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.
Atlanta, GA
Fire at Chamblee apartment complex displaces more than 75 residents, closes businesses
A fire at a Chamblee apartment and retail complex displaced more than 75 people and caused a partial roof collapse, according to DeKalb County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews responded around 4:37 p.m. Sunday to the Windsor Parkview Apartments along Peachtree Boulevard after reports of a fire on the roof.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue said that crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from the roof and immediately began evacuating people from the building.
Officials said the fire quickly spread across a portion of the roof, leading to a partial collapse.
Thankfully, firefighters said most of the damage appeared to be confined to the roof area.
Many of the people living at the complex spent Monday waiting for answers about when they may be allowed back inside. Some told CBS News Atlanta they were especially worried about pets and belongings left behind during the evacuation.
“We didn’t have to evacuate, as we were both already out of the house for Mother’s Day stuff. But we still have all of our stuff up in the apartment, and we have two cats that are up there, and we’re trying to figure out what exactly the plan is to get all that out of there,” said resident Thomas Wheeler. Hours later, Wheeler and his girlfriend were reunited with their cats.
Others said the uncertainty following the fire has been frustrating.
“There’s just a lot of people around with not a ton of information. The red cross was here. We got to interact with them. It was really a great experience at the Red Cross,” said resident Macy Trego.
The fire also impacted businesses located beneath the apartments.
Some workers told CBS News Atlanta they still do not know when they may be able to return to work.
“I’ve gotta get paid. Rent is high right now,” said Jeremy Snyder, who works at one of the businesses below the apartments.
Windsor Communities released a statement Monday saying it is working with the Red Cross to help displaced tenants.
“We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s fire at Windsor Parkview Apartments, and our immediate focus is on supporting the residents and families impacted by this incident,” a Windsor Communities spokesperson said. “We are grateful to the first responders and local agencies whose swift actions helped ensure residents were safely evacuated and cared for during a very difficult situation.”
The company also said it is maintaining communication with people impacted by the fire while investigators continue working to determine the cause.
Fire officials said the fire may have started from an air conditioning unit on the roof, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Windsor Parkview opened in 2021 as part of Chamblee’s redevelopment efforts along the Peachtree Boulevard corridor. CBS News Atlanta has also reached out to the City of Chamblee for additional information about the development’s role in the city’s broader revitalization plans.
Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta sewer work to close part of 10th Street
ATLANTA – Drivers in Midtown Atlanta should prepare for traffic changes this week as a new roadwork project begins along 10th Street.
What we know:
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said part of 10th Street will close starting Wednesday for sewer repairs.
The construction will impact the eastbound lane between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive.
Officials said the repair project is expected to continue for about four weeks.
Crews will work overnight on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Construction activity will continue around the clock on weekends until the project is complete.
What you can do:
Motorists traveling through Midtown are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays in the area during the closure.
Atlanta, GA
Three Biggest Questions Facing the Atlanta Hawks Following the NBA Draft Lottery Results
The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, and while the results did not go the way that the Atlanta Hawks had hoped, landing at No. 8 overall, but they are still getting a top-eight pick in a deep draft when they are coming off a season in which they won 46 games and made the playoffs. Atlanta had hoped that having the most favorable selection from the Pelicans and Bucks would turn into a top-four pick, but they are going to get a chance to add to their young core with a high-level talent.
Now that the NBA Draft Lottery is over, what are some questions facing the Hawks?
1. Who could they take with the pick?
We will get into other scenarios later, but for this exercise, let’s just assume that the Hawks are going to stick at No. 8 and make a selection.
While the top four picks are likely going to be (in some order) AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, the rest of the draft does not seem to be as certain.
There is a popular sentiment that the quarter of guards consisting of Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr are going to be picks 5-8, but that is not as much of a certainity as the top four.
The Clippers are picking 5th, but they just made a big trade for Darius Garland. Brooklyn just took four guards in last year’s draft, and the Kings are always a wild card, though of these teams, they have the biggest need at guard and don’t seem likely to veer from that.
In the NBA, needs is usually ignored in the draft and the best player available is taken most of the time, but it will be interesting to see which players the Clippers, Nets, and Kings decide on.
If those teams do take three of those guards, the Hawks would have their choice of whoever is left over from that group or players such as Michigan center Aday Mara, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, or Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
2. Could the Hawks move up or down in the draft?
While I think as of right now that the most likely scenario is that the Hawks stay put at No. 8, they do have some interesting options to potentially move up or down depending on how things fall.
As I mentioned earlier, the Clippers just traded for Darius Garland and if the Hawks wanted to get ahead of the Kings and Nets to land the guard of their choice, they could try and put together an attractive package to try and make a trade with Los Angeles.
The Nets seem less likely to move down, but after taking four guards in last year’s draft, could they move down and try to target another position?
What about a trade down? If the Hawks had been at No. 7 or in the top four, I would say a trade down is unlikely, but at No. 8, there could be an opportunity there for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh. Would Oklahoma City be interested in moving No. 12 and No. 17 for No. 8? That would give the Hawks three first round picks and if they like a player that could be in that range, that would be a possibility, though all of this is just hypothetical at the moment.
3. Do the Hawks attempt to move the No. 8 pick for an established star?
Saleh has been adamnat that the team is not one player away and that the Hawks wanted to add through the draft, but even in a draft as deep as this one, the odds of getting a star player at No. 8 are long.
It is tough to really gauge the trade market for this offseason right now, but the No. 8 pick is an attractive asset. Could the Hawks try to trade for Celtics star Jaylen Brown? Again, it is tough to know who else could be available this summer and I would bet against the Hawks moving this pick for a veteran player, but never say never in the NBA.
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