ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 DEPTH CHART :
OFFENSE/DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
OFFENSE:
*Base offense is 3 Wr's, 1 TE, 1 HB*
QB1: Matt Ryan (Career 91.1 rating)
QB2: Josh McCown (Career 76.1 rating)
QB3: Zac Dysert
HB1: DeMarco Murray (1845 yds rushing, 13 td's, 57 rec 2014)
HB2: Stevan Ridley (Career 4.3 YPA)
HB3: Thomas Rawls (7th round, 195th overall)
HB4: Corey Grant (UDFA
3rd Down Back1: DeMarco Murray
3rd Down Back2: Thomas Rawls
3rd Down Back3: Stevan Ridley
3rd Down Back4: Corey Grant
FB1: John Conner (Only used in short yardage and Goalline offenses)
WR1: Roddy White (80 rec, 921 yds, 7 td's 2014)
WR4: Brandon Gibson (Avg 33 rec, 387 yds per year over career)
WR2: Dorial Green-Beckham (1st round, 18th overall)
WR5: Jake Kumerow (7th round, 224th overall)
Slot1: Jeremy Kerley (Avg 40 rec, 500 yards per year over career)
Slot2: Justin Hardy (4th round, 122nd overall)
TE1: Charles Clay (Avg 64 rec, 682 yards and 4 Td's in 2013/2014)
TE2: Rob Housler (Avg 26 rec, 283 yds per year over career)
TE3: Levine Toilolo (31 rec, 238 yds, 2 td's 2014)
LT1: Jake Matthews
LT2: Sam Baker
LG1: Sam Baker
LG2: Peter Konz
C1: Joe Hawley
C2: Scott Wells
RG1: Jon Asamoah
RG2: Peter Konz
RT1: Brandon Scheff
RT2: Lamar Holmes
OFFENSIVE STARTING LINEUP
QB: Matt Ryan
HB: DeMarco Murray
WR1: Roddy White
WR2: Dorial Green-Beckham
Slot: Jeremy Kerley
TE: Charles Clay
LT: Jake Matthews
LG: Sam Baker
C: Joe Hawley
RG: Jon Asamoah
RT: Brandon Scherff
-My goals for the Falcons offense in 2015 was to bring more balance to the team. It is no coincidence that over the last two years with Matt Ryan as the QB the team has gone 10-22 and been ranked 32nd and 24th in rushing offense. It was my goal to bring a truly better running attack to the team while also trying to preserve talent and skill for my veteran signal caller.
I was able to accomplish that in a big way by signing HB DeMarco Murray (1845 rushing yds, 13 tds and 57 rec in 2014). Getting the 2014 leading rusher in the league was a big coup for the Falcons and for Matt Ryan. Murray is a 3 down back who is a very good reciever out of the backfield as well. I also brought in Stevan Ridley to spell him on occasion b/c he has a similar style of running but without the hands. I also drafted HB Thomas Rawls, Central Michigan (7th RD 195th overall). Rawls has 3rd round talent but dropped due to character issues. He is a player that can develop into a starting RB with the right support and some growing up. Potential steal in the 7th round.
As far as preserving talent for Matt Ryan to be able to throw to I was able to do that as well. Although I was unable to hang on to Julio Jones, I was able to replace him by adding talent at TE, Charles Clay (Avg 64 rec, 682 yards and 4 Td's in 2013/2014 in an inferior passing game), and bringing in a few WR's through FA and the draft. WR Jeremy Kerley (Avg 40 rec, 500 yards over career in poor passing offenses) will man that starting slot position and WR Brandon Gibson (Avg 33 rec, 387 yards over career in limited playing time). The biggest way I chose to preserve offensive weapons for Ryan was to use my 1st round pick, 18th overall on WR Dorial Green-Beckham. He is a tremendous athlete and WR who dominated college. He should be able to contribute in a big way day 1 opposite veteran Roddy White. I was also able to acquire WR Justin Hardy, East Carolina (4th RD 122nd overall) and WR Jake Kumerow (7th RD 224th overall). Kumerow is a small school developmental guy with a huge frame and very good upside. Hardy is a player who will most likely stick at the slot position and help this team tremendously in years to come while adding depth at WR and special teams ability.
One of the other biggest moves I made was bringing in RT Brandon Scherff, Iowa (1st RD 14th overall). Adding Scherff opposite Jake Matthews gives this line two bookend Tackles for the next few seasons and maybe longer. I also moved Sam Baker to LG since the "real" Falcons are moving him there as well. So with Matthews and Scherff at tackle, Baker and Asamoah at guard and Hawley at center the Falcons are looking forward to having one of the better offensive lines in football. That's good news for Matt Ryan and DeMarco Murray.
BASE DEFENSE (4-3)
LE1: Dante Fowler (1st Round pick, 8th overall)
LE2: Willie Young (10 sacks 2014)
RE1: Olivier Vernon (6.5 sacks 2014)
RE2: Jabaal Sheard (23 sacks 2011-2014, 44 tackles, 2 sacks 2014 as OLB)
LDT1: Tyson Jackson (22 tackles 0 sacks 2014)
LDT2: Roy Miller (31 tackles 1 sack 2014)
RDT1: Paul Soliai (29 tackles 1 sack 2014)
RDT2: Roy Miller
Weak side OLB1: J.T. Thomas (85 tackles, 2 int's, 2 FF, 5 PD's 2014)
Weak Side OLB2: Jacquian Williams (78 tackles, 3 PD's, 9 games played 2014)
ILB1: Paul Worrilow (143 tackles, 3 PD's, 2 FF, 2 sacks 2014)
ILB2: Michael Wilhoite (87 tackles, 2 int's, 6 PD's, 1 FF 2014)
ILB3: Casey Matthews (53 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF 2014)
ILB4: Mike Hull (7th round, 200th overall)
Strong Side OLB1: Joplo Bartu (83 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FR 2014)
Strong Side OLB2: Prince Shembo (58 tackles 2014)
CB1: Davon House (31 tackles, 1 int, 10 PD's, 1 FF 4 games started 2014)
CB4: Charles Gaines (4th round, 100th overall)
CB2: David Amerson (61 tackles, 7 PD's 2014)
CB5: Craig Mager (6th round, 188th overall)
NB1: Robert Alford (31 tackles, 3 int's, 11 PD's 2014)
NB2: Charles Gaines (4th round, 100th overall)
FS1: Dashon Goldson (81 tackles 2014)
FS2: Dezmen Southward (23 tackles, 1 int, 1 sack, 2 PD's 2014)
FS3: Chris Hackett (6th round, 169th overall)
SS1: Kemal Ishmael (96 tackles, 4 int's, 6 PD's, 1 FF, 10 games started 2014)
SS2: William Moore (25 tackles, 2 FF, 7 games played 2014)
DEFENSIVE STARTING LINEUP
LE: Dante Fowler
RE: Olivier Vernon
LDT: Tyson Jackson
RDT: Paul Soliai
WSLB: J.T. Thomas
ILB: Paul Worrilow
SSLB: Joplo Bartu
CB1: Davon House
CB2: David Amerson
FS: Dashon Goldson
SS: Kernel Ishmael
-One way I wanted to attack this off-season as GM of the Falcons was to rebuild the defense first and foremost. In 2014 the Falcons were ranked 27th in points against and 32nd in total yards against.
One of the worst parts of the 2014 defense was the pass rush. The 2014 Falcons ranked 30th in sacks (22) in 2014. The way I set out to address that problems was through trades, FA and the draft. Through trades I was able to acquire DE Willie Young (10 sacks in 2014) and DE Olivier Vernon (6.5 sacks in 2014). Using FA I was able to bring in DE Jabaal Sheard (23 sacks 2011-2014). During the draft process I was able to bring in one of the top pass rushers coming out of college in 2015. That player was DE Dante Fowler, 1st Round 8th overall. He should add a ton of depth at the position and a heavy pass rush. All of these moves will contribute to having more depth on the DL and having a formidable pass rush.
One of the other big issues with the Falcons 2014 defense was the depth at all of the LB positions. In order to increase depth and skill at those positions I used FA and the draft. Through FA I was able to acquire OLBers J.T. Thomas and Jacquian Willaims. And at ILB I was able to bring in Michael Wilhoite and Casey Matthews. All 4 of these players will contribute significant snaps on defense in 2015. During the draft process I was able to bring in ILB Mike Hull, Penn St. (7th round, 200th overall). This is a player who has 5th/6th round talent that I was able to acquire in the 7th round. He is a guy that can develop into a solid rotational LB with an immediate impact on special teams.
The other big issue with the 2014 Falcons defense was their horrid play against the pass. They ranked 32nd against the pass in 2014. In order to increase the talent level in the secondary I used trades, FA and the draft to do so. During the off-season I was able to trade for CB David Amerson (99 tackles, 17 PD's, 2 int 2013/2014). I also was able to acquire some players through FA. Those players were CB Davon House (31 tackles, 10 PD's, 1 int in 10 games played 2014) and FS Dashon Goldson (81 tackles 2014). I was also able to acquire some young talented pieces to the secondary during the draft. Those players include CB Charles Gaines, Louisville (4th RD 100th overall), CB Craig Mager, Texas State (6th RD 188th overall) and FS Chris Hackett (6th RD 169th overall).
Overall I feel as though the defense has been upgraded in every aspect that I wanted to achieve. I brought in pass rushers to get to the QB at a higher frequency. I added talent and depth to the LBer core. And I also added talent, depth and experience to the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
LS: Josh Harris
K: Kai Forbath (88.1 career accuracy percentage 59/67)
P: Matt Bosher (Career 45.5 yards per punt, 8th in net punting 2014)
KR: Justin Hardy
PR: Jeremy Kerley
-As far as the special teams the only thing that needed to be upgraded was kicker. LS Josh Harris is as consistent as they come and P Matt Bosher was 8th in net punting in 2014. I brought in K Kai Forbath during the FA period. He has a lifetime accuracy rating of 88.1%. With the move to at least 9 games indoors (8 home, 1 in NO) Kai Forbath should flourish in Atlanta.
2015 Atlanta Falcons Draft Picks
1(8) (8th Overall) DE/OLB Dante Fowler, Florida $2,348,364 ($2,348,364)
1(14) (14th Overall) RT Brandon Scherff, Iowa $1,776,273 ($1,776,273)
1(18) (18th Overall) WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri $1,571,955 ($1,571,955)
4(1) (100th Overall) CB Charles Gaines, Louisville $559,257($559,257)
4(26) (122nd Overall) WR Justin Hardy East Carolina $540,027 ($540,027)
6(9) (169th Overall) FS Chris Hackett TCU $471,140 ($471,140)
6(28) (188th Overall) CB Craig Mager, Texas State $461,918 ($461,918)
7(3) (195th Overall) HB Thomas Rawls, Central Michigan $460,966 ($460,966)
7(8) (200th Overall) ILB Mike Hull, Penn State $460,075 ($460,075)
7(32) (224th Overall) WR Jake Kumerow, Wisconsin-Whitewater $446,547 ($446,547)
SALARY CAP
Total Cap Value (Offense): $85,761,008
Total Cap Value (Defense): $56,161,285
Total Cap Value (Special Teams: $2,875,000
Overall Cap Value: $144,797,293
Remaining Cap Space: $202,707