The Falcons defense has a ton of room for improvement. The offense established itself as one of the top rushing units in football, but the special teams unit may have been the best group on the team, coordinated by Marquice Williams.
The often-forgotten third phase of the game is an important facet of successful teams. Special teams aren’t thought of until someone needs them or they screw up. It’s a difficult job to have in the NFL, but Atlanta’s group was elite. Williams coordinated the fifth-ranked special teams unit in the NFL by DVOA. Moreover, Rick Gosselin, a longtime NFL writer with 40+ years of experience, ranked the Falcons’ ST unit as the 10th-best group in 2022.
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Texans | 255 |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | 269.5 |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | 272 |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | 277.5 |
| 5 | Buffalo Bills | 286 |
| 6 | Detroit Lions | 292.5 |
| 7 | LA Chargers | 296.5 |
| 8 | Indianapolis Colts | 300.5 |
| 9 | NY Jets | 306 |
| 10 | Atlanta Falcons | 309 |
The Falcons led the league in average punt return yardage, thanks to Avery Williams. The former fifth-round pick averaged 16.2 yards per return, nearly doubling the league average of 8.88 yards. The Falcons found an absolute gem in Terry Fonteont’s first draft as GM, and Williams is primed to be one of the best return men in football for years to come.
However, it’s more than just that. Younghoe Koo has been excellent, per usual. The coverage on punt and kicks are also above average. There isn’t a single area on special teams the Falcons struggle. Marquice Williams deserves praise for his work with the Falcons special teams.
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