You may or may not have noticed… but the Atlanta Falcons have quickly become one of the more competitive teams in the NFC. As we sit here, in Week 10, they’ve kicked off Thursday Night Football against a divisional rival Carolina Panthers team who is not nearly having the same type of year.
Brady or no Brady in Tampa, here are the key points that can help Atlanta take their first NFC South divisional title since 2016.
1. Pursue a 2nd running back
Cordarelle Patterson is a phenomenal threat out of the backfield. But nobody else in the RB room really gets a second glance from opponents. This off-season, they could be a literal flood of high-caliber RBs hiring free agency: including Saquon Barkley (NYG); Josh Jacobs(LV); Miles Sanders(PHI); Tony Pollard(DAL); David Montgomery(CHI); Kenyon Drake (BAL); Sony Michele (LAC); Alexander Mattison (MIN) and SO many more! You don’t have to go top-tier here. You just have to find a “yin” to Paterson’s “yang”.
2. Strengthen up the secondary
Nobody talks about, worries or gamelans for Atlanta’s defensive secondary, right now. That’s a problem. Sidney Jones (CB - SEA); Trayvon Mullen (CB - ARI); Julien Love (S - NYG) are all names that would be great additions if they become available in the off-season. And if the 49ers let Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Jimmie Ward (S) or Travarius Moore (S) slip into free agency, the Falcons should be in hot pursuit. Ultimately, the draft should be the top focus here, getting them young talent who’ve played against key passers, such as Brian Branch (CB - Alabama); Tykee Smith (S - Georgia); Jordan Battle (S - Alabama); Lathom Ransom (CB - Ohio State) or Ronnie Hickman (S - Ohio State). The early rounds HAVE to go to filling up the secondary here.
3. It’s time for Desmond Ridder
We knew it. Falcons… 2023… this is the time. I don’t know who Ridder DIDNT impress in the 2022 preseason. I understand wanting to give him some time to learn the system. But progress is being made so much quicker than expected. It’s a different offense when Ridder is on the field. I love Mariota. If Ridder wasn’t in the picture, I’d even say extend him and build around him. But the fact of the matter is, Desmond Ridder is the Falcons’ next franchise quarterback. And with where the team is halfway through 2022, I think ‘23 is Desmond’s year. There are just too many moments right now with Mariota that leave me saying “Ridder would have made something out of that play.” 2023: it’s time.
Now there’s other things that would definitely ALSO help: strengthen the O-line; find a blocking TE with good hands to second Kyle Pitts; wait patiently for Calvin Ridley’s return; make the red helmets their permanent game day attire… but ultimately the aforementioned 3 areas of focus absolutely need to be realized for the Atlanta Falcons to be legitimate division title contenders in the 2023 NFC South.
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