Falcons Offseason Needs: According To Walterfootball.com

[theProf]

Atlanta Falcons (Last Year: 10-6)

Season Summary:

The Falcons thought they were one player away from becoming one of the Super Bowl favorites, which is why they traded the farm for Julio Jones in the 2011 NFL Draft. Jones didn't disappoint, but pretty much everyone else did. The Falcons have some glaring holes on their roster, but with no first-round pick to fill any of them, it'll be difficult for them to improve.

Offseason Needs:

1. Left Tackle: The Giants manhandled Atlanta's offensive line in the playoffs. One of the issues was at left tackle, where Sam Baker was benched during the year. Will Svitek was solid in relief early, but really struggled down the stretch. Acquiring a left tackle without a first-round pick will be difficult, unfortunately.

2. Cornerback: It doesn't appear as though Brent Grimes will be back in Atlanta next year in the wake of speculation that he sat out the playoff game to avoid injury (per Pro Football Weekly).

3. Center: Todd McClure is a 35-year-old free agent. If he's not retained, the Falcons will obviously need a replacement. A Day 2 selection could suffice.

4. Defensive End: Ray Edwards was a disappointment as a free-agent acquisition. John Abraham is a 34-year-old free agent who frequently disappears in big games. Kroy Biermann is due to hit the market as well.

5. Running Back: Michael Turner is pretty much done. He averaged 3.6 YPC or worse in six of his final seven games, losing any sort of burst he once had. Jacquizz Rodgers is just a third-down scat back, so the Falcons need a new starter.

6. Inside Linebacker: Stud inside linebacker Curtis Lofton is a free agent who must be re-signed.

7. Right Guard: It's unclear if last year's fourth-round pick, Joe Hawley, is the answer at right guard. He was brutal in the postseason loss, but he'll be better next season.

8. Tight End: Tony Gonzalez just rebounded with a great year, but he'll be 36 in February. He could decline next season, and if he doesn't, it's likely that the 2012 campaign will be his last. A successor will need to be acquired.

9. Free Safety: Thomas DeCoud is another free agent I'm sure Atlanta would like to retain.

10. Wide Receiver Depth: Help is needed behind the starters and free agent Harry Douglas.

11. Linebacker Depth: The Falcons will be thin here if Mike Peterson walks.

http://www.walterfoo...ason2012atl.php

[kiwifalcon]

Wow obviously they don't watch Falcon games I see DE at #4 and DT isn't even mentioned,man our defensive line could'nt get any pressure on 3rd down in that play-off game outside of that 2nd QTR...I'm sorry but this is a fail for me.

LT DDDDAAAHHH really thats been an achilles heel for 3 years and now its our #1 go get..

CB I'd have at about #3 because if we can fix our pass rush inside and out much like the Giants whose secondary was average this season you can still win it all.

[Trouble]

Pretty spot on. I don't think Tony G will decline though. He is da man. But we need Douglas back.

[capologist]

They didn't get the memo either--Hawley was drafted as a center!

[Aftermath]

terrible write up, I hate when people that no nothing about the team try to pretend like they know our situation.

[falcon057]

"obviously need a replacement" hum

they didn't get the memo! LOL

[Psychic Gibbon]

Walter should stick to power rankings. He's pretty bad at everything else.

[falconsd56]

They didn't get the memo either--Hawley was drafted as a center!

You mean people do not pay attention when they write about us?

I am shocked and amazed.

[The Don™]

9. Free Safety:

Thomas DeCoud is another free agent I'm sure Atlanta would like to retain.

[theProf]

They didn't get the memo either--Hawley was drafted as a center!

That's true, but is Hawley a starting-caliber Center? Hawley started 3 games at Center last season while McClure was injured, but McClure did beat out Hawley for starting Center when he returned from injury. Hawley hit the bench until after the bye week, when Atlanta replaced RG Reynolds with Hawley. I can't say that I was impressed all that much with Hawley, either at Center or at RG.

[capologist]

You mean people do not pay attention when they write about us?

I am shocked and amazed.

****, our own fans don't even pay attention evidently...

[capologist]

That's true, but is Hawley a starting-caliber Center? Hawley started 3 games at Center last season while McClure was injured, but McClure did beat out Hawley for starting Center when he returned from injury. Hawley hit the bench until after the bye week, when Atlanta replaced RG Reynolds with Hawley. I can't say that I was impressed all that much with Hawley, either at Center or at RG.

3.5 games at center, had 1 sack allowed, 1 hit, 1 pressure. The job was McClure's, he didn't beat anyone out, it wasn't up for competition. While I don't care for McClure because of his short yardage play, he'd beat out a lot of centers. He wasn't horrid at RG (like Reynolds or Baker) but was pretty much just average but he was playing out of position. I know the kid can play center and I can't wait to see it...

[theProf]

3.5 games at center, had 1 sack allowed, 1 hit, 1 pressure. The job was McClure's, he didn't beat anyone out, it wasn't up for competition. While I don't care for McClure because of his short yardage play, he'd beat out a lot of centers. He wasn't horrid at RG (like Reynolds or Baker) but was pretty much just average but he was playing out of position. I know the kid can play center and I can't wait to see it...

Sure hope you're right about Hawley being a capable Center. I'm sure the starting experience at RG will only be beneficial to him in the long-run.

[hjerry]

Here's an interesting field trip. Go to their site and look at their 2013 mock draft. They expect us to be at #14.This isn't based on any forseen regression on our part. They had us at #17 for this year until like week 16. Walter and Charlie HATE our team and are wholly convinced every year that we will fail to make it to the playoffs. I love their draft prospect rankings, but everything else related to teams, I take with a grain of salt.

Edited February 20, 2012 by hjerry

[falcon057]

Sure hope you're right about Hawley being a capable Center. I'm sure the starting experience at RG will only be beneficial to him in the long-run.

I agree some people don't want to spend the money to fix the problem, I think we will, by everything i've heard and seen. If not it could be a long season.

[Creative]

This guy doesn't know **** other than the draft.

[twright21]

9. Free Safety:

Thomas DeCoud is another free agent I'm sure Atlanta would like to retain.

this.

i know we have needs at LT and DE, but if i could fix one area of the field, it would be this. it'd be nice to have a safety that can actually play the ball and not look totally lost in centerfield.

[capologist]

Sure hope you're right about Hawley being a capable Center. I'm sure the starting experience at RG will only be beneficial to him in the long-run.

His biggest deficiency right now is run blocking but I have a feeling that if he's in the middle between Blalock and a very good RG with a new LT that can do their job well (McNeil comes to mind quickly) then he'll be more than capable IMO. 4th round is a fairly decent round to take a center in so that is an indicator of his talent level. He's a very strong dude and that will help us in the short yardage situations...

[theProf]

Offseason Needs:

1. Left Tackle: The Giants manhandled Atlanta's offensive line in the playoffs. One of the issues was at left tackle, where Sam Baker was benched during the year. Will Svitek was solid in relief early, but really struggled down the stretch. Acquiring a left tackle without a first-round pick will be difficult, unfortunately.

3. Center: Todd McClure is a 35-year-old free agent. If he's not retained, the Falcons will obviously need a replacement. A Day 2 selection could suffice.

7. Right Guard: It's unclear if last year's fourth-round pick, Joe Hawley, is the answer at right guard. He was brutal in the postseason loss, but he'll be better next season.

"More on NFC South needs

Feb 21 1:29 PM ET

By Pat Yasinskas

We’ve been talking about needs for the four NFC South teams this offseason and we’re about to do it again. Let’s turn to this Insider post by Gary Horton.

He lists three needs for each team and I’m picking one of those for each team to discuss here.

— For the Falcons, Horton lists the offensive line as the top need. No argument here. The Falcons have to get better up front if they’re going to truly have the kind of explosive offense they like to talk about. Horton speculates the Falcons could go after guard Carl Nicks as a free agent or sign tackle Marcus McNeill if he is released, as expected by the Chargers. I’m not totally ruling out the Falcons pursuing Nicks. He’s the best guard in the game and taking him away from New Orleans would weaken a division opponent. But I don’t know if the Falcons can afford to spend so much money on a guard when their biggest weakness is at left tackle. "

[1989Fan]

Atlanta wont give Nicks $50m+ after just giving Blaylock $36m.

I do agree they go for a LT hard though. Mcneil, Collins or Light if they all hit the market.

Two real good RG prospects were on IR last season for us. You dont panic and blow the bank at the position because we got in a bind there with backups. I still think Johnson will be a player for us, and the staff REALLY like Jackson prior to his injury, TD even compared him to Mankins.

[theProf]

Atlanta wont give Nicks $50m+ after just giving Blaylock $36m.

I do agree they go for a LT hard though. Mcneil, Collins or Light if they all hit the market.

Two real good RG prospects were on IR last season for us. You dont panic and blow the bank at the position because we got in a bind there with backups. I still think Johnson will be a player for us, and the staff REALLY like Jackson prior to his injury, TD even compared him to Mankins.

Johnson and Jackson are still "prospects" at this point. Neither one has any NFL playing experience at RG. Some prospects can turn into starters right away and some can't. I'd feel a little more comfortable if Atlanta would sign a vet FA left OT, re-sign McClure to a one year contract, and draft an interior Offensive Lineman in the second or third round this year.

That way, Atlanta could start McClure and Hawley, and ease-in our prospects into some actual games to see if one or two of them really has what it takes. What I don't want to see is a repeat of last year, when the coaches thought Reynolds, who had no NFL experience, had what it took to be a starter. However, they were proven wrong by the actual games. During this "prospect" experiment at RG, they almost got Ryan killed.

[Magic Man]

Johnson and Jackson are still "prospects" at this point. Neither one has any NFL playing experience at RG. Some prospects can turn into starters right away and some can't. I'd feel a little more comfortable if Atlanta would sign a vet FA left OT, re-sign McClure to a one year contract, and draft an interior Offensive Lineman in the second or third round this year.

That way, Atlanta could start McClure and Hawley, and ease-in our prospects into some actual games to see if one or two of them really has what it takes. What I don't want to see is a repeat of last year, when the coaches thought Reynolds, who had no NFL experience, had what it took to be a starter. However, they were proven wrong by the actual games. During this "prospect" experiment at RG, they almost got Ryan killed.

I respect your opinion, but again, the elephant in the room everyone keeps walking around is the fact that our players, especially guys like Johnson and Hawley did what they did, during the season, with no OTA's, and no real training camp to speak of. My hope is that with a real NFL offseason, these guys can step forward and become NFL caliber starters. But, we'll have to see.

[phattywankenobi]

Wow, going by that hasty write up the Falcons should just fold up the tent and head to LA.