Will the Falcons be a contender in 2019?

[Drbob]

Don't see it. If the Falcons run true to form it will be at least two more years before contending again but no SB.

[mqg96]

Here's the problems with the 2019 Falcons.

#1. Matt Ryan has shown since he's been here, he puts up good stats in even years but is off in odd years, in other words, every OTHER year Matt Ryan puts up good numbers. That's just how it's always been with him. This has nothing to do with how good or bad the team is. In 2014 he put up better numbers than 2013 and 2015. In 2018 he's doing the same. Losing a lot of offensive weapons (and linemen) to free agency isn't going to help our offense next season either.

#2. We're going to need at least another 2 years of draft and free agency to fix the lines of scrimmage of both sides of the ball (D-line and O-line). It won't be fixed in 2019, but probably the year after. We can see the young players this year and next year develop and then in 2020 they will peak when we have a good team again.

#3. Our injured players coming back healthy. I've learned with a lot of players coming off an ACL or achilles injury, it usually takes them a whole another year of recovery before they are in shape again. Even with Debo, Neal, and Allen coming back in 2019, we don't know if they'll be 100% or not. Debo probably will but the rest I'm not sure about. 

#4. The unknowns. This coaching staff and front office is so unpredictable. When will Dimitroff finally get it in his head that we need a FULL draft of DT's DE's, OT's, and G's!? When will Dan Quinn realize that his schemes aren't working? Look at the stats of your defense since you've become the head coach for the Falcons? It hasn't been good. The Eagles went from 7-9 in 2016 to 13-3 and a Super Bowl victory in 2017, but even in 2016 the Eagles were showing good signs that they could be a contender the following year if you looked at their studs on defense and their running game offensively with the time of possession. The Eagles had a great home record in 2016 too which set them up in 2017. The Falcons in 2018 continue to be mediocre at home, we continue to struggle against AFC opponents and so forth, our defense is too light and not strong enough, I see no signs in the personnel that would make us contenders next season. I'm sorry but it's the hardcore truth. 

#5. Superstition. The odd years playing the NFC West since the Falcons have been in the NFC South were 2007 and 2013. We ended up going 4-12 in 2007 and 4-12 in 2013. Come 2019 we play the NFC West in an odd year, and 4-12 is a huge possibility if our offense dips down in PPG and our defense continues to be bad. We also play the AFC South, which is a weaker division, but the Falcons have only made the playoffs once playing that division and that was in 2011. We missed the playoffs in 2003, 2007, and 2015 playing the AFC South. Looking at our 2019 schedule. The Rams, Seahawks, 49ers (if Jimmy G is healthy, and Cardinals (haven't won in Arizona since 2001) could all be losses. Looking at the AFC South, we have the Texans in Houston where we've never won before (including the Super Bowl) and we play the Colts in Indianapolis who own us in the series just like the Browns. We play the Jaguars and the Titans on our home turf, but.... it's the AFC at home right? (1-10 since 2013 before the Ravens game next). 

2019 is a make or break year for Dan Quinn, but I think this is a down year or a year of new growing pains. I expect the 2020 Falcons to be legit contenders like 2016 or 2012, and whether Dan Quinn gets to stay for a 6th season or there's a 1st year head coach with us, I believe 2020 will be a special year for us assuming no injuries happen. 

[mqg96]

https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2018/11/25/18110905/the-falcons-will-never-win-a-super-bowl-until-these-systemic-cultural

Wow, y'all wait until you read this intelligent fan post right here! 

[BlazerSlayer]

I think they will be a contender. Most of the losses have been by one score, and there's always one team that turns it around. Players back healthy, and the experience will do the current starters good. Kazee, for example. Regarding the issue of Ryan having bad years every 2nd season, that may be due to changing co-ordinators. I would imagine Sark stays put for next year.

Can never guarantee a winning season, but I like the chances.

[PokerSteve]

9 hours ago, shanep said:

How pathetic we now are,looking for hope in  2 freaking years.

And those are the crazy optimist homers. Probably be more like 2025 before we can start seriously hoping again. Even that is early in the process. We don't cycle around to another SB appearance until at least 2036. 

[takeitdown]

If the Falcons can get two impact interior OL and DL in free agency, they can be very competitive.  (Could also use a LB, corner, and speed TE, RB).

But it's very hard to get 4 legit linemen in and offseason, so we'll see.  I really think with improved guard play our offense can still be top 5, and without it, they'll never be able to have a consistent game.

Our defense, with two good DL, will be able to speed up QBs decisions, and that changes how the entire game works.  The defense will still have to adjust and play tighter coverages, but the base will at least be there.

[mqg96]

9 minutes ago, PokerSteve said:

And those are the crazy optimist homers. Probably be more like 2025 before we can start seriously hoping again. Even that is early in the process. We don't cycle around to another SB appearance until at least 2036. 

If not 2020 then it'll be 2028 for the Falcons unfortunately. 

[PokerSteve]

1 minute ago, mqg96 said:

If not 2020 then it'll be 2028 for the Falcons unfortunately. 

[A Dog Named Brian]

10 hours ago, KCFalcon22 said:

Next year next year I get it, but I’m more worried about Rico coming back healthy vs Neal.  Achilles injuries, especially at his position are difficult to comeback from (ask Eric Berry).  He will have to push off of that surgically repaired Achilles every play.  

At least Krazee has come along nicely. 

[PokerSteve]

1 hour ago, mqg96 said:

https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2018/11/25/18110905/the-falcons-will-never-win-a-super-bowl-until-these-systemic-cultural

Wow, y'all wait until you read this intelligent fan post right here! 

He nailed the Falcons organization to the wall with that artical. The moves this team makes amount to little more than one step forward, one step back. They willingly sacrificed the excellent possibilities of right now for a very dubious, uncertain future.

[Dirtytrollbird]

If that really happens I really would think that was funny seriously I would think Matt Ryan been benched would be funny

[ZoneOne01]

Improve the trenches and you have a shot. They must have a killer trench draft. 

[Vandy]

1 hour ago, PokerSteve said:

He nailed the Falcons organization to the wall with that artical. The moves this team makes amount to little more than one step forward, one step back. They willingly sacrificed the excellent possibilities of right now for a very dubious, uncertain future.

Pretty much spot on. 

Smugly believing T McClain (who got ran out of DC) and rookie Senat (a great value pick but very raw) would be the space eating 1-tech DT to replace Poe in middle was obviously gonna hurt our run D  to even an amateur fan like me. And then to Not proactively address LBer and SS when Debo and Neal/Allen went down was just arrogantly inexcusable.

More than any player, Dan Quinn needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. 

[kiwifalcon]

5 hours ago, 11=team said:

Difficult to be a contender with the last ranked D in the NFC.  AB says we have a good "reason" because of all the injuries. I think AB is in denial, we should have position depth- isn't that why we have TD any why we lost all 4 preseason games?  The Falcons have a good sibling support system but poor coaching.  Hope they can figure this out and everyone keeps their job.

Ummm debo Neal and Rico the heart of it will be back there's also Draft and FA to add pieces hmmmmmm.

You remember 2016 when we had much the same problem but went to the SB with 4 rookies as part of the defense.

[sdogg]

Not with this coaching staff and our inability to really build our trenches into units that opposing teams fear. Our 2 vet CB's are drastically on the decline. Our overpaid RB can't stay on the field. I'm not sure if Quinn is just a bad HC or he just surrounded himself with horrible coordinators and position coaches. I know Quinn isn't getting fired this off-season, but we better see some major shakeups in his coaching staff. If not, we may beat the avg to below avg teams due to talent, but we will lose to the above avg teams with better coaches. 

[PokerSteve]

9 minutes ago, sdogg said:

Not with this coaching staff and our inability to really build our trenches into units that opposing teams fear. Our 2 vet CB's are drastically on the decline. Our overpaid RB can't stay on the field. I'm not sure if Quinn is just a bad HC or he just surrounded himself with horrible coordinators and position coaches. I know Quinn isn't getting fired this off-season, but we better see some major shakeups in his coaching staff. If not, we may beat the avg to below avg teams due to talent, but we will lose to the above avg teams with better coaches. 

Definitely needs to replace some of these coaches/coordinators, but I'm not sure he's going to be willing to make some of these very distasteful personnel moves to give this team a better chance of winning than it has at the moment.

Manuel has to go. Has to. Sark we're stuck with, for no other reason than you'd rather not replace both the same year. But he's got to show more than he has shown to this point to feel comfortable.

I also wish Quinn would dump this pathetic defensive scheme as well. At least until he has obtained all the superstars it would take to make it viable. With no pass rush and no coverage in the secondary, this lead pigeon scheme will not fly.

[B_Lo_Touchdowns]

YES 

The Falcons will have a winning season in 2019, ppl will be back on the train. We will win some close games to close out the season but lose in the playoffs. The Falcons will benefit from having a high draft pick to add impact players to an already good roster of young players. Plus we will be matched up against alot of teams that really wont be able match up with us based on where we finish in the division at the end of the season. We'll win atleast 10 games probably have like a 5-3/6-2 record at the midway point.

[sdogg]

1 hour ago, PokerSteve said:

Definitely needs to replace some of these coaches/coordinators, but I'm not sure he's going to be willing to make some of these very distasteful personnel moves to give this team a better chance of winning than it has at the moment.

Manuel has to go. Has to. Sark we're stuck with, for no other reason than you'd rather not replace both the same year. But he's got to show more than he has shown to this point to feel comfortable.

I also wish Quinn would dump this pathetic defensive scheme as well. At least until he has obtained all the superstars it would take to make it viable. With no pass rush and no coverage in the secondary, this lead pigeon scheme will not fly.

Well said. The scheme is horrible without a dominate DL. 

[Falcons Fan MVP]

On 11/25/2018 at 2:41 AM, SoCalFalconFan said:

That reality pi$$es me off so much. This front office has no excuse when it comes to the way they drafted this year. They made the conscious decision to go WR and CB instead of replacing our losses in the trenches. Terribly short-sighted on their part. 

Ridley is a beast!

[stizz]

We were worse off following 2015 and made the SB the next year. 

We just need to fix the lines and add a corner as a starter. That is very much doable in one offseason. 

[SoCalFalconFan]

3 hours ago, Falcons Fan MVP said:

Ridley is a beast!

I don't disagree, but we had needs that were ignored for the BPA. I just don't believe we were in a position to draft BPA. Am I glad we have Ridley? Yeah. Do I wish we had a young stud in the trenches instead? Yeah.