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Mike Krueger | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


Team of the Day: Atlanta Falcons
7/20/04

2002 Results
Coach: Dan Reeves
Record: (9-6-1)
Passing Offense: 23rd, 197.9 yds/gm, 18 TDs
Rushing Offense: 4th, 147.9 yds/gm, 23 TDs
Scoring Offense: 5th, 25.1 pts/gm

Team Leaders
Passing Att Comp Yds TDs INTs Rating
Michael Vick 421 231 2936 16 8 81.6
Doug Johnson 57 37 448 2 3 78.7
             
Rushing Att Yds Avg TDs Long  
Warrick Dunn 230 927 4 7 59  
Michael Vick 113 777 6.9 8 46  
T.J. Duckett 130 507 3.9 4 33  
Travis Jervey 10 17 1.7 0 9  
Doug Johnson 8 16 2 1 15  
             
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs Long  
Brian Finneran 56 838 15 6 47  
Alge Crumpler 36 455 12.6 5 33  
Trevor Gaylor 25 385 15.4 3 74  
Warrick Dunn 50 377 7.5 2 31  
Quentin McCord 11 253 23 1 60  
Willie Jackson 18 199 11.1 0 29  
Reggie Kelly 14 162 11.6 0 33  

2003 Results
Coach: Dan Reeves
Record: (5-11)
Passing Offense: 31st, 150.5 yds/gm, 14 TDs
Rushing Offense: 14th, 121.8 yds/gm, 17 TDs
Scoring Offense: 20th, 18.7 pts/gm

Team Leaders
Passing Att Comp Yds TDs INTs Rating
Doug Johnson 243 136 1655 8 12 67.5
Michael Vick 100 50 585 4 3 69.0
Kurt Kittner 114 44 391 2 6 32.5
Rushing Att Yds Avg TDs Long  
T.J. Duckett 197 779 4 11 55  
Warrick Dunn 125 672 5.4 3 69  
Michael Vick 40 255 6.4 1 43  
Justin Griffith 38 168 4.4 0 15  
             
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs Long  
Peerless Price 64 838 13.1 3 49  
Alge Crumpler 44 552 12.5 3 63  
Brian Finneran 26 368 14.2 2 38  
Warrick Dunn 37 336 9.1 2 86  
Justin Griffith 21 122 5.8 2 24  
Quentin McCord 9 121 13.4 0 33  
Jimmy Farris 6 100 16.7 2 42  
T.J. Duckett 11 94 8.5 0 21  

2004 Fantasy Outlook
Coaches: Jim Mora (HC), Greg Knapp (OC), Ed Donatell (DC)
Passing SOS: 9th (1 = Easy, 32 = Difficult)
Rushing SOS: 17th (1 = Easy, 32 = Difficult)

Looking at last year's season/numbers its easy to see where the Falcons need to improve. Their 31st ranked passing game was no doubt a direct result of Michael Vick's absence. The Falcons went 3-1 with Vick at the helm, (2-10 without) so his health is a huge factor if the Falcons are to have team and fantasy success in '04. Jim Mora (former DC of the 49ers) was hired as head coach in January which will bring a slight change in offensive scheme. Mora's assistants, Alex Gibbs, who will serve as assistant head coach/offensive line coach, and Greg Knapp (OC) will be installing Knapp's version of the West Coast Offense. Backup QB Ty Detmer should be able to help mentor Vick in the offense that Knapp will install as Detmer is a long-time WCO QB and is familiar with Knapp's system, having played for him in San Francisco back in 1998. For Vick to succeed in this offense he's going to have to improve his completion percentage and decision making. We all know he possess great athletic ability but the Falcons need him to to mature into a well-rounded QB and they desperately need him to stay out of the training room or another 5-11 season will be on the horizon.

Quarterbacks: Michael Vick, Ty Detmer, Matt Schaub
There may not be a more exciting player in the game today than Michael Vick. He's the best QB on the team and with all apologies to Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett, he may be the best runner. While his quickness and running ability sets him apart from other QBs it also gets him into trouble; injury trouble. Last preseason during a scramble, Vick suffered a fracture to his right fibula which caused him to missed 11 regular-season games. The team is hoping that Vick will make better decisions and work the WCO to its potential. This system is great for a mobile QB like Vick who can thrown accurately on the run but it doesn't call for double-digit rushing attempts by the QB; Vick has had 7 such games already in his career. Finding the balance is going to be key. He's a double-edged sword for fantasy owners; a player with huge upside but considerable risk. I would have no trouble ranking him 3rd (as most prognosticators are) behind Culpepper and Manning in a typical performance scoring league but given his injury risk, the new coaching staff, and the fact that he's still learning the WCO is enough cause for concern. Vick is currently my #7 QB as a result.

Veteran Ty Detmer has been brought in not only to serve as Vicks backup but to help mentor Vick in the West Coast Offense. Detmer is a WCO veteran having served time in Green Bay, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Cleveland and Detroit. Third-round pick Matt Schaub has impressed Knapp and the rest of the staff. He ran a version of the West Coast offense at Virginia and has an outside chance of beating out Detmer for the #2 QB spot.

Projected Stats
Michael Vick - 3,079 yds, 16 TDs, 9 INTs; 597 rush yds, 5 TDs; 307.6 FF Pts
Ty Detmer - 566 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 14 rush yds, 0 TDs; 37.7 FF Pts

Running Backs:
Warrick Dunn, T.J. Duckett, James Fenderson, Quincy Wilson
Fullbacks: Justin Griffith, George Layne
Its very difficult to get a handle on just how the Falcons will use their two primary backs. If both stay healthy, this could be a classic RBBC situation with both Dunn and Duckett having similar fantasy points by seasons end. Dunn had surgery on a torn ligament at the base of his foot seven months ago and because of rehab, missed Atlanta's mini-camp workouts. When healthy, the little man can produce yardage numbers thanks to his quickness and receiving ability. He started six of the 11 games in which he played last year and could have set personal highs in rush yards had he stayed healthy.

Dunn's running mate, T.J. Duckett, has a nice combination of size and speed and performed well after Dunn was placed on injured reserve, scoring 4 TDs in his final five games. Duckett did make improvements as a receiver but doesn't have the speed or possess the home-run threat of Dunn. He will likely be used in short-yardage and goaline situations which only muddles the "fantasy" situation even more. Touchdown or basic scoring leagues will hold Duckett in higher regard. Most yardage-based leagues will elevate Dunn's worth and give fantasy owners two equal options to choose from.

Projected Stats
T.J. Duckett - 712 yds, 8 TDs; 14 rec, 86 yds, 0 TDs; 127.8 FF Pts
Warrick Dunn - 511 yds, 2 TDs; 54 rec, 395 yds, 2 TDs; 114.6 FF Pts
Justin Griffith - 142 yds, 1 TD; 20 rec, 135 yds, 0 TDs; 33.7 FF Pts
George Layne - 11 yds, 0 TDs; 3 rec, 19 yds, 0 TDs; 3.0 FF Pts

Wide Receivers: Peerless Price, Dez White, Brian Finneran, Michael Jenkins, Terrence Edwards
The Falcons didn't have a receiver with more than 70 catches last season. I guess when you're shuffling between Doug Johnson and Kurt Kittner at QB there isn't much hope of posting relevant numbers. Peerless Price is the leader of the group and the only WR heading into camp with a starting position locked up. Atlanta would like Rookie Michael Jenkins to fill the other starting WR spot but he wasn't able to join the team until early June because of academic obligations at Ohio State. Jenkins is a real big kid (listed at 6'4") with speed to boot. He ran a 4.4 at Ohio State but will need as much practice time as he can get in order to bounce Brian Finneran or Dez White from the starting lineup. Finneran is a veteran receiver within the Falcons system but doesn't possess the athletic ability or speed of Jenkins. Dez White had great offseason workouts elevating his status and is currently listed #2 on the depth chart. The three-way battle between White, Finneran, and Jenkins will be one to watch during camp, however its only a matter of time before Jenkins wins the spot... it may not be until mid-season so fantasy value of these three is very sketchy at this point.

Projected Stats
Peerless Price - 68 rec, 966 yds, 6 TDs; 132.6 FF Pts
Dez White - 43 rec, 505 yds, 3 TDs; 68.5 FF Pts
Brian Finneran - 21 rec, 301 yds, 1 TD; 36.1 FF Pts
Michael Jenkins - 22 rec, 287 yds, 1 TDs; 34.7 FF Pts
Terrence Edwards - 6 rec, 76 yds, 0 TDs; 7.6 FF Pts

Tight Ends: Alge Crumpler, Justin Swift
Alge Crumpler is one the better pass-catching TEs in the league and he will be utilized as such this season. "The reason we can move him out from the line of scrimmage is that with his size, speed and athletic ability. . .You don't see tight ends who catch the ball away from their body like he does, just snatch it," said head coach Jim Mora. "Plus, he's dangerous when he has the ball. And he gives quarterback Mike Vick a big target." Crumpler’s 44 receptions for 552 yards last season were career highs and the most for a Falcons TE since Junior Miller had 56 receptions for 574 yards in 1980. A healthy Vick should help to increase his numbers and make Crumpler one of the better fantasy TEs in '04.

With the retirement of Hunter Goodwin, the backup TE position is in flux. Justin Swift is leading candidate but has little or no fantasy value at present time.

Projected Stats
Alge Crumpler - 64 rec, 676 yds, 4 TDs; 91.6 FF Pts
Justin Swift - 4 rec, 44 yds, 0 TDs; 4.4 FF Pts