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Posted: Friday July 11, 2003 11:30 AM
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Atlanta
FALCONS
2002 Record: 9-6-1
Head Coach: Dan Reeves
187-155-2 overall, 11-9 postseason
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TEAM LEADERS
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Passing
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Mike Vick
231-421, 2,936 yards, 16 TDs, 8 INTs
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Rushing
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Warrick Dunn
230 carries, 927 yards, 7 TDs
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Receiving
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Brian Finneran
56 catches, 838 yards, 6 TDs
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Kicking
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Jay Feely
32-40 FGs, 42-43 PATs, 138 points
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Schedule | Roster |
Statistics | Stadium
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By Ryan Hunt, SI.com
This was supposed to be the Falcons’ year to break out. Michael Vick was supposed to be take his bumps and bruises, learning how to win in the NFL on the job. That was the plan.
And much like Vikings defenders, he left all expectations – not to mention adjectives – in his wake.
Quarterbacks aren’t supposed to rush for 173 yards in a single game. And certainly, no one bothered to tell Vick and the Falcons that they weren’t supposed to win in Lambeau Field in the playoffs. The fact that a 22-year-old quarterback was able to do what no other visiting quarterback has been able to do -- go into Green Bay in the postseason and win -- says all you need to know.
Vick-mania started in Week 1, when he nearly propelled Atlanta to a season-opening win at Green Bay. He finished the job in December, then came within one quarter of getting to the NFC title game.
But Vick has another Bay in his sights: defending champion Tampa Bay. The Bucs were the only speedbump in an otherwise phenomenal season, holding Vick to 299 yards passing and 10 yards rushing combined in two humbling regular-season losses.
It built the foundation for what should be a fun rivalry to watch in the NFC South. That one you can count on.
WR Peerless Price – Think Vick is drooling? Price gives the Falcons their first impact receiver in years. After all, Brian Finneran led Atlanta in receiving last year. Like the Falcons, Price had his coming-out party last season, leading the Bills with 94 catches and 1,252 yards. Now Vick and Price will try to take that next step together.
FB Bob Christian – Perhaps the most unheralded in the league for the better part of the past decade, Christian was finally forced to retire after a series of concussions. The only fullbacks currently on the Falcons’ roster are George Layne and rookie fourth-round draft pick Justin Griffith. But Christian’s absence will be felt just as much in the locker room.
QB Michael Vick -- Many fantasy owners took Vick as a second QB last year on the hopes that he might produce on an occasional basis. Instead, he turned into a fantasy superstar because of his running and passing ability. His nearly 3,000 yards and 16 passing TDs are decent stats, but add 777 yards and eight TDs on the ground, and you've got a potential No. 1 pick. The addition of Peerless Price will only help Vick's passing numbers as he'll finally have a consistent No. 1 receiver to throw to.
WR Brian Finneran -- With Price as the No. 1 receiver, the pressure is off Finneran to be the main man. However, he could be phased out altogether as he dropped a number of key passes last year, which could've made Vick's stats look all that more impressive. Don't expect Finneran to match the six TDs he had last year.
RB T.J. Duckett -- The Falcons are still trying to figure out how to use him in the offense as he rushed for just 507 yards and four scores in his rookie year while sharing time with Warrick Dunn. If Duckett gets more carries at the goal line, he'll have some value in TD-only leagues. However, it could be Vick, not Dunn, that steals carries and scores away from Duckett.
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>> Falcons will make the playoffs because...
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Vick got the Falcons there without the benefit of a playmaker like Price. The Falcons should have a better idea of how to use T.J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn effectively together. And lost in the shadow of the Vick glow is an underappreciated defense led by Keith Brooking.
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>> Falcons will not make the playoffs because...
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The easy thing would be to say Vick runs too much and gets folded like a bad poker hand … but the cornerback situation still has a lot of question marks. Juran Bolden’s knee injury in the divisional-round loss to the Eagles was a crippling blow. Ray Buchanan, who battled a number of ailments himself last season, and new arrival Tyrone Williams have to step up and help an improving front three.
| Atlanta Falcons |
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| Signed |
From |
Lost |
To |
| LB Keith Brooking |
Re-signed |
WR Shawn Jefferson |
Lions |
| WR Brian Finneran |
Re-signed |
DT Shane Dronett |
Released |
| S Cory Hall |
Bengals |
CB Ashley Ambrose |
Saints |
| WR Peerless Price |
Trade w/ Buf. |
LB Mark Simoneau |
Trade w/ Phi. |
| CB Tyrone Williams |
Packers |
RB Bob Christian |
Retired |
| LB Keith Newman |
Bills |
TE Reggie Kelly |
Bengals |
| TE Brian Kozlowski |
Re-signed |
G Mike Malan |
Released |
| TE Lamont Hall |
Saints |
T Michael Thompson |
Trade w/ Sea. |
| RB Travis Jervey |
Re-signed |
S Johndale Carty |
Jaguars |
| S Keion Carpenter |
Re-signed |
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| CB Tod McBride |
Packers |
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| LB Twan Russell |
Dolphins |
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| WR MarTay Jenkins |
Cardinals |
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| CB Kevin Mathis |
Re-signed |
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| G Kevin Dogins |
Bears |
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| K John Markham |
-- |
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| LB Artie Ulmer |
Re-signed |
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| WR Trevor Gaylor |
Re-signed |
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| QB Doug Johnson |
Re-signed |
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| TE Derek Rackley |
Re-signed |
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| LB Sam Rogers |
Re-signed |
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| CB Juran Bolden |
Re-signed |
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| Unrestricted |
Restricted |
| S Henry Jones |
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| G Todd McClure |
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| WR Darrin Chiaverini |
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| LB John Holecek |
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| DE John Thierry |
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| 2003 Draft Picks |
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| Rd. |
Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
| 2 |
23(55) |
Bryan Scott |
CB |
Penn St. |
| 4 |
24(121) |
Justin Griffith |
FB |
Mississippi St. |
| 5 |
24(159) |
Jon Olinger |
WR |
Cincinnati |
| 6 |
23(196) |
LaTarence Dunbar |
WR |
TCU |
| 6 |
29(202) |
Waine Bacon |
S |
Alabama |
| 7 |
24(238) |
Demetrin Veal |
DE |
Tennessee |
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