Compare And Contrast--July 2008 Vs July 2015

[falcndave]

I wanted to get this conversation started. How are you feeling now compared to how you felt the week before training camp in 2008. For those of you who are younger, or who have successfully purged your memories, 2007 was a hot garbage season beyond descriptions. Imprisoned dog fighter, Quitrino, awful play...you name it, it was worse than that.

Enter Smitty, Ryan and TD.

This year represents the single biggest transition since 2008. How do the two compare?

My opening thoughts:

-Expectations were low headed into 2008. A cooling of the hot garbage would have been seen as a big victory for the rookie QB, new HC, and changed front office.

-This year, expectations are higher. Despite Mike Smith's shortcomings, we had enough sustained winning that the fan base here thinks (a) winning should be expected and ( it is possible to go from bust to boom in a single season. Not only that, we have answered the question of "who is this Matt Ryan guy." The only question is "is he elite." Everyone agrees he can play better than most of the QBs in the league.

-If this staff attains the same thing Smith obtained in 2008, a nondescript playoff appearance, I think many would see that as a minimal passing grade for the new staff.

Am I correct? Are we underestimating the difficulty in turning a team around and overestimating our actual probability of success this year?

Personally, my expectation are not as high as most. I think we will do some things better. However, I think it will take a while to get rolling with the new systems in place. I think this season will have some highlights, but the overall product may be less than we hoped for in year one.

My expectations:

• Improved QB pressure (ranked in low to mid 20s in sacks)
• Improved Running game (middle of league)
• Some thrilling play making on both sides of the ball that will give us hope for the future
• Playoffs only if our whole division is awful again

My hope:

• One game left to play in February 2016

[Vandy]

As an optimist by nature, I feel that if we stay healthy, I expect a 10 win season. As you alluded, 2008 had so many unknowns especially with a rookie QB, something we don't have a concern now. We now have in fact a vet QB who is in the prime of his career passing to one of the Top 5 WRers in all of football and a still productive Roddy who I'm sure for another playoff run, as well as MR. I'm hoping they both are pretty pizzed off and motivated from last two years in the abyss.

Last year we went 6-10 with a patchwork OL and very little talent defensively after all the injuries, and our HC lost us two games we should have won, which would have gathered us a playoff berth. I'll be surprised and disappointed if we don't attain that this season.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Vandy

[madman88]

Well 2008 we had holes everywhere.

No franchise QB, no RB, old OL, you name it we had problems there.

2015. this team doesnt have as many holes, but still just as bad a team. We have a franchise QB and WR, we have a talented offense as a whole.

Offense had/has holes to fill, so their not finish yet, but what killed our last two seasons has been on defense.

As bad as we played on offense defense was twice as bad, sometimes down right embarrassing. Saying that, this team has now infused this defense with proven players who can at least play.

I thoughtabout it and believe we are in a better situation now then in 2008 with the vick drama added to it as well.

[Dirtybird#11]

10-6 at best.

5-11 at worst.

Our OLINE will still be dreadful. Defense will take time to develop. We should score more than 21 every game. But the thing is the teams we played don't matchup well with us. I mean the front 7's we play are killer! Dallas,Houston,Washington,Titans,Panthers,Giants,etc. all have very solid pass rushers an run stoppers so it's gonna be hard to get streaking cause lord knows the season will ride on or die come week 12. In that span we got 3 (if not 4) division games that could make or break us! I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Especially behind this OLINE.

[falcndave]

10-6 at best.

5-11 at worst.

Our OLINE will still be dreadful. Defense will take time to develop. We should score more than 21 every game. But the thing is the teams we played don't matchup well with us. I mean the front 7's we play are killer! Dallas,Houston,Washington,Titans,Panthers,Giants,etc. all have very solid pass rushers an run stoppers so it's gonna be hard to get streaking cause lord knows the season will ride on or die come week 12. In that span we got 3 (if not 4) division games that could make or break us! I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Especially behind this OLINE.

I mostly agree. As a side note, your inclusion of the Giants as a monster front 7 is way off. I live in Upstate NY. The coverage here is all Giants all the time. They were dreadful against the run last season and they have huge concerns about JPPs productivity given the overall front 7 of that team. The Giants front 7 is one of the greatest concerns for the locals here.

[JayOzOne]

There are great differences between then and now. For one, we had an abysmal season in 2008 and no reason for optimism. As bad as last year was, we had at least three games get away from us and a couple where we didn't even show up. Better coaching and players who gave a crap would have given us a three game division lead and a home playoff game.

Secondly, we had no idea about our QB situation. Ryan grabbed the job in the preseason and ran with it. Now, we know who our offensive leader is.

The third contrast is we had no idea whether Smitty would be up to the challenge whereas most of us expect Quinn to be. Thankfully, Smitty surprised us. Our expectations for Quinn are such that he can almost only fail to meet them. It's typically hard for a first year coach to succeed, especially with as much roster turnover and a drastic shift in culture. He also has a ton of new players who need to get their NFL legs, so although I'm optimistic we can win 9-10 games, realistically, that's probably a little hopeful.

Finally, we aren't being counted out before the season starts. I remember clearly how Florio ripped us in his pre-season prediction, suggesting we'd win maybe two games. He clearly enjoyed writing the column because he was over the top with his language, a dog whistle for Falcons fans to respond to the column making his site more profitable through more hits. This season, we're a hit or miss squad and nobody in the national media will be surprised either way we go.

Comparisons would start with uncertainty at running back. Let's hope that Coleman or Freeman can rival Turner's performance that first year. We also had an uncertain situation on the offensive line. I remember Tennessee's defensive line moaning about Dahl and Clabo playing up to and after the whistle. That attitude has been missing since those guys have left and I'm tired of all the nice guys. That's why Hawley needs to start.

[Atlfanstckndenver]

As an optimist by nature, I feel that if we stay healthy, I expect a 10 win season. As you alluded, 2008 had so many unknowns especially with a rookie QB, something we don't have a concern now. We now have in fact a vet QB who is in the prime of his career passing to one of the Top 5 WRers in all of football and a still productive Roddy who I'm sure for another playoff run, as well as MR. I'm hoping they both are pretty pizzed off and motivated from last two years in the abyss.

Last year we went 6-10 with a patchwork OL and very little talent defensively after all the injuries, and our HC lost us two games we should have won, which would have gathered us a playoff berth. I'll be surprised and disappointed if we don't attain that this season.

Well said Vandy. I don't know that we should expect another .500 record playoff appearance, but nonetheless I think with the division in its current state, the Falcons should be right in the thick of the playoff race come December.

[Dirtybird#11]

I mostly agree. As a side note, your inclusion of the Giants as a monster front 7 is way off. I live in Upstate NY. The coverage here is all Giants all the time. They were dreadful against the run last season and they have huge concerns about JPPs productivity given the overall front 7 of that team. The Giants front 7 is one of the greatest concerns for the locals here.

Ahhhh yeah that's right I forgot about JPP making his hand look like he dipped it in a pot of acid.... Speaking of that has there been any pics of his hand at all?

[takeitdown]

I'm more optimistic now than going into 2008.

The thing is, we looked like a 5-11 team going into 2008. To be as good as we were, very unlikely things had to happen

1) an unproven RB came in and ran for tons of yards and TDs, setting records

2) a rookie QB came in and started the whole season and played well, as well as any rookie had

3) A shambles OL all of a sudden found two UDFAs to solidify their right side.

So, when your entire offense goes from question mark to strength, you'll outperform.

An equivalent for this year would be if Clayborn became a 10 sack guy (free agent success like Turner), our rookie DE a 15 sack guy (unusual rookie success like Ryan), and our OL was really stout (just like that year, but we have more known talent). If that happens, we'll have a really good year, but I'm not counting on it, just like I wouldn't have expected all that went right (and lucky) in 08.

I do think going into the season, this looks like an 8-8 or 9-7 team, and the 08 one looked like a 5-11 team, so we don't require as much good luck to be good this season.

Wouldn't it be great to get some, though.

[Vandy]

I'm more optimistic now than going into 2008.

The thing is, we looked like a 5-11 team going into 2008. To be as good as we were, very unlikely things had to happen

1) an unproven RB came in and ran for tons of yards and TDs, setting records

2) a rookie QB came in and started the whole season and played well, as well as any rookie had

3) A shambles OL all of a sudden found two UDFAs to solidify their right side.

So, when your entire offense goes from question mark to strength, you'll outperform.

An equivalent for this year would be if Clayborn became a 10 sack guy (free agent success like Turner), our rookie DE a 15 sack guy (unusual rookie success like Ryan), and our OL was really stout (just like that year, but we have more known talent). If that happens, we'll have a really good year, but I'm not counting on it, just like I wouldn't have expected all that went right (and lucky) in 08.

I do think going into the season, this looks like an 8-8 or 9-7 team, and the 08 one looked like a 5-11 team, so we don't require as much good luck to be good this season.

Wouldn't it be great to get some, though.

Rushing the passer and offensive line play were last year's biggest flaws of this team. I think if Clayborn gets 5-6 sacks, Beasley get 6-7, Hageman continues to mature and OL is just consistent we go 12-4.....but those are alot of variable ifs.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Vandy

[peoriabird]

We are clearly a playoff team this year as oppose to 2008. The offense will be top 5, Special teams will be top 10 and the defense top 15 against the pass and top 10 against the run. 11-5 overall minimum while going 5-1 in the division possibly undefeated.