*Note: This article was started on August 30, 2023 and not after the Falcons unsurprisingly started 2-0*
The NFC South going into 2023 is a question mark. There’s one returning starting quarterback, and new faces throughout the division. Which team has the returning starter? The Atlanta Falcons.
When Arthur Smith got the HC job in Atlanta, a lot of fans, including myself, weren’t happy. Coaches like Brian Daboll and Eric Bieniemy were at the top of the list, so Smith felt somewhat disappointing. The first two years of the Smith regime expectedly didn’t go so well. He was given a few legends on offense (who unfortunately were both getting old), a defense severely lacking in talent, and no clear future for the team. A rebuild felt inevitable, but Smith never fully committed to it. Despite the clear problems, Atlanta showed heart, finishing 7-10 both seasons.
Arthur Smith established a culture in Atlanta last year. Coming from Tennessee, Smith had experience running a ground & pound, old-school system with Derrick Henry. This past season, Smith replicated his previous success, but now in Atlanta. The Falcons ranked 2nd in total rushing offense, with an improved offensive line, and talent at the running back position. Atlanta fans hadn’t seen a rushing attack as strong as in 2023 in the past decade. The great Falcons teams of the 2010’s were air-raid offenses led by future Hall of Famers Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. Now, with a new regime and culture, the Falcons are better-equipped than ever to make a playoff run.
The real question right now is whether or not starting QB Desmond Ridder can lead a team to that spot. Personally, I think that Ridder showed signs of being a capable game manager who can support a high-level rushing attack. He showed poise, not throwing a single interception in any of his 4 starts a year ago. Ridder is a dual-threat as well, who can escape the pocket when needed. His leadership skills are also there, which makes me believe in him at the helm coming into Week 1.
Atlanta was not shy in free agency this off-season either. The Falcons were top spenders after years of having little to no cap space, caused by some bad contracts and Matt Ryan’s dead cap situation. Atlanta went out and got the best safety on the market in Jessie Bates, who gives the team much needed help in the secondary. With Ryan Nielsen from New Orleans being hired as defensive coordinator, it made sense for former Saints LB Kaden Elliss and DL David Onyemata to join the squad. The team re-signed G Chris Lindstrom to a huge deal, as well as T Kaleb McGary, with hopes of replicating the same success on the ground from last year in 2023. Mack Hollins also made sense at WR for the Falcons, as they needed a number 2 behind Drake London. With some major holes being filled in free agency, the draft was now a perfect spot to take an elite talent.
On April 27, 2023 the Atlanta Falcons selected RB Bijan Robinson with the 8th pick. Personally, I didn’t love this selection given the needs the team still had on the defensive line as well as at wide receiver. But when you have the opportunity to take a generational talent, you take it. Bijan gives this Falcons offense an explosiveness it didn’t have a year ago. Tyler Allgeier, the Falcons starting RB from last year who is incredibly underrated, and ran for over 1,000 yards in 2023 is more of a physical, north-south runner. Robinson can immediately be used as a change of pace back who is still more than capable of taking early down work. His talent only adds to the elite rushing offense from a year ago. Robinson’s presence alone can free up playmakers Drake London and Kyle Pitts in play action, and lead to more downfield shots from Ridder. I liked the other selections made by Atlanta in the draft, guys like Matthew Bergeron, Clark Phillips, and Demarcco Hellams who all can have an early impact. It is the pick of Robinson, however, that sets this team apart from the 2022 squad.
As I conclude, I’d like to point out the obvious flaws the other three NFC South teams have. Carolina is starting a rookie QB, with very few weapons on offense and a brand new head coach. Tampa lost Tom Brady so they’re reliant on either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask to lead them back to the postseason, which I’m not buying. Finally, New Orleans, the division favorites, have a regressing QB in Derek Carr, an unproven head coach in Dennis Allen, and a suspended Alvin Kamara.
I’ll be riding with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, and expect to be watching a playoff game from Mercedes-Benz Stadium this January.
