2019 Roster - preseason thoughts

Heading into the final week of the preseason the Falcons need to get their roster down to 53. Here's my take on the state of the roster, the final 53 listed in depth chart order (I assume we don't pick up any cut players come Friday)

OFFENSE
2018 yards/game      389.1  (6th)
2018 pass yards       290.8 (4th)
2018 sacks allowed   42 (20th)
2018 QB hits            108 (27th)
2018 rush yards       98.3 (27th)
2018 avg/rush           4.5 (=12th)
2018 points scored   25.9 (10th)  
Turnover Ratio         +1  (=15th)

Quarterbacks
1 - Matt Ryan
2 - Matt Schaub
Fairly straight forward decision here, Matt Schaub provides veteran insurance should the unthinkable happen. He's 38 now and it's 6 years since he saw any extended action as a starter, so fingers crossed he won't be required too much. However, he's significantly better than what remains on the 90 man roster. Matt Simms hasn't overly impressed, Danny Etling may become a practice squad save. An honourable mention should go to Kurt Benkert who impressed in early pre-season offering hints of a QB2 battle until he hit IR.

Running Backs
3- Devonta Freeman
4 - Ito Smith
5 - Brian Hill
6 - Qadree Ollison
7 - Kenjon Barber
Freeman is the undoubted RB1 but has some injury baggage now. The Falcons allowed his foil Tevin Coleman to head to San Fran due to some impressive performances from Ito Smith last year and the real surprise of preseason has been the leap Brian Hill has made now injury free. Qadree Ollison possibly gets a spot as the big short yardage back but could head to the practice squad if the Falcons feel 5 RB's are too much. Barber presumably holds a roster spot due to his skills as a returner. Despite a sharing of return opportunities through preseason, Barber benefits as default safe pair of hands where other candidates have suffered from some typical rookie errors.

Wide Receivers
8 - Julio Jones
9 - Mohamed Sanu
10 - Calvin Ridley
11 - Russell Gage
12 - Justin Hardy
13 - Marcus Green
The first 3 WR spots speak for themselves. Julio remains arguably the best WR in the NFL, Sanu offers leadership, above average run blocking and the safest pair of hands on the team. With Sanu entering a contract year, it's even more important Calvin Ridley kicks on from a rookie season where he led the team with 10 receiving TD's. An impressive preseason should deservedly bump up Gage to the WR4 position as well as continuing to excel on special teams. After that it should be a dogfight for the remaining 1-2 roster spots. I think Justin Hardy maybe has an edge due to 3 years experience within the system and some PR skills, but he's on the bubble. After that, I think anyone from Olamide Zaccheaus, Christian Blake or Marcus Green could grab the final spot and I've plumped for Green since the Falcons expended a 6th round pick on him and he offers some RB/WR/KR versatility.

Tight Ends
14- Austin Hooper
15 - Luke Stocker
16 - Jaeden Graham
Hooper returns after his first Pro Bowl as an alternate. He's progressed every season and entering his 4th year has the potential to take another leap. Luke Stocker should fulfil the TE2 duties as a plus blocker with some decent hands. The Falcs have also used him at FB too in preseason and this versatility is invaluable. I have college free agent Jaeden Graham beating out veteran Logan Paulsen for the TE3 position. Graham has impressed in preseason and offers more in the passing game than Paulsen. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Falcons trimmed the RB's down though and accommodated 4 TE's on the final 53.

Offensive Line
17 - Jake Matthews OT
18 - James Carpenter OG
19 - Alex Mack C
20 - Chris Lindstrom OG
21 - Kaleb McGary OT
22 - Ty Sambrailo OT
23 - Matt Gono OT
24 - Jamon Brown OG
25 - Wes Schweitzer OG/C
The O-Line was the focus of the Front Office this off-season and returns two mid-priced free agent signings battling out the LG position and two 1st round picks spent on Lindstrom and McGary. The Falcons could send out an entire O-Line containing former 1st round picks this year. Despite the signings, the indications in preseason are of a line yet to gel. Hampered by injuries/medical problems with Carpenter, McGary and Sambrailo and of course rookie teething issues, the line is yet to show the stepped improvement the Falcons so desperately need. I think the 9 O-linemen on the 53 speak for themselves. I'd be surprised if anyone else enters this conversation, although maybe Sean Harlow is an outside bet, and I'd hope Adam Gettis gets offered a practice squad contract.


DEFENSE
2018 yards/game      384.5  (28th)
2018 pass yards       259.6  (27th)
2018 sacks                 37 (=22nd)
2018 rush yards       124.9 (25th)
2018 avg/rush           4.9 (=27th)
2018 pts conceded   26.4 (25th)  


Edge
26 - Vic Beasley
27 - Takk McKinley
28 - Adrian Clayborn
29 - John Cominsky
Vic Beasley enters a contract year which is make or break. Is he the 15.5 sack terror from the super bowl season or the 5 sacks per season pussycat since? Takk McKinley continues to show potential but still disappears for stretches. Like Beasley there is huge potential, can DQ unleash it? Behind these guys there is some solid vet depth in the return of Clayborn with his SB ring and the intriguing small school 4th round pick John Cominsky. The unlucky men here are maybe Austin Larkin and Durrant Miles who made some plays in preseason that should see them land somewhere, hopefully on the Falcons practice squad. Also a mention for Steven Means whose ACL injury in OTA's sees him lost for the year.

Interior
30 - Grady Jarrett
31 - Jack Crawford
32 - Tyeler Davison
33 - Allen Bailey
34 - Deadrin Senat
The re-signing of Jarrett was a huge boost and he is primed to enter the discussions as one of the top 10 DT's in the league. London born Jack Crawford had a really strong 2018 and the Falcs will hope he can build on that. The former Saint Davison joins the mix and should strengthen the run defense. Allen Bailey was brought across from the Chiefs and offers positional versatility and Deadrin Senat rounds out the group. Senat will need to push on from his up and down rookie season or his place could be under threat. If another space is created for a D-lineman expect one of the DE's above to get the call or Justin Zimmer. Ra'shede Hageman will be the exempt from play 54th person on the roster for the first 2 weeks of the season due to league suspension.

Linebackers
35 - Deion Jones
36 - Devondre Campbell
37  - Foye Oluokon
38 - Jermaine Grace
39 - Bruce Carter
40 - Duke Riley
I'm carrying 6 LB's but could easily see the Falcons taking only 5 guys into the regular season with the versatile Kemal Ishmael providing cover as LB6. This would allow a further D-lineman into the rotation. Deion Jones continues to re-write the rules at MLB and should take yet another step up to elite status. Campbell enters a contract year as the leading Falcons tackler of 2018 and shows versatility to cover TE's and has some pass rush skills that the Falcs don't utilise often enough. Foye Oluokon was a surprise success in 2018. The 6th rounder was thrust into a starting role due to injuries and impressed enough to pen himself in as 2019 starter. Jermaine Grace has been arguably the best Falcon during preseason and it would be a travesty if he didn't make the 53. He brings sideline to sideline speed and should contribute greatly on special teams. I give Bruce Carter the nod due to experience in an otherwise youngish LB group and have gone for the Front Office retaining former 3rd rounder Duke Riley in the 53, but it's really last chance saloon for the likeable but oft-injured and inconsistent Riley.

Cornerbacks
41 - Desmond Trufant
42 - Isaiah Oliver
43 - Damontae Kazee
44 - Blidi Wreh-Wilson
45 - Kendall Sheffield
46 - Jordan Miller
There have been signs of the old Desmond Trufant in preseason. He's not been quite the same corner since injury in 2016 but the Falcons needs his return to CB1 performance. The release of Robert Alford thrust 2nd year corner Isaiah Oliver into the starting role. He shown real signs late in the season and should be ideally suited to the Falcons cover-3 defense. Damontae Kazee switches to a nickel role in the 2019 defense in an effort to get him on the field. He led the league with 7 interceptions last year from the FS position while subbing for Ricardo Allen. CB4 and CB5 are intriguing rookies, with Sheffield owning sprinters speed which if harnessed could be exciting. The reliable Blidi Wreh-Wilson rounds off the corners group, a fine technician with good ball skills. He'll likely own the CB4 position on the depth chart in the early weeks of the season but Sheffield and Miller will be given opportunities to displace him.


Safeties
47 - Keanu Neal
48 - Ricardo Allen
49 - Sharrod Neasman
50 - Kemal Ishmael
Both starting safeties Neal and Allen return from injury shortened 2018 seasons. It's a massive boost to the Falcons secondary. The underrated Sharrod Neasman will be the main back-up for Neal, with presumably Damontae Kazee backing-up Allen. Kemal Ishmael again reverts back to Safety from LB and brings extra impact to the Falcons special teams unit.

Special Teams
51 - Josh Harris LS
52 - Giorgio Tavecchio  K
53 - Matt Bosher  P
Josh Harris returns as the reliable laser-like long snapper, hopefully free of injuries that hit him in 2018. Giorgio Tavecchio figures to replace Money Matt Bryant but a shaky preseason has given opportunity to Blair Walsh to compete for the job. I think Tavecchio pulls through but if not, the call should surely go up from Bryant's return by week 3 of the regular season. Matt Bosher returns for his 9th season with hopefully a continuation of his 2018 form, averaging 45.5 per punt.