Teams Atlanta Falcons - The Dirty Birds

Sep 6, 2005
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Falcons hired Bears passing-game coordinator Dave Ragone as offensive coordinator.
It's not a splashy hire, but that was probably to be expected with new coach Arthur Smith serving as his own play-caller. With the Bears since 2016, Ragone served as Matt Nagy's passing-game coordinator in 2020. It wasn't much of a passing game with the Bears toggling back and forth between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, though Trubisky had a few good games down the stretch. 41-year-old Ragone's primary function will be to serve as a sounding board for his new boss. Ragone and Smith coached together in Tennessee from 2011-13.
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Jan 21, 2021, 6:03 PM ET
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Ex-Ravens and Titans DC Dean Pees is expected to un-retire and serve in the same capacity for new Falcons coach Arthur Smith.
Pees coached alongside Smith in Tennessee but retired after last season citing health issues. Now 71, he's apparently feeling better. It was mostly about talent and injuries, but the Titans' defense fell off in Pees' absence this year. Save for 2020, Pees has coordinated an NFL defense every year since 2012, serving Baltimore before Tennessee. He served four years as Bill Belichick's defensive boss before that. He's had good players, but Pees has almost always had good defenses. The personnel in Atlanta is going to be an issue, though the Falcons' defense often punched above its weight down the stretch in 2020.
SOURCE: NFL.com
Jan 21, 2021, 4:46 PM ET
 
Sep 6, 2005
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NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are "not going anywhere" this offseason.
The Falcons have the third fewest cap space (-$36.2 million) in the NFL right now, but moving on from Ryan or Jones wouldn't help their situation because of their dead cap numbers. The new coaching staff also probably wants these two around for the next two or so seasons before fully going into the rebuild. Coach Arthur Smith could elevate the Falcons offense if Jones (nine games) can stay healthy and if Ryan avoids falling off a cliff as a 36-year-old. Any speculation that Atlanta is rebuilding in 2021 can be put to bed.

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SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Feb 2, 2021, 6:31 PM ET
 
Sep 6, 2005
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The Athletic's Tori McElhaney said she doesn't expect the Falcons to re-sign impending free agent Todd Gurley.
It was always unlikely the injury-ravaged veteran would return for a second season in Atlanta, where he served as a change-of-pace back in the season's final month and a half. "It’s really difficult to justify Gurley staying," McElhaney said, adding that it "may make more sense for the Falcons to look to the draft for a replacement if there is a running back on the table for them in the second or third round." Gurley signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Falcons last spring. Depending on where he signs, Gurley -- who had the 113th highest Pro Football Focus grade among running backs in 2020 -- will be little more than a late-round pick in fantasy drafts next summer.
SOURCE: The Athletic
Feb 11, 2021, 1:06 PM ET
 
Need to keep July. He might not be as durable as Fitzgerald or Megatron. But I'd love him to stay a one club player. Is so physically gifted he'll always be an asset.

Matt Ryan? It's very difficult. He's quite durable (missed what, 3 games in his career? Edit - Yep, 2 in 2009, 1 in 2019) so could be around for quite a while longer.

As much as I'd love to get the next franchise qb when the opportunity arises (similar to Rodgers, Mahomes etc.) I'm not sure there's depth this year in this draft (Lawrence I'd take in a heart beat, I'd take a punt on Fields, but I would not touch Wilson - he'll be a bust.)

But I then look to Brees, Brady, Rivers, Roethlisberger its. Ryan could still have 5+ years left of good football!

I'd personally take Pitts and have a star studded offence who can destroy anybody. But the logical choice is probably edge rusher in the 1st and and CB in the 2nd.

Who knows.
As long as we avoid Wilson I'm happy.
Well, maybe, OL isn't exactly sext either.
 
Well the rumor is we could be trading Ryan to the Colts and drafting say Mac Jones. But we definitely need to keep Julio.

More likely Wilson or Fields depending who's available at #4. Please don't be my Zach. 💔 I can handle him being a Jet but a Falcon would kill me.
 
Actually just checked then. Surprised how much some teams have lowered their prices to Match Atlanta

Here's a list of beer prices in the NFL

1. Las Vegas Raiders $13
=2. Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers $12.50
=4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Football Team $11
=9. New York Giants, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins $10.50
=14. Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans $10
League average $9.12
=20. Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys $9
23. Kansas City Chiefs $8
24. Indianapolis Colts $7.50
25. Denver Broncos $7
26. Arizona Cardinals $6
27. Cleveland Browns $5.50
28. Houston Texans $5.25
=29. Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens $5

Thought I'd look at a few other concessions too

Sodas

=1. Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers $6.50
3. Indianapolis Colts $6.25
=4. Washington Football Team, Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders $6
=7. Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills $5.75
=9. Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints $5.50
=15. Detroit Lions, Houston Texans $5.25
=17. Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys $5
average $4.86
25. New England Patriots $.75
26. Miami Dolphins $4
=27. New York Giants, New York Jets $3.75
29. Baltimore Ravens $3
30. Carolina Panthers $2.50
31. Atlanta Falcons $2

Source doesnt have 49ers stats

Hot Dogs
=1. Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders $7.50
4. Chicago Bears $7.25
5. Buffalo Bills $7
6. Miami Dolphins $6.75
=7. Minnesota Vikings, Washington Football Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, New York Jets $6.50
12. Detroit Lions $6.25
=13. Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Green bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans $6
=18. Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts $5.75
=20. Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals $5.50
NFL average $5.50
=24. Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans $5
26. Arizona Cardinals $4.50
27. New England Patriots $4.25
28. Seattle Seahawks $4
29. Baltimore Ravens $3
30. Carolina Panthers $2.50
31. Atlanta Falcons $2

Source doesnt have 49ers stats


It's nice to see other teams (such as Baltimore) really follow what Atlanta lead on the front foot with from 4 years ago
 
As much as I think Avery Williams is a game breaker.
I'm not big on drafting return specialists who add nothing else.

Dont get me wrong. I can legitimately see him being a pro-bowler as a rookie.
But Im not sure throwing a draft pick away on someone who'll make 1 play a month is really worth it.

Then again, I guess alot of games are decided by 1 score. That could be 2-3 wins just from his potential special team plays.

I made the comment online previously.
Avery Williams is Devin Hester 2.0

Will break games open. But he wont add anything on offence or defence.
15 years ago before current rules. I wouldnt at all be shocked if he was a 1st round pick like Hester
but today? I feel even a 5th is a reach.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Falcons won't exercise TE Hayden Hurst's fifth-year option.
Hurst will be a free agent in 2022. Atlanta went all in on phenom tight end Kyle Pitts, taking him with the fourth pick in the 2021 draft, thereby ending Hurst's 2021 fantasy relevance. Hurst in 2020 saw encouraging usage in the Falcons offense, running the fourth most routes among tight ends on his way to 85 targets, the ninth most among tight ends. Even with heavy usage, Hurst averaged the 15th most tight end fantasy points per game. It wouldn't be surprising if another team signed Hurst as their primary pass-catching tight end in 2022.
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SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter
May 3, 2021, 9:18 AM ET
 
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