The Falcoholic - All PostsFalcons News, Analysis & Tomfoolery For and By Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21944/falcoholic-fave.jpg2024-03-28T15:07:18-04:00http://www.thefalcoholic.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T15:07:18-04:002024-03-28T15:07:18-04:00Offseason Mailbag: Grady Jarrett’s impact, NFL Draft depth & defensive pressure
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>You asked. We answered. </p> <p id="ZqM85B">All has been quiet on the Falcons’ front for a few weeks now, giving us all an opportunity to bask in the glow of signing Kirk Cousins. That’s got to be the reason no moves have been made, right? RIGHT??? </p>
<p id="Uzcnba">Who knows what the master plan is at the moment, but I think it’s fair to say the roster is in a pretty settled spot barring the draft still to come. There may be a few lower-level moves to come, but Atlanta has essentially cleared the deck to go defense-heavy in the draft, and they may now be focused on internal financial maneuvering. We’ve got a few questions about the defense and the draft below, so let’s move right along to the mailbag shall we? </p>
<h3 id="RnHPar"><em><strong>Do you know the advanced stats for how the defense did before and after Grady got hurt? – Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff)</strong></em></h3>
<p id="mVFrDl">In my experience, there’s not yet a great way to determine the impact that a single defensive player has on a game. Sure, PFF grades each individual player and we know the stats that matter most for each position. But in terms of how a player’s absence ripples out across the rest of the unit, the data isn’t really there yet. However, I do like this question and tried my best to provide some numbers to help back up the eye test. </p>
<p id="AIwf3o">Below, I’ve compiled some key metrics for Atlanta’s defense <a href="https://rbsdm.com/stats/stats/">from RBSDM.com,</a> which is an excellent stat site from Ben Baldwin. I encourage you to play around on the site if you’re interested in analytics, but here are some numbers that I think give us a small piece of the story. </p>
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<p id="8fzm4I">Grady Jarrett suited up for the first eight weeks of the season before tearing his ACL very early in Week 8. This means the Falcons had their star defensive tackle for half the season, which is a tidy split for us to analyze. I sorted these numbers by down, because a defender’s role can change based on down and distance. I also leaned on the dropback success rate as a better metric than EPA for this exercise, because the secondary plays a large role in the points added for an offense through the air and I wanted to mitigate that. </p>
<p id="BII0TF">You’ll notice a slight downtick in the metrics I’ve identified on first and third down. Second-down performance improved slightly, but that could also be a natural regression to the mean or a product of the offenses Atlanta played late in the year. The absence of Jarrett may have also been mitigated by David Onyemata, who is also an outstanding player in his own right. I wish I had a better answer to give you, but I’m no true statistician. </p>
<p id="dXCgZp">But none of us have to be to know how good Jarrett really is. Even in a year when he got off to a slow start, he was a part of the defense’s fast one. </p>
<p id="x8hMDx"><em><strong>What receivers will you be looking at on day 3? – Antwon Smitty Smith (@FatboiSlim_21)</strong></em></p>
<p id="XZfTIM">My preference would be to grab a receiver on Day 2, because I think you can find a star-caliber player in this year’s draft in the second or third rounds. However, Puka Nacua was perhaps the biggest breakout player in the league last year as the final pick of the fifth round. The year before that, Romeo Doubs and Khalil Shakir each made an impact as Day 3 picks. It can be done, and this year’s crop of receivers is very deep. Here are a few names that I like. </p>
<p id="jmxfXa">Tahj Washington – A slot receiver who has the toughness to be a positive factor in the run game and would be an excellent special teamer on multiple units. </p>
<p id="45hltl">Javon Baker – He could potentially slide up to Day 2, but he possesses a strong combination of NFL traits. An Atlanta native, Baker is a great route runner who could develop into a WR3. </p>
<p id="xk2EsI">Malik Washington – He had a huge year after transferring to Virginia, and he plays like a running back from the slot. Get the ball in Washington’s hands quickly and let him go to work. </p>
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<h3 id="ihOgCv"><em><strong>Edge should receive attention, but does anyone know about potential corners in the upcoming draft? Is the class deep? Can we get a good one in the 2nd round? Are there good FA corners we can rent for a year? – MrMustard2023</strong></em></h3>
<p id="fKGaL4">This was a question posed in the comments, but I thought it would be a good one to address here. The Falcons could absolutely land a good cornerback in the second round with players like Ennis Rakestraw Jr., T.J. Tampa, Max Melton and Mike Sainristil standing out on my list. I also like Renardo Green as a player just below that tier, but this position isn’t as deep as some of the others. Kalen King is also an interesting name in this year’s draft because he’s got a lot of the tools and production you’d typically look for on Day 2, but his tape against <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> could scare people off. </p>
<p id="AMp8AI">As for the free agent corners remaining, Xavien Howard is perhaps at the top of the list and would have experience in the Vic Fangio style of defense coming from Miami. But the 30-year-old would likely cost a pretty penny and is fresh off the worst season of his career. Ahkello Weatherspoon has been a popular name connected to the Falcons because he played with the Rams last season. My issue with the free agent options left is primarily age. The Falcons could use a young, talented corner to add to the mix. </p>
<h3 id="a87iWR"><em><strong>Is it true that the new defensive system rushes more with linebackers and corners than edge rushers? – jajuanm2</strong></em></h3>
<p id="byi59L">I completely understand where you’re coming from with this question, but no. Even in blitz-heavy defenses, your edge rushers are going to be the primary pass rushers for a defense. Some players like T.J. Watt or Micah Parsons may be labeled as linebackers, but for all intents and purposes, they are edge rushers. More specifically to this new defensive system, what you’ll likely see are simulated pressures, which are still four-man rushes but a different group of four could be coming from one snap to the next. It’s an illusion of simplicity for the offense pre-snap that will change dramatically post-snap. </p>
<p id="9g3Out">That will of course involve using linebackers, corners and safeties as pass rushers, so you’re definitely going to see that. They just won’t be used to rush the passer more than the actual edge rushers. Linebacker Ernest Jones was the most utilized pass rusher for the Rams who wasn’t a defensive lineman or edge rusher. According to PFF, he had 141 pass rush snaps, which resulted in 37 pressures and 4.5 sacks. By contrast, Kaden Elliss had 101 pass rush snaps, amounting to 26 pressures and four sacks. </p>
<p id="hpbNPw">For their respective teams, Jones and Elliss were the primary second-level defenders tasked with rushing the passer. A lot of that likely has to do with their specific skills, which is oftentimes what coaches most take into account. I expect this defense to rush four players more often than not, and for those four players to be a combination of the three down linemen and two edge defenders/outside linebackers. </p>
<p id="LvjStJ"><em>Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for today’s mailbag! If you’d like to submit a question for the future, leave it in the comments below or send to @willmcfadden on Twitter.</em></p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/28/24114766/offseason-mailbag-grady-jarretts-impact-nfl-draft-depth-defensive-pressureWilliam McFadden2024-03-28T15:02:25-04:002024-03-28T15:02:25-04:00Falcons Reacts Survey: Grade the Falcons’ 2024 NFL free agency haul so far
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<p>Share your thoughts in our survey, and talk it out with your fellow fans in the comments</p> <p id="zWgzXb"><em>Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in </em><a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/"><em>Atlanta Falcons</em></a><em> fans and fans across the country. </em><a href="https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/EFIUQ7/"><em>Sign up here</em></a><em> to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.</em></p>
<p id="18a2jV">The initial free agency frenzy has died down, and while the Falcons haven’t addressed every spot we’d like to see upgraded on the roster, I think they’ve done a solid job of filling needs. Here’s the current list of the Falcons’ free agency acquisitions and losses so far in 2024.</p>
<h3 id="wnyjit">Additions: </h3>
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<li id="qKB8hO">QB Kirk Cousins</li>
<li id="a43dWA">WR Darnell Mooney</li>
<li id="Fz5tCx">TE Charlie Woerner</li>
<li id="sErhEx">OL Storm Norton</li>
<li id="8q6Gcs">WR Rondale Moore (trade)</li>
<li id="wO6Fbh">WR Ray-Ray McCloud</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6O93sR">Retained: </h3>
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<li id="jKMwK7">WR KhaDarel Hodge</li>
<li id="ew0Dps">LS Liam McCullough</li>
<li id="AGSUZe">OL Ryan Neuzil</li>
<li id="BTjKJq">ILB Nate Landman</li>
<li id="HP7LDy">DL Kentavius Street</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="hKc15n">Departures: </h3>
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<li id="5VDTex">TE Jonnu Smith (Dolphins)</li>
<li id="Rqkopt">CB Jeff Okudah (Texans)</li>
<li id="9ISvJF">WR Mack Hollins (Bills)</li>
<li id="LWS069">OL Matt Hennessy (Eagles)</li>
<li id="41v5oq">J Cordarrelle Patterson (Steelers)</li>
<li id="bYgUQV">QB Desmond Ridder (Cardinals, trade)</li>
</ul>
<p id="CK5WAC">How are you feeling about these moves and where the Falcons roster stands heading into the NFL Draft? Grade the Falcons’ haul via our survey below, and tell us why you responded the way you did in the comments. </p>
<div id="jBsZpG"><iframe id="ss-embed-frame" onload="window.parent.parent.scrollTo(0,0)" src="https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/U5UD28/" style="width:100%;height:400px;border:0px;padding-bottom:4px;" frameborder="0"><a href="https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/U5UD28/">Please take our survey</a></iframe></div>
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https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/28/24113564/falcons-nfl-free-agency-grades-kirk-cousins-darnell-mooney-fan-surveyKyle Thele2024-03-28T13:22:13-04:002024-03-28T13:22:13-04:00Falcons rank No. 1 in annual offseason improvement index
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<p>While it’s nice to see, we probably shouldn’t park money for those playoff tickets just yet. </p> <p id="FTAccG">We know the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> are an improved football team. While we can’t know just <em>how</em> improved until they actually play the games, to say nothing of getting through the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> and the long summer ahead, it would be difficult to quibble with the idea that they’re probably moderately-to-drastically better on offense, which should lift the larger team. But just how improved is this team now, before the draft and a seemingly inevitable (if small) second wave of free agency? </p>
<p id="D4r8Ft">Kevin Cole, a longtime “data scientist” at Pro Football Focus, has continued his work on his annual improvement index now that he’s out on his own at his newsletter, <a href="https://unexpectedpoints.substack.com/p/2024-nfl-offseason-improvement-index">Unexpected Points</a>. As he puts it:</p>
<blockquote><p id="wwrpNP">The index is built on the rigorously researched <a href="https://unexpectedpoints.substack.com/p/reintroducing-nfl-plusminus-a-superior">NFL Plus/Minus metric</a>, which translates player values into intuitive, concrete and position-agnostic currency of points added or lost. The index is the point differential gain or loss each team during the offseason, beginning with the first signing of released players.</p></blockquote>
<p id="VVIyEg">By his reckoning, the Falcons are <em>the </em>most improved team after a couple of weeks of free agency, and by a fairly significant margin. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Updated <a href="https://twitter.com/Unexpected_Pts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Unexpected_Pts</a> Offseason Improvement Index<br><br>With the confirmed loss of Jadeveon Clowney, the Ravens fall further at the end of the table<a href="https://t.co/48SeBGcsIt">https://t.co/48SeBGcsIt</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjvDupG0HS">pic.twitter.com/HjvDupG0HS</a></p>— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinCole___/status/1773084622005346621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="cwQaUR">What’s driving this? The Falcons have not lost any impact players on defense to this point, though they have yet to replace useful contributors like Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, so there’s no expected cratering in defensive results despite a changeover in the coaching staff on that side of the ball. The offense, meanwhile, now boasts a significant upgrade at quarterback, a pair of additions at receiver expected to be major lifts over what the Falcons had behind Drake London a year ago, and no significant losses. Kirk Cousins over Desmond Ridder/Taylor Heinicke likely accounts for much of this projected improvement. </p>
<p id="1K5g6B">This goes along with the broader sense in the league and among league media that the Falcons are a team on the rise, having shaken up an underachieving coaching staff by firing Arthur Smith and moving on from several staff members on offense and with the aforementioned investments in the roster. </p>
<p id="lcwOt8">It is worth noting that standing atop this index has been a mixed bag for teams, as you’d expect given that free agency is not a cure-all. For <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_Falcons/status/1242088572699713543">every Cardinals team</a> in 2020 (5-10-1 in 2019, 8-8 in 2020) that improves from the basement to some sort of relevance and 2021 Patriots (7-9 to 10-7) that boosted their way to contention, there’s a disastrous 2022 Broncos squad, which went from 7-10 in 2021 to 5-12 despite a big offseason spending spree that included the ill-fated Russell Wilson trade. The 2023 Jets were stuck in neutral post-Aaron Rodgers injury, though that’s not something you could predict, and went 7-10 in back-to-back years. </p>
<p id="0NS2YD">As is the case with most offseason metrics and hype, there is real reason to be excited about this, but plenty of reasons not to put too much stock into what’s happened to this point until we see the full offseason and the actual play on the field to follow it. The Falcons are undeniably better on offense than they were at the end of this past season, and with the investments still to come on defense expected to lift this squad further, they certainly will have the look of one of the league’s most improved teams by the summer. The trick is translating an encouraging position on a chart into results. </p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/28/24114468/falcons-rank-no-1-in-annual-offseason-improvement-index-kirk-cousins-terry-fontenotDave Choate2024-03-27T16:00:00-04:002024-03-27T16:00:00-04:00Falcons targeting EDGE and CB in the NFL Draft? ft. Joe Patrick: The Falcoholic Live, Ep280
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<figcaption>Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After dedicating most of their salary cap to fixing issues on offense, the Falcons are heading into the 2024 NFL Draft with significant needs on defense. Host Kevin Knight is joined by Joe Patrick to discuss Atlanta’s priorities in the draft.</p> <p id="HlHn6v">Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to episode 280 of The Falcoholic Live! After dedicating the majority of their salary cap to fixing issues on offense, the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> are heading into the 2024 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> with significant needs on the defensive side of the ball. Host Kevin Knight is joined by Joe Patrick to discuss Atlanta’s priorities in the draft, recent news from Raheem Morris’ press conference at the owners’ meetings, and more.</p>
<h2 id="te4g3G">Watch the stream below or on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheFalcoholicLive">YouTube</a> beginning at 8 PM ET</h2>
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<p id="t1E9sX">You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below. The podcast typically posts the morning after the live show records.</p>
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<p id="JTpnIT"><a href="https://discord.gg/A2ybd2ywnd">Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here!</a> Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.</p>
<p id="4UQEcO">You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheFalcoholicLive">watching on YouT</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76XTQnl0BK0">u</a><a href="https://youtu.be/7fFK6u5lyhc">be</a> for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!</p>
<p id="IqjuNR">We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at falcoholiclive@gmail.com.</p>
<p id="8yIrZr">Thanks for watching!</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/27/24113538/falcons-targeting-edge-and-cb-in-the-nfl-draft-2024-joe-patrick-the-falcoholic-live-ep280Kevin Knight2024-03-27T09:31:56-04:002024-03-27T09:31:56-04:00NFL owners meeting wraps up with game-changing rules implemented
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<figcaption>Ethan Miller/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>New year, new rules.</p> <p id="f5S2ud">It’s that time of the year again, as the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> and 31 other NFL teams prepare for the upcoming season. The annual NFL owners meetings kicked off earlier this week in Orlando, FL, drawing together executives, general managers, and coaches to address various issues as the new league year begins. Among the topics under discussion were proposed rule changes brought forth by teams or the competition committee.</p>
<p id="KduJLr">Recently, owners convened to vote on a range of proposed rules, spanning from roster regulations to in-game strategies. That’s what we’ll briefly be going over today.</p>
<h3 id="0Muu0J"><strong>Banning the hip-drop tackle</strong></h3>
<p id="YvnhtP">The new rule addresses a specific tackling technique dubbed the “swivel hip-drop tackle,” deeming it a foul if a player employs this method to bring down a runner. This tackle occurs when the defender grabs the runner using both hands or wraps them with both arms, then unweights themselves by swiveling and dropping their hips and/or lower body, consequently landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.</p>
<p id="KGnCKm">The implementation of this rule has sparked considerable controversy within the football community, and it took social media by storm. While defenders are still permitted to tackle opponents by the hips, they risk being flagged if they execute a maneuver that involves rolling on top of the runner’s legs. </p>
<p id="ItLui2">This adjustment aims to enhance player safety and reduce the likelihood of serious lower-body injuries during tackles. However, it introduces a new layer of interpretation and enforcement for officials on the field, which has understandably made fans and league observers wary. </p>
<h3 id="iAZshg"><strong>NFL copies XFL kickoff</strong></h3>
<p id="2cukv9">Under the new kickoff rules, both teams, except for the kicker and returner, must stay still until the ball is caught or hits the ground. They line up five to seven yards apart. If the ball lands between the 20-yard line and the goal line, it must be returned. Different outcomes apply depending on where the ball lands. If it lands before the designated zone, it’s a touchback at the 40-yard line. If it rolls into the end zone from the landing zone, it’s a touchback at the 20-yard line. If it goes straight into the end zone or out of bounds, it’s a touchback at the 35-yard line.</p>
<p id="whxcfL">These changes, borrowing from old <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/xfl-football">XFL</a> rules, aim to make kickoffs more relevant and safer. They discourage simply kicking the ball out of the end zone and encourage returns. Both teams lining up face-to-face enhances safety. This could be an improvement.</p>
<h3 id="O7l0oo"><strong>Trade deadline pushed back to Week 9</strong></h3>
<p id="ax89Zf">Another rule that should receive some positive feedback is the NFL moving the trade deadline back one week, with it now being in Week 9. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions within the league about optimizing the trade window for teams as they strategize their roster adjustments mid-season. By extending the deadline, teams now have an additional week to assess their performance, address any roster gaps, and potentially make impactful trades to bolster their squads for the remainder of the season.</p>
<p id="gQvdzp">So there you have it. These are mainly the important rules, where a few other ones were also implemented and you can read them in their entirety by clicking <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/updates/football-ops/approved-2024-playing-rules/">here</a>. Surely none of these new rule changes will impact the Falcons in a negative way, right?</p>
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https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/27/24113255/nfl-owners-meeting-wraps-up-with-game-changing-rules-implemented-kickoff-hip-dropEvan Birchfield2024-03-26T09:25:50-04:002024-03-26T09:25:50-04:00Raheem Morris addresses team needs, Desmond Ridder trade at owners’ meetings
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<p>The Falcons’ head coach touched on major needs and possible acquistions. </p> <p id="KaO38m">It’s the NFL owners’ meetings, which means most of the national attention is on major rule changes being proposed and potentially approved, as the hip drop tackle ban was yesterday. Head coaches are also in attendance, however, and Raheem Morris provided reporters with some quick insights into what the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> are working on now and need to work on in the immediate future.</p>
<p id="eMLaGj">In the course of his brief time, Morris touched on the team’s quarterback situation, where the Falcons plan to add to the roster, and even Calais Campbell. Here’s a brief roundup. </p>
<h3 id="ozPn8d">Falcons will add a third quarterback</h3>
<p id="UiBzdZ">If you’re wondering why the Falcons haven’t touched Taylor Heinicike’s deal yet, given the savings inherent in a move, Morris may have shed some light on that. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raheem Morris said Taylor Heinicke will compete as Kirk Cousins’ backup. Said they’ll need to add a third QB to the room before everything is said and done.</p>— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1772606489556820272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="NAKkjb">I think the assumption when Desmond Ridder was traded was that Heinicke would step into the #2 role and lock it down, but my working assumption was that the team would restructure his deal if that was the plan. After all, they barely have any cap space, and a simple restructure would free that room up, even if it essentially makes it more difficult to move on from Heinicke next year. </p>
<p id="glZ9Gf">Instead, the Falcons have been sitting on that deal, and the reason is likely because they want to see their options at quarterback. If they hit the draft and get a long-term option, it’s possible Heinicke will still be cut, saving the Falcons close to $6 million in cap space to use in the summer. Morris did allude to the team spending time going back to look at who might be available in this draft class. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Morris mentioned - obviously didn't commit to - the draft a few times when discussing QBs.<br><br>"We have to go back and re-evaluate those guys for the draft again because our situation has changed." <a href="https://t.co/Mkehv2U9qB">https://t.co/Mkehv2U9qB</a></p>— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByDanielFlick/status/1772608163344232622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="wyUqG4">Heinicke is still the favorite for that job at the moment, but the team’s vocal desire to add a third option and the possibility that it might be a second day rookie means you can’t do more than lightly pencil him in to a roster spot at the moment. </p>
<p id="LUa0eS">Morris also touched on the opportunity to add speed with acquiring Rondale Moore, and basically confirmed the idea that speed is something the Falcons covet in a rebuilt offense. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcons?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Falcons</a> coach Raheem Morris said they are building a new “Atlanta offense.” He call WR Darnell Mooney an”elite separater.” <a href="https://t.co/sPVXrNLlVK">pic.twitter.com/sPVXrNLlVK</a></p>— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOrlandoAJC/status/1772594577636999538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="AUWlrV">Desmond Ridder didn’t demand trade</h3>
<p id="rlqAtR">Unlike the Kenny Pickett situation in Pittsburgh, <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/14/24100942/falcons-are-expected-to-trade-quarterback-desmond-ridder-free-agency-kyler-murray-cardinals">the Ridder trade</a> went through quietly and without any talk of a disgruntled quarterback. Morris confirmed that Ridder wasn’t looking to get out in his remarks, despite obviously no longer having a path to a starting job or even an uncontested shot at a reserve role. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Falcons and Desmond Ridder parted on good terms, Raheem Morris said. "Desmond was a great kid and he did not come to us and demand a trade or anything like that. He was in working out, doing the things he was supposed to do. The opportunity presented for us to add speed."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshTheAthletic/status/1772606587904860180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="fxrSL6">Instead, the Falcons appeared to covet Moore, as I mentioned above. With Avery Williams returning from injury and a major need at receiver, Moore can slot in as a useful player out of the backfield, potential slot receiver, and emergency returner option with terrific quickness, and despite his mediocre production in Arizona it’s pretty easy to understand why the Falcons might want that. </p>
<p id="rrsMF0">Morris also suggested a fresh start might benefit Ridder, something I think is more than fair to suggest after how miserable the 2023 season was for the young quarterback, and given that his biggest champion was fired at the end of that season. </p>
<h3 id="FGcdPS">Calais Campbell may still return</h3>
<p id="5rJUAP">Apparently the Falcons are trying to lure Campbell back for one more year. Given how well Campbell played last year and given his veteran presence being a major plus for what’s expected to be a young defense, Atlanta’s interest in understandable. Whether Campbell wants to return or not is the question. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">One more note from our convo with Raheem Morris this AM: Said he has spoken to Calais Campbell. Didn’t want to divulge too much of that convo, but did say he has presented a vision to Campbell about what a future working together could look like.</p>— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1772609991100227638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="eNlher">Young players in the secondary will be added</h3>
<p id="eTC4Tw">It sounds like the Falcons may add more help to the secondary—cornerback in particular—via the draft or late spring free agency additions. It also sounds like Morris is going to covet young players.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raheem Morris says the Falcons will add young corners, calls it “an area of need.”<br><br>Also said Atlanta needs a pass rusher. <a href="https://t.co/f41jQmioOo">pic.twitter.com/f41jQmioOo</a></p>— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByDanielFlick/status/1772594686269522091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="0U6f1A">This is interesting because the Falcons already have a very young secondary, with A.J. Terrell and Jessie Bates serving as elder statesmen in their mid-20s for a group that includes Dee Alford and Clark Phillips at cornerback and Richie Grant and DeMarcco Hellams at safety. Having a young, stellar group would be ideal for Atlanta, but this does mean it’s unlikely that Phillips and Alford are locked into any sort of major role until we see what happens in the draft. </p>
<h3 id="8cnK1n">Pass rush will be addressed </h3>
<p id="6oZ8rf">Obviously the Falcons can’t simply leave the pass rush alone, given that they’ve shed pieces without adding any. They’ve been linked to potential trades and signings since last year’s trade deadline, and it’s beyond obvious that a high-end option or two is a major need, as it has been for a very long time. </p>
<p id="5nisBp">So it’s little surprise to see Morris address that particular elephant in the room by pledging to add to the group up front. What’s more heartening is hearing Morris, who spent years with the Falcons in the past and is clearly familiar with the team’s sorry history in this regard, speaking directly to fans yearning for a better pass rush. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raheem Morris on pass rushers: "That’s a definite priority for us just based off our history. I don’t know if I’ll ever as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons say we don’t want to add one of those guys."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshTheAthletic/status/1772595634404524243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="Ryb9cO">The hope is that the Falcons will unearth a really good edge rusher in the draft and/or free agency before all is said and done, but given Morris’s words here and Terry Fontenot’s habit of tinkering with the roster, we can probably expect the team to add options throughout the summer with the hopes of landing on a good group heading into the year. </p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/26/24112339/raheem-morris-addresses-team-needs-desmond-ridder-trade-at-owners-meetings-calais-campbellDave Choate2024-03-25T16:05:54-04:002024-03-25T16:05:54-04:00Falcons draft and free agency strategy ft. Daniel Flick
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<p>With the dust clearing on NFL free agency and the NFL Draft just a month away, host Kevin Knight is joined by Daniel Flick (Sports Illustrated) to discuss the Falcons’ moves in free agency and how they could impact Atlanta’s draft strategy.</p> <p id="r1xi3H">Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/55OBMAi9XK8gu5qr9l3kIy?si=9cba7d377d0a404d">Dirty Birds and Brews podcast</a>! With the dust clearing on NFL free agency and the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> just a month away, host Kevin Knight is joined by Daniel Flick (Sports Illustrated) to discuss the Falcons’ moves in free agency and how they could impact Atlanta’s draft strategy.</p>
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https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/25/24111820/falcons-draft-and-free-agency-strategy-daniel-flick-nfl-2024-kirk-cousins-dallas-turnerKevin Knight2024-03-23T10:00:00-04:002024-03-23T10:00:00-04:00NFL weighing huge kickoff changes, hip drop tackle ban
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<p>Searching for safety and looking to juice kickoffs, the NFL is tinkering again. </p> <p id="g9q7ee">The league loves to tinker with its rules. Sometimes that’s a positive and sometimes we hate these rule changes but grow used to them. Sometimes those rule changes make the game worse, especially when an extended tantrum by the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29177169/saints-sean-payton-says-nfl-ready-pass-interference-replay-reviews">Sean Payton-era Saints helps to create them</a>.</p>
<p id="IooqKw">Time will tell on the latest proposals, should they pass, but there’s little denying that they will change the fabric of the NFL in striking ways. That’s because the NFL is trying to do nothing less than erase a type of tackle from the league while completely altering the way teams do kickoffs, among other proposed changes. </p>
<h3 id="viuqpV">Hip drop to be dropped?</h3>
<p id="DXIiLB">We’ll start with the tackling piece. </p>
<p id="J1ukfj">I am not someone who talks out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to player safety; if something is genuinely going to make the game much safer for the players who put their short-term and long-term health on the line for our entertainment, then let’s do it. I do want the league to <em>really</em> know whether a change will do that, and consider the downstream ramifications of the change before making it. </p>
<p id="i4mz3q">That’s where we’re at with the hip drop tackle. The league wants to use 15 yard penalties and post-game fines to effectively litigate what the league is calling a “swivel hip-drop tackle” out of the game, with league officials and Falcons executive/competition committee member Rich McKay citing league data that shows a much higher injury rate. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The NFL and the competition committee are submitting this language for the dangerous hip-drop tackle. The penalty would be 15 yards. Officials believe they can correctly call it. Some, including the union, have worried about the potential subjectivity of the call <a href="https://t.co/PBwAK09iH1">pic.twitter.com/PBwAK09iH1</a></p>— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjones9/status/1770491906876674187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The hip drop tackle message from NFL is clear:<br><br>Competition committee chair Rich McKay: Rules change proposals are meant only to “try to get the technique out of the game.”<br><br>NFL EVP of football ops Troy Vincent: Tackle is “something we want to get out the game.”</p>— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArmandoSalguero/status/1770891936741659101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a>
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<p id="eKyEQQ">The problem from the players’ perspective? Those are subjective calls, especially in the moment, and asking defenders to make conscious decisions with their tackling form and choices may lead to injuries for those defenders. The <a href="https://nflpa.com/press/nflpa-statement-on-nfl-competition-committee-and-hip-drop-tackle">NFL Players’ Association released a statement</a> pointing out that the NFL has admitted they were having trouble defining the hip-drop tackle they wanted to ban, and given the league’s deeply shoddy officiating record, there’s concern it will end up being just another way the league makes life difficult for defenses. </p>
<p id="qSYbwH">My fear is that we’ll end up in a similar situation to the patently ludicrous roughing the passer alterations that made one whole season a slog before the NFL decided to kill the rule. We’ll see if the league adopts it, but their deeply uneven record with actually improving player safety and enforcing rule changes properly makes me skeptical it’ll go well if they do. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Biggest irony of banning the “hip drop tackle” is that its only going to result in more injuries as defensive players tear 3 ligaments trying to contort their bodies mid-tackle to avoid a penalty</p>— Motivational Pictures With Reality Deep Meaning (@doulbedoink) <a href="https://twitter.com/doulbedoink/status/1770902731516960849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="g2VbSY">Kickoff changes </h3>
<p id="4uZRNk">The league is <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39771673/nfl-owners-consider-kickoff-change-hip-drop-tackle-ban">mulling a change to the kickoff rules</a> that is very clearly inspired by the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/xfl-football">XFL</a>, one with a stated hope of lessening concussions and encouraging more returns. It would involve changing spacing for the kicking and return teams, eliminate fair catches as an option, and penalize touchbacks by giving returning teams the ball at the 35 yard line. This is intended to reverse the slow decline in kickoffs from years of rule changes designed to...well, reduce the number of kickoffs. Sometimes you need rules to reverse the rules that worked well, but perhaps not in the way you intended. </p>
<p id="8Bm1sc">Whether <em>this </em>works as intended remains to be seen, but it ‘s worth noting that fairly similar rules in the XFL resulted in frequent kickoff returns. The Falcons have Avery Williams and signed Ray-Ray McCloud, so they certainly have established, quality returners to take advantage of any rule changes. </p>
<p id="n96NzZ">For a rundown of more suggested rule changes, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39771673/nfl-owners-consider-kickoff-change-hip-drop-tackle-ban">you can read this article</a>. How do you feel about the two proposals outlined above? </p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/3/23/24107598/nfl-weighing-huge-kickoff-changes-hip-drop-tackle-ban-roger-goodell-rich-mckayDave Choate