Eric Weems: Falcons gunning for #1 special teams unit in 2015

None of us know exactly how good the Falcons are going to be in 2015. I fully expect they'll improve from a year ago, but I'm not necessarily expecting more than an additional game or two in the win column. A lot can change between now and December, of course.

One area that should continue to be a strength is special teams, something we've discussed a little bit already this offseason. When you have one of the NFL's best kickers, a terrific punter and a legendary returner, you're in good shape. But it's the coverage units and blocking that tend to fly under the radar are pretty great, as well. Ask Eric Weems.

Numbers don't lie we aimin' for 1 this season! pic.twitter.com/3FOKR6aTyS

— Eric Weems (@ericweems) March 14, 2015

You don't win Super Bowls with special teams—usually—but a quality unit helps, and the Falcons under Keith Armstrong have done an excellent job at winning the field position battle. That's especially true now that Dominique Franks, Harry Douglas and the ghosts of returns past aren't back there fielding kicks and punts. Weems, of course, is an integral piece of a special teams unit that returns not just Armstrong but Cliff Matthews, Nate Stupar and Kemal Ishmael, who played a major role in those rankings you see above. Allowing the fewest special teams points in the league might just make a difference in 2015 if the Falcons aren't being embarrassed due to their defense.

Being nervous about what's happened in free agency thus far is natural, even if we have more signings and the draft to help clarify what this team will look like. But I feel completely confident the Falcons will have a top ten special teams unit in 2015, at the very least, and if they can be above average on offense and even average on defense, this team will be a hell of a lot less frustrating to watch.