Why the Falcons have the talent to compete for a Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons

Predicted: 2^nd

2008: 11-5 (2^nd NFC South)

Head Coach: Mike Smith (2^nd year)

Roster Quick View

Offense (coordinator: Mike Mularkey)

QB: Matt Ryan

Has a chance to join Peyton, Tom and Big Ben in top echelon of NFL quarterbacks.

RB: Michael Turner

First-time starter last season rushed for 1,699 yards. Seemed to break at least one tackle on each of his league-leading 376 carries.

RB: Jerious Norwood

Somewhat reckless, but he’s so darn electric that it often doesn’t matter.

FB: Ovie Mughelli

Doesn’t get far enough in front as a lead-blocker. Awareness seems iffy at times.

WR: Roddy White

Has improved in each of his four seasons thus far. Speed, deceptive route running and chemistry with Matt Ryan make him a borderline Top 5 WR.

WR: Michael Jenkins

Prototypical possession receiver who is willing to go over the middle. One of the position’s best blockers, too.

WR: Harry Douglas

Darting big-play weapon who benefits from natural separation out of the slot.

TE: Tony Gonzalez*

At 33, the future Hall of Famer hasn’t lost even a hint of a step. Falcons nabbed him, in part, because he’s a standout blocker.

TE: Ben Hartsock

Will compete with steady but ordinary Justin Peelle for the blocking-centric No. 2 job.

LT: Sam Baker

Back injury hampered him for most of rookie season. When healthy, shows a solid ability to land blocks in space.

LG: Justin Blalock

Third-year pro is developing okay, though, at 333 pounds, you’d like to see him move defenders on a more regular basis.

C: Todd McClure

Dependable veteran (112 straight starts) who knows the game.

RG: Harvey Dahl

One of the more unheralded players in football. Falcons often center their run-blocking efforts around his fortitude in space.

RT: Tyson Clabo

Somewhat of a mudder, but shouldn’t be much of a drop-off from Todd Weiner.

6 OL: Quinn Ojinnaka

Finesse tackle who has also drawn practice reps at guard.

Defense (coordinator: Brian VanGorder)

LDE: Jamaal Anderson

Very, very rarely do you see fulltime starters play so much and do so little. Former Top 10 pick gives whole new meaning to the term “non-factor.”

DT: Jonathan Babineaux

Made huge strides as a one-gap penetrator last season. Plays a hyperactive brand of football that almost relies on having talent around him.

DT: Peria Jerry**

Is technically replacing two-gapper Grady Jackson, but that may not be this 299-pounder’s style. Was a playmaker at Mississippi.

RDE: John Abraham

Finally playing for a coaching staff that understands the importance of limiting his snaps. When healthy and fresh, he’s an almost-uncontainable pass-rusher.

3 DE: Chauncey Davis

Not terrible, but not fast enough to consistently rush the passer, and not stout enough to stuff the run. Likely to slip behind fourth-rounder Lawrence Sidbury on the depth chart.

3 DT: Trey Lewis

Hopes to regain stellar ’07 rookie season form after two surgeries on a devastating knee injury last year.

SLB: Stephen Nicholas

Spent first two seasons primarily on special teams. Might not be ready to flourish, but Falcons have no other options here.

MLB: Curtis Lofton

His awareness sharpened each week as a second-round rookie starter in ’08. Wisely dropped some weight in hopes of increasing speed. Can he hold up in coverage?

WLB: Mike Peterson*

Has maybe lost a step at 33, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still play. Spent five years in Mike Smith’s system as a Jaguar.

4 LB: Coy Wire

Speedy former safety who, oddly enough, is monumentally better against the run than pass.

CB: Chris Houston

Coaches have been harping on the third-year pro about being physical. When he is, he’s an impressive one-on-one defender.

CB: Brent Grimes

Athletic and shows near-perfect fundamentals, but durability might put a ceiling on his development. Third-round rookie Chris Owens is likely to get this job at some point.

NB: Chevis Jackson

Has been solid in his slot duties thus far. Might deserve a crack at a starting role.

SS: Thomas DeCoud

This scheme demands adept coverage from the SS. But the bigger concern is, can he fill Lawyer Milloy’s shoes against the run?

FS: Erik Coleman

Being looked to as the leader of this somewhat shaky defensive backfield. Versatility needs to translate into more big plays.

6 DB: William Moore**

Would have been a top-10 pick before ankle issues hindered his senior year. Falcons love his 4.45 speed and violence as a hitter.

Special Teams

K: Jason Elam

Still has decent range and ice water in the veins.

P: Michael Koenen

His remarkable hangtime is largely responsible for this team’s record-setting punt coverage statistics.

RS: Harry Douglas

Capable of scoring six points when given some daylight.

Offseason Quick Glance

Draft

RD PK (OVR) NAME POS SCHOOL

1 24 (24) Peria Jerry DT Ole Miss

2 23 (55) William Moore S Missouri

3 26 (90) Chris Owens CB San Jose St

4 25 (125) Lawrence Sidbury DE Richmond

5 2 (138) William Middleton CB Furman

5 20 (156) Garrett Reynolds OT UNC

6 3 (176) Spencer Adkins ILB Miami

7 1 (210) Vance Walker DT Ga Tech

KEY PLAYERS ACQUIRED

TE Tony Gonzalez (trade Chiefs).

MLB Mike Peterson: UFA Jaguars; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

C Brett Romberg: UFA Rams; terms unknown.

KEY PLAYERS LOST

LB Michael Boley: UFA Giants; $25M/5 yrs, $11M guaranteed.

LB Keith Brooking: UFA Cowboys; $6M/3 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

CB Domonique Foxworth: UFA Ravens; $27.2M/4 yrs, $4M SB/$3.38 report bonus/$16.5M guaranteed.

DT Grady Jackson: UFA Lions; $8M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.

DT Kindal Moorehead (released).

WR Laurent Robinson (traded Rams).

LT Todd Weiner (retired).

Analysis

It’s almost unfair that Atlanta’s young, high-powered offense gets to add future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to the fold. Give GM Thomas Dimitroff a world of credit for that move. Gonzalez’s arrival also improves what was already a good run-blocking unit. This should make up for the loss of retired RT Todd Weiner.

Mike Smith and Dimitroff felt the need to upgrade the defense. They focused primarily on speed. Atlanta said goodbye to aging veterans Keith Brooking and DT Grady Jackson, underachieving LB Michael Boley, and impressive but overpriced CB Domonique Foxworth. Brooking, an Atlanta native and Georgia Tech alum, will be missed as a leader. At least his replacement, Mike Peterson, is well-versed in this scheme, having played for Mike Smith in Jacksonville. A replacement was not brought in for Boley.

Grady Jackson will be replaced by first-round rookie Peria Jerry. Jackson was a two-gap behemoth; Jerry is more of a one-gap penetrator.

There’s a lot to like about versatile second-round safety William Moore. Many considered him a Top 10 prospect prior to his injury-riddled senior season. The coaching staff loves third-round CB Chris Owens’s man coverage abilities, and they’re eager to see how well fourth-round DE Lawrence Sidbury’s Combine DE-best 4.5 speed translates at the pro level. In all, the Falcons could have as many as four new defensive starters in Week 1.