My thoughts on what the Atlanta Falcons need to do this offseason

by tdavishurt on Jan 10, 2012 8:58 AM EST

Coaching Staff

Mike Mularkey MUST GO! He should have been fired after the 24-2 loss to the Giants on 01-08-11. I would love to see the falcons bring someone in like Todd Haley the former Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Brian VanGorder- I think he is a decent coordinator, the issues the falcons experienced on defense this year were more personnel related. He has officially taken the Auburn defensive coordinator job, and I am not overly upset about it.

Now the falcons should bring in someone like Jack Del Rio the former Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, or Steve Spagnuolo the former head coach of the Saint Louis Rams. Another guy I like is Charlie Strong the Head Coach at Louisville. I think he would be an excellent defensive coordinator in the NFL. I just don't know if they could pry him away from Louisville.

Players the falcons need to resign.

Brent Grime- By far the best option the falcons have at corner back. I am thinking about a 3 or 4 year deal averaging about 5 to 6 million a year.

Curtis Lofton- This guy is the anchor of the falcons defense.

Todd McClure- This guy is the anchor of the falcons offensive line. The only way I could justify loosing him is if the Falcons move Joe Hawley over to center and some how sign Carl Nicks. Nicks will have a high price tag, so I do not know how feasible this would be.

James Sanders- I love the way this guy plays.

Kelvin Hayden – When healthy this guy was pretty good at the nickel spot.

Kroy Biermann- He is a high energy guy, not a starter but great for the defensive line rotation.

Mike Cox- I think he can be a solid fullback in the NFL.

Harry Douglas- I think Mike Mularkey misused a majority if not all of the weapons he had on offense this year and Douglas is one of those weapons.

Players the falcons need to let walk.

John Abraham- I love Abraham as a player, but you have to just face it he is getting older.

Thomas Decoud- I don’t know where to begin, this guy is horrible at pass defense. He seems to be more concerned about dancing during pregame than playing in the game.

Jason Snelling

Players the falcons need to release.

Dunta Robinson– This guy is just overpaid, he is one of the highest paid corner backs in the NFL and he can’t cover anyone in man to man coverage. It seems as if he is lost whenever they play zone coverage. I like that he is physical and all but when it comes to coverage, he doesn’t cut it. If he were a safety I think he would be okay, but he is just too small for that.

Sam Baker- Nothing really to say here, his production speaks for itself.

Ovie Mughelli- I think Mike Cox can fill this position for a lot less money. I love Mughelli, but for salary cap reasons I would part ways.

Team needs in my opinion.

Running Back- The falcons need some explosiveness at this position. Michael Turner has lost a step as far as explosiveness is concerned. I believe this position could be addressed late in the draft.

Tight End- A long term solution post the Tony Gonzalez era is needed here.

Defensive End- The falcons need a dominate force on the defensive line, Ray Edwards did not show enough this year in my opinion. I think a player like Mario Williams or Calais Campbell could do the job here.

Safety- Thomas Decoud is not the answer at this position. I think William Moore is a solid starter, and if the falcons can resign James Sanders he could possibly start alongside Moore. I would love to see someone like Laron Landry or Tyvon Branch in an Atlanta Falcons jersey next year, but I doubt it would happen for salary cap reasons.

Cornerback- This position has always been a weakness for the Atlanta Falcons. If the falcons can resign Grimes, release Dunta Robinson, and bring in a player like Lardarius Webb or Cortland Finnegan, I believe the secondary would be upgraded to an extent.

2012 Potential Free Agents

Defensive End:

Calais Campbell- Arizona

Mario Williams- Houston (coming off injury)

Safety:

Laron Landry- Washington

Tyvon Branch- Oakland

Cornerback:

Lardarius Webb- Baltimore

Terrell Thomas- New York Giants (coming off injury)

Cortland Finnegan- Tennessee

Draft Prospects

Running Back:

David Wilson- Virginia Tech

Jeff Demps- Florida

Bernard Pierce- Temple

Dan Herron- Ohio State

Tight End:

Dwayne Allen- Clemson (highly unlikely just a little wishful thinking)

Ladarius Green- Louisiana Lafayette, I think this guy will be a beast in the NFL, If the falcons can grab him in the 3rd or 4th round that would be great.

Left Tackle:

Mike Adams- Ohio State

Andrew Datko- Florida State

Zebrie Sanders- Florida State

Defensive End:

Sam Montgomery- LSU

Cornerback:

Janoris Jenkins- Northern Alabama

Brandon Boykins- UGA

Trumaine Johnson- Montana

follow me on twitter @tdavishurt

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Comments

Our runs were stuffed on short yard plays because we didn't have Ovie.

Best blocking FB in the league. Mike cox , not even close.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 10, 2012 9:30 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Agreed

if we continue to run 2 back sets, we have to bring ovie back.

by Whyte Bler 000 on Jan 10, 2012 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

I say retool oline. Face fact we’re not gonna find a dominant pass rusher with the pics we got in the draft. I say we go after Kirby Smart for DC. I believe our backers would work in a 3-4 scheme. NT would be the problem position (even though Babs is 300+, ooorr crosstrain Baker, hes a good runblocker 6-2 320 not bad for a NT)I know, but if you look at what he and Saban did in 06 in Miami to there def. they went from 17th def in ‘05 to the 5th ranked def in 06. I just don’t see Spags or DelRio or any other big named coach currently in the league that would coach here.

by dnldbrk on Jan 10, 2012 11:11 AM EST via mobile reply actions

DC

Kirby Smart would be a good option, another name I like in the college ranks is Charlie Strong.

by tdavishurt on Jan 10, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

OC

Mike Mularkey misused a majority if not all of the weapons he had on offense this year Look at the game stats with the NYG Those plays were high school friday nights at best, Mularkey MUST go if Atlanta ever is to make it in the playoffs

by doglovr on Jan 10, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions

sorry Ovie and Mike Cox do not compare in anyway

FB is one of the most underappreciated on offense. Most people don’t seem to understand just how vital Ovie is to our Run Game. Like Ball Hawk said above our run game suffered seriously without him. He’s better at pass blocking as well and he isn’t a bad target on passes either.

Also you want Cortland Finnegan? The guy is almost the complete opposite to the type of player Smitty and TD have been buidling these past 4 years.

by RANewton on Jan 10, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions

I agree

I did not compare Ovie and Cox in any way. I simply stated that I think Cox can get the job done. I also stated that the falcons need more explosiveness at running back. I listed Finnegan, because the falcons need someone with toughness on defense. I think the defense lacks toughness more than any thing else.

by tdavishurt on Jan 10, 2012 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

as the season post-Ovie went this year

it’s clear that Cox can’t get the job done, though.

by falconnuke on Jan 10, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

Mario Williams

didn’t realize he was a free agent, but even coming off injury he will still get 15 million/yr. I think he is worth it

Sam Baker: he is our Jeff Backus = 11 year starting LT for the Lions, every year they talk about drafting his replacement (often at the very TOP of the first round) and every year Backus is the starting LT

by durst on Jan 11, 2012 12:53 PM EST reply actions