New FUBU Jerseys and Glaring Holes
The Atlanta Falcons unveiled their new uniforms last week, and while I personally somewhat like the design, one cannot argue with the striking resemblance it bears to the old FUBU jerseys of the early aughts. Now Atlanta needs to revamp the personnel that will play football in those jerseys.
DEFENSE
The Falcons have had the same team needs for about a decade now, and for whatever reason, this regime seems content, or unable, to adequately address them. Going into the draft, Atlanta still lacks even a pedestrian pass rush, producing only 28 sacks last season, a number that was tied for second to last in the league. GM Thomas Dimitroff looked to former Jaguars and Rams edge rusher Dante Fowler to help address the problem, but he is simply not enough. Tak McKinley, the former first round pick out of UCLA, has demonstrated the ability to be above average at his position, and that’s about it. It’s a shame, really, because the Falcons have the second best interior defensive lineman in the league in Grady Jarrett. It only takes a compilation of above average pass rushers when you have someone like Jarrett in the middle. Maybe adding Fowler to the mix is the answer. To that end, there’s still a lot to be desired in this front seven. The Falcons must use their first-round pick on an edge or interior defensive lineman.
It would be somewhat encouraging if that were the only pressing need for the Falcons. Unfortunately, it isn’t. Forget the offensive line (we’ll get there shortly) as the secondary also lay in ruins with the departure of Desmond Trufant. Trufant was an elite cover corner in 2013 and 2014, but has battled injuries since. Nonetheless, he’s still a good piece to have on the outside of your defense, but not at the elite cover corner salary Atlanta had backed themselves into. Letting him go means they’ll save about $10.5 million on the cap while absorbing about $4 million in dead money. Now, they’re tasked with trying to replace him. I watched Isaiah Oliver try to cover people several times last season, and my eyes are still bleeding from it. Richardo Allen and Damontae Kazee are the two safeties with similar pedestrian play quality. I absolutely love Keanu Neal, but the jury is now out on whether or not he can stay healthy, and if so, what kind of player he’ll be after back-to-back season ending injuries. Right now, the talent on this defense outside of Jarrett, Fowler, LB Deion Jones, and promising DT John Cominsky is bad. Really bad.
OFFENSE
Atlanta gets things right at skill positions on the offense. Matt Ryan has a cap hit of about $19 million for 2020. He’s not an elite QB, but you can win a Super Bowl with him. (…Hush) Last year was his ninth season in a row throwing for more than 4000 yards. His 14 interceptions were also the most he’s thrown since 2015. He needs to cut down on the turnovers. It’s the thing keeping at really good and not elite.
In my estimation, the best wide receiver in the game plays for Atlanta in Julio Jones, and he’s back alongside the Alabama product in Calvin Ridley. Laquon Treadwell, a former first round pick, comes over to serve as WR3. I am likely in the minority, but the Falcons upgraded at TE by not overpaying for now-Browns TE Austin Hooper and instead trading for Hayden Hurst. Hurst just wasn’t likely to excel in the Ravens’ offensive system. I expect him to have a monster 2020 in Atlanta. Georgia native Todd Gurley II was signed from the perennially average Los Angeles Rams. Gurley isn’t the elite, game changing player he was a few years ago, but he also isn’t washed. There’s some tread left on those tires, and he’s got explosive weapons around him to help prolong the drive time a bit.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, their weakest position group on the offense is the second most important. I am not a fan of this offensive line, but the full narrative around them is a bit of group think. Though it is likely because of scheme and personnel, the Falcons O-line is a relatively good pass block unit, ranking 13th in adjusted sack rate last year. Their goodness in pass blocking is offset by their misgivings in run blocking, as they ranked 24th overall in the rushing department. When your offensive line unit ranks in the bottom third of run blocking, and you don’t have an elite or good RB, it makes for a disaster of a show in the run game, which means teams can more easily focus on defending the pass. To that end, Jake Matthews at left tackle and Alex Mack at center are good parts. I think Corey Lindstrom makes a huge leap this season and becomes an elite right guard. The jury is out on whether last season’s other first round pick, Kaleb McGary, grows into his role at RT after a scary health issue last season. The most glaring hole is at left guard. If you’re trying to get to the Super Bowl, you simply cannot start James Carpenter at left guard. Period. They need to address that position.
DRAFT NEEDS
Louisville offensive tackle Mehki Becton has the most upside of the first round offensive line talents in this year’s draft
Word lately is that Atlanta is eagerly trying to move up from the 16th overall pick. This is a fantastic example of why it doesn’t help your franchise long-term to win meaningless games late in the season. Players and coaches do not tank and want to win every time they go out on the field. This team started the year 1-7 and after their bye week managed to win six of their last eight. That meaningless late season surge likely cost them a shot to draft an elite edge rusher (Chase Young) and elite cover corner (Jeff Okudah) or a high-level offensive tackle talent (Jedrick Willis, Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas, Mekhki Becton) It’s why there are times as an owner you need to insert yourself and be overly aggressive.
The Falcons should look to march up between 9 and 13 and grab Louisville tackle Mehki Becton, which would allow them to move Lindstrom to left guard and kick McGary inside from right tackle. Had the Falcons fired Dan Quinn during the team’s bye week last year, they probably finish worse than 7-9, have a revamped coaching staff, and are in a position to select an elite talent. They may still get that player, but who knows at what kind of future expense. There’s work to be done in Atlanta. Early Projection: 3rd in NFC South