The Atlanta Falcons do enough in the off season to win the NFC South? The Atlanta Falcons in-depth analysis of the free agents signed and players lost for the 2014 NFL season. Will these additions help The Atlanta Falcons turnaround their 2013 season and win the NFC South in 2014?
The Atlanta Falcons finished with a horrible 2013 with a 4-12 record going from the per-season hype of being playoff bound to a season no one saw coming. The injury to WR Julio Jones was bigger than any could forecast but there was a silver lining, the emergence of WR Harry Douglas. 2013 season will be remembered as the year Tight End Tony Gonzalez retired and the year that signaled the downturn of WR Roddy White's career. The defensive weaknesses took center stage and the Atlanta Falcons keyed on making their defense bigger and stronger by signing free agents DE Tyson Jackson, DT Paul Soliai and drafting DT Ra'Shede Hageman. They also made immediate upgrades by drafting OT Jake Matthews and signing G Jon Asamoah to get QB Matt Ryan better pocket protection and open up some interior lanes for RB Steven Jackson. The draft fell right into the lap of the Atlanta Falcons and I think they could have done better. Read my article, 2014 Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Report Card and Player Analysis and see where I think GM Dimitroff could have really made an impact by switching two picks.
Players lost in the off season to other teams
- Kevin Cone, WR--3rd season, signed by The Miami Dolphins
- Thomas DeCoud, FS--6th season, signed by The Carolina Panthers
- Bradie Ewing, FB--3rd season, signed by The Jacksonville Jaguars
- Brian Robiskie, WR--5th season, signed by The Tennessee Titans
Players signed in free agency from other teams
- Javier Arenas, CB--4th season signed from The Arizona Cardinals
- Jon Asamoah, G--4th season signed from The Kansas City Chiefs
- Devin Hester, WR--8th season signed from The Chicago Bears
- Tyson Jackson, DE--5th season signed from The Kansas City Chiefs
- Bear Pascoe, TE--5th season signed from The New York Giants
- Paul Soliai, DT--7th season signed from The Miami Dolphins
- Josh Wilson, CB--7th season signed from The Washington Redskins
Can The Atlanta Falcons make it to the playoffs in 2014?
I think the NFC South is a much improved division and don't think the Falcons will do any better than a 6-10 year. They just don't have the players yet to compete and they will be last in their division. A definite better finish than last season but Roddy White will continue to struggle getting separation and the obvious hole at the tight end position will make for a very timid team in the red zone with limited choices. Steven Jackson can't be counted on playing at a superior level for even half a season and Atlanta has very few fall back players in their depth chart. I can see them playing from behind most of the season and no team can win doing that consistently. Bet against the Falcons, take Matt Ryan and Julio Jones on your fantasy teams but forget them making a run at the 2014 playoffs.
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