The revolving door in Flowery Branch has finally been closed. After four years of mayhem, this team is finally headed in the right direction. If the preseason has told us anything about this year’s Falcons, it is that this team will play football the right way and win a few games along the road. In fact, this Falcons team will go 9-7 and break the year-long drought of local professional sports teams with losing records. You heard it here first.
Reason One: Defense wins games. If last year’s Super Bowl proved anything, it was that defense wins games. If this year’s NBA Finals proved anything, it was that defense wins games. No matter what the sport, defense is the key. In the preseason, the Falcons’ defense was the second-best in the NFC (fourth in the league), giving up just 12 points a game. The aggressive defensive scheme the Falcons are using makes the most of their personnel. Although it won’t be compared to the Grits Blitz days of the 80s, Brian Van Gorder’s bunch will stop the run and put pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. As fans, we’ll have something to cheer about on defense this year.
Reason Two: Run, Run, Run. I was listening to a national radio talk show last week and a caller mentioned how little San Diego missed Michael Turner. Oh really? In the preseason, Turner averaged 9.8 yards a carry for the Birds, which was tops in the NFL for running backs with at least 15 carries. A good running game gives the opposing team less time to score and, if given a lead, that same running game can be used to seal a victory in the final quarter. This is one Michael we want to keep around for a long time.
Reason Three: Protect the Ball. If your team can force the other team to go 80 yards each possession, you are going to win a lot of games. This strategy is achieved by protecting the football. As well as the Falcons have ran the ball, they also protected it well so far in the preseason. In all, the running backs fumbled just once. Not bad for a team whose top running back has been given the ball just 18 times (and has yet to fumble in a Falcons uniform).
Reason Four: Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan has convinced me he’s going to be a good quarterback. Heck, he’s convinced the Falcons coaches he’s their man, as he was selected to start in just the third preseason game. In his debut as a starter, he tossed two touchdown passes and threw no interceptions. In four games, Ryan’s QB rating of 75 was fourth-best in the NFL. More importantly, he threw just one interception. Watching Ryan on and off the field impressed me, as he demonstrated his football IQ as well as his leadership skills. I like to use the term “competitive greatness” when it comes to great athletes. I think Ryan fits the mold and it will be fun to watch him develop into one of the top quarterbacks in the league over the next four years. We might be looking at this season’s Rookie of the Year.
Growing up here in Atlanta, I can’t think of a team that I’ve had more fun cheering for than the Falcons. We’ve gone through lots of ups and downs as Falcons fans. Nothing beats a great football season and everything I see makes me think we’re due for one this year and hopefully for several years to come. If for no other reason, we’re certainly due as fans for a great football season.
But that’s just my opinion.
Dankosky can be reached at kdankosky@scoreatl.com.
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