Can The Front Seven Step Up For The Atlanta Falcons?

Guest post by Cameron Charles, FanDuel.com

Anyway you slice it, the 2013 season was not a memorable one for fans of the Atlanta Falcons. They underachieved all season long, mostly due to some untimely injuries. With most of the major players now healthy, one of the big keys to a successful season will be the front seven on defense.

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff spent most of the offseason addressing the defense as much as possible. Many are pleased with what they were able to pull off, but there are still questions about how the pass rush will be able to hold up. The biggest free-agent acquisitions were defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Can those two really make a difference in helping out the passing defense as well as one of the worst running defenses in the league?

The run defense was terrible last year, as they finished as one of the worst teams in the NFL. The passing defense only became slightly better compared to 2012. They were able to get to the opposing quarterback only 32 times during the year, which certainly does not put them anywhere near the top. If NFC South quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Cam Newton have that much time to work with, they will feast on Atlanta’s secondary.

Atlanta plans to once again run the 3-4 defense as a base set. Instead of going after natural linebackers, they are hoping that some of their top converted defensive ends will be able to live up to expectations of becoming more of a “hybrid” player. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is hoping that the team’s hard work will pay off in the offseason. It is a bit of a risk, especially considering the fact that Jonathan Massaquoi, Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora are still adjusting to the type of play expected from them in this defense.

As far as high stakes fantasy football is concerned, Atlanta is still not considered a team anyone’s going to draft. They have too many holes, and they already lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for the season to an injury. There is a chance their defense is a little bit better in 2013, but that is mostly because they have nowhere to go but up. It is a definite concern for the Atlanta Falcons as they try to get back into playoff contention. Without a strong defense, they can only get so far.

Analysis From Day 1 Of Atlanta Falcons Minicamp

Falcon’s minicamp fired up this week, and there is a ton to report about on day one.  Players seemed very happy and laid back, but the pressure to return to playoff form was apparent.   Here’s just a few things I noticed in my one day trip to the Branch.

Tyler Starr had some difficulty; getting blocked and handled for the better part of the day.  Earlier reports had him lighting up the field, so hopefully it was just a bad practice for him.

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NFL Free Agency 2014: Falcons ink Jonathan Babineaux to 3-year deal

The Atlanta Falcons addressed one of their NFL free agency needs in retaining some depth on defense today, by re-signing defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux to a three-year deal.

Last season, Babineaux played in all 16 games for Atlanta, totaling 42 tackles and a sack. The 2005 second-round pick out of Iowa has…

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NFL Rumors: Atlanta Falcons interested in Champ Bailey

Once the Denver Broncos released seven-time All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey, it wasn’t going to be long before he was tied to just about every team in the league. But Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons are a team seriously in the hunt for the former Georgia Bulldog standout.

For the Falcons to have an interest in Bailey isn’t a stretch at all. While Atlanta will be concentrating on other areas for the upcoming NFL Draft, adding some veteran…

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Jairus Byrd Could Make Sense for Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons will be looking hard at offensive linemen and defensive linemen in both the upcoming NFL Draft and free agency period (which begins on March 11), but that’s not to say they don’t have eyes on other positions as well. Three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd is likely done with the Buffalo Bills, and he could fit in nicely in Atlanta.

Last year the Falcons took two cornerbacks–Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford–with their first two draft picks to replace the flock of defensive backs who left the team via free agency or release.

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Atlanta Falcons sign DT Corey Peters to one-year deal

Although the Atlanta Falcons had their issues on the defensive line last season, one of the players who they did depend on in their rotation is going to be returning. NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling has reported that DT Corey Peters and the Falcons have struck a one-year deal.

Peters was drafted in the third round out of Kentucky in 2010, and had his best season as a Falcon in 2013, tallying 46 tackles (29 solo) and a career-high…

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Thoughts on Jadeveon Clowney and the NFL Scouting Combine

I guess it’s true. Ignorance does breed contempt. That can be the only explanation for all of the ridiculous hate and other nonsense being directed at Jadeveon Clowney this morning.

The Pros and Cons of the Atlanta Falcons Drafting Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney can become an elite, impact player in the NFL. Jadeveon Clowney could also become the next Tony Mandarich (in terms of draft expectations/reality…at least we don’t think Clowney can play offensive tackle).

The trick for the Atlanta Falcons to figure out is, which end of the spectrum is closer to the truth?

Clowney the next big thing, or Clowney the next big bust?

On the positive side, there is evidence (just ask Michigan’s Vincent Smith: see below) that Clowney is a freak of nature, and can be as dominant a player on the defensive line as anyone has seen in a long time. When he’s on, he’s unstoppable.

THAT is the Clowney the Falcons want to believe they could be getting should they choose to trade up in the 2014 NFL Draft and snag him.

Scott Carasik, editor of DraftFalcons.com and featured Falcons columnist at Bleacher Report is one of the believers in Clowney, and thinks Atlanta can’t miss by picking him.

“He’s the best prospect in this draft by far. He’s a great pass rusher. ” Carasik told me. “His worst case scenario is John Abraham, his best case scenario is the best DE to have ever played the game.”

When I asked Carasik about the concerns that are often eluded to about Clowney’s lack of effort, he said “The thoughts about his work ethic are unfounded. He’s no gym rat like Marcus Lattimore was, but he’s not Albert Haynesworth either. “

That brings us to the perception of indifference that has some teams shying away from Clowney, and some fans concerned about their team taking him with a high draft pick.

Some chalk up Clowney’s drop in production this past season to nagging injuries, while others say he was laying low and trying to stay healthy and to protect his draft positioning. The publicly aired rifts (or minor verbal skirmishes) between he and South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier did nothing to alleviate any of those concerns either.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, one of the premier draft analysts in the business, thinks the concerns about Clowney’s work ethic are legitimate, saying he would probably take Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack ahead of Clowney.

There’s also the question of what Atlanta would have to give up in order to even be able to draft Clowney. Right now, Atlanta holds the 6th overall pick in the draft…clearly further down than Clowney would likely fall. Is it worth another handful of draft picks (like the Julio Jones draft day trade) to take a player who may or may not be what is hoped for?

Let’s not forget, even Clowney says he wants the Falcons to pick him. If you are drafted by a team on your wish list, doesn’t that make you want to work even harder for them?

In my estimation, it’s a risk worth taking. Much less risky than looking at an offensive lineman or defensive tackle with such a high pick. Carasik’s characterization of the worst case scenario being a John Abraham-type player is on the money. How many Falcons fans wished Abe had still been on the team–even in his reduced role for his age–last season.

Clowney has the ability to be the best player in the NFL…even in his rookie season. He can completely change the face of a team’s defense, and how opposing offenses must scheme their games. Even if his numbers don’t end up becoming record-breaking, the fact that he has to be planned for and can take an offense out of their normal game plan is a huge plus.

The Falcons rolled the dice with Julio Jones a few years ago, and while it crippled them in the following two draft classes, he has been everything that Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith hoped for when they drafted him.

Clowney could be even better.

Or worse.

But what will happen to Atlanta’s defense if they don’t draft Clowney? Not much. Not much at all. And that clearly has not been good enough to get this team where they want to be.

Michael Collins is an Atlanta sports humorist, columnist, radio host and owner of Georgia Sports Craze. He is a member of the FWAA and eats peanut butter straight from the jar. Follow on Twitter @GaSportsCraze on Facebook here or on Google here

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