The Falcons had one of the top offenses in the NFL last season. Almost everyone from that unit is back for 2013, but this time, Running Back Steven Jackson is also in the fold.
Replacing Tyson Clabo and Todd McClure on the offensive line won’t be easy, but the Falcons do have capable players in those spots battling for the starting job. The rest of the group will look familiar to Falcons backers, with Matt Ryan leading the band, Tony Gonzalez starring at tight end, and wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones catching Ryan’s rockets.
Here is an in-depth look at the 2013 Falcons offense.
QUARTERBACK
What can you say about the Falcons’ starting quarterback? Since his rookie season in 2008, Ryan has led Atlanta to the playoffs four times. The Falcons had been just eight times in the previous 42 seasons.
Last year, Ryan set career bests in passing yards (4,719), passing touchdowns (32), completion percentage (a League-best 68.6) and even rushing yards (141). He also guided the Falcons on seven game-winning drives, including the dramatic surge down the field in the final minute in the playoff win over Seattle.
Behind Ryan, there are three signal-callers. The immediate backup is Dominique Davis, who, ironically, was Ryan’s backup at Boston College for a year. Davis stands 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and completed 33 of 56 passes for 402 yards last preseason.
RUNNING BACK
Jackson, the Rams career rushing leader, will start at running back this year for Atlanta and brings and added dimension that many backs do not possess: the ability to be a weapon out of the backfield on passing plays.
“The thing I like about Steven Jackson is that he isn’t just a running back, he’s a receiving back as well,” said Head Coach Mike Smith.
Backing up Jackson is another Oregon State product, Jacquizz Rodgers. In two years with Atlanta, “Quizz” has run for 567 yards and caught 74 balls for 590 yards. And at 5-foot-6, 196 pounds, Rodgers provides a change of pace in the backfield from the hulking Jackson.
Jason Snelling, entering his seventh year as a Falcon, provides another alternative in the backfield. He has run for 1,256 yards and had 1,033 receiving yards.
Bradie Ewing and Patrick DiMarco will play fullback. Ewing, a 2012 draft pick, missed last season due to injury.
WIDE RECEIVER
Atlanta has an embarrassment of riches in this position group. Roddy White has been one of the League’s top pass-catchers since 2005. Atlanta traded quite a bit to earn the rights to the No. 6 pick in the 2011 draft and used it to take Julio Jones, who has blossomed into one of the League’s top playmakers. White and Jones form what has been called the top wide receiver duo in the NFL. As if that wasn’t enough, Harry Douglas plays the role of the Falcons third option at wideout. Douglas is a player many NFL teams would value a No. 2 receiver.
TIGHT END
Tony G is back. That is all Falcons fans need to know about the tight end situation in Flowery Branch. After seriously considering retirement, the 37-year old decided to come back for one more shot at the Super Bowl. And that made a lot of people happy in the state of Georgia.
OFFENSIVE LINE
McClure and Clabo are gone, but one of the Falcons best lines in recent memory returns for the 2013 season. Position battles have ensued at center and right tackle and, regardless of who wins the starting job, it is certain the Falcons are talented and deep at each position.
Peter Konz and Joe Hawley are competing for McClure’s former position at center. Konz, a Wisconsin product, has started 10 NFL games while Hawley has started 12.
At guard, Garrett Reynolds will man the spot on the right side of the line. Reynolds, a UNC product, has started 13 NFL games, all with Atlanta. At left guard, Justin Blalock has turned into an ironman of sorts for the Falcons. In six years in the League, Blalock has started all 94 games he has played in.
Veteran Sam Baker begins his sixth year with Atlanta and has started in 53 games, mostly at left tackle.
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