Atlanta Falcons Information
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the youngest and most explosive teams in the National Football League. They’re also incredibly fun to watch because of their all-world quarterback Michael Vick. Vick attended Virginia Tech and helped to put their program on the map in college football. He’s blessed with amazing agility and quickness combined with an unbelievable arm and overall strength equal or greater than most linemen. On top of the physical skills, Vick has also shown to carry the intangibles that you can’t teach, things like field vision, decision making, and the internal quarterback clock (a timing device that tells a QB when the defense is close). Vick is easily the most explosive player in the league because of these qualities, and he’s one of the reasons why the Atlanta Falcons will continue to draw fans on the road for years to come. Vick has T.J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn in the backfield to help him out as well. Duckett is the punishing power back while Dunn is the lightning quick back. The addition of all-pro wide receiver Peerless Price before the 2003 season wasn’t noticeable last year because Vick broke his leg in preseason, but the two should link up often in 2004.
Keith Brooking and Chris Draft each recorded more than 100 solo tackles in 2003 and Ellis Johnson had a team high eight sacks. Matt Stewart had 10 tackles for loss, another team high, while Keion Carpenter, Tod McBride, and Juran Bolden each recorded a team leading three interceptions last season. McBride, Bolden, and Kevin Mathis each returned one for a score. The team also had 21 forced fumbles with Matt Stewart and Bryan Scott each leading the way with three each. Allen Rossum showed his value on special teams by returning kickoffs and punts last year. Rossum took 62 kickoffs and averaged more than 20 yards per return with a long of 52. He also returned 39 punts, one for a touchdown, with a 14 yard average and a long of 72 yards.
The Falcons only made seven picks in the 2004 NFL draft, but they feel like the players they drafted can contribute immediately. With the 8th overall pick, the team selected Virginia tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall. A few people might have felt that the pick was used because Vick went to the school and had a bias towards Hall, but Hall proved during the season and in workouts that he truly was the real deal. Hall is the physical cornerback the team has needed the last few seasons, and he also has the explosive speed to return kicks if needed. Michael Jenkins, a receiver out of Ohio State University taken 29th overall, could step in as the team’s third receiver out of training camp. He’s still a little raw around the edges, but he has the potential to be a great player in the league. Matt Schaub, a quarterback from Virginia, was taken at the 90th pick and would be a good backup to Vick should he get hurt for an extended period again. Three of the last four Falcons picks were used to upgrade the defensive side of the ball, their biggest weakness in the 2003 season.
The Falcons have been playing in the NFL in the city of Atlanta since 1966. They’ve made seven playoff appearances over that time and won two NFC West championships in 1980 and 1998. They’re playoff run in 1998 under then coach Dan Reeves led to a shock upset of the mighty Minnesota Vikings and the team’s one Super Bowl appearance, a loss to the Denver Broncos led by John Elway and Terrell Davis. Reeves was relieved of his duties late last year and Jim Mora Jr. was named new coach. Mora Jr. doesn’t have any head coaching experience in the league, but he has worked as a coach in the league and his father has been a head coach in the league for numerous years.