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Welcome to the first off-season edition of the Flyover.
*curls up in the fetal position, sobs for an hour, returns to keyboard*
Now that the Falcons' chase for the Super Bowl has come to an end, the task of building a contender for the 2013 campaign has begun. While Sunday's loss still stings, the best way to get over it is to move on and look towards what's ahead.
Falcons Hold 30th Pick in Draft
Having earned the top seed in the NFC, the Falcons will select 30th in the upcoming draft (barring any trades). There are some pressing needs that should be addressed via the draft, including defensive end, tight end, linebacker, among others. GM Thomas Dimitroff has a good track record finding young talent in his time as a general manager, and this team needs that to continue in 2013.
Falcons Revive Community Spirit
The Falcons' Super Bowl run may have fallen short, but the buzz the team created this season should carry over into the future. While Atlanta's deep playoff runs in the past have been followed by disappointment, this group seems poised to continue its success in 2013.
"I've been with the Falcons for 23 years, and the excitement in the last two weeks has excelled over everything since the Olympics," one fan says. "All the problems of the economy tend to beat you down. Now people of all stripes from all parts of the city are invigorated by their team rising to the occasion."
The city of Atlanta is moving forward with plans to build a new stadium for the Falcons. However, there's been some backlash from the community over how much tax money should be spent in constructing the retractable roof facility.
While Atlanta may be losing its star tight end, there are more pressing matters on the defensive side of the ball than the offensive. There is talk that Mike Nolan will shift his D's formation to a 3-4, which would require a lot more depth a the linebacker position. Additionally, John Abraham isn't getting any younger, and the organization lacks another true playmaker on the D-line.
"I think we need more playmakers across the board," Coach Smith said. "I think that's thegoal each and every year: to add players."