone the team builds around. The likes of Oluokun, Deion Jones, Grady Jarrett, A.J Terell, Ricardo Allen, and Keanu Neal give hope to the fanbase that this defense can be something special with the right guidance and coaching.
All in all, this has been a tough season, but there have been bright spots that show this team has a bright future ahead, just as long the right people are in place to guide these men and this organization.