For my entire life, the Lions have been an underwhelming franchise, constantly disappointing fans, until this season. Detroit is reveling in their first postseason victory since 1991, a place the Falcons are trying to get back to.
Brad Holmes deserves a portion of the credit for his successful draft and free agent classes. Dan Campbell shoulders some of the responsibility for the turnaround, and Jared Goff should be praised for reviving his career with the Lions.
It’s a stark reality of the NFL, which features at least a handful of new playoff teams every season. There’s more parity in this league than any other, and it should give Falcons fans hope that they too can experience a quick turnaround as the Lions have.
According to an executive who spoke with Jori Epstein and Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Falcons are a quarterback and head coach hire away from doing just that.
“If they get the right coach and figure it out at quarterback, it could be a [rise] like the [Detroit] Lions,” one polled executive said. “I don’t think they’re as talented as Detroit offensively, but they do have some potentially elite pieces. Plus, their defense is in good shape as it is, although there are a couple of pieces that will age out. … With the right quarterback, maybe a receiver to pair with Drake London and [Kyle] Pitts, and a little investment in the offensive line, they could have one of the best offenses in the NFC.”
This is the consensus when it comes to the Falcons, who are a talented, yet underachieving team in a favorable situation within the NFC South. There’s a great blend of young, ascending talent and veteran presence on both sides of the ball.
Moreover, the support from owner Arthur Blank is second to none. For all his faults, nobody can call the man cheap. Blank is willing to give his head coach any and all resources necessary to win.
The Falcons own the 8th overall pick to go along with the rest of their draft capital, what could be $50 million in cap space, and a very malleable roster. There are so many different directions the Falcons can go, which makes this offseason pivotal for Blank.
The head coaching hire and eventual quarterback acquisition could set this club back another three years or propel them back to the postseason, ending a six-year drought.
—
Photographer: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.