Following back-to-back 7-9 seasons, the 2020 Atlanta Falcons are looking to bounce back and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. With returning talent and a few newcomers on both sides of the ball, let’s take a look and preview where the 2020 Atlanta Falcons sit coming into the new NFL season.
Head coach Dan Quinn returns for his 6th season at the helm of the Falcons. Quinn’s overall record sits a 43-37, but consecutive losing seasons has the pressure turned up a bit heading into 2020. Despite the losing record last year, there is reason for optimism as the Falcons went on to finish the year winning 6 of the final eight games. Momentum typically doesn’t carry over year-to-year, but Quinn and the Falcons believe that stretch righted the ship from the last two seasons for success going forward into their 2020 campaign.
Offensively, Dirk Koetter returns for his second season as offensive coordinator in Atlanta alongside a stable of returning production. Matt Ryan remains at QB, as the former MVP returns for his 13th season. Ryan put up big numbers in 2019 but will try and cut down on the turnovers that have plagued the offense a bit the last two years.
The big addition in the offseason for Atlanta was the signing of former University of Georgia star Todd Gurley. Following his release from the Los Angeles Rams after the 2019 season, Gurley looks to regain some of his value by signing a one-year, five, and a half-million-dollar contract to return to Georgia. Gurley looks to lead a stable of running backs along with Brian Hill and Ito Smith, who will try and revamp the Atlanta running game to compliment a solid receiving core.
Speaking of receivers, Julio Jones returns for his 10th NFL season in Atlanta. The 31-year old remains one of the best receivers in the league and looks to stay in top form for 2020. Calvin Ridley will look to take the next step going into his third season as a great pairing out of the slot with Jones. Replacing tight end Austin Hooper is former Baltimore first-round pick Hayden Hurst, who will try and reach the potential once seen in him coming out of college at South Carolina.
Ultimately, the offense will go how the offensive line goes, and after a disappointing 2019, the young group will try and improve their protection. 2019 first-round picks Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary will look to be key contributors in their second years alongside veterans Alex Mack and Jake Matthews. The first shot at left guard will go to James Carpenter. The group should be an improvement over 2019 if they can stay healthy, which will be the key with not a ton of depth on the front line.
Defensively, Raheem Morris will take over the reins as defensive coordinator of a squad that looks to eliminate doubt over their production. Grady Jarrett remains as the leader of the defensive unit at defensive tackle, and he will be flanked by new defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., who will look to add more consistency at the end position following the departure of Vic Beasley. Takk McKinley will handle the other end spot in what should be a motivated player in a contract year. Marlon Davidson, a second-round pick out of Auburn, should play make an impact on the line at some point but will start the year behind Jarrett at one of the tackle spots.
Following the Super Bowl appearance in 2017, the Atlanta defense looked to take a massive step forward with young talent in linebacker Deion Jones and safety Keanu Neal. Injuries have been setbacks for them the last two seasons, but both are seemingly back to full health for 2020. There’s no doubting the talent they showed before the injury and the impact their absence has had on the defense, so it will be exciting to see if they get back to top form and how the defense will perform.
Veteran Ricardo Allen and Damontae Kazee will handle the other safety spots with Neal, creating a solid defensive back unit for the Falcons.
Atlanta used their first-round pick on cornerback A.J. Terrell out of Clemson, and he will make his debut starting at corner when the Falcons take on the Seattle Seahawks week one. Terrell has impressed throughout camp, so we will see if he lives up to the hype once live action begins.
Overall, this should be an improved Falcons team in 2020, but defensive question marks still plague the team and limits their potential. They still play in the difficult NFC South division with the always tough New Orleans team and a revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad that boasts quarterback Tom Brady, so it will be difficult to predict how much an improved record will come for the Falcons.
Because of the tough division and a difficult schedule overall, I have the Falcons finishing 8-8 and just missing a wildcard spot for the playoffs.
