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babuka · (This post was last modified: 08-01-2011 11:13 AM by babuka.)

Offense Returns 9 of 11 starters in both '11' personnel and '21' personnel. Falcons will probably take a slight hit in performace at right guard in whoever replaces Harvey Dahl, the Falcons will probably get a boost of performance in Julio Jones replacing Jenkins.

QB - Ryan (better)
RB - Turner (non obvious passing situations) (same)
RB - Rodgers (obvious passing situations) (better)
FB - Mughelli (21 personnel) (same)
SW - Douglas (11 personnel) (better)
WR - White (same)
WR - Jones (better)
TE - Gonzalez (same - keeps in great shape despite age)
LT - Baker (better)
LG - Blalock (better)
C - McClure (worse - getting old)
RG - Mike Johnson/Reynolds (worse - no experience)
RT - Clabo (same)

Overall I have 6 guys/situations being better, with only two players being worse with one of those due to age.

Defensively the Falcons has its entire two deep back except for Brian Williams. They add DE Ray Edwards who will probably rotate heavily with Abraham and Biermann.

DE - Abraham (probably slightly worse due to age)
DE - Edwards/Biermann (better)
DT - Babineaux (same)
DT - Jerry/Peters (better)
MLB - Lofton (better)
SLB - Nicholas/Peterson (better?)
WLB - Weatherspoon (better)
SS - Moore (better)
FS - Decoud (better)
CB - Grimes (same?)
CB - Robinson (better?)
NB - Owens/Franks (?????)

Except for Abraham slowing down some due to age I expect the rest of the defense to all either stay the same or get better this year (obviously Mike Peterson will not, but I think Nicholas will step up and play some more SLB this year giving us a boost at that position). You have to assume that whoever wins the nickle back job Owens/Franks will be a better player individually than they were last year, but that don't mean they will be better than a healthy Brian Williams. Probably the biggest question mark on the team.

I think by looking at the how each guy should improve/degrade based on experience and injury history; and adding in the moves the Falcons made, it is really hard not seeing the Falcons being a better team in 2011 if they stay healthy.