*Around The NFL's season preview wraps up in the NFC South. Our podcast NFC preview is right here. *
Change we can believe in
Anyone watching "Hard Knocks" knows the Falcons made it a priority to grow nastier on both lines. I want to believe it after seeing Atlanta add defensive tackle Paul Soliai and former Chiefs end Tyson Jackson to a run-stopping unit that ranked ahead of only the Bears in 2013. I'm not sold on Jackson, but Soliai is an underrated force inside who plays with a mean streak.
On offense, the addition of right guard Jon Asamoah gives the Falcons a durable blocker who was supposed to work alongside rookie tackle Jake Matthews. With bookend Sam Bakerlost for the year to a knee injury, though, Matthews will take over on the left side, leaving unproven Lamar Holmes to man the right. The entire operation in Atlanta comes down to protecting Matt Ryan, and general manager Thomas Dimitroff gets the nod for prioritizing his front five. Barring another injury, this line should improve.
Biggest concern
It's disingenuous to predict a major turnaround on defense. The loss of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon only thinned a front seven lacking a top-flight pass rusher in a division with Drew Brees and Cam Newton slinging passes.
After ranking 29th in sacks last season, the Falcons still lack difference-makers off the edge. Kroy Biermann is coming off an Achilles injury while Jonathan Babineaux and Osi Umenyiora are past their primes. It's interesting to note that Atlanta's first official depth chart showed a nickel alignment with just two linebackers on the field.
Training camp surprise
The "good" kind of surprise comes with the healthy return of Julio Jones, who is running at full speed and resembles an unstoppable beast in August. The wideout's Preseason Live footage against Tennessee shows Jones dominating one-on-one matchups and dressing Titans safety Bernard Pollard in a finely crafted clown suit. With Atlanta all but eliminating the pass-catching tight end role, Jones is set up for a campaign that could rival Josh Gordon's numbers from a year ago.
Notable Madden ratings
- Julio Jones - 92
- Matt Ryan - 87
- Roddy White - 89
- Desmond Trufant - 82
We didn't expect to see running back Devonta Freeman back-burnered in preseason games behind Jacquizz Rodgers. The rookie has barely played with the ones, but he's shown well as a reserve both on the ground (20 carries for 92 yards) and through the air (six catches for 101 yards). After 64 snaps this month, he grades out as the NFL's second-best runner, per Pro Football Focus.
What we'll be saying in February
Julio Jones is otherworldly, but the Falcons are an incomplete team.
Around The NFL's predicted finish: Third place in NFC South, No. 18 in Around The NFL's Power Index.
The "Around The NFL Podcast" reviews all of the action from Week 3 of the preseason. Get it while it's hot!
