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| | Friday, August 18 Falcons: Iffy outlook in Atlanta | |||||||||||||||
| By Tom Oates Special to ESPN.com In three seasons, the Atlanta Falcons went from 7-9 to 14-2 to 5-11. The explanation for their imitation of the stock market? In 1999, when Atlanta went to the Super Bowl, everything that could go right did. Last year, everything that could go wrong did. This year, the Falcons could again be respectable IF quarterback Chris Chandler can stay healthy, IF halfback Jamal Anderson makes it all the way back from knee surgery, IF wide receiver Shawn Jefferson is the capable replacement for Tony Martin that Chris Calloway wasn't, IF the two lines can be rebuilt and IF the team can regain the chemistry it had in 1999. In case you haven't noticed, that's a lot of ifs.
Anderson had a career year in 1998, rushing for 1,846 yards, then tore the ACL in his right knee in the second game last year. The Falcons were lost without him, in part because they had no viable backup. Anderson vows he'll be back in form for the start of the season, but his minicamp performances left some skeptical. Top sub Byron Hanspard, another year removed from his own knee surgery, might recapture his form after running tentatively last year. Key position battle Ephraim Salaam was a surprisingly good rookie starter at right tackle during the Super Bowl year. However, Salaam didn't work as hard or play as hard last year, which has put his job in serious jeopardy. Draft picks Travis Claridge and Michael Thompson will get a shot at unseating Salaam, with Claridge, a 310-pound brawler, likely to do so. Biggest adjustment All-purpose ends Chuck Smith and Lester Archambeau departed via free agency, leaving the Falcons looking for a pair of bookends to provide a pass rush in front of a fortified secondary. Brady Smith, a promising free-agent pickup from the Saints, and second-year man Patrick Kerney, last year's first-round draft pick, will man the positions. They'll have to perform because there's virtually nothing behind them on the depth chart. Rookie report Claridge, the second-rounder, and Thompson, taken in the fourth round, could help the unsettled offensive line right away. If Claridge doesn't win the right tackle job, he could start at left guard. It's possible that third-round linebacker Mark Simoneau, a tackling machine, could unseat incumbent Henri Crockett. Fifth-round cornerback Anthony Midget, who plays bigger than his name, won't see much action behind stellar corners Ray Buchanan and Ashley Ambrose, a key free-agent pickup.
| ALSO SEE Panthers: Getting defensive Saints: Big Easy turnaround Rams: What next for the champs? 49ers: Time to move on AUDIO/VIDEO   Jamal Anderson can't wait to get into game action.wav: 230 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Art Shell talks about the condition of Jamal Anderson.wav: 490 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Falcons offensive line coach Art Shell explains the difference between the college and the pro game.wav: 995 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 What is it like coaching under Dan Reeves? Art Shell answers.wav: 828 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||||||||||||
