The 2019 season was a tale of two halves for the Atlanta Falcons. After a 1–7 start, the team went 6-2 down the stretch to finish the year with a 7-9 record.
As a whole, the Falcons’ season was a failure. However, that doesn’t mean there weren’t some bright spots that bode well for the team going forward.
Here are three good things to come out of Atlanta’s frustrating year.
Kicker: Younghoe Koo
Jason Getz-USA TODAY SportsThe decision to cut Matt Bryant and sign Younghoe Koo when the team was 1-7 seemed questionable at the time, but Koo was outstanding over the final eight weeks of the season. He went 23-for-26 on field goals, 15-for-16 on extra point attempts and won two NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.
Koo also helped the team convert two onside kicks and recovered a fumble in the eight games he played. While the Falcons have yet to commit to Koo as their long-term kicker, it’s certainly his job to lose in 2020 after a strong showing in 2019.
Raheem Morris taking over as DC
Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsRaheem Morris has been a valuable addition to Atlanta’s coaching staff. He took over the defensive play-calling duties at midseason and helped the struggling unit turn things around. The Falcons won six of their final eight games, and Morris’ work with the team’s young defensive backs was a key factor.
Dan Quinn wisely promoted Morris to be the full-time defensive coordinator in 2020. Atlanta’s secondary will be even more inexperienced this season after the team released Desmond Trufant. Morris has his work cut out for him, but certainly seems like the right man for the job.
WR Russell Gage’s development
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY SportsThe Falcons shipped out wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots and actually bested Bill Belichick in a trade. A second-round pick for what had essentially become Atlanta’s slot receiver was a no-brainer. With Sanu out of the picture, second-year wideout Russell Gage got more playing time. The former sixth-round pick finished the season with 49 catches, 446 yards and one touchdown.
As the Falcons enter the 2020 season without pass-catching tight end Austin Hooper, Gage could see his role expand again this year. Quarterback Matt Ryan isn’t afraid to spread the ball around. Plus, with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley lining up on the outside, there should be plenty of balls coming in Gage’s direction.
