After reaching Super Bowl LI, the Falcons’ offense will be expected to remain near the top of the league in 2017.
“Our focus is not on the past,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said on Monday. “It’s on moving forward and I know that’s a cliché.”
The Falcons report for training camp on Wednesday, with the first practice scheduled for Thursday.
Steve Sarkisian takes over for Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. The team will also have a new quarterbacks coach in Bush Hamdan and running backs coach Keith Carter.
“But I’m so excited about how (head coach) Dan (Quinn) has managed the football team that way and so did our leaders like (quarterback) Matt Ryan, (wide receiver) Julio Jones, and (cornerback Desmond) Trufant,” Dimitroff said. “Everyone is just really, really positive. No one is pointing fingers. No one is focused on that (the collapse), contrary to what has been written, the focus is on the future of this team.
“Everyone feels really good. We have a young team overall. I think we’re really fired up with all of our energy.”
Here are five bold predictions for the Falcons offense in 2017:
1. Ryan will repeat as MVP. Ryan, the first NFL most valuable player in Falcons franchise history, is preparing for his 10th season with the Falcons.
He will lead the team into their new stadium on Sept. 17 against the Green Bay Packers.
Ryan led the league’s top-scoring offense, setting franchise records in passing yards (4,944) and touchdowns (38). He started all 16 games and completed 373 of 534 passes (69.9 completion percentage; third in the NFL), with only seven interceptions and a 117.1 passer rating.
Ryan’s 117.1 rating was the fifth-highest in a season in NFL history. He had a passer rating of 100 or better in 12 games, tying Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former 49ers quarterback Steve Young for the most 100-plus rating games in a single season.
After such a spectacular season, what will Ryan do for an encore under Sarkisian?
“This is my fourth different offensive coordinator in the NFL,” Ryan said. “So, that’s part of the deal when you play in this league. The one constant is change. I’ve been fortunate to be around here for going on 10 years.”
2. Jones to become a factor in the red zone. Falcons two-time All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones, who's recovering from offseason foot surgery, is set to return to the field.
Jones will likely be limited early in training camp.
“He’s healed up very, very well,” Dimitroff said. “We are ready for him to jump into camp. I’m don’t know the exact rep count, but as you know Julio will do what he feels he can do… He’s so competitive when he gets back on the field. We’ll continue to monitor him.”
Jones has averaged 107 catches, 1,624 yards and 6.6 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Sarkisian has been looking at ways to get Jones more involved in the red zone attack. If he solves that problem, then Jones’ touchdown numbers should increase.
3. Hooper has breakout season. Tight end Austin Hooper will have a breakout year in his second season in the league.
“He’s really growing at the finer points of the position,” tight ends coach Wade Harman said.
Hooper played in 14 regular season games and made three starts. He caught 19 of 27 targets (70.3 percent) for 271 yards and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, Hooper caught six of nine targets (66 percent) for 65 yards and one touchdown.
4. Ben Garland thrives at starting right guard. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand over the offseason.
The Falcons juggled Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer at right guard. We’ll have to monitor who’s getting the snaps throughout the training camp until Quinn and offensive line coach Chris Morgan declares a winner.
We’re going to declare Garland right now. The tough former military man personifies what Quinn likes to call “grit.”
Rookie Sean Harlow is being converted from tackle to guard and figures to be a longshot candidate.
“We know that we need that right guard spot shored up,” Dimitroff said. “We have two really good guys competing for it right now. He’s third in the mix in that guard group. That is going to be a battle to watch.”
5. Gabriel will continue to thrive. Taylor Gabriel was slowed over the offseason by a lower leg strain after landing a $2.8 million deal.
He had the highest passer rating of any receiver on passes thrown to him in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus.
The passer rating of 148.1 on balls thrown to Gabriel last season was significantly better than the second-best rating of 129.8 on passes to Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan. Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams had the third-highest, at 124.6.
Last season, Gabriel finished with 35 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns, playing as the No. 3 receiver behind Jones and Sanu.
About the Author
