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Lack of games? No problem: There’s no lack of news. The Falcons solidified their primary coordinator changes, so we’re in somewhat of the offseason doldrums between now and post-Super Bowl. A Super Bowl that hopefully does not see the Saints representing the NFC.
Get caught up with what you may have missed with Friday’s Falcoholinks.
Cuts Coming
As we move deeper into the Falcons’ offseason, it means that we move closer to some expected and unexpected roster cuts.
The team is in a position to trim their roster to clear up some cash for contract extensions and free agent additions, so who would they possibly part with to accomplish just that? Dave Choate is out with a list of potential cuts that you should be aware of as the Falcons’ 2019 plans begin to take shape.
Record Breakers
2019 could be a year where some of the Atlanta Falcons’ historic marks are broken by current players. There are several records that could fall next season, and it probably won’t shock you as to who is in the position to break them.
Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Matt Bryant are well on their way to eclipsing some franchise marks; but so is Deion Jones, which is a testament to just how valuable he’s been to the team since he was drafted in 2016.
Bright Spots: Sharrod Neasman
Our ongoing series of bright spots in a dim 2018 continues with James Rael’s look back at safety Sharrod Neasman’s season. Neasman played Falcons-Saints hopscotch before returning to the Falcons after starting safety Ricardo Allen tore his achilles. He was solid in his second stint with Atlanta, playing a large chunk of snaps and earning above-average marks from Pro Football Focus.
With his strong level of play in relief of Allen, Neasman should be in the mix for what is (hopefully) a better 2019.
Top Offensive Players: Number 4
Adnan Ikic has been tracking the top-five offensive players from last season (have a look at who checked in at #5 last week), and he continues counting down with center Alex Mack landing at #4. Mack has been an absolute force since the Falcons acquired him via free agency in 2016, and he continued his stellar blocking up front in 2018. His numbers weren’t as sterling as previous seasons, but Alex Mack continues to be one of the Atlanta Falcons’ most reliable offensive players.