NFL: With Vick, do Falcons stand a chance in 2001?

By Brandon Engebretson Sports Central Columnist

The Atlanta Falcons got Michael Vick, a future star quarterback, in the draft with the first pick. Where does that put them for this season and the future?

The draft did yield Vick, but not a whole lot else. Picking center Robert Garza could have some impact later on, but nothing significant. It was pretty much an all or nothing draft for Atlanta, which we'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

That is because the offense probably won't utilize Vick the first year much with Chris Chandler at the helm. Sure, Chandler will probably suffer some kind of injury like he seemingly does every year, but with backup Danny Kanell, there's no need to rush Vick, which might be good with a little of experience. So this season, the quarterback position probably won't be a strength (which will reflect on the whole team), but in the future, could quite possibly be a giant strength of the Falcons.

Chandler doesn't exactly have a play maker to throw the ball to anymore. But in Terance Mathis and Shawn Jefferson, they have two receivers that can get the job done. But they were hurt when they traded their other receiver, Tim Dwight, in the Vick trade. What they need is a play maker that other teams have to beware of to free up receivers like Mathis and Jefferson.

So with an unspectacular passing game, what will the Falcons do this year? Run, run, run. Then run some more. It helps when you have a quality running back in Jamal Anderson. Forgotten in 2000, recovering from injuries, he could regain his elite status when fully healed in 2001. Plus, when Vick comes along, he'll always have Anderson to hand off to in a jam. A healthy Anderson means the difference between a horrid offense and respectable offense.

If the Falcons don't make the playoffs in 2001, it will be because of a mediocre defense and a less-than-mediocre offense. If you don't have a explosive offense, which the Falcons don't, you need a defense to be successful in the NFL. The Falcons don't have that defense. They were in the bottom half of the NFC in team defense, and needs that dominating presence on the defensive side of the ball to be successful.

What does this all mean to the Falcons in 2001? Probably a 7-9 record, which could easily be 9-7 and a wild card berth if things go right for them.

To build for the future, they need to concentrate on building the defense over the next couple years and find a receiver. With this, they will be a power in the NFC again, with Vick leading the way. Football in Atlanta could get exciting once again, the future is bright.

Article courtesy of Sports Central