Regardless of the why it happened, when a team as talented as the 2018 Falcons misses the playoffs, change is inevitable. In addition to a radically remodeled offensive line, several players will be taking on new roles for Atlanta this season, while others will be trying to show that they can bounce back from an off year.
Any way you look at it, this current Falcons team has a number of players with something to prove as we get closer to training camp. Here are five who need to have a strong camp in order to get their 2019 season off to a good start.
DE – Vic Beasley
Beasley has gone from the team’s most promising pass rusher to the one with the biggest target on his back as he’s yet to follow up on a remarkable 2016 campaign. After an ill-advised move to linebacker, Dan Quinn moved Beasley back to defensive end last season, but the results were still underwhelming (five sacks, 20 tackles). Going into the last year of his rookie contract, the pressure is on Beasley to get back on track and show he can be the player that once led the NFL in sacks and forced fumbles. If he can’t, this might be his last season in Atlanta.
OT – Kaleb McGary
McGary fills a huge need up front for Atlanta. However, it’s tough for any rookie lineman to step in and start right away. McGary is a solid schematic fit, but the Falcons have Super Bowl aspirations and they’ll need him to produce at a high level immediately. With three new likely starters up front, it could take some time for the new-look offensive line to gel together. McGary’s level of readiness will go a long way towards determining the group’s success. His first order of business will be to beat out Ty Sambrailo for the starting right tackle spot.
CB – Isaiah Oliver
The Falcons let Robert Alford go this offseason in anticipation of Oliver taking over the spot opposite Desmond Trufant. Oliver had his rough patches as a rookie but he finished the 2018 season strong, posting 20 tackles, one interception and seven passes defensed. This year, Oliver will likely face a dramatic increase in targets as opposing quarterbacks will prefer to throw at the inexperienced Oliver over Trufant. Oliver’s future looks promising, but we’ll see how well he adjusts to the extra attention.
G – James Carpenter
Signing Carpenter was the first move the Falcons made in free agency to upgrade their offensive line. While he’s by no means elite, he’s a steady, starting-caliber player with plenty of experience in a zone scheme. Some felt the team overpaid for Carpenter, but they needed to get better on the interior. Carpenter has started 103 games in eight NFL seasons. That experience will come in handy as he faces Jamon Brown in a battle to determine who will start at left guard.
RG – Chris Lindstrom
Like McGary, Lindstrom will probably be thrown directly into the fire as a rookie. Fans weren’t overly thrilled to hear his name on draft day, but the need for a young interior lineman to build around was crucial for extending Matt Ryan’s career. Some rookie linemen hit the ground running, while other take a few years to find their groove. Lindstrom is likely to be a star right away. If his learning curve takes a while though, he will definitely benefit from playing next to veteran All-Pro center Alex Mack.
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