Two nightmares loom on the Atlanta Falcons defense

We’ve often talked about the Atlanta Falcons’ lack of depth at two crucial positions on defense: edge defender and cornerback.

This is worth repeating because these are two of the most important positions on a football team and this team is sitting on the edge of a cliff that could ruin their season. The Falcon simply does not have what it takes to complete a full season at these two positions.

Overall, the Atlanta Falcons have built a viable contender, on paper. They have a quarterback, offensive playmakers, the most stable offensive line in the league, a deep defensive line and a strong secondary.

That being said, it is a physical sport that can leave teams dry at every position. The Falcons do not have depth at either cornerback or edge rusher and that is a major concern.

Edge depth:

Cornerback Depth:

As you can see, the Falcons have quantity in the corners and edges, but they don’t have quality.

We all have high hopes for Arnold Ebiketie. Bralen Trice and DeAngelo Malone, but what if they don’t become starter-caliber players this year? What if a few of them get injured and miss a lot of time? These are major problems at a position that the Falcons were able to overcome last year.

AJ Terrell is an All-Pro level corner and Clark Phillips played well on the outside as a rookie. They are the two starters but what happens if one of them gets injured? Dee Alford is strictly a slot and Hughes is the best inside, so they shouldn’t take over. Raheem Morris would have to throw Antonio Hamilton or Kevin King, which would be a disaster.

A single injury at either position could have profound effects on this team. They haven’t built enough depth and that could lead to weekly offensive shootouts – pressure we don’t want to put on our new quarterback.