Why the struggling Braves are poised for a rebound

Don’t call it a comeback. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

We’ve seen this movie before, right? Last year, the Braves finally broke the .500 mark in August. Their issues to that point were centered around an inconsistent offense, a patchwork starting rotation, and a bullpen that was prone to blowing leads at the worst possible times. Sound familiar? Listen, I’m not saying that the Braves are going to go on another improbable World Series run yet again, but I am saying that I believe the pieces are there for a nice rebound. Let’s dive in & take a look at a few reasons why Braves fans shouldn’t hit the panic button yet.

Favorable schedule

            The Braves have 29 upcoming games against teams carrying sub .500 season records. Their opponents include the Marlins (twice), the Diamondbacks, the Rockies, and the lowly As. That’s a great stretch for us to likely make up some ground in the (still early) division standings. Considering we’ve had to matchup against some tough teams like the Dodgers, Padres, & Mets thus far, a month’s worth of games against less formidable opponents is certainly welcome news. Speaking of the Mets, they currently hold an 8-game lead in the division over our favorite team. I’m skeptical that their lead lasts throughout the season, as I’ll elaborate on further down below.

Mets should collapse

            I’m not saying we should continue counting on the Mets to collapse like they did last year every year going forward, but the Mets do seem like a vulnerable division leader at the moment. Let’s begin by examining the fact that the Mets have the worst hard hit rate in the entire league. Meanwhile, the Braves are middle of the pack in hard hit rate coming in with a 12th place finish. Next, let’s talk about the fact that the Mets continuously field one of the league’s oldest rosters. Thirteen players on their 25-man roster are above age 30, and that’s with deGrom (33) on the IL. With age comes soreness, as Max Scherzer is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with an oblique injury. Add these two factors together, and it’s clear that trouble could be brewing for this Mets squad.

Acuna’s return

            Ronald Acuna Jr’s return makes the entire team much more entertaining & fun to watch. His presence adds a legitimate threat at the top of the order, and bumps others down in the order. Defensively, his return has coincided with less Marcell Ozuna in the outfield, which is favorable. He’s hitting the ball well since his return, with a .261/.393/.435 slash line in his 12 games played. Finally, Acuna regularly dominates the Marlins, and as luck would have it we play them tonight. Acuna should be in for a big series, so long as Marlins pitchers don’t try & continue hitting him.

­­Positive regression

            Several notable players, including Charlie Morton, Austin Riley, & Ozzie Albies have gotten off to sluggish starts this season. Do we really believe these guys will stay down all year? I don’t, as I remember watching Freddie Freeman struggle early last year & turning out just fine. Not everyone is Freddie of course, but these guys are simply too talented to play poorly all year. Acuna’s return, a good schedule, & some positive regression will put the Braves in a great spot.

NFL Revenge Tour 2022

You know what they say, revenge is a dish best served cold. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

Now that the NFL schedule has been set for all 32 teams, it’s time to take a closer look at the top “revenge games” on this year’s calendar as the upcoming season quickly approaches. This year’s offseason was a wild one, featuring a variety of trades & free agent signings that shook the NFL landscape to it’s very core. All of this activity means that plenty of players will be experiencing a homecoming of sorts, returning to face their old team on the road or at home. We’ve seen plenty of examples of great revenge games in recent memory, from Tom Brady winning at Foxborough in 2021 to Steve Smith dismantling the Panthers in Baltimore in 2014. It’s always fun to watch how these games unfold, so without further ado, let’s announce the list.

Von Miller @ LAR (NFL kickoff game)

            We’ve got a revenge game right off the bat as the Bills will battle the Rams in primetime. It’s difficult to imagine Miller having any hard feelings towards the Rams after they made a midseason trade for him & proceeded to win the Super Bowl with him anchoring their defense. That said, these types of games are always personal & Miller must prove himself on a new team. A huge win over the Super Bowl champions would allow Miller to feel right at home in Buffalo.

Russell Wilson @ SEA (MNF Week 1)

            The NFL schedulemakers absolutely nailed the timing of this game, as Russ’ trade from the Seahawks to the Broncos was one of the most talked about storylines of the 2022 offseason. Now we’ll get to watch Russ cook against his former team in primetime at his old home stadium. Russ might have some hard feelings towards his former team too, after they repeatedly failed to deliver him an effective offensive line & after they didn’t allow him to influence roster decisions. No doubt about it, this Monday Night Football game is an absolute must watch for football fans.

Chandler Jones vs. ARI (Week 2)

            Jones will clearly be looking for revenge in this game against his former team, as he was unhappy with his Cardinals contract last offseason & desired an extension that he never received.  Josh McDaniels, who was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots when Jones played there, wisely gave Jones a 3-year deal to help instill the Patriot Way culture in their new environment. That move could pay immediate dividends, and it starts in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. I’m predicting at least three sacks and a forced fumble for Jones here in this all-important game.

Wentz vs. PHI, @ IND (Weeks 3 & 8)

            Wentz gets to face both of his former teams in the Eagles & the Colts this coming season. We’ll begin by discussing the Eagles game, as this one doubles as a divisional contest as well. The spotlight will be on Wentz to perform well under pressure here, will he rise to the challenge? Clearly the Colts didn’t think Wentz rose to those expectations as often as possible, as the team’s owner ripped him for failure in several key areas while serving as the team’s starting QB in ’21. If that’s not motivation enough for Wentz to go out & deliver a big game, I’m not sure what is.

Bobby Wagner vs. SEA (Weeks 13 & 18)

            Similar to the way in which Wentz gets two revenge games this year, Wagner will also receive two revenge games given the fact that he signed with a division rival of his former team. There was reportedly some miscommunication between Wagner & the ‘Hawks about his release. Wagner promised that “it won’t be a quiet game” in reference to facing off against the Seahawks.  Add all of this up, and it’s clear that we should be in for a big game from the All-Pro linebacker.

Deshaun Watson vs. HOU (Week 13)

            This one is obviously conditional, as Watson still faces a decision on his legal situation. Watson could play against the Texans in Week 13 should his legal situation allow him to do so. He would surely carve up their defense, as Watson’s tenure with the Texans was rocky at best. It’s also possible that the Browns (and perhaps the Texans) could be fighting for a playoff spot. Should both teams remain competitive to this point in the year, this game becomes must-see TV.  

Offseason fantasy football fallout (QBs)

All of you fantasy managers need to get ready for the coming season. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

With free agency behind us & the draft in the rearview mirror, it seems like a good time to reflect on all of the offseason changes as they relate to the upcoming fantasy football season. It’s possible that some free agent players (Ryan Fitzpatrick, for example) play a role for their new teams; however, these signings are unlikely to move the needle in the fantasy landscape. That’s why it’s time to take stock of the good, the bad, and the ugly in terms of QB fantasy value. Let’s begin by taking a look at some of the quarterbacks affected by this crazy offseason.

Jameis Winston ↑

            There was some thought that the Saints could draft a QB to replace Winston, but they instead supported him by drafting WR Chris Olave & OT Trevor Penning in the first round. Couple these moves with the hopeful return of WR Michael Thomas & the addition of WR Jarvis Landry, and it’s clear that the fantasy value is going up for the former No. 1 overall pick in 2015. RB Alvin Kamara was arrested this offseason too, so expect the Saints to rely on the pass in ’22.

 Lamar Jackson ↓

            It hasn’t been all rainbows & sunshine for QBs this offseason, just ask Lamar Jackson. Not only did the Ravens pass on WR upgrades, but they also traded away WR Marquise Brown! Granted, the team later drafted C Tyler Lindenbaum to aid the offense, but the damage was done. Jackson will once again rely heavily on TE Mark Andrews to anchor the team’s passing “attack.”

Tua Tagovailoa ↑

            Tua gets a whole host of new characters who will likely aid in his development this year. WR Tyreek Hill, LT Terron Armstead, & RB Chase Edmonds headline Tua’s new-look offense. They join WR Jaylen Waddle & TE Mike Gesicki to give Tua a plethora of weapons on offense. Add all of this up, and it’s clear that a breakout year could be on the horizon for Tua Tagovailoa.

Aaron Rodgers ↓

            The back to back MVP returns for his 18th NFL season as the Green Bay Packers QB. Question is, who exactly will he be throwing the ball to this year? His options include veteran WRs Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins, rookie WR Christian Watson, and TE Robert Tonyan. None of that crew should be expected to put fear into defenses the way Davante Adams once did. It’s also worth noting that the Packers let OLs Lucas Patrick & Billy Turner walk in free agency. Add these things together & it’s clear that this could be a big down year from Rodgers in fantasy.

Matt Ryan ↑

            One of the offseason’s signature moves involved a trade between the Falcons & Colts. The Colts received Ryan in the deal, and the hope is that his fantasy value rebounds nicely here. After all, he was the QB24 last year in an offense featuring Kyle Pitts & Cordarrelle Patterson. WR Michael Pittman & RB Jonathan Taylor give him a solid duo to lean on this coming year. Plus, the Colts offensive line represents a massive upgrade from any of the past Falcons units. Unfortunately, the cupboard at WR is pretty barren after accounting for Pittman’s presence. Maybe a reunion involving Matt Ryan & Julio Jones wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all?

Russell Wilson ↑

            We’ll finish strong here by talking about the biggest QB acquisition of this offseason. Call me crazy, but I actually believe Wilson’s fantasy value could increase with the Broncos. Listen, he finished as the QB6 last year but was only the QB13 in points per game, and his play was clearly affected by a finger injury that caused him to miss a few midseason games last year. He joins a loaded offense featuring a trio of receiving options including Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, & KJ Hamler, along with an RB room starring Javonte Williams & Melvin Gordon. Now fully healthy & starting for a new team in Denver, I expect a big year from “DangeRuss.”

Analysis of the Falcons 2022 draft class

Join me in welcoming our newest players to the team! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

Year two of the Arthur Smith & Terry Fontenot regime kicked off in earnest this past weekend with the players selected by the Falcons organization in the 2022 NFL Draft. Given the state of our roster, these eight players should be expected to come in & contribute immediately. Some of these players will likely be counted upon more than others to contribute right away, but all of them should get plenty of opportunities to carve out roles in this organization soon enough. Without further ado, let’s introduce the players from this draft class & learn more about them.

WR Drake London (Round 1, Pick 8)

            London immediately upgrades this team’s receiving core & becomes their WR1 in 2022. The 6’4” 219 lb. receiver out of USC is known for his ability to make contested catches (19 in 2022 was the best in college football) & versatility for playing in the slot & out wide in college. My friends & I got together for the draft, and we had a few questions upon hearing this selection. Did we really make the right call here in failing to upgrade the team’s bad pass rush once again? Also, was he really the best receiver in the draft after five others flew off the board shortly after? We’ll find out the answers to these burning questions in September when football season begins.

LB Arnold Ebiketie (Round 2, Pick 38)

            Finally, we’ve selected a player capable of upgrading our much maligned pass rush! Ebiketie steps in & (hopefully) becomes our team’s best pass rusher outside of Grady Jarrett. This is a player some analysts thought would be drafted in the first round, and the Falcons gave up a fourth round pick to the Giants in order to move up & get him in the draft’s second round. Everyone’s been praising this pick, and honestly I can’t find a bad thing to say about this one.

LB Troy Andersen (Round 2, Pick 58)

            My initial reaction to the Andersen pick was, “the Falcons would pick a player from Montana State that nobody’s ever heard of in the second round. That sounds just about right.”  Little did I know, many analysts have heard of Andersen because of his freakish athletic testing. I’m still skeptical about this pick, considering that Troy didn’t face elite competition in college. His athleticism was off the charts at the combine though, so he should find a role somewhere.

QB Desmond Ridder (Round 3, Pick 74)

            We were a team that was consistently linked to Ridder throughout the pre-draft process. The fact that we were able to grab him in the third round was a huge value signing for the team. Here’s a dude that many analysts said would be picked in the first or second round of this draft. A proven winner at Cincinnati with a 44-6 record, he could start for us at some point this year.

LB DeAngelo Malone (Round 3, Pick 82)

            Another signing that I’m still a little skeptical about, but there’s definitely upside here. Malone played in a bunch of games as a five-year starter at defensive end for Western Kentucky. Most impressively, he was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Similar to Andersen though, the question with him is did he face any great competition at WKU?

RB Tyler Allgeier (Round 5, Pick 151)

            Allgeier’s 23 rushing touchdowns last year was tied for most in college football last year. I’m a huge fan of this pick, and the team clearly has faith in the guy after releasing Mike Davis. Running back is a position of need for the team, so why not take a flier on him in the fifth round? His presence should allow Cordarrelle Patterson to flex out at receiver far more often in 2022.

OL Justin Shaffer (Round 6, Pick 190)

            Has hell frozen over? The Falcons selected not one, but two Georgia players in the draft. This marks the first time the team drafted a UGA player since selecting LB Akeem Dent in 2011. Let’s be honest here, Shaffer can’t be any worse than Jalen Mayfield was at LG last year right? In all seriousness, he’s got the size (6’4”, 314 lbs) & power needed to provide OL depth in ’22.

TE John FitzPatrick (Round 6, Pick 213)

            After losing TEs Hayden Hurst & Lee Smith to free agency & retirement earlier this offseason, the Falcons needed to make efforts to shore up depth at the position behind Kyle Pitts. FitzPatrick teams up with Anthony Firkser as that depth, & they have complimentary skillsets. His 6’7” frame & run-blocking skills should allow him to play in the team’s redzone packages.

The bottom line

            This seems like a solid draft class, with a couple question marks in Andersen & Malone. I’m amazed that we actually drafted Georgia players, which we’ve avoided doing in prior drafts. London & Ebiketie are probably already the most talented players at their roster positions in ’22. Ridder, Allgeier, Shaffer, & FitzPatrick will provide much needed depth at key roster positions. Will any of these guys move the needle in terms of wins this season? That remains to be seen.

Takeaways from the 2022 NFL Draft

One step closer towards football season. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

The dust has settled & the sun has set on the highly entertaining 2022 NFL Draft event. This year’s headlines included a historic class of Georgia Bulldog prospects, a record-breaking amount of trades, a surprising tumble down the board for quarterback prospects, and much more. I’ll put it to you this way, the first round was more entertaining than I thought that it would be. Developments from the first round made some of the later round choices more intriguing as well. Let’s dive in & recap what all happened at the NFL’s most important event for college prospects.

Georgia has historic draft class

            Georgia Bulldogs prospects went flying off the draft board, with 5 first round selections. This included DE Travon Walker being selected by the Jaguars with the No. 1 overall draft pick. Fifteen UGA prospects were selected in this year’s 7-round draft, which set an NFL draft record.  Georgia’s title winning team featured a historic defense, so maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised. That said, Georgia’s 2022 draft class featured elite level talent up and down many draft boards.

Trades: lots & lots of trades

            There were tons of trades in this draft, including a record nine in the first round this year. The headliners including WR AJ Brown being dealt to the Eagles, WR Marquise Brown being sent to the Cardinals, and a rare, inter-division first-round trade between the Lions & Vikings. No doubt about it, the Eagles trade for (& extension of) Brown was the highlight of draft night. Marquise Brown’s trade to the Cardinals was also an important development, along with the Lions trading up into the first round with the Vikings to select Alabama WR Jameson Williams. That’s not all, as the Falcons selection of WR Drake London with the No. 8 pick triggered a run on receivers between picks 11 & 18 where four WRs were selected with new, traded-for picks. Plenty of trades were made in later rounds as well, which made the entire draft event intriguing.

QBs tumble down the board

            Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback drafted in the first round this year. This was surprising development, despite the negative narrative surrounding this year’s QB crop. What was even more surprising was that many of these talented prospects were still available in the second, third, fourth, and even fifth rounds! Why did these guys slide so far down the board? I guess we should’ve paid more attention to the QB activity in free agency & via trade earlier this offseason, as all of that movement seemed to foreshadow a down year at the draft’s QB position. Time will tell whether Desmond Ridder (Falcons) or Malik Willis (Titans) start games this year.

Draft starts with defense

            The old saying “defense wins championships” seems appropriate to enter in this space as the draft began with five consecutive defenders being selected with the draft’s first five picks. This was the first time the feat was accomplished since all the way back in the 1991 NFL Draft. Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Derek Stingley, Sauce Gardner, & Kayvon Thibodeaux headlined an elite group of defenders in this year’s draft class, which featured 16 first rounders. What a curious development for a league driven by offensive firepower & skill position talent.

Eagles, Ravens, Jets nailed it

            I’m not a draft expert, but by all accounts the Eagles, Ravens, & Jets won their drafts. The Eagles drafted 3 fantastic players in DT Jordan Davis, C Cam Jurgens, & LB Nakobe Dean. Oh yeah & by the way, they also picked up WR AJ Brown for one of their two first round picks.  Meanwhile, the Ravens featured an 11-man draft class headlined by S Kyle Hamilton & C Tyler Lindenbaum. They also set an NFL draft record with six fourth-round pick selections this year. Finally, the Jets draft class featured three first round selections in CB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, & DE Jermaine Johnson II. All three of those guys, plus RB Breece Hall (2nd round), seem likely to start & have an immediate impact on their team’s performance in 2022.

2022 NFL Draft: Burning Questions

Prepare yourselves for the 2022 NFL Draft! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

The 2022 NFL Draft is upon us, with the first round televised next Thursday, April 28th. Every year I look forward to meeting up at the Taco Mac & watching the draft with my friends. As a long-suffering Falcons fan, it’s always interesting to see who my team decides to draft next. Our recent drafts have produced mixed results, for every Kyle Pitts there’s always a Vic Beasley. This is common for most teams, as nobody truly knows how these college players will perform. Still though, there’s always a sense of optimism & excitement in the air as draft day approaches. Let’s take a look at some of the most burning questions that will be answered during the draft.

Who goes 1st overall?

            To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Jaguars own the first overall pick again this year. Last year, they selected QB Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick & the jury is still out on him. This year, their decision (should they decide to stay put) likely comes down to three players: Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson, Georgia DE Travon Walker, & Alabama OT Evan Neal. There’s no real consensus No. 1 prospect in this year’s draft, though all of these guys are great. It’s just a matter of preference, team need, and value in terms of trade offers they may receive. With Jaguars GM Trent Baalke noting that “you’re always open for business” in regards to the first overall pick, that could make for a draft shakeup in a wild NFL offseason full of such things.

Which team takes a QB first?

            Teams such as the Panthers, Falcons, Seahawks, & Saints are in the quarterback market. Unfortunately for them, this draft class in terms of QB prospects is reportedly not a great one. That said, which team will break the ice & start the inevitable first round run on quarterbacks? My money is on the Panthers, as they have been burned by veterans Sam Darnold, Teddy Bridgewater, & Cam Newton in recent years, and their need at the position is glaringly obvious. I’m not sure it will be with the team’s No. 6 pick though, as QB-needy teams may trade down in an effort to get their franchise guys at a more affordable value while gathering extra draft picks.

Will teams with multiple 1st rounders stick & pick?

            The Lions, Texans, Giants, Jets, Eagles, Saints, Packers, & Chiefs control this year’s draft, with these teams accounting for half of the total picks in the first round this year (16/32). Each team has two 1st round selections via trades with other teams over the past couple of years. It’s unlikely that the Giants (Nos. 5 & 8) will make both of their picks given their cap situation. What about the rest of these teams though? Will they stick & pick or trade down for more picks? These decisions will shape the course of this year’s draft, and that’s why it’s exciting to watch.

Do we see any draft day trades?

            Given the description of the situation above, I believe we will see tons of draft day trades. The Bears, Broncos, Browns, Dolphins, Colts, Raiders, & 49ers don’t have 1st rounders this year. That’s why it seems highly likely that we will see some trade action between the “haves” (teams with multiple firsts) and the “have-nots” (teams without a first) as we approach this year’s draft. It’s also possible that we see more action on the trade front, with names such as QB Kyler Murray, QB Baker Mayfield, & CB James Bradberry amongst players potentially being dealt. Draft day is usually a let down in terms of trade action, but this wild offseason could change that.

Bonus: Over/under on Roger Goodell boos

            A draft night tradition unlike any other, fans who attend the NFL Draft repeatedly boo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell every time he walks to the stage announcing a draft pick. Last year, 160,000 people attended the draft in Cleveland despite rain & cold weather conditions. I believe there will be around 175,000 people in attendance this year, given that it’s hosted in Las Vegas & Covid restrictions for the event will surely be relaxed compared to last year’s event. There are 32 teams in the league, which means I predict 6 million boos for our favorite commish! There’s no way to record this information of course, but it’s always a fun exercise nonetheless.

Atlanta Falcons are stuck in limbo

I miss watching football… Photo credit: Adobe Stock

Let’s face it, the Falcons have no clear sense of direction under owner Arthur Blank. They’ve routinely performed well short of expectations despite rostering some of the best players in Falcons history, a list that includes Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, and a host of others. Since their Super Bowl run in 2016, the team has a 35-46 record with only one winning season. Since 2008 when Matt Ryan was drafted, the team is perfectly mediocre with a 120-102 record. Now they face an uncertain reality with Matt Ryan & Julio Jones no longer rostered by the team. This team is lacking in key areas such as money, quarterback play, pass rush, and wide receivers. None of this bodes well for the Falcons chances of contending soon with a quality 53-man roster. Let’s take a look at some of the most questionable decisions that have left the Falcons in limbo.

Blowing a 28-3 lead

            We’ve gotta talk about it to get through it, and this was surely the lowlight for the team. They could’ve (and should’ve) won Super Bowl LI, but we’re here talking about the loss instead. I’m blaming everyone for this loss, from Arthur Blank to Kyle Shanahan to Matt Ryan on down. This was an inexcusable, inexplicable collapse on the biggest stage in the most important game. We’ve been in limbo ever since, not knowing whether we can contend again or start a rebuild. It’s painfully obvious now that we’re rebuilding, but we took way too long to realize that fact.

Paying Devonta Freeman

            Speaking of the Super Bowl, does anyone remember Freeman missing this crucial block? Yeah, the Falcons signed that guy to a 5-year extension making him the NFL’s highest paid RB.  His egregious contract meant that we had to let fellow RB Tevin Coleman walk in free agency. Not only that, but we later released Freeman 3 years later due to injuries & underperformance.

Picking up Vic Beasley’s option

            There was a time when we thought Vic Beasley would be our next great pass rusher. After all, he led the league in sacks & was voted as an All-Pro during his breakout 2016 season. His surprising performance was a crucial X-factor in the Falcons march towards Super Bowl LI. He was never the same player afterwards though, and we paid him for past performance in 2019. We paid him $14.5M despite his overall performance indicating he simply wasn’t a good player. Beasley put up decent numbers during that 2019 season, but the team finished with a 7-9 record.

Letting Matt Bryant walk

            This was confusing from the start, as the team signed Bryant to a 3-year deal in 2018. They later released him in 2019, in hopes of getting cheaper production from Giorgio Tavecchio.  Tavecchio struggled, so they brought “Money” back on a 1-year deal just before Week 1 in 2019. He struggled mightily before the team cut bait mid-season, replacing him with Younghoe Koo. Confused? I know I am just from writing this, and clearly the Falcons felt confusion here too.

Signing Dante Fowler

            Playing next to Aaron Donald in 2019 padded Fowler’s stats & made him a better player. He didn’t have to be “the guy” playing next to Donald, and the spotlight wasn’t on him often. Despite this, the Falcons signed him to a 3-year deal that paid him to be “the guy” for the team. The team has been desperate for a pass rusher for the better part of the past decade, spending money in free agency and premium draft capital in their efforts to secure a legitimate playmaker. Fowler’s signing didn’t pan out for the team, and they let him go via free agency this offseason.

Trading away Julio Jones

            You could say that this move was necessary after Julio went on FS1’s Undisputed show & said “I’m outta there” in response to a question from Shannon Sharpe about leaving the team. Still though, the Falcons had a huge dead cap hit & only got a modest return for their best player. The Falcons had an anemic passing offense in 2021, especially after Calvin Ridley’s departure. In hindsight though, releasing Julio was the right move since he’s been unable to stay healthy.

Trading away Matt Ryan

            All we got for the best player in franchise history was a 3rd round pick from the Colts. That’s maddening, and especially so when accounting for him & Julio’s massive dead cap hits.  In theory, we will be free from money restrictions next year but will anyone want to play for us? After all, the team treated Matt Ryan like crap after publicly missing out on Deshaun Watson. It’s clear that from Arthur Blank on down this team has no clear plan or vision for the future. We’ve been burned so many times by the Falcons before, and I doubt that changes anytime soon.

Wanna be the best? You’ve gotta beat the best

Everyone’s chasing the gold, but there’s only one winner. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

Many of this year’s championship teams, including the Braves, Bulldogs, & Rams, had to defeat last year’s championship teams multiple times in their journeys to become champions.  Shoot, the Dawgs even had to defeat the defending CFB champs (Alabama) in the ’21 title game! Championship teams often have a target on their back the year after they win it all; opposing teams usually give their best shot in defeating the reigning champs, and winning against the champs provides these unheralded teams a huge morale boost going forward. Think about it this way, teams that beat the defending champs are playing with “house money” the rest of the year. They’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain going forward, with all of the momentum too. Let’s take a look back at last year’s series history between defending champs & current champs.

Braves vs. Dodgers (June 2021)

            Our first matchup of champions is a three-game regular season series between the home team Braves & the visiting Dodgers. The Dodgers put the pressure on the Braves early, with a 9-5 win in Game 1 of the series. The Braves responded by winning the series outright with 6-4 & 4-2 score wins in Games 2 & 3 respectively. This was an important series for the Braves as the Dodgers always had the Braves number for the past several years, particularly in the playoffs. Let’s see how the Braves fared when the roles of home & away team were reversed in August.

Dodgers vs. Braves (August 2021)

            Unfortunately, the Braves did not play very well at all on the west coast in late August. They were swept in this series, though all of the games were close with scores of 3-5, 2-3, & 3-4 in games one through three respectively. Let’s do a quick recap here, the Braves were 2-4 against the Dodgers at this point in the season, with the Dodgers narrowly outscoring the Braves 27-23. All of this drama set the stage for a key matchup in the National League Championship Series.

Braves vs. Dodgers (National League Championship Series)

            Atlanta set the tone early in this one with 3-2 & 5-4 wins in Games 1 & 2 respectively. Eddie Rosario, the eventual NLCS MVP, began his legendary performance with a walk-off single in Game 2. Then, they had to take the show on the road & play the champs on their turf. Again, it didn’t go very well for the Bravos as they lost two out of the three west coast games. Rosario was magnificent again in Game 4 though, going 4-5 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, & 3 runs in the team’s 9-2 win. After an embarrassing 11-2 loss in Game 5, the stage was set for a memorable Game 6 in Atlanta. Tyler Matzek game Rosario some help in this one by overcoming a runners on 2nd & 3rd with nobody out situation in the 7th inning. Matzek neutralized the threat by striking out the side & not allowing any inherited runners to score, and he pitched the 8th afterwards too! At long last, the Braves got the monkey off their back by beating baseball’s defending champs. This team of destiny would later go on to defeat the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series.

Georgia vs. Alabama (SEC Championship Game)

            Georgia came into this game ranked as the No. 1 team in the country with a 13-0 record. Unfortunately, they had yet to play Alabama who seemed to always have their number each year. The team’s embarrassing 41-24 loss in the SEC Championship meant that Georgia was 0-7 in their last 7 head-to-head matchups against Alabama, with many of those losses in the playoffs. Fortunately, they beat Michigan in the Orange Bowl, and this event set the stage for a rematch.

Georgia vs. Alabama (CFP National Championship Game)

            Déjà vu for Georgia as they previously played Alabama in the 2018 championship game. They battled hard & took the game into overtime, but sadly they lost in heartbreaking fashion. This time around, Georgia’s team featured a historic defense that was ready to make an impact. The team also displayed an explosive rushing attack & clutch receivers who made pivotal plays. After an early defensive battle, Georgia’s offense stepped up & the team clung to a 26-18 lead late in the fourth quarter. Alabama had the ball at midfield with 1:09 remaining & they had an opportunity to tie the game & send it to overtime, but Georgia’s historic defense had other plans. DB Kelee Ringo intercepted QB Bryce Young & took it to the house to give Georgia the title!

Rams vs. Bucs (September 2021)

            Funny enough, the Rams kind of copied the Bucs formula from the previous year by bringing in a veteran QB (Matt Stafford) whom they believed could get the team over the hump. Similar to the 2020 Bucs, the Rams would play Super Bowl LVI at home if they could get there. Before getting to the big game though, the Rams had a tough test in playing the Bucs at home. They passed their first test of the season in beating the defending champions 34-24 in September. An efficient & balanced offense plus a stout defensive unit was the recipe for success in this tilt.  

Bucs vs. Rams (NFC Divisional Round)

            Tom Brady almost led another miraculous comeback, rallying his team from a 27-3 deficit in the third quarter to tying the game at 27-27 with 42 seconds left to play in regulation. That left Matt Stafford just enough time in regulation to quickly respond, and boy did he ever.   WR Cooper Kupp, who finished with 9 catches for 183 yards & a TD, was the MVP of the game. He was really clutch on the game’s final drive, catching two passes for 64 yards to ice the game. Kupp & Stafford would later connect on a game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVI.

Falcons trade Matt Ryan to the Colts

Matt Ryan in a Falcons uniform (2021, colorized). Photo credit: Adobe Stock

Falcons receive: 2022 3rd round pick

Colts receive: QB Matt Ryan

            The Falcons stunningly traded away longtime QB Matt Ryan to the Colts on Monday. The move was stunning for several reasons, including costing the team $40M in dead cap in ‘22. For the Colts, this was a brilliant move as they received more compensation from Washington in the Carson Wentz trade than they gave away in their trade to get Matt Ryan from the Falcons. For the Falcons, this was a necessary & yet rushed move after missing out on Deshaun Watson. They knew they needed to trade him on Monday to avoid paying him a $7.5M roster bonus later. How will the significance of this trade impact the Atlanta Falcons organization going forward?

Laughingstock of the NFL

            Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words as the Matt Ryan & Julio Jones trades (amongst other things) in back-to-back offseasons have left this team devoid of talent in 2022. Adding insult to injury, they embarrassed themselves further by missing out on Deshaun Watson. All of this after 28-3, four consecutive losing seasons, & the Calvin Ridley gambling fiasco too. Nobody can take the Falcons seriously with Marcus Mariota as their new staring quarterback. Let’s face it, the Falcons join the Jets, Lions, & Texans as amongst the worst teams in the league.

Full rebuild coming

It’s unfortunate that the Falcons won’t come out & say that the team has begun the process of a full-scale rebuild, but let’s not kid ourselves & think that’s not what’s happening. We have a few talented players (Grady Jarrett, AJ Terrell, Cordarrelle Patterson), but three players does not field a competitive 53-man roster, much less one with quarterback questions. Our offensive line needs two to three new starters, and our defense has no pass rush to speak of. There are no NFL-caliber receivers on the roster except Patterson, and we can’t sign any either. Marcus Mariota will likely serve as a bridge QB while we draft & develop a rookie QB in 2022. None of this speaks to us fielding a highly competitive team anytime in the foreseeable future.

End of an era

            Believe it or not, the Matt Ryan era has actually been the franchise’s most successful one. He leads the franchise in total wins (120), passing touchdowns (367), and passing yards (59,735). Matt Ryan led the Falcons to the playoffs 6 times, highlighted by a Super Bowl LI berth in 2017. His 4-6 career record in playoff games wasn’t good, but he was our franchise QB for 14 seasons. I’ve got a Matt Ryan jersey hanging in my closet, and I’m just not sure what to do with it now.  The two things that I really appreciated about Matt Ryan were his professionalism & toughness. His identity as the face of the Falcons franchise was well suited for him to excel at for decades. Doing all of that while repeatedly getting clobbered by the Falcons “offensive” line wasn’t easy.

Braves trade for Matt Olson & extend his contract

I’m hopeful for lots of these from Matt Olson in 2022. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

There’s been no shortage of Atlanta sports news lately, so I apologize for being a little late on this story. I find that the expression “better late than never” applies well in this scenario. Last week, the Braves made a blockbuster trade to get first baseman Matt Olson from the A’s. The team then doubled down on their investment by signing him to a new contract extension. How do these moves impact the outlook for the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves in 2022? Now that we’ve had some time to digest this information, let’s break it all down piece by piece.

Blockbuster trade details

Braves receive: 1B Matt Olson

A’s receive: C Shea Langeliers, OF Cristian Pache, RHP Ryan Cusick, RHP Joey Estes

            Make no mistake about it, the Braves are in their World Series window & are going for it. After winning it all last year with an 88-73 record, this team is set up to excel in the short term. They were previously reluctant to trade any top prospects, and yet they gave up four for Olson. That’s because Olson is a stud, as evidenced by his 39 HR .271 average, & .911 OPS last year. The 27-year-old first baseman will be a staple of the Braves lineup as a middle of the order bat. He’s also a great player defensively, as evidenced by his 34 defensive runs saved from 2018-21. For all of these reasons, the Braves gave him a big contract extension shortly after acquiring him.

Contract extension details

            The Braves signed Olson to an 8-year, $168 million extension through the 2029 season. A $20 million club option for 2030 was also added to the contract, so Olson is here for a while. This is the largest contract extension in Braves history, surpassing Freddie Freeman’s old deal. Like it or not, handing out that type of money to Olson comes with big expectations for him to not only be great, but to be the team’s next face of the franchise type of player like Freeman was. Time will tell whether or not Olson will successfully live up to these heightened expectations.

Braves connections

            Olson has several Braves connections worth mentioning that made him want to play here. The first is that him & Dansby Swanson were going to be college roommates at Vanderbilt, at least that was the plan before he was drafted out of high school by the Oakland A’s in the 2012 Draft. He later met up with Braves third base coach Ron Washington during his rookie season in Oakland, where Washington was briefly the third base coach for the A’s during the 2016 season. Olson also shares an agent (B.B. Abbott) with legendary Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. Finally, he attended Parkview High School in Atlanta & knows fellow alumni Jeff Francoeur.

The bottom line

            As Uncle Ben once said to Peter Parker in the movie Spider Man, “with great power comes great responsibility.” This is true in life and is equally true in the case of 1B Matt Olson. We traded a lot of prospect capital to get this guy, and are paying him a lot over the long haul. There’s no doubt he was a great player for the A’s, but can he replicate that success in Atlanta? He’s got big shoes to fill in the wake of Freddie Freeman’s surprising exodus from the Braves. This is the type of franchise altering move that results in either success or failure for decades. Braves fans in the Chop House should be on high-alert, as Olson has light tower power to RF.