Atlanta Falcons: Offensive outlook positive post-Super Bowl run
Despite a gut-wrenching ending to their 2016 campaign, the Atlanta Falcons have more than enough on offense to rewrite their chapter this upcoming season. Here is a wider outlook on the offensive side of the ball for the defending NFC champions.
It had the makings of a historical conclusion. In a favorable way of course.
Instead, the seventh-highest scoring team in NFL history fell short in the ultimate game. The Falcons ending to their 2016 season came at the hands of legendary quarterback, a trendsetting head coach, and a little bit of fate as well.
It was mainly the offense that stole the show for the Falcons during the regular season. Quarterback Matt Ryan navigated his way to league MVP after tossing of a franchise record 4,944 yards with 38 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. It benefitted Ryan to have a rushing game that was fifth in the league in run yards per game with 120.5. Some call the tandem of running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are the best duos in the game. The two combined for 2,482 scrimmage yards with 24 total touchdowns between the two.
It also helps to have one of the top five players in the league in wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones is coming off an 83-catch season with his second highest yards per catch (17.0) in his career. Sprinkle in veteran receivers Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel, plus a solid, steady offensive line led by center Alex Mack, you have a Falcons offense that was first in the NFL in scoring, offensive touchdowns, and 40+ yard pass plays. They also ranked third in rushing touchdowns, fifth in yards per carry, and second in first downs.
The departure of former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was met with more discouragement than anything else. Shanahan is now in charge as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and depending on how you viewed the Super Bowl, he was among the main culprits of the devastating outcome. His tentative play-calling in the biggest game of the year came at the tail end of what was an impressive season as a coordinator.
Replacing him is a name that is well-known in recent seasons on the college forefront, and that is former Washington and USC head coach Steve Sarkisian. The respected play caller had an ugly ending to his collegiate coaching career yet his focus seems to be renewed. With his history of deploying a scheme that features a strong mixture of play-action passes with outside zone runs, Sarkisian will take what Shanahan had, add a few of his wrinkles, and keep the Falcons offense ultimately the same.
This Falcons offense showed several components last season that continuously caught defenses off guard and at times looked next to unstoppable. To expect similar results is far-fetched. There probably will be a small drop-off which in many cases means that the offense is still better than most in the NFL.
It may take even a game or two for Sarkisian and the offense to fully get on one accord. The mental hurdle for the team is also there obviously. Much of that responsibility will fall on the offensive unit including their veteran MVP quarterback and superstar wide receiver.
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The offense is also looking into a few more young playmakers to add to the mix with wide receiver Justin Hardy and tight end Austin Hooper.
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Atlanta even added another veteran to the mix in WR Andre Roberts during free agency this offseason. The pieces are in place on offense for the Falcons to make a deep playoff run. Their success will be dictated considerably by the record-setting offensive unit.