A T L A N T A   F A L C O N S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Dan Reeves 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 25 at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  at G.B.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  CHI.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  CIN.  8:30 p.m.  Sept. 29  Open     Oct. 6  T.B.  1 p.m.  Oct. 13  at NYG  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  CAR.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  at N.O.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  BAL.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  at Pit.  1 p.m.  Nov. 17  N.O.  1 p.m.  Nov. 24  at Car.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  at Min.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  at T.B.  1 p.m.  Dec. 15  SEA.  1 p.m.  Dec. 22  DET.  1 p.m.  Dec. 29  at Cle.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

Coming off a 7-9 season that could have been at least 9-7, Atlanta jumped into the offseason fray with both feet. After new owner Arthur Blank took over, the Falcons signed free-agent running back Warrick Dunn to a six-year, $28.5 million deal ... and then drafted RB T.J. Duckett with their first-round pick.

Opposing defenses will know this much about Atlanta's offense: The Falcons will run the ball under second-year quarterback Michael Vick, simply because he doesn't have anyone to throw it to. Sure, Shawn Jefferson is still in uniform, but he's entering his 12th season. And Jeff Graham, another 12-year vet, has been signed. He also was named in a federal search warrant in connection with his sister's indictment on drug charges.

Otherwise, the receiving corps consists of Brian Finneran, Travis McGriff, Quentin McCord, Shawn Mills, Alvis Whitted, Mareno Philyaw, Michael Coleman, Kahlil Hill and R.J. English.

To help protect its neophyte QB, Atlanta lured former Seattle tackle Todd Weiner to shore-up an offensive line that allowed 66 sacks last season. And to help Vick's learning process, former San Francisco QB Steve Young has been lured to Flowery Branch to give "some coaching points."

"I'm just looking to put my skills to work and have him come in and sharpen them up a bit," Vick said.

Falcons coaches are hoping Young's ability to balance his mobility with his passing skills will help Vick be more patient as a passer and rely less on his ability to scramble.

But as woeful as the Falcons' offense looks on paper, the defense is even worse. Atlanta ranked 30th overall last season, yielding an average of 365.3 yards per game -- 121.4 rushing (21st), 243.9 passing (30th).

The Falcons have brought in defensive ends Maa Tanuvasa and John Thierry to help rush the QB after the team posted only 37 sacks in 2001. Also new are linebacker John Holecek and defensive backs Fred Weary and Keion Carpenter.

With the team's on-field product offering little to entice fan interest, Blank has announced a new season-ticket pricing structure that reduces prices on 23,000 season tickets. The thought is to sell out the Georgeia Dome so that the NFL-mandated "blackout" can be lifted for home games, giving even more fans a chance to see the Falcons, thus generating more interest.

In turn, Blank believes a packed house will help the players on the field. "We can enhance our home-field advantage by putting a '12th man' on the field -- our fans," Blank said. "Our goal is to fill the Georgia Dome with the energy, noise and excitement our fans and players have told us they want."

And all this time we thought fans and players wanted a winner on the field, not a party in the stands.

Fact Michael Vick was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2000 MLB Draft -- despite not playing baseball since the eighth grade.

Michael Vick, QB -- After one season of study -- and 23 sacks in only eight games -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 Draft takes his place under center for the NFL's 15th-rated offense.

In light of a weak crop of receivers and an even weaker O-line, Vick was 50 of 113 for 785 yards, two TDs and three interception for a 62.7 QB rating in '01. Twelve of Vick's sacks came in just two games -- five to the Bears and seven against the Rams.

After Atlanta picked Duckett, head coach Dan Reeves said of the choice between Duckett or a receiver: "It wouldn't have made any difference. We would have been happy with either [Duckett or a WR]."

Fans wonder if the Birds' brass had forgotten they'd already signed a back -- and still had Jamal Anderson, since released, under contract. "It does not take a genius to figure that out," Reeves said. "If [the players] had been tied, and we needed a wide receiver, do you think I would go through the controversy I've been through to take a running back?"

Well, unless Reeves really has updated his playbook -- "We're spending a lot of time changing some things that I've been doing for 37 years," he said this offseason -- Dunn and Duckett won't be on the field together -- but there will be a need for at least two receivers. Regardless, Vick will be responsible for distrubting the ball to whomever the Falcons employ.

"Most quarterbacks make a big jump [between the first and second season]," Reeves said. "[New England's] Tom Brady gives you hope. It's going to be easier for Mike, and I think he'll make a bigger jump because of it."

Fact The Falcons have drafted more tackles (seven -- George Kunz, 1969; Warren Bryant, 1977; Mike Kenn, 1978; Bill Fralic, 1985; Bob Whitfield, 1992; Lincoln Kennedy, 1993; Travis Claridge, 2000) with their first draft choice than they have wide receivers -- zero.

Wide Receiver -- Not to beat a dead horse, but where is the ability to stretch the field -- or at least create a little separation?

Whitted, a free-agent signing from Jacksonville, was impressive during the team's June passing camp. But he was being defended by the Falcons' D-backs, a group that allowed 29 passing TDs last year.

After setting a career high with 60 catches in 2000 -- that has more to do with the fact he's always been a second or third option with other teams he's been on -- Jefferson slumped to 37 catches last year.

Finneran may be the diamond in the rough. A third-year player, he caught 23 passes for 491 yards and three TDs last season, an eye-popping 21.3 yard per catch average that included six 25-yard-plus receptions.

Reeves, already on shaky ground after only 16 wins the past three years, has only once in 21 years as a head coach drafted a wide receiver in the first round: Ricky Nattiel, in 1987 with Denver.

With the Falcons, the earliest Reeves has opted for a WR is the third round: Jammi German in 1998 (after he hadn't played at the University of Miami the two seasons prior). German contributed 13 catches -- 12 of them in 1999 -- in three years before being waived prior to last season.

"I think it's difficult for a receiver to come in and make an impact immediately. There's an awful lot to ask of a receiver," Reeves said. "Unlike most skill positions, where a guy can come in and rely on his skills and play pretty early, receivers have so much to do that is different than what they've done before."

Keep an eye on Ashley Lelie and Javon Walker, selected at Nos. 19 and 20, respectively, after Duckett went at No. 18.

Can Wade Phillips make a difference with this defense?

Fact Ray Buchanan, who has recorded several albums, and Ashley Ambrose co-hosted the NFL Players Top Ten Videos on the BET network.

We've already documented the '01 numbers for Atlanta's defense. Now, it's Phillips' unenviable task to breathe life into a unit that has been in a three-year freefall. He's also the team's third coordinator in three years, and Phillips worked for Reeves with the Broncos as defensive coordinator from 1989-92.

"You don't rank 30th by accident," Phillips told the Buffalo News. "So there's a lot of work to do. But I've been in this situation before, and I think we can turn it around."

The Falcons' "D" ranked eighth in 1998, had fallen to 25th in 2000 and was 30th last season.

The additions of Carpenter and Holecek should help, but one of the biggest changes is the move of fourth-year player Patrick Kerney to linebacker from defensive end. He was Atlanta's top pass rusher last season, totaling a team-leading 12 sacks that included a seven-game stretched with at least a half a sack.

"Our corners, Ray Buchanan and Ashley Ambrose, both are veterans, which I like," Phillips said. "Both didn't have great years last year. And safety was a real problem. But we've signed some guys. And having Keion and Holecek both will help because they've played in this defense and they won't make mistakes. That's what I look for first, eliminating mistakes."

Of the Falcons' eight draft picks, only Will Overstreet (second round) and Kevin McCadam (fifth) play defense. Overstreet, like Kerney, will move to linebacker from DE.

With Keith Brooking entrenched at middle linebacker, Phillips has a solid starting point. Brooking returned from an injury-shortened 2000 season to post a career-high 103 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and two interceptions.