Commentary: What is the State of the Falcons?

After Thursday night’s 25-0 nonaccomplishment against the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons beryllium astatine 4-6. In the past 2 games, the Falcons person been outscored 68-3. Also, Atlanta has converted 3-of-22 3rd downs during that span. After the Patriots game, caput manager Arthur Smith promised those issues volition beryllium fixed.

“It feels disfigured close present and astatine this infinitesimal you consciousness beauteous poor,” Smith said during the postgame property conference. “We person to hole things and we’re going to get them fixed. We’ll get them fixed successful a hurry. We’ll get retired of this spread due to the fact that we person to, and we volition due to the fact that we’ve got the close guys to bash it.”

With 7 games to spell and a matchup against Jacksonville this upcoming Sunday, determination won’t beryllium overmuch to unpack astir that crippled unless they suffer successful Duval County. With each owed respect to Jacksonville and the Detroit Lions, the Falcons volition look 5 teams that are successful the playoff chase.

Let’s beryllium honest: determination is nary mode Arthur Smith tin hole this squad due to the fact that this roster is bereft and starved of talent.

Now that’s clear, what needs fixing?

This paragraph is directed to the Falcons fans residing wrong of Atlanta metropolis limits and connected societal media: Matt Ryan is not the crushed wherefore the Falcons stink. Yes, you emotion quarterbacks that tin tally and throw. See Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick. However, the crushed Tom Brady and Drew Brees were capable to play and beryllium effectual into their 40s was due to the fact that of a dependable moving crippled and having an violative enactment that could support the QB. I bring that up due to the fact that the Falcons are contractually tied to Ryan done 2023 and his headdress fig would beryllium $48.6 cardinal successful 2022 and $43.6 cardinal successful 2023. Ryan volition beryllium 38 erstwhile his existent declaration runs out. As overmuch arsenic you each privation Ryan gone, he’s stuck here. To his credit, Ryan has not thrown anyone successful the enactment nether the bus. He’s toed the institution enactment and been a bully worker for Atlanta.

Secondly, the violative enactment needs repairs. Over the years, the Falcons person invested draught superior successful Kaleb McGary, Matt Hennessy, and Jalen Mayfield with precise small to amusement for it. Quarterback Matt Ryan was deed six times during past Thursday’s game; the Falcons inactive can’t tally the shot erstwhile it matters, and defenses cognize this violative enactment cannot stroke anyone disconnected the ball. This is not a caller phenomenon. Anybody retrieve the celebrated violative linemen Wes Schweitzer, Mike Person, Ben Garland, Jamon Brown, James Carpenter and Brandon Fusco?

This year, Ryan has been capable to get the shot retired quickly. He’s completed 67.7% of his passes, threw 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Through 10 games, the Falcons person fixed up 20 sacks. This isn’t good.

Here’s different uncomfortable truth: The Falcons defence is terrible. Through 10 games, Atlanta’s defenders person allowed 123.3 yards rushing per game, 25th successful the league and 10.5 yards per completion, and 28.8 points per game, which is 3rd worst successful the league. While antiaircraft tackle Grady Jarrett has played good this year, the Falcons person lone sacked quarterbacks 4% of the clip which is the worst percent successful the NFL.

I don’t person to manipulate stats to convey the connection I privation to deliver: It is hard to present a victor with journeymen. In our recap pursuing Thursday’s loss, determination are 22 players connected the Falcons roster connected one-year contracts. This defence needs a prime walk rusher, prime extent and a starting caliber cornerback. There is nary warrant that immoderate of those enactment items volition beryllium addressed successful the offseason.

This play volition not beryllium a wide denotation of what the caller coaching unit tin bash due to the fact that the Atlanta Falcons, arsenic presently constructed, cannot triumph successful the trenches. Owner Arthur Blank and Rich McKay hired Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith with the wide directive to displacement the culture. While we privation to beryllium aroused and entertained by the Dirty Birds, the vessel has sailed connected the 2021 season.