Last Year:
The Christal Chandelier era is over. The Black Birds let Michael Vick out of his cage and allowed him to spread his wings. It was no secret that this guy was going to be a talent, but nobody new how soon he would spread his wings. With Vick 'running' the show in Atlanta, they caught numerous opponents off guard, but also created a new type of offense that many teams weren't prepared to defend. With the Vick the Quick, and with some week 17 magic/ugliness, the Falcons backed their way in the playoffs. There they shocked the world, taking out Green Bay in round one, before being kicked out by the Eagles.
What we learned from Last Year:
Atlanta has a solid running attack between Vick, Dunn, and developing RB TJ Duckett. These three guys offer three different types of running. One guy runs on a passing play, one guy is a quick crafty runner out of the backfield and the third is a big, bruising running back. We also saw Atlanta defense emerge as a legitimate stopper. They were able to get pressure, blitzed quite well, and had good play from their linebackers. They had two shutdown corners with Ambrose and Buchannon which really allowed them to work their blitzes. Last but not least, Michael Vick went from backup QB to an NFL superstar. He is a very fast QB, not only once he's across the line of scrimmage, but behind it he can buy time like no other QB in the NFL. He also has an amazing arm and is very accurate as well. Unless you live in a igloo, or Newfoundland, then you probably saw some highlights.
What has changed?:
Well for starters, a team that did not have any big names in their reveiving corps, the Falcons went out and acquired speedy route runner Peerless Price. I'll be the first to tell you this guy is overrated, here's why.
(a) Last year was a contract year.
(b) Last year he played with a very accurate pocket-passing QB.
(c) He never really had a good year until last year.
Drew Bledsoe is a stay at home QB who expects his receivers to run the routes well, and he will deliver the ball. This offense is different. Price will be expected to find open space for himself after Vick starts scrambling around. This is a new environment that Price will not be accustomed to for the first part of the season. The point is that Price finally, after years, thrived in a certain offense in Buffalo. Don't expect him to thrive in a completely different situation. Here's some guys who many people thought were great acquisitions by teams last year, but seemed to disappear once the games stared:
- Chiefs Johnnie Morton
- Indy Qadry Ismail
- Green Bay Terry Glenn
- Cincy Michael Westbrook
Michael Vick does not need big name receivers, he just needs some monkey who will hold on to the ball when he is hit in the chest with it, similar to Donovan McNabb (although McNabb's accuracy is not the same).
Another thing that has changed is that Vick is no longer a secret. Opposing teams have a years worth of tapes of him, and will key in solely on him. Easier said than done, but expect him to always be on the run, and always to take hard/late hits. Mike better hope this offensive line is as solid as it was last year or he'll be coming off on a stretcher.
One last change that might go unnoticed is Ashley Ambrose is not with the team anymore. He is a very solid CB, and he is one of the reason why their defense played so well. Just like the Eagles, the Falcons last year had two solid cover corners which can match up man to man, and therefore allows the defensive coordinator to send a few more blitzes. Right now Tyrone Williams is scheduled as the other starting corner which is a significant drop off. This defense will allow a few more big plays than it did last year and this move could have a big impact on this defense.
O/U 9.5:
Can this team win 10 games? If they played Minnesota 10 times then sure, but teams this year will really focus in on containing Vick this year. Tampa has figured out and shutdown Vick. I expect this to continue. Carolina is also improving, and are very good defensively. I think they are worthy of a split. The Saints can put points on the board, and I think will win one of two shootouts between the cousins. That leaves the Falcons needing 7 out of the rest of their out of conference games, which are: @Cowboys, Redskins, Vikings, @Rams, Eagles, @Giants, Titans, @Texans, @Colts, Jaguars. They are hard pressed to do so, especially with a couple of tough road games. I would lean to the under.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Take a look at Alge Crumpler. He seems to get alot of touches on this offense, usually because he can sniff out the soft spots in the zone coverage that this offense usually faces. Most people will be drafting big name tight ends, and you might be able to sneak him in a later round.
The Christal Chandelier era is over. The Black Birds let Michael Vick out of his cage and allowed him to spread his wings. It was no secret that this guy was going to be a talent, but nobody new how soon he would spread his wings. With Vick 'running' the show in Atlanta, they caught numerous opponents off guard, but also created a new type of offense that many teams weren't prepared to defend. With the Vick the Quick, and with some week 17 magic/ugliness, the Falcons backed their way in the playoffs. There they shocked the world, taking out Green Bay in round one, before being kicked out by the Eagles.
What we learned from Last Year:
Atlanta has a solid running attack between Vick, Dunn, and developing RB TJ Duckett. These three guys offer three different types of running. One guy runs on a passing play, one guy is a quick crafty runner out of the backfield and the third is a big, bruising running back. We also saw Atlanta defense emerge as a legitimate stopper. They were able to get pressure, blitzed quite well, and had good play from their linebackers. They had two shutdown corners with Ambrose and Buchannon which really allowed them to work their blitzes. Last but not least, Michael Vick went from backup QB to an NFL superstar. He is a very fast QB, not only once he's across the line of scrimmage, but behind it he can buy time like no other QB in the NFL. He also has an amazing arm and is very accurate as well. Unless you live in a igloo, or Newfoundland, then you probably saw some highlights.
What has changed?:
Well for starters, a team that did not have any big names in their reveiving corps, the Falcons went out and acquired speedy route runner Peerless Price. I'll be the first to tell you this guy is overrated, here's why.
(a) Last year was a contract year.
(b) Last year he played with a very accurate pocket-passing QB.
(c) He never really had a good year until last year.
Drew Bledsoe is a stay at home QB who expects his receivers to run the routes well, and he will deliver the ball. This offense is different. Price will be expected to find open space for himself after Vick starts scrambling around. This is a new environment that Price will not be accustomed to for the first part of the season. The point is that Price finally, after years, thrived in a certain offense in Buffalo. Don't expect him to thrive in a completely different situation. Here's some guys who many people thought were great acquisitions by teams last year, but seemed to disappear once the games stared:
- Chiefs Johnnie Morton
- Indy Qadry Ismail
- Green Bay Terry Glenn
- Cincy Michael Westbrook
Michael Vick does not need big name receivers, he just needs some monkey who will hold on to the ball when he is hit in the chest with it, similar to Donovan McNabb (although McNabb's accuracy is not the same).
Another thing that has changed is that Vick is no longer a secret. Opposing teams have a years worth of tapes of him, and will key in solely on him. Easier said than done, but expect him to always be on the run, and always to take hard/late hits. Mike better hope this offensive line is as solid as it was last year or he'll be coming off on a stretcher.
One last change that might go unnoticed is Ashley Ambrose is not with the team anymore. He is a very solid CB, and he is one of the reason why their defense played so well. Just like the Eagles, the Falcons last year had two solid cover corners which can match up man to man, and therefore allows the defensive coordinator to send a few more blitzes. Right now Tyrone Williams is scheduled as the other starting corner which is a significant drop off. This defense will allow a few more big plays than it did last year and this move could have a big impact on this defense.
O/U 9.5:
Can this team win 10 games? If they played Minnesota 10 times then sure, but teams this year will really focus in on containing Vick this year. Tampa has figured out and shutdown Vick. I expect this to continue. Carolina is also improving, and are very good defensively. I think they are worthy of a split. The Saints can put points on the board, and I think will win one of two shootouts between the cousins. That leaves the Falcons needing 7 out of the rest of their out of conference games, which are: @Cowboys, Redskins, Vikings, @Rams, Eagles, @Giants, Titans, @Texans, @Colts, Jaguars. They are hard pressed to do so, especially with a couple of tough road games. I would lean to the under.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Take a look at Alge Crumpler. He seems to get alot of touches on this offense, usually because he can sniff out the soft spots in the zone coverage that this offense usually faces. Most people will be drafting big name tight ends, and you might be able to sneak him in a later round.
