Dear Michael Vick,

Consider this letter your official “Welcome Back” to society. A lot happened while you were away. America proudly elected its first black president. China wowed the world with a stirring Olympics Opening ceremonies. John Edwards became the most noteworthy politician since Bill Clinton to get busted for cheating on his wife, while Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez became the latest baseball superstars to get busted for cheating on the game.

ER went off the air, something called Twitter took over the internet and the world’s economy pretty much went to pot. In fact, your filing for bankruptcy now seems more chic than disgraceful.

But what I’m really writing to tell you about, Michael, is your former team. There’s no easy way to say this, but the Atlanta Falcons got good right after you went behind bars. Like, really good. You may recall that when the judge sentenced you to 23 months back in December ’07, the Falcons were 3-10 and had just been abandoned by a clown of a coach named Bobby Petrino. It was a disaster. America had never pitied a billionaire like they did Arthur Blank.

But right after the ’07 season mercifully expired, Atlanta’s fortunes changed. Team president Rich McKay relinquished player personnel duties to newly-hired GM Thomas Dimitroff, a product of the Patriots front office. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith was hired as the new head coach. With Blank’s blessing, Dimitroff and Smith paired up and reshaped the roster.

A lot of your friends were let go, and some unlikely veterans stepped up in their place. You remember how in 2001 the Chargers didn’t think they could sign you, so they traded away the No. 1 pick and drafted LaDainian Tomlinson at No. 5? Well, the guy who backed up Tomlinson for a few years––Michael Turner is his name––wound up coming to Atlanta. Turns out, Turner’s a star. With the power of T.J. Duckett and vision of Warrick Dunn, the man rushed for 1,699 yards last season.

It wasn’t just Turner, though. The west coast offense was scrapped––I know! After all that hoopla and scrutiny about you and that system!––by the team’s shrewd new play-caller, Mike Mularkey. The young offensive line gelled. Wide receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins finally learned to catch. White, in fact, is probably one of the five best receivers in the game now.

The defense still ranked 24^th in yards, though it gave up the 11^th fewest points. In the end, this Falcons teams went 11-5 and reached the postseason. Everyone was so pleasantly surprised that hardly a peep of disparagement was uttered when the Falcons laid an egg in the Wild Card round at Arizona.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, Michael. You’re probably thinking, That’s nice, but our ’04 Falcons team went 11-5 and actually reached the NFC Championship. That’s true, and no one will deny that 2004 was an entertaining season for this club. But that team also won just eight games the following year. Many are convinced that this current Falcons group will be the one that erases this franchise’s dubious blot of having never posted consecutive winning records. It’s plausible––after all, this team, on paper, is even better than a year ago. Many of the key contributors are just now reaching their prime. Dimitroff traded a second-round pick to acquire future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. He drafted at least three, and likely four, soon-to-be starters on defense: tackle Jerry Peria (first round), safety William Moore (second), cornerback Chris Owens (third) and end Lawrence Sidbury (fourth). Given how this club erupted last year, it’s even possible the words “Super” and “Bowl” will be tossed around in ’09.

Anyway, just thought you’d like to know what went on while you were away. Best of luck with getting back into football. And good luck with the protestors! I’m sure prison wasn’t fun, but I can’t think of a worse hell than having to kiss PETA’s butt. Just grin and bear it! Take care, Michael.

Sincerely,

Your old pal.

P.S. I need to be completely honest with you…I had put this letter in the mailbox before guilt compelled me to retrieve it. I didn’t have the heart to tell you, Michael, but there’s another reason your former team got better after you left: The Falcons found a franchise quarterback. His name’s Matt Ryan and, I’m not going to lie: he’s special.

Offense

Matt Ryan is a superstar in the making. By superstar, think Manning, Brady, Roethlisberger (and maybe Warner and Brees). Last year’s No. 3 overall pick is coming off an MVP-caliber season in which he instantly emerged as a respected voice in the huddle and leader under pressure. Ryan has superior mechanics and is athletic enough to hurt defenses outside the pocket. His most impressive trait, maybe aside from orchestrating the two-minute offense, is his poise in a messy pocket.

Of course, the playoff loss at Arizona revealed how far from perfect the 24-year-old remains. Indeed, Ryan must more profoundly diversify his cadence and become consistent in his later progressions. Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey deserves a world of credit for putting Ryan in positions to fire the ball on quick drops last season. But if Ryan is to recognize his full potential, he must be less dependent on budding star receiver Roddy White (who caught 88 balls and was the target of 34 percent of the quarterback’s passes last season) and more cerebral in finding his ancillary options.

This will be easy considering that Option No. 2 is now Tony Gonzalez. Still the best tight end in football, Gonzalez’s soft hands and dexterity between the hash-marks pose the exact threat that’s needed to discourage defenses from honing in on White. Field-stretching speed and deceptive route running should earn White something in the neighborhood of Fitzgerald-type money when his contract expires after 2009.

Ryan’s third option in the passing game is technically possession wideout Michael Jenkins, though lightning-rod slot receiver Harry Douglas could soon change that. Douglas has game-changing shiftiness that makes him a foil to the stiff-hipped but strong-framed Jenkins. Respected veteran Brian Finneran is Atlanta’s only other experienced wide receiver.

The reason it was Gonzalez who was brought in and not the cheaper L.J. Smith is that the Falcons place fairly rigorous blocking demands on their tight end. The long-armed, technically-sound Gonzalez is superb in this sense, and his presence decreases the team’s dependence on agile but average backups Ben Hartsock and Justin Peelle.

With the premium placed on blocking at tight end (as well as wide receiver, where White and Jenkins are two of the position’s best), plus the employment of a classic lead-blocking fullback (albeit a somewhat ho-hum one) in Ovie Mughelli, it’s easy to see how Michael Turner and this rushing attack ranked second in the NFL last season. Give credit to Turner, though. There may not be a better tackle-breaker in football than the sixth-year pro. Turner attempted an NFL-high 376 carries in ’08, but expect the Falcons to feed more of his touches to explosive backup Jerious Norwood. At 26, Norwood is essentially a finished product, which means he’s a somewhat unrefined runner who gets by on startling speed and agility. But he’s a decent decision-maker and also a reliable pass-catcher (something Turner, who caught all of six balls last season, is not).

Lost in the hype of this star-studded offense is a front five that works remarkably well as a pass-blocking unit. Eleventh-year veteran center Todd McClure anchors things from the middle. McClure has started 112 consecutive games and wants a new contract, though Thomas Dimitroff seems intent on doing business on a year-to-year basis. Can’t blame him. Atlanta’s long-term focus with the line is rightfully dedicated to guards Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl, plus left tackle Sam Baker.

Blalock is an engulfing 333-pounder who must become explosive if he wants to be elite. Dahl might be the best blocker you’ve never appreciated. The Falcons love to generate mobility on the right side and rally behind Dahl, who shows good strength past the line of scrimmage. (It remains to be seen if new tackle Tyson Clabo has light enough feet to keep up in this sense.) Baker remains a bit of a mystery after a back injury derailed a good chunk of his rookie season. He was drafted in the first round for his run-blocking prowess, and prior to his injury last year, he looked decent getting out of his stance in pass protection. If Baker isn’t healthy, Quinn Ojinnaka, a quick-footed fourth-year pro who lacks the power to move defenders, could be asked to fill in.

Defense

Mike Smith is a defensive expert, which is why Dimitroff obliged when he and coordinator Brian VanGorder requested more speed for their aggressive zone-based scheme. Gargantuan two-gap nose tackle Grady Jackson will be replaced by 299-pound first-round pick Peria Jerry, a destructive three-technique. The secondary also got reshuffled, with polarizing leader Lawyer Milloy ignored in free agency and former first-round prospect William Moore drafted in Round Two. Moore has a chance to start alongside third-round rookie corner Chris Owens, a diminutive but fast San Jose State product.

Passive strongside linebacker Michael Boley was allowed to walk and was replaced internally by special teamer Stephen Nicholas. Aging Keith Brooking was also allowed to leave, opening the door for Smith’s former Jaguars pupil, Mike Peterson. Atlanta’s outside linebackers should be solid, but the group’s improvements hinge on second-year pro Curtis Lofton. Needing to amplify his own speed and quickness, Lofton shed eight pounds and six percent of his body fat over the offseason. With Brooking gone and fourth linebacker Coy Wire being strictly a run defender, Lofton now must serve in nickel––something he’s not yet proven capable of doing.

The Falcons could feature as many as five new defensive starters in 2009, plus a slew of significant contributors off the bench. But change doesn’t necessarily equate to improvement. This defense still has soft spots, most noticeably in the pass-rush. Terrorizing end John Abraham is a stud. A new workout routine kept him away from Flowery Branch headquarters all offseason, but that same routine also kept him healthy for all 17 games in ’08 (those who have followed Abraham’s career know that his playing a full schedule is as miraculous as Kiefer Sutherland staying sober for 12 months…or Paris Hilton being celibate for 12 days).

Staying fresh with fewer snaps could allow Abraham to match his franchise-record 16.5 sacks of a year ago. But to do so, he’ll have to race by constant double teams. The Falcons have absolutely no formidable pass-rushers outside their 31-year-old Pro Bowler. Former first-round pick Jamaal Anderson couldn’t be less productive at work if his name were George Costanza. Backup Chauncey Davis has improved, but not enough to be feared. Second-year pro Kroy Biermann is lanky and athletic, but his susceptibility against the run limits how coaches can use him. There’s some excitement about Lawrence Sidbury (the fastest defensive end in the ’09 draft), but he’s transitioning to the NFL from tiny Richmond.

The hope is that Jerry can collapse pockets from inside. In order to do so, he’ll need fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux to continue his surprising rise. The depth behind the two is iffy, with big-bodied cloggers Trey Lewis and Jason Jefferson being goal-line options.

The Falcons secondary is too average to survive a tepid pass-rush. When he’s physical, third-year corner Chris Houston is superb. But opposite him will either be the rookie Owens, the technically-sound but injury-prone Brent Grimes or last year’s free agent pickup Von Hutchins, who’s coming back from a Lisfranc (foot) fracture. Also in the mix is second-year pro Chevis Jackson, though some observers think he’s more equipped for the slot.

The questions at corner make free safety Erik Coleman’s leadership position all the more critical. Coleman is a smart, versatile player who provides this unit’s only solid source of veteran experience. Falcon coaches want to make the safeties more interchangeable in 2009, which means that last year’s third-round pick, Thomas DeCoud, will likely lose the starting strong safety job to William Moore. DeCoud isn’t a bad player, but he doesn’t fill this defense’s playmaking void.

Special Teams

Veteran kicker Jason Elam is still money from long range and under pressure. Michael Koenen gets incredible hangtime on his punts, which is partly why the Falcons set an NFL record for fewest punt return yards allowed last season (49). The punt coverage unit, as well as the kickoff coverage (which ranked eighth in the league) should benefit from the defense’s younger, improved depth. The Falcons have two dangerous return artists: Jerious Norwood on kicks and Harry Douglas on punts.

Bottom Line

Even in this era of quick NFL turnarounds, Atlanta’s rise is startlingly fast. And legit. The offense is young and star-studded. As long as Matt Ryan doesn’t hit a sophomore slump, this is a playoff team. It’s the defense that will decide whether this can be a Super Bowl team. It’s a faster, more ferocious group. But it’s still not quite there. Expect progress but not ultimate fruition in 2009.

Predicted finish: 2^nd NFC South