After an impressive 6-1 start to the 2015-16 NFL regular season, the Atlanta Falcons took a disappointing turn as they went on to finish the year with a lackluster 8-8 record.
While it wasn’t exactly how the Falcons would have liked to finish the year after such a hot start, team owner Arthur Blank believes the team will see improvement during the upcoming season and that the playoffs are within reach.
In fact, Blank firmly begins the Falcons will be a factor in the playoff this season.
“Yes, I do — because of the added talent and knowing the existing roster’s players, and them knowing the schemes better,” Blank said when asked if he thought they were a playoff team, via Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think that will be evidenced on both sides of the ball. So my view is, yes – we will have a better team next year and we definitely should have a competitive team in the playoffs.
“We expect to see progression in every way. We expect progression from our coaches and our players, and as a result of progression we expect to see a better result. I feel like the roster is better. I feel like the players on both sides of the ball understand more specifically what coach Quinn wants and they’ll have a better understanding of the concepts and the execution.”
After adding some impressive talent to the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons are hoping it leads to the improvement Blank expects to see on the field. We will have to see if that defensive focus can finally create a pass rush for the Falcons, who have been in desperate need of one for years.
If the immediate impact is not felt, it could be four straight years without a postseason appearance in Atlanta.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
