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http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post?id=34631


The Atlanta Falcons have had the quietest offseason of any NFC South team. But that doesn't mean they won't have some changes in their starting lineup.

Now that the NFL draft is over, let's take a look at my best guess at what Atlanta's starting lineup will look like in September.

OFFENSE
•QB Matt Ryan
•RB Michael Turner
•FB Ovie Mughelli
•WR Roddy White
•WR Julio Jones
•TE Tony Gonzalez
•LT Sam Baker (or someone not yet on the roster)
•LG Justin Blalock
•C Joe Hawley (I’m guessing he starts ahead of Todd McClure)
•RG Peter Konz (unless he ends up playing center)
•RT Tyson Clabo
DEFENSE
•DE John Abraham
•DT Corey Peters
•DT Jonathan Babineaux
•DE Ray Edwards
•OLB Sean Weatherspoon
•MLB Akeem Dent (Falcons would like him to beat out veteran Lofa Tatupu)
•OLB Stephen Nicholas
•CB Brent Grimes
•CB Dunta Robinson (Asante Samuel will play as much as Grimes and Robinson)
•SS William Moore
•FS Thomas DeCoud
SPECIALISTS
•K Matt Bryant
•P Matt Bosher
•PR Dominique Franks
•KR Jacquizz Rodgers

I disagree on the O line. Obviously LG and RT are set, but I think Todd wins out at center, the guy we signed from the Jags starts at guard (yup I'm that lazy) and Svitek starts at LT. Considering Pat's track record I bet I get two out of 3 of our differences right

I have to think Grimes goes to the slot before Samuels (Robinson is not capable of playing there, unfortunately).

Just wondering but could Clabo play LT? I've heard Pudge say Holmes is more of a RT and I know Garrett Reynolds is too so I was just wondering.

If forced? Yes. Well? No.

The QB's "eye side" (as opposed to blind side) protector tends to be a bit bulkier, stronger, and slower with his feet than a LT, and Clabo fits that bill a lot better than the prototypical LT skill set of faster feet and a quicker reach.

Agree with samedi. Clabo has always had trouble with speed rushers. Playing on the right side, he doesn't have to deal with that as much. Kicking him over to the left side could potentially expose that weakness.

But I say that knowing that Clabo played LT in college. And I also didn't think Todd Weiner could hold up at LT, and he played surprisingly well there back in '08.

But I imagine if the Falcons considered it an option, then they would have plugged him there last year and played Svitek at his more natural RT.

Whats everybody think of Moore these days?

We'll see. He could go the way of Curtis Lofton next year. He's the top FA for the Falcons next year. But if he can't make it through a season for 16 games, it will likely hurt his stock with the Falcons.

I hope the Falcons extend his contract tomorrow and he'll be one of the foundation pieces for the Falcons defense in the long run, although I'm no longer convinced he's the next Adrian Wilson.

WAY too many of our draft picks sound like the above sentence, just replace the name. I saw on draft weekend we've only drafted two pro bowl players and I didn't see another team lower than 4 (although I didn't see all the teams stat w/ respect to that).

We've built a good foundation with some quality draft picks. Not everyone has panned out and not everyone is a "Pro-Bowler". Is this a better team with more talent than we had 5 years ago? Absolutely yes. So what's the bitch?

The 'better team then 5 years ago' defense is so....five years ago. It's 'what have you done for me in January, lately?'

Did the Falcons do enough to get tough enough up front?

The Falcons went hard after offensive linemen in the draft. They took Wisconsin guard/center Peter Konz in the second round and Southern Mississippi tackle Lamar Holmes in the third. They also added guard Vince Manuwai in free agency.

The plan seems to be to throw Konz and Manuwai out there with guard Justin Blalock, center Todd McClure, guard Garrett Reynolds and guard/center Joe Hawley. The Falcons will let them all compete in training camp and and then decide which combination gives them the best interior. Konz probably will emerge as a starter, and either he or Hawley could replace McClure, who is aging fast. That should improve the interior of the offensive line, but what about the outside? Left tackle Sam Baker struggled last season, and the fact that Holmes was sitting there in the third round is a pretty good indicator that he’s not ready to step in and be a stud left tackle.

If the Falcons really are serious about throwing downfield more, they have to give quarterback Matt Ryan more time. The Falcons still may have to add a left tackle (Marcus McNeill) to compete with Baker if they really want to solidify their offensive line.

Speaking of solidifying lines, the Falcons haven’t done much on the defensive side, and that also was a problem area last year. They brought back veteran defensive end John Abraham, but they don’t have any other especially strong pass-rushers. I wouldn’t count on an immediate impact from fifth-round pick Jonathan Massaquoi. Guys like Ray Edwards, Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury have to step up, or the Falcons have to go try to find a pass-rusher in what remains of free agency.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_ ... g-question

REALLY? So mediocre is fine by you, b/c we've traditional sucked so bad?? Way to settle! See my tag line, geez.

What's mediocre about going 43-21 since Smitty and TD came on board???? You're confusing the lack of playoff success with the big picture. We are getting better and more talented as a team. The playoff wins will come. This team is too good for them not to. We have a 67% winning percentage which ranks 4th I believe for this time frame. If that's mediocre, then that's okay by me.

You're right, playoff wins will come. I don't expect the Falcons to go another 6 years without winning a single playoff game to tie the Cowboys for a 13-year playoff win drought.

But there may come a point in the near future when Falcon fans start to see Smitty as another Marty Schottenheimer as opposed to another Bill Cowher. And maybe just maybe, that the cause of the Falcons January woes has less to do with circumstance as many seem willing to brush it off as, and more to do with things specifically this coaching staff and front office are doing that are making it harder for this team to achieve it's January goals...


And actually, we have the 5th most wins over the past four seasons. Here are the Top 12, and their playoff records in that span:

1. New England - 48 wins (2-3)
2. New Orleans - 45 wins (3-2)
2. Pittsburgh - 45 wins (5-2)
4. Baltimore - 44 wins (5-4)
5. Atlanta - 43 wins (0-3)
6. Green Bay - 42 wins (4-2)
7. NY Giants - 39 wins (4-1)
8. San Diego - 38 wins (1-2)
8. Indianapolis - 38 wins (2-3)
8. Philadelphia - 38 wins (2-3)
11. NY Jets - 37 wins (4-2)
12. Tennessee - 36 wins (0-1)

So while we might be Top 5 in regular season success, when you balance that out with postseason success, then one could argue that the Falcons barely even belong in the Top 10.

Playoff appearances are nice, and I do appreciate where we are as a franchise now vs history. But which team from that list hasn't won a SB in the last decade or so? Thats where my thought process is, Super Bowl.

All but Baltimore has at least been in a Super Bowl in the past 4 years. And Baltimore's been the Conference Title twice in the past 4 years.

We'll win a playoff game when Matt Ryan plays one good playoff game!!

I think its this year!!