We know that key guys like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are going to bring their A-game for the 2019 season. For the Falcons to get back to the playoffs, they’re going to need a bunch of other less well-known players to step up and produce.
Here’s three under-the-radar guys who could wind up making a big impact for Atlanta this year.
RB Ito Smith
Everyone seems to be assuming that Devonta Freeman is going to slide right in and revert to this 2015-2016 form when he returns to the lineup. While that would be the best possible outcome for Atlanta’s run game, there’s a definitive chance that Freeman can’t get back to that level. If that’s the case, the Falcons will need someone in their backfield to step up.
Right now, the best candidate for that is second-year running back Ito Smith. Smith split duties with Tevin Coleman down the stretch last season and showed a lot of promise. Even though he only averaged 3.5 yards per carry, his ability to break tackles and make defenders miss bodes well for his future. If Freeman can’t recapture his old magic, Smith could wind up carrying a heavy load in 2019.
DE John Cominsky
In an ideal world, every rookie coming into the NFL would not be asked to do much in their first year. There’s so much to learn and adjust to that sometimes even the most promising prospects struggle with a brutal learning curve. Sometimes they have to learn fast, though. For the Falcons, the one rookie they need to step up and make an impact right away the most is fourth-round pick John Cominsky.
It’s unusual for Day 3 picks to contribute much, but Atlanta has found a lot of late gems in the draft over the years and Cominsky could be the next one. His ability to line up at defensive end and defensive tackle will give Cominsky a chance to carve out a big role for himself early.
K Giorgio Tavecchio
One important offseason move that’s probably not gotten enough attention was Atlanta letting veteran kicker Matt Bryant walk. He was an absolute rock for the Falcons over the last 10 years, connecting on 88.7 percent of his field goal attempts. Allowing him to leave qualifies as a major gamble by the Falcons front office.
It’s tough for kickers to do much better than that, but Giorgio Tavecchio will have to give it a try. Releasing Bryant says a lot about how highly the team regards Tavecchio, who did not miss a field goal or an extra point last season on 13 total attempts. Perfection is hard to maintain though and Tavecchio has some big shoes to fill. How well he does it may have a huge effect on the NFC South standings this year.
