The Ultimate Sports Blog's
2015-16 NFL Preview
2014-15 Record: 6-10
Last Playofff Win: 2012 Divisional Playoffs vs. Seattle Seahawks
Last Playoff Appearance: 2012 NFC Championship vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last Super Bowl Win: None
Last Super Bowl Appearance: XXXIII vs. Denver Broncos (1998)
Head Coach:
Dan Quinn (0-0 all-time at Atlanta; 0-0 in playoffs)
Assistant Head Coach: Raheem Morris
Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan
Defensive Coordinator: Richard Smith
2014-15 Team Leaders:
Passing Yards: Matt Ryan (4,694 yards, 66.1% completions, 28 TD's, 14 INT's, 93.9 QB rating)
Rushing Yards: Steven Jackson (190 attempts, 707 yards, 6 TD's)
Receiving Yards: Julio Jones (104 receptions, 1,593 yards, 6 TD's)
Tackles: Paul Worrilow (143 tackles)
Interceptions: Kemal Ishmael (4 interceptions)
2014-15 Team Rankings:
Passing Offense: 5th in NFL
Rushing Offense: 24th in NFL
Points Per Game: 12th in NFL
Least Points Allowed Per Game: 27th in NFL
2014-15 Potential Starters:
Purpe - Elite Starter
Blue - Above Average Starter
Green - Average Starter
Orange - Below Average Starter
Grey - Rookie
Red - Disgusting, Awful, Horrible, E.J. Manuel
Offense:
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Devonta Freeman
WR: Julio Jones
WR: Roddy White
TE: Jacob Tamme
C: Joe Hawley
OG: Mike Person
OG: Jon Asamoah
OT: Jake Matthews
OT: Ryan Schraeder
Defense:
DE: Vic Beasley
DE: Adrian Clayborn
DT: Jonathan Babineaux
DT: Paul Soliai
LB: Justin Durant
LB: Brooks Reed
LB: Paul Worrilow
CB: Desmond Trufant
CB: Robert Alford
FS: Charles Godfrey
SS: William Moore
2014-15 Schedule:
(September 14) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
(September 20) vs. @ New York Giants
(September 27) vs. @ Dallas Cowboys
(October 4) vs. Houston Texans
(October 11) vs. Washington Redskins
(October 15) vs. @ New Orleans Saints
(October 25) vs. @ Tennessee Titans
(November 1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Novemeber 8) vs. @ San Francisco 49ers
(November 15) BYE WEEK
(November 22) vs. Indianapolis Colts
(November29) vs. Minnesota Vikings
(December 6) vs. @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(December 13) vs. @ Carolina Panthers
(December 20) vs. @ Jacksonville Jaguars
(December 27) vs. Carolina Panthers
(January 3) vs. New Orleans Saints
Overlook: It should come as no surprise that I'm not a big fan of the Atlanta Falcons roster. In my opinion, if you take off Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Desmond Trufant....you have arguably one of the worst rosters in the NFL. The Falcons have been major let downs the last two seasons and I expect this one to continue down that road. I've seen some people pick the Falcons as a potential playoff team with an 8-8 record or so, but I think it's preposterous to think that they are going to make some kind of major jump this year when they didn't really add any big-time starters to their current rotation and are also trying to implement a new head coach. Where's the improvement coming from?
Offensively, the Falcons are very average. Matt Ryan is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he doesn't have a lot of weapons to work with outside of Julio Jones. The offensive line isn't very good, they have no running game, and Roddy White isn't getting any younger and it shows with his play on-the-field. I'm struggling to see where the Falcons are going to be good on the offensive side of the ball outside of Ryan & Jones. Two guys alone can't put up enough points to win NFL football games unless you have an elite defense.
Speaking of which, do the Falcons have an elite defense? Ummmm no. They actually have what many would consider the exact opposite of that. For years the Falcons have been spending money on trying to obtain a pass rush and have failed miserably. I don't see it getting any better this year, although the addition of first-round pick Vic Beasley should start seeing some payoff over the next few seasons. That kid could be a stud. Speaking of studs, look no further than Desmond Trufant. Trufant has quietly transformed himself into one of the NFL's best corners and should continue to improve this season. It's just unfortunate he's surrounded by a wasteland in Atlanta's secondary.
It's no secret by now that I don't have a lot of faith in this Atlanta Falcons team doing any damage this season. I think it would be a miracle for them to get 8 wins with the talent they have on paper, but those kind of things can happen sometimes. Still, I'm going to place my money on the Falcons being in the running for a top 10 pick in next year's draft and not a playoff spot this season.
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