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Links for a Monday. Dive on in.
ESPN’s projection
The Falcons lost a lot of close games last year on some bizarro plays and highly questionable coaching decisions, so it stands to reason that with an improved offense and new coaching staff the team should be able to increase its win total from 2020’s dismal showing.
ESPN’s Mike Clay definitely sees an improvement over 2020’s 4-12 record, but only a modest one. Clay has the Falcons winning eight games — certainly a better end to the year, but not one that would please either the team or the fans.
Bounceback candidates: DT Marlon Davidson
Marlon Davidson’s rookie season was marred by injury and illness, so we never got a full, healthy look at Atlanta’s 2020 second-rounder. 2021 should spell a bounceback season for the young defensive tackle who’s yet to have a full opportunity to show his abilities at the NFL level.
Offensive improvement
The Atlanta Falcons offense should be better in the new season, but how much better would it be fair to expect?
Post-draft roster preview: Wide receivers
Atlanta possesses one of the most talented receiving units in the NFL, and it will be up to Arthur Smith to maximize some of that still-untapped potential as the Falcons look to cause more damage in the air in 2021.
The elephant in the room, however, is what the team plans to do — or not do — with Julio Jones. Should Atlanta elect to trade him in the coming weeks, it would signal a bridge year for the new regime.