AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 17
Monday, December 17, 2007
A massive reclamation project
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The final two weeks of these Falcons as we know them can best be described as a death march. Players can’t wait to get away from this mess. Coaches know they will probably be let go after Bobby Petrino left them in a lurch. Front office personnel is trying to do its job as normal but everyone knows team owner Arthur Blank has to make some radical changes across the board.
Most notably, he has to hire a coach. Bill Cowher and Bill Parcells said they are out of the picture but, as we’ve learned with coaches jumping ship after saying something else, don’t believe anything until it’s done.
There is little doubt this franchise will be overhauled. To what degree remains to be seen. There are a lot of questions about GM Rich McKay’s future with the team and there are reasons he should be concerned.
He’s steered Blank to two coaches who aren’t here any more for different reasons (isn’t it ironic that the supposed desire to coach in college led to both of their exits?).
His free-agent signings haven’t produced much (Rod Coleman and John Abraham have been good when healthy but Lawyer Milloy and the dispatched Grady Jackson might have been his best moves. Jason Webster, Ike Reese and Ed Hartwell are out of here and it’s hard not to ask why in the heck they signed Joe Horn and Ovie Mughelli if they weren’t going to be used).
McKay’s drafting hasn’t been as bad as some people make it to be but it hasn’t produced any real star players other than D-Hall, Boley and possibly Roddy White.
Point Blank, this team is short on legitimate big-time players and now that it’s rudderless without a coach, some sweeping change has to take place.
Every offensive skill position needs an upgrade. The entire offensive line might need to be replaced. Every level of the defense except for cornerback might need some injection of talent as well.
So many things need to get done. Even players are wondering if there is an end line in sight. Right now, the only one they’re worried about, though, is the season finale against Seattle. By the way, on that note, how do you think former coach Jim Mora and NFL sacks leader Patrick Kerney, both with the Seahawks, are feeling these days?
