That noise you hear in NFL offseason? It’s not Falcons
Falcons made more news with new coordinators (Mike Nolan, Dirk Koetter) than roster. (Curtis Compton)
In their most noteworthy decisions so far during NFL free agency, the Falcons have signed two players who are coming off injuries and didn’t play a single down last season (good news: Vince Manuwai and Lofa Tatupu should be well-rested), they’re seemingly allowing their leading tackler (Curtis Lofton) and sacker (John Abraham) to walk out the door, and they just gave a three-year, $9.15 million contract to a defensive end (Kroy Biermann) who is three years removed from his best season.
This probably isn’t the best time to launch the season-ticket marketing campaign.
Yes, it’s only March. No team has played a game yet. Granted, every significant NFL player seems to be holding signing ceremonies or meeting with owners and coaches in other cities. But we’ve experienced the hazards of assuming what big names on paper can mean. So it’s premature to assume the Falcons will be gum on the bottom of every team’s shoe next season, just as it is to believe the road to the Super Bowl suddenly runs though Buffalo. (The Bills gave Mario Williams $100 million and closed the deal with, “See that big waterfall over there? You can have that, too.)
But fans are concerned, and it’s easy to understand why. While it’s still possible the Falcons will sign a guy or two, cut a guy or two, maybe even pull off a trade or two, between now and next month’s draft, it is becoming apparent that there will be no major changes to a team that has been drop-kicked in three consecutive playoff games.
Mario Williams signals,"My contract is 'This big.'" And that was too big for the Falcons. (AP photo)
The Arthur Blank money train was prevalent in springs past. Now it’s parked, in part because the team is hitting its head on the salary-cap ceiling.
This doesn’t so much mean that general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith didn’t plan well (as in cap pacing) as it does that some plans just haven’t worked out (as in roster quality). For example: If cornerback Dunta Robinson had been as good as advertised and was living up to his original six-year, $57 million contract, the Falcons might not have felt so desperate to slap the franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes (a $10.281 million commitment).
If you’re wondering what this muted offseason means for the Falcons’ future, it’s just this: Dirk Koetter, the new offensive coordinator, had better be really good. Mike Nolan, the new defensive coordinator, had better be really good. Mike Smith, the head coach, needs to be better.
When there aren’t new players to work with, it means the old players have to be coached up. It means schemes have to be better. It means the Falcons can’t sell you on “new” so they have to sell you on the expectation of “improved.”
So far, no obvious help for the offense is on the way, either on the line — assume nothing with Manuwai — or in terms of weapons. That means Koetter has to find ways to get more out of quarterback Matt Ryan and make the offense less predictable. It’s possible. But it’s hard to give the benefit of the doubt when Koetter oversaw the NFL’s worst offense last season in Jacksonville.
With another pass rusher (and possibly minus Abraham), Nolan needs to find new ways to create pass pressure and take some of the onus off an error-prone secondary. It’s possible. Nolan is good. But his predecessor, Brian VanGorder, also was good and he worked for a head coach with a defensive background. (We may never know how much latitude Smith gave VanGorder in terms of scheme.)
Nolan has to make Dunta Robinson better. He has to make Ray Edwards, a huge disappointment in Year 1, a factor again on game day.
Overall, Smith, Koetter and Nolan need to find the reasons why this team keeps hitting a wall in its 17th game. If they determine there was a missing piece, that’s a problem because there’s no indication right now that help is on the way.
Think of this as trying to make a new soup with the same ingredients. If by next December we’ve determined that it tasted the same, it won’t be difficult to figure out why.
By Jeff Schultz
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210 comments Add your comment
SavDawg
March 16th, 2012
12:53 pm
Did i read someone say the Falcons are a GREAT team!!!!. What the heck have they been snorting???
Tommy Maddox
March 16th, 2012
1:26 pm
I’m with Papa E and St. Simons.
To quote Dr. Smith from “Lost in Space” – “We’re Dooooooomed.”
Die Hard Falcon
March 16th, 2012
1:27 pm
I have been very disappointed and confused by the salary cap situation. A couple of weeks before FA, we had 30 mil cap space and the aints only had 15 mil coming into FA (supposedly)yet we’ve resigned some small contracts (except the Grimes tag) and the aints have tagged Brees (14mil or so) signed Colston, Grubbs, and are bringing in Lofton, what the hell happened, I was led to believe they were in serious cap trouble and they’ve not missed a beat. The Bucs are being aggressive and will be quite a challenge this year, the aints are what they are, and the panthers are on the rise, I am really worried about our season.
smyrnabob
March 16th, 2012
2:00 pm
How many of these $60-$100M players are worth it in the end? Finding good deals on the assets you need is the way to make it in this world. The good thing about two new coordinators is that they will have a few of their players that will come in and know how to play their style, and probably on the cheap. The Falcons need many spots filled, so one big signing only decreases the chances of filling in multiple holes.
The Big Fat Blogger
March 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
Could it be????
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/16/john-abraham-stays-in-atlanta-on-three-year-agreement/
Banned Poster
March 16th, 2012
3:24 pm
I love all of the comments in regards to Matt Ryan not improving. His numbers have improved each year and his team averages 11 wins per season with him as QB. The man is a 4000 yard passer and his TD numbers continue to improve, Does he have the strongest arm? No, but then again, he is a good QB who studies defenses and makes the right calls when given the opportunity to do so.
The 0-3 in he playoffs doesn’t look good and yes right now it looks like he can’t win in the playoffs. You know what other QBs this was said about in years 1-4 of their careers? Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. I am not saying that Matt Ryan is going to be like either of the QBs when his career is over, but there was a time in their early careers that they couldn’t win playoff games either. It took Peyton until 2003 to win his first playoff game. Drew Brees never won a playoff game his entire time in San Diego, hence the reason they drafted Eli Manning and traded him for Philip Rivers. Matt is entering the prime of his career and he has the tools around him. Now that his coaching has changed on the offensive side of the ball – which is what happened to both Peyton and Brees when they finally won a playoff game – then the playoff wins will come. Matt Ryan is not the problem for the Falcons. His OL stinks and can’t protect him, his defense is subpar at best to allow him the time to make adjustments and make plays, and his coaching at times took Matt out of the game by being stubborn with the game plan.
With all that said….I am disappointed in the Falcons because the front office told us there would be changes back in January and that player personnel would be scrutinized. With the exception of Abraham, Lofton, and McClure, that hasn’t happened. You brought in two guys who could help, but haven’t played since 2010 and you resigned every questionable player on the roster who could have been let go. You seem determined to will Sam Baker into being a respectable OL, but I believe after 4 years it is time to cut your losses and give up. You gave 9 million to a backup DE who hasn’t had his head on straight since he started dating – and then married – a reality show headcase. And then Brent Grimes. You failed to sign him long term last season and foolishly waited until now to deal with his contract. That has cost the team dearly and now the man is a headcase himself. The front office had a good first three seasons, but now last offseason and this one have me – as a diehard fan – scratching my head wondering if we are about to take a step back into the Falcons of old. Unless something happens in FA between now and the start of June to address our OL and DL, then I will simply choose to watch the games from home this year, not attend training camp in Flowery Branch, and simply choose to not make team purchases until next offseason. I will protest with my wallet, but still watch the team.
too tough
March 16th, 2012
5:30 pm
well said!
Email Profiling Is Wrong
March 17th, 2012
9:19 am
@Banned Poster
As a stout Matt Ryan defender, you rely heavily on his statistics as your justification. That and his character and intellect, of course.
Ryan’s stats have been accumulated with short, low risk passes. As far as his now holding the franchise record for total passing yards, big deal. He surpassed Jeff George – another dud of a QB. So much for the value of statistics.
The comparisons of Ryan to elite QB’s who started out 0-3 in the post season is a fraud. I expect if you go back and break down the game films, you’ll find one big difference between Ryan and Manning and Brees. Those two don’t play scared. Ryan has become a very timid QB. He seems to fear contact and turnovers to such a degree as to render him useless.
At any rate we’re stuck with him. And I hope you’re cheery assessment is correct. Me? I’m a little less optimistic. I see nothing in his performances to indicate he’s gonna suddenly morph into Peyton Manning. He’s a glorified game manager with the heart of an accountant.
As far as character and intellect go, those are great traits. But coupled with an alarming lack of athletic ability a fear of contact, what you get is the guy to married my daughter or the doctor who removed my appendix.
Fine fellows both. Neither can play football worth bat turds though.
And seeing an empty glass as half full
KAMMJAMM
March 18th, 2012
7:44 pm
Honestly, watching the Falcons over the past 3 years, I have realized their predictability on both sides of the ball. The coaches were methodical, yet predictable in their game plans (power running, short passes and clock management). If you have a roster with above average personnel, you can can take the this approach, but if you have average players you have to be dynamic and resiliant. This is what the Falcons have not shown in recent years. Complacency was this predominant attribute in the coaching staff. After watching one or two 4th and inches gone bad, seeing a third instance was a reality check. The coaching staff has got to change. Though I belive the direction the Falcons are going (Change in Coordiantors) is the right direction, it will take another season to build resliency in a roster that has so few above average players. Teamwork on both sides of the ball will be key and cohesion should be the starting point.
I still believe!!!!!
Gaboy86
March 25th, 2012
1:05 pm
I mean come on really the whole city knows we need an O-line but did we make a decent move no did we get a better safety no once again everyone in Ga knows we need one an don’t get me started on dunta playing like he wants to sit on the bench. I’m one of the True Falcons Fans an I wanna see my team get past the first round in the playoffs I wanna see my city happy beside pissed off every year I wanted mario like mist falcons fans but not at that price that would have been a dumb move like letting Curtis lofton go. Really stupid move I can’t explain the passion I have for this team I wanna see success especially since the saints are not looking to good.