Thoughts on ATL team building blueprint by Bucky Brooks

[top dawg]

I just finished reading Bucky Brooks' article on several things, including his belief that in today's NFL climate, the way that the Falcons built their team is the way to go, especially if your QB has MVP level talent that is to be realized.

After reading his work, I almost immediately poo-pooed it as just some  "flavor of the day" b.s., and thought "The Falcons don't know anymore than we do, it's just that it's their turn. Hell, Cam was the actual MVP last season of a 15-1 team." But then, I decided to take off the homer glasses and contemplate the concept behind what Brooks is saying, because, after all, our season was basically a train wreck.

I would encourage you to read the entire piece, but here is what I zeroed in on.

"Remember, players entering the league these days are coming in younger (more early entries) with limited experience and exposure to the techniques used in the NFL. Thus, coaches are tasked with cobbling together a good defense using many players who lack great football IQ, awareness and technical skills.

"Today's players don't know how to play," an AFC defensive coordinator told me. "They haven't been taught the game at the collegiate level, so you have to simplify things to give them a chance to play well. That's why you're seeing more teams use simple schemes like Tampa 2 or the basic Cover 3 that the Seahawks and others are using. You have to find a way to win while they are learning on the fly."

That's why the Falcons' plan to fully develop the offense around the QB1 while waiting for the defense to develop could prompt other team builders to consider adopting the approach, particularly with teams like Oakland, Tampa Bay and Tennessee also enjoying success with similar approaches.

Here's the thing: The blueprint the Falconshave implemented works for quarterbacks young and old, which makes it a universal concept that should be embraced by every NFL team."

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000776704/article/falcons-provide-lesson-in-team-building-aaron-rodgers-magic

Now, like I alluded to, the article has a few more specifics, so you should read the whole thing to get the full appreciation as to how Brooks is saying that the Falcons went about building their team---some of which you could argue mirrors the Panthers. The thing is though, Gettleman hasn't necessarily invested in the quality of pieces on thr offensive side of the ball that he has the defensive side. And So perhaps there is something to be said about basically edifying the offense while waiting for the defense, which arguably has a higher learning curve because of rookies, to catch up.

Ultimately, I don't believe there is one, set way to build a championship caliber team/franchise. I do believe that one must have certain guiding principles that one believes in pertaining to building a team. You have to have a formula. But, you can't be so formulaic that you do things that neglect certain areas/aspects of the team, particularly when you have multiple players with Hall of Fame potential. Some flexibility---situational team building---has to be part of the overall formula.

 

 

[top dawg]

Y'all have to excuse me if it feels rushed or has errors. I was trying to cook while doing this. Now I am trying to eat.

[Saca312]

We had the number 1 offense in 2015. It was widely considered around the board our offense was better than our defense -- and that's saying a lot.

What I believe needs to happen is pure continuity throughout a whole season. Expecting MVP caliber results with 4/5 offensive linemen injured most of the year isn't going to happen, and the injuries that occurred in the backfield for our secondary and such really stinted the growth of our rookies and defense.

However, don't expect us to be bottom-feeders next year.

I truly think Gettleman will invest in mostly offense this draft. I think he'd likely hit on a RB that has a high ceiling, and then work to fill out for a 2nd TE/future TE, then work in a DE or SS of the future later on. He said the SS and DE positions were deep, so I think he'd likely hit on pressing issues before pursuing those other positions we can wait on.

Our running game changes dramatically with another solid RB in the mix, and a 2nd TE makes our offense even more dangerous. Of course, a solid SS makes our defense elite, but this FA class is a deep one in that area luckily. 

Either way, I should expect we're in contention if we hit on FA and the draft. It's exciting that we're likely getting either Allen, Barnett, Fournette, or Adams at our pick in #8, all whom would bolster our defense tremendously.

[TheRed]

Good QB, the best WR in the NFL, a solid offensive line, a talented quick running back, and offensive game planning centered around getting the ball out of your QB's hands as quickly as possible.

You just have to invest intelligently in your offense.

[Ricky Spanish]

These kinds of articles were written about us last year and will be written about some other team next year.

There's no "right" way to build a team, just numerous examples of how not to do it. 

We are multiple injuries and missed field goals away from a winning season. If every game decided by a score went the other way this year, we'd be 10-6. That's how close we were to being "good". Look at the injuries we sustained along the way and it makes perfect sense why we had a down year. Hell, the Falcons had damn near as many injuries to their O-line in 2015 as we did this season and look what happened to them. 

I expect a bounce back season from us, and a regression season from the Falcons, especially if Kyle Shannahan leaves the team. They have been nearly 100% healthy all year. I don't expect that to be the case with their deep playoff run this year. That extra month of football is a beast on bodies. I'm sure they'll be feeling it next year. 

[top dawg]

10 hours ago, TheRed said:

Good QB, the best WR in the NFL, a solid offensive line, a talented quick running back, and offensive game planning centered around getting the ball out of your QB's hands as quickly as possible.

You just have to invest intelligently in your offense.

Sounds more like the Steelers than the Falcons, especially "the best WR in the NFL" part.

[top dawg]

11 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

These kinds of articles were written about us last year and will be written about some other team next year.

There's no "right" way to build a team, just numerous examples of how not to do it. 

We are multiple injuries and missed field goals away from a winning season. If every game decided by a score went the other way this year, we'd be 10-6. That's how close we were to being "good". Look at the injuries we sustained along the way and it makes perfect sense why we had a down year. Hell, the Falcons had damn near as many injuries to their O-line in 2015 as we did this season and look what happened to them. 

I expect a bounce back season from us, and a regression season from the Falcons, especially if Kyle Shannahan leaves the team. They have been nearly 100% healthy all year. I don't expect that to be the case with their deep playoff run this year. That extra month of football is a beast on bodies. I'm sure they'll be feeling it next year. 

I will give you that injuries are a sumbitch! But there was more to our 6-10 season than just injuries, and every year many teams lose close ones, that's just the nature of the beast. The good teams consistently win those types of games, and the bad teams consistently lose those close games. 

I do believe that there is a "right" way to build a team, and the Patriots and Steelers have certainly figured it out because their trophies, postseason appearance's and their consistency thereof (especially in the case of the Steelers) proves it. That being said, I think that flexibility and imaginative thinking has to be a part of the formula.

On an off note, I think that it's more wishful thinking than anything to somehow think that the Falcons are going to fall off without Shanahan. Quinn seems to be a good coach, and I'm sure has someone in mind to fill the void and keep a transition as seamless as possible. Moreover, the Falcons have a good core. I don't know what their cap/contract situation looks like, but from a cursory glance they appear stable and steady. We can't afford to overlook them (or the Bucs, really) or wish them into a dropoff. We have to make the moves, including adding quality depth to mitigate injuries.

I have faith in our front office, but it has a lot to prove this offseason before I start hunkering down with expectations.

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

I believe the following were major contributing factors

1. Injuries on the offensive line is #1. You lose the continuity that our line had in 2015 and have to week in and week out have a new line.  That is major and very hard to have consistency.

2. Secondary in disarray in the first half of the season.  Bradberry and Worley being rookies and the toe injury.  Releasing two players we were counting on. McClain and Bene.  The way they bounce back in the second half gives me a light at the end of the tunnel that the defense will be better next year.

3.  The bullshyt cheap shots that Cam took.  I believe took the wind out of his sail quickly.  He never had that spunk he had in 2015.  Many will call this BS but when your OL is all over the place and the refs just letting people take cheap pot shots at  your QB.  I wish I had some proof but I believe the NFL referees were told to overlook shots that they would normally make.  One or two may be good god how many did they over look, seriously 8-10? They had an effect.

4. Gettleman being cheap.  I respect him and think he does a great job but I also think he thought he could go into the season and repeat 2015 with minimal injuries.   I think he believe he could get by with average back ups but when the starter and then backup go down.  He had crap in depth.

Overall I think our blueprint is just as good as any and Gettleman is building a consistent franchise.  We aren't there yet but I believe we'll get there.  2016 is a learning year for everyone. G'man has the money and really no reason why he can't spend some of it and get quality players in both starting and reserve roles.

 

[Lumps]

2 hours ago, top dawg said:

Sounds more like the Steelers than the Falcons, especially "the best WR in the NFL" part.

He's referring to every team Cam isn't on.

[CatMan72]

Give Cam a talent at WR like Julio Jones and I'll show you how to build a team. 

Going to be a shame if he goes through his prime without a true #1 WR. I'm not saying we have to find Julio Jones but surely we can do better. 

[uncfan888]

It's so funny to see all these articles that they pretty much cut and paste from year to year about whichever team is on top 

[Snake]

People talk like ATL has run the South the last decade. Truth is they have 1 winning season since 2013. If I'm building a team in looking at Green Bay or New England. They are build different ways but both are consistent not ATL who has had less success than the Panthers.

[top dawg]

46 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Yep. All about is last year before the SB. Remember Dallas being the talk of the town all year. Oops, I guess Atlanta's next.

24 hour sports news on TV and the Internet, going to be a lot of copy paste and replace the team name. Almost like fashion no with things being back in trend.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

 

1 hour ago, uncfan888 said:

It's so funny to see all these articles that they pretty much cut and paste from year to year about whichever team is on top 

For all the insinuation that all these articles were written about us last year, just like this one, or along the same lines, blah blah blah, the only similar article that I was able to find (other than the site @Jeremy Igo has much disdain for) is this one:

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14717560/what-dave-gettleman-carolina-panthers-learned-building-super-bowl-team-nfl

Now you may argue that the premise of that article is the same as Brooks', but it's not. Furthermore,  there aren't  that many articles on a yearly basis about team building based upon who successfully gets to the Super Bowl, much less a conference championship. The facts just don't support your opinion. Don't believe me? Research it yourself. The fact is, there is no copying and pasting going on. That being said, there are some underlying similarities regarding the O-line, but the thesis is different. 

Giving an article or articles a cursory glance based upon preconceived notions is your right, but in my opinion you're doing the writers and yourselves a disservice by not truly analyzing what is being said, and recognizing that there are nuances, if not outright differences, worth discussing.

[cookinbrak]

How to replicate the Falcons...

Top 10 picks every year.