52-year old head coach Mike Smith led the Falcons to a 13-3 record last year during the regular season.  It earned them the #1 seed in the NFC Playoffs and home field advantage.  The Falcons lost their first playoff game, 48-21 to the Packers and they were never really in it.  It’s hard to get on Smith too much as he has a 33-15 record (68.8%) in his first three years during the regular season.  The Falcons are also 0-2 in the playoffs during his tenure.  I have a feeling that the Falcons are going to take another positive step in 2011 as Matt Ryan might turn into an elite QB in 2011.

The Falcons had a great regular season but it ended with a thud when the Packers ripped them in the playoffs in the Georgia Dome.  The Falcons have gotten Ryan a big time deep threat in Julio Jones in the draft last April to help them stretch the field in the passing game to open up more lanes for Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez.  Ryan played in 16 games (all starts) last year for the Falcons and he completed 357 of 571 passes (62.5%) for 3,705 yards with 28 TD passes and 9 INTs (91.0 QB Rating).  Ryan also carried the ball 46 times for 122 yards (2.7 ypc) last year.  He just seems to get better every year and if he does so in 2011, he will be one of the very elite QBs in the whole NFL.  Ryan has now played in 46 games (all starts) in his first three years in the NFL and he has completed 885 of 1,456 passes (60.8%) for 10,061 yards with 66 TD passes and 34 INTs (86.9 QB Rating).  Ryan has also carried the ball 131 times for 275 yards (2.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs so far in his NFL career.  Ryan is now 33-13 (71.7%) during the regular season so far in his NFL career, so he’s a big time winner.

34-year old Chris Redman is a solid backup QB.  He played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Falcons last year and he completed 4 of 6 passes (66.7%) for 20 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (71.5 QB Rating).  Redman has now played in 25 games (12 starts) in his first 7 years in the NFL and he has completed 268 of 472 passes (56.8%) for 2,991 yards with 21 TD passes and 13 INTs (79.2 QB Rating).  Redman has also carried the ball 28 times for 31 yards (1.1 ypc) so far in his NFL career.  Redman is 4-8 (33.3%) as a starting QB during the regular season in the NFL.

25-year old John Parker Wilson will be holding a clipboard again this season as the Falcons’ #3 QB in 2011.  The only way he gets on the field is if Ryan and Redman both get injured.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS QBS IN 2011:  A

25-year old WR Eric Weems will likely be the Falcons’ player getting most of the action on kickoff returns.  Weems played in 16 games last season with the Falcons and he returned 48 kickoffs for 1,214 yards (25.3 avg).  He has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has returned 49 kickoffs for 1,233 yards (25.2 avg).  Weems might be needed more on offense early this year with Michael Jenkins injured but I still see him getting his fair share of action on kickoff returns.

27-year old RB Jerious Norwood could also get some action returning kicks in 2010.   He played in 10 games for the Falcons last season and he only returned 1 kickoff but it went for 39 yards.  Norwood has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has returned 117 kickoffs for 2,987 yards (25.5 avg). 

No matter whether Weems or Norwood is returning kicks the Falcons’ offense will likely have a lot of solid field position when they trot onto the field in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  B+

The Atlanta Falcons have finesse on the outside of the O-Line and nastiness on the inside.  Starting left tackle Sam Baker is a much better pass blocker than a run blocker but that’s exactly what you want guarding the QBs blind side.  LG Justin Blalock is a brawler on the inside as he loves to move piles in the running game.  Todd McClure is the senior member of the Falcons as he has played 11 years for them.  McClure makes the calls on the O-Line and he’s a solid technician.  Right guard Harvey Dahl likes to fight until the whistle blows and he’s an outstanding run blocker.  He in downright mean and that’s what you have to be when playing on the inside of the )-Line.  Tyson Clabo is more of a pass blocker than a run blocker.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS O-LINE in 2010:  B

51-year old head coach Mike Smith took a rag tag roster with a rookie starting QB to the playoffs in his first year with the team.  Last year the Falcons were 9-7 (56.3%) during the regular season just missing the playoffs despite not having Matt Ryan for a chunk of the year.  Smith has a 20-12 (62.5%) in his two regular seasons for the Falcons and he’s 0-1 in the playoffs.  If the Falcons stay healthy in 2010 I think Coach Smith will get them back to the playoffs.

35-year old Matt Bryant will battle 25-year old Steve Hauschka to see who will be the Falcons’ kicker in 2010.  Matt Bryant will likely have a slight edge heading into training camp as he kicked for the Falcons some last year.  Bryant played in 5 games for the Falcons last season and he was 7 of 10 (70%) on field goals and 10 of 10 on extra points to finish with 31 points.  He has now played in 99 games in his NFL career and he has made 145 of 178 field goals (81.5%) and 191 of 195 extra points as he has scored 636 career points.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS KICKERS in 2010:  C

UPDATE:  (8/16/2010) – The Falcons have released Steve Hauschka after he was 1 of 2 on field goals in the pre-season opener.  Matt Bryant will be the starting kicker in 2010.

28-year old Roddy White has been to 2 Pro Bowls in his five year career and the Falcons hope he makes it 3 of 6 in 2010.  White played in 16 games (all starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 85 passes for 1,153 yards (13.6 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  He has now played in 80 games (59 starts) in his 5 years in the NFL and he has caught 315 passes for 4,689 yards (14.9 avg) with 27 TD grabs.  White is easily the Falcons’ #1 WR and Matt Ryan will be throwing to him a lot in 2010.

28-year old Michael Jenkins will be the #2 WR once again for the Falcons in 2010.  Jenkins played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 50 passes for 635 yards (12.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 92 games (55 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 235 passes for 3,007 yards (12.8 avg) with 18 TD grabs.  The Falcons hope that this is the season that Jenkins steps up.

25-year old Harry Douglas missed all of last season due to injury.  But he has looked sharp in OTAs so the Falcons hope he can stay healthy and win the #3 WR job for 2010.  Douglas played in 16 games (0 starts) as a rookie in 2008 and he caught 23 passes for 320 yards (13.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 12 times for 69 yards (5.8 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Douglas has a huge upside.

34-year old Brian Finneran is back for another year for the Falcons.  He played in 10 games (2 starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 11 passes for 111 yards (10.1 avg).  Finneran has now played in 112 games (37 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 219 passes for 2,927 (13.4 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Finneran is still a solid possession receiver when healthy.

25-year old Eric Weems comes to training camp #5 at WR.  Weems played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 6 passes for 50 yards (8.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 8 times for 53 yards (6.6 ypc) last season.  Weems has now played in 23 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 7 passes for 54 yards (7.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 8 times for 53 yards (6.6 ypc) in his NFL career.

Rookie Kerry Meier is a converted QB from Kansas.  The 5th round pick has nice size at 6’2″, 224 pounds and he likely projects as a possession type receiver.  He will need a strong training camp in order to move up the depth chart.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS WRs in 2010:  B

33-year old, 10-time Pro Bowler Tony Gonzalez is back for another season as the starting TE for the Falcons.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Falcons last season in which he caught 83 passes for 867 yards (10.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Gonzalez has now played in 206 games (190 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 999 passes for 11,807 yards (11.8 avg) with 82 TD grabs.  I think Gonzalez will put up better stats than last season as long as Matt Ryan doesn’t miss any games in 2010.

31-year old Justin Peelle is more of a blocker than a receiver.  He played in 15 games (8 starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 12 passes for 115 yards (9.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Peelle has now played in 124 games (58 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 112 passes for 888 yards (7.9 avg) with 11 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR FALCONS TEs in 2010:  A

30-year old Ovie Mughelli and 29-year old Dan Klecko bring the pain with their lead blocking.  Mughelli is 6’1″, 260 pounds and he’s like having an extra lineman in the backfield.  He played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Falcons last season and he carried the ball 4 times for 10 yards (2.5 ypc).  He also caught 7 passes for 51 yards (7.3 avg) with 1 TD  grab last year.  He has now played in 84 games (40 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 27 times for 83 yards (3.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Mughelli has also caught 45 passes for 339 yards (7.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

Dan Klecko is even bigger than Mughelli at 5’11″, 275 pounds and he’s a former DT so you know he’s tough.  He did not play last season.  Klecko has played in 63 games (6 starts) offensively in his career and he has carried the ball 2 times for 5 yards (2.5 ypc).  He also has caught 10 passes for 56 yards (5.6 avg) with 1 TD grab in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS FBs in 2010:  B-

28-year old Michael Turner has been awesome since coming over from the Chargers as a free agent two years ago.  He played in 11 games (all starts) for the Falcons last season and he carried the ball 178 times for 871 yards (4.9 ypc) with 10 TD grabs.  He also caught 5 passes for 35 yards (7.0 avg) last season.  He has now played in 86 games (28 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 782 times for 3,827 yards (4.9 ypc) with 33 TD runs.  Turner has also caught 22 passes for 147 yards (6.7 avg) in his NFL career.  Turner is one of the very best power runners in the NFL as he’s like a bowling ball with legs.  He takes a lot of hits that way and the Falcons missed him why he was out last season.  They need him to stay healthy in 2010 to have the offense operate on all cylinders.

26-year old Jason Snelling was the top backup for the Falcons last season.  He played in 14 games (2 starts) for the Falcons last season and he carried the ball 142 times for 613 yards (4.3 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  Snelling also caught 30 passes for 259 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD grab last year.  Snelling has now played in 37 games (3 starts) in his three years with the Falcons and he has carried the ball 170 times for 718 yards (4.2 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He has also caught 38 passes for 348 yards (9.2 avg) with 1 TD grab in his NFL career.  Snelling proved last season that the Falcons can count on him to produce whenever he’s on the field.

26-year old Jerious Norwood was banged up a lot last season.  He played in 10 games (4 starts) for the Falcons last season in which he carried the ball 76 times for 252 yards (3.3 ypc).  He also caught 19 passes for 186 yards (9.8 avg) with 1 TD grab and he also returned 1 kickoff for 39 yards.  Norwood has now played 4 years for the Falcons appearing in 55 games (6 starts) in which he has carried the ball 373 times for 1,987 yards (5.3 ypc) with 7 TD runs and he has also caught 95 passes for 903 yards (9.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Norwood also has returned 117 kickoffs for 2,987 yards (25.5 avg) in his time with the Falcons.  Norwood is the fastest back on the Falcons but he’s also the most brittle.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR FALCONS RBs in 2010:  A-