The regular season couldn't have gone much better for the 2010 Atlanta Falcons. The team followed up an opening week overtime loss in Pittsburgh to go on an absolute tear, winning 12 of their next 13, including an eight game win streak. The Falcons finished the season as the top seed in the NFC with an impressive 13-3 record to lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
2011 NFL Draft Needs: Atlanta Falcons
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With a 7-1 regular season home record and their only home loss decided by a field goal against the division rival Saints, Atlanta looked primed to make a Super Bowl run. The Falcons were set to face the sixth seeded Packers in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome after their bye week and were pegged as the favorite to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV. After taking an early 14-7 second quarter lead on the Packers, the home team completely fell apart. Aaron Rodgers tore the Falcons secondary apart for almost 400 yards and four total touchdowns (one rushing) while Matt Ryan self-destructed. Ryan threw two picks to Tramon Williams in the second quarter including an incredibly costly one as time expired that Williams returned 70 yards the opposite way for a touchdown to give the Packers a 28-14 lead. Rodgers and the Pack never looked back, steamrolling over the top seeded Falcons 48-21.
Thomas Dimitroff, the 2010 NFL Executive of the Year, joined the franchise in 2008 as the team’s general manager and has completely rebuilt the image and talent-base of team that was on the brink of crisis after the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal. The Atlanta Falcons franchise has never reached the postseason two years in a row but with the amount of talent on the current roster it seems like that streak is destined to be broken next season (if the CBA doesn’t hold them back that is). That’s not to say that they can’t use significant upgrades at certain positions however. Even with one of the premier wide receivers in the league in Roddy White and a great young quarterback in Matt Ryan, the Falcons ranked in the middle of the pack in the league in passing yards in 2010. The combination of Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas and Brian Finneran just didn’t cut it and Dimitroff needs to find a receiver who can alleviate some of the pressure from White. On the defensive side of the ball Dimitroff needs to address the team’s pass rush. The Falcons finished 20th in the league in sacks with 31 and 22nd in total pass defense. John Abraham is an absolute stud totaling almost half of the team’s sacks last season (13) and was named to the AP’s All-Pro first team, but the Falcons need to address the opposite end position. The Falcons also have some issues with expiring contracts on their offensive line and depth in their linebacking corps and could definitely use depth on both fronts. Here are Atlanta’s three biggest needs heading into the 2011 NFL Draft.
1.Defensive End: There’s no doubting Abraham’s abilities but he will be 33 in May of this year and is approaching the end of his illustrious career. On the opposite end the Falcons are stuck with former ninth overall pick and monumental bust Jamaal Anderson. Anderson has been in the league for four years now and has totaled an embarrassing 4.5 sacks during that time. Along with Anderson the Falcons have the blue collar Kroy Biermann. Biermann has shown a capability to make big plays on occasion but is probably better suited in a back-up role. With the 27th overall pick in the first round the Falcons should have a huge talent pool of defensive linemen to choose from. Georgia’s Justin Houston seems to fit the mold of defensive ends that the Falcons covet. He is smaller, quick, and has the ability to put ample pressure on the quarterback but can also drop back into coverage when needed. Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan impressed at the combine running a 4.67 40 and fits the same mold. If the Falcon’s opt to select a wide receiver at 27 they may be able to snag Pittsburgh’s Jabaal Sheard in the second.
2.Wide Receiver: White may be the most talented wide receiver in the NFL but with Tony Gonzalez turning 35 in January and possibly considering retirement, he needs another receiving threat to take some pressure off of his shoulders. Jenkins, a former first round pick, has never lived up to expectations and is rapidly approaching 30. Douglas, a former third round pick, eclipsed the 50 yard receiving mark once this season and was held to two or fewer catches in 13 of 16 games in 2010. If the Falcons decide to go the receiver route with the 27th pick they won’t have a lot to choose from. Maryland’s Torrey Smith has good height at 6-1 and is an absolute burner (4.37 40) but may be more suited as a slot receiver. Pittsburgh’s Jonathan Baldwin seems to be an ideal fit for that complementary number two receiver position. He has great size (6-4, 228) and complementary speed to boot (4.45 40). His attitude and route running ability have been called into question in the past but there’s no doubt that he has all the talent to be a solid number two receiver.
3.Linebacker: Curtis Lofton may be one of the most underrated linebackers in the league. He’s young (24), fast, has great play-making ability, and is a solid tackler. His surrounding cast is somewhat questionable however. Mike Peterson will be 35 in June, his play dramatically regressed last season and he may consider retirement. Stephen Nicholas was third on the team in tackles last season and showed the capability of being a solid starter. Depending on what happens with the CBA he could become a free agent and may price himself out of Atlanta however. The Falcons drafted Sean Weatherspoon with the 19th overall pick in last year’s draft. Weatherspoon had a solid start to his rookie season, accumulating 24 tackles and a sack in his first three games but his progression was slowed by a knee injury which cost him five games in the beginning of the year. He is projected as a starter in 2011 and should be a solid contributor for years to come. I would be extremely surprised if the Falcons drafted a linebacker in the first round but they have a definite need for depth. If Washington’s Mason Foster or North Carolina’s Bruce Carter are available in the second round when the Falcons select, they will have difficulty justifying passing on either one. If they are able to bring Nicholas back and wait until the later rounds to address their depth concerns UCONN’s Lawrence Wilson would be an ideal fit around the fourth round.
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