Atlanta, GA
Five looming questions for the Atlanta Falcons off-season: Have they been answered? | Sporting News
The 2024 off-season has a chance to be a transformational one for the Atlanta Falcons. With the departure of Arthur Smith, the Raheem Morris era of the Falcons makes its beginning and it has gotten off to an explosive start.
With the overhaul of the roster, building this team in the image of the three-headed monster of Morris, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Atlanta has come out of the first wave of the off-season as the betting favorites to win the NFC South, according to DraftKings Sportsbooks.
Before the off-season started, the Falcons had five questions looming that they needed to answer for it to be called a success. We look into whether or not these five looming questions have been answered.
1) Did you upgrade at Quarterback?
Answer: Yes, maybe too much…?
At the end of 2023, 30 quarterbacks had 320+ quarterback plays, according to rbsdm.com. Desmond Ridder ended the year 24th in the league in adjusted EPA/play. The quarterbacks worse than him?
- Washington’s Sam Howell
- Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett
- Minnesota’s Josh Dobbs
- New England’s Mac Jones
- Carolina’s Bryce Young and
- New York’s Zach Wilson
The only player out of that list still on their 2023 team is Young, and that’s because the Panthers invested a first-overall pick on him. The Falcons had to upgrade at quarterback…even if they did it questionably.
Atlanta did everything in their power to secure Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, including giving him a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, but the Falcons weren’t done there.
With Cousins coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and backup Taylor Heinicke not giving much confidence in his abilities in his play last year, Atlanta took quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall selection in this year’s draft.
Was it overkill? Could be. But if this goes as the Falcons believe, Atlanta is set at the quarterback for at least the next half-decade to a decade.
2) Did you address the pass-rush?
Answer: Unconventionally, but yes.
Over the past decade-plus, the Falcons’ pass rush has been virtually non-existent. How much? Since 2014, only 41 teams have had less than 30 sacks throughout an NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons are the owners of six of those teams. The next team on the list is Oakland/Las Vegas, with three seasons.
The Falcons pass-rush needed help, even if they did get over the 40-sack mark for the first time since 2004 last season. So, did they? The answer is yes, but unconventionally, the word of the year for the Falcons’ approach to team-building.
With the Falcons selecting Penix at eight, they forwent the opportunity to add a potential premium pass-rusher in the draft, and they didn’t add a pass-rusher at all in free agency. And after losing roughly 13 of those sacks in the losses of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, there had to be some sort of answer.
Their answer was to add more to the defensive line rotation with not one, not two, but three draft picks spent on the interior of the defensive line. The player with the most upside? The long, athletic Ruke Orhorhoro. The player with the most potential to have an immediate impact? The versatile, powerful Brandon Dorlus. Then, there’s the massive mountain of a man in Zion Logue, who could find a role as a nose tackle.
The Falcons also added one of the potential steals of the draft in Bralen Trice to add to the edge rush rotation, but this off-season showed that they are taking a large bet on those on this roster taking massive steps into their development. 2022 second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie is the top returning sack-getter with 6.0 from last season. If Ebiketie can reach/get close to that double-digit sack total, the Falcons could get to and beyond that 40-sack mark.
Is 40 sacks a low bar? Absolutely, but we have to start somewhere.
3) Who is playing cornerback on the other side of A.J. Terrell?
Answer: Work in progress…
Speaking of bets that this year’s team is making on last year, the Falcons seemingly refused to address the CB2 position. A.J. Terrell is in a contract year and has been teetering between elite and good status since his breakout 2021 season. He’s talented and worthy of that extension, but he and safety Jessie Bates III can’t do everything.
Atlanta made a few signings, adding Antonio Hamilton, Sr., Kevin King and Anthony Johnson to the roster throughout free agency. However, the second cornerback position is up for grabs for most of the cornerback room.
Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips III both have claims to the position as Phillips played admirably in his opportunities last season, while Hughes showed flashes of solid play the last time he was a full-time starter on the outside in 2021, as a Kansas City Chief.
Filling out that other spot is still a work in progress, but they have at least tried to address the situation. How well did they? That remains to be seen.
4) Did Drake London get some help in the wide receiver room?
Answer: Absolutely
Drake London led all Falcons receivers with 905 yards receiving last season. The next wide receiver? Mack Hollins with 251. London hasn’t needed help like this since 1666, and it came in droves this off-season.
Atlanta brought in former Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney in the first wave of free agency, then found a way to pull off the rare player-for-player trade as they acquired receiver/offensive weapon Rondale Moore for quarterback Desmond Ridder, both of which needed a fresh start.
Even with these additions, the Falcons weren’t finished. They drafted Illinois’ outside ball-winner Casey Washington in the sixth round as another potential draft steal.
It was clear that the word of the off-season for the receiver room was speed, and they added plenty of it. With this overhaul, London got plenty of help, and this offense got a much-needed face-lift that could help them compete for a playoff spot in 2024.
5) Did they do enough to overtake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South?
Answer: On paper? Yes
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was overlooked as a signing to the Bucs last season as they were seen as a rebuilding roster in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure. Instead, Tampa Bay won nine games, including five of their final six, to take the NFC South for a third consecutive year.
After outfitting this roster with offensive weapons galore, the Falcons got rid of Smith to get the modern-day mold of a contender: A Shanahan/McVay-type offense and a quarters-heavy, bend-but-don’t-break defense. Was that enough to overtake them for the division? On paper, yes.
Games aren’t played on paper. The Bucs retained a large part of their core, including Mayfield, star wide receiver Mike Evans and star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., making them as formidable as they were last season. If the Falcons’ plan goes as planned, it won’t matter. Atlanta will have too much talent for Tampa Bay to overcome.
I think it’s time to chat again about Eric Hartman. The Braves’ now top prospect completed a 20 HR, 30 SB season on July 1st, through 71 games of his season. He was also ranked the 25th prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America and it’s getting easier every day to see him in the top 10 by the offseason. This is simply a hugely valuable prospect coming from a 20th round pick just two years ago and the back end of the organizational top 30 as recently as March. While he’s only at high-A (probably not for long) and still has work to do on his game, he has rapidly become a potential superstar on the position-player side for an organization that desperately needed talent on that hitting side and has got it this year from not only Hartman.
Haralson County under Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Part of Haralson County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, the National Weather Service says.
The warning will be in place until 6:15 p.m.
Officials say a severe thunderstorm has been located near Buchanan around 5:35 p.m. The storm was moving west at 5 miles per hour.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning extended for Carroll, Douglas, and Fulton
The Severe Thunderstorm Warning set to end at 5 p.m. has been extended to 5:45 p.m. by the National Weather Service.
Authorities say the storm was last located near the city of South Fulton, moving west at 5 mph.
The other Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have expired.
Dozens of Georgia counties under Thunderstorm Watch
Dozens of counties across Georgia remain under a Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued the watch for the following counties:
- Banks
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Butts
- Carroll
- Catoosa
- Chattooga
- Cherokee
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- Dade
- Dawson
- DeKalb
- Douglas
- Fannin
- Fayette
- Floyd
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gilmer
- Gordon
- Gwinnett
- Habersham
- Hall
- Haralson
- Heard
- Henry
- Jackson
- Lumpkin
- Meriwether
- Murray
- Newton
- Paulding
- Pickens
- Polk
- Rabun
- Rockdale
- Spalding
- Stephens
- Towns
- Troup
- Union
- Walker
- Walton
- White
- Whitfield
Other counties in Alabama, North and South Carolina and Tennessee are also affected by the watch.
High temperatures continue to cause concerns in Georgia
While parts of North Georgia brace for the impact of the storms and heavy winds, most of the state remains under a Heat Advisory.
Wednesday marks the third straight day of heat advisories across parts of north Georgia. While the advisory no longer includes all of metro Atlanta, it does cover North Fulton, South Fulton and several western metro counties, where it could feel as hot as 106 to 107 degrees between noon and 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service and CBS News Atlanta Next Weather meteorologist Troy Bridges.
Actual air temperatures are expected to climb to around 96 degrees Wednesday afternoon, well above the typical high of 89 degrees for this time of year.
Read more here.
Warning downgraded to watch for Towns, Union, and Fannin
The Severe Thunderstorm Warning affecting parts of Towns, Union, and Fannin County in North Georgia has been canceled.
Authorities with the National Weather Service say the storm the prompted the warning has weakened to the point where it “no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.”
Instead, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the area until 9 p.m.
List of current Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia
Here are the current storm warnings in place for Georgia.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
- Central Cherokee County until 4:45 p.m.
- East central Carroll County, southern Douglas County, southwestern Fulton County until 5 p.m.
- Southwestern Cobb County, central Douglas County, southwestern Fulton County until 5 p.m.
- Southwestern Towns County, Union County, northeastern Fannin County until 5 p.m.
Flash Flood Warning
- Northeastern Union County until 10:15 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm warning in place for parts of metro Atlanta
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Carroll, Douglas, and Fulton counties until 5 p.m.
Officials say a storm with winds of up to 60 miles per hour was slowly moving near Douglasville at 4:27 p.m.
Another warning is in place for parts of Cobb, Douglas, and Fulton counties. This warning is also expected to end at 5 p.m.
Residents should prepare for possible heavy winds, quarter-sized hail, and fallen trees.
Flash flood warning issued for parts of Union County
A flash flood warning is in place for part of Union County until late Wednesday night.
The National Weather Service says the warning will remain in place for the northeastern part of the county until 10:15 p.m. after radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain in the area.
Officials estimate one to 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen and there may be one to two more inches of rainfall possible in the area.
Residents should prepare for small creeks, streams, and other areas with poor drainage to flood.
Drivers should not attempt to driver through flooded roads.
Atlanta, GA
Conference offers safe space for gay men to unpack the stigmas, challenges of adoption and surrogacy
Dr. Algernon Cargill and Ronaldo Coxson say they were split on whether to have children when they first met. But after they fell in love and got married, they decided that becoming parents was the next step.
“We ultimately chose surrogacy because we wanted to have a biological connection to our kids,” Cargill said. “[A]nd we also heard some horror stories of families being placed with a foster family and then losing on the placement later on…”
The two say it was a rewarding experience. They now have two daughters, Elle, 7, and Grace, 2. They also have great relationships with their egg donor and surrogates. But they say that as a gay couple, the process was challenging and expensive. Cargill says they weren’t able to take advantage of certain forms of support that are more readily available to heterosexual couples and women looking to get pregnant.
“Employers and employer-sponsored health plans do cover some healthcare costs for couples suffering from infertility; that doesn’t necessarily apply to us,” Cargill said. “And so we had to purchase an insurance plan through the market and then use that to cover some of the healthcare costs of surrogacy.”
In an effort to help other men interested in surrogacy, Dr. Cargill and Coxson have opened up about their journey alongside family planning experts at the Men Having Babies Conference in downtown Atlanta. The couple appeared last year, but the conference was held in the city again in June. Organizers say their goal is to create a safe space for gay men to unpack the stigmas and challenges they face while trying to become parents. They are also working to spread awareness about the resources available to community members looking to expand their families.
Tim’m West, the executive director of the Rustin Institute for Leadership Development, was a panelist during this year’s conference and is a friend to Cargill and Coxson.
“We hear it takes a village all the time,” West said. “Well, it also takes a village for gay men that are exploring, bringing families into the world and who don’t want that negative stigma or the pushback…”
West says it’s important for friends, loved ones and allies to show support however they can.
“We use in the LGBTQ community all the time, ‘chosen family,’ ‘found family,’” he said. “Well, I think surrogacy is just something that expands that notion and sort of brings it to bear in terms of – ‘who’s going to be the family to these children that we bring into the world.”
Dr. Lauren Berman, a psychologist specializing in family planning with the Fertile Ground Psychology Group, was also on the panel.
“When people don’t understand that there are rigorous screening processes and very significant education, that there is informed consent, and that there is implications counseling, they misconstrue the idea of surrogacy, that surrogacy is exploitative of women,” Berman said.
She says unpacking misconceptions is important for helping people decide if surrogacy is right for them and their families.
“When standards are used and applied, it is a safe and actually a really loving and exciting process. And I meet a lot of surrogates and a lot of intended parents who end up just adoring each other and feeling very excited about the journey that they’ve been through together,” Berman said.
Coxson says he put effort into fostering good relationships with their daughters’ surrogates.
“It took me really good communication, I’ll tell you that,” Coxson said. “Because you have to talk to someone else and take in their journey as a part of your own, and it becomes a collaborative effort. So if you’re a control freak, surrogacy is not the way to go.”
Cargill says he and his husband will give their daughters more details about how they came into the world as they get older.
Until then, the couple says they tell their daughters they’re special—and were created with love and care.
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