2007 Outlook:

Let's get one thing straight. Michael Vick will not be stepping on the field to play with the Falcons this year, so there's no point in even wasting my time delving into his saga. With super backup Matt Schaub traded to Houston, into the quarterback spotlight steps cast-away Joey Harrington. Once thought to be the sure-fire gunslinger out of Oregon, Joey has experienced a much publicized fall from grace only to land in Atlanta. Truth be told, this is the perfect, and likely the last, opportunity for Harrington to resurrect his career. The preseason story this year was supposed to be about the triumphant arrival of new Head Coach Bobby Petrino, but the once-great expectations for this year's Falcons squad have been squashed. Times are dire, but there are a few slivers of hope in Atlanta. Explosive running back Jerious Norwood will get an opportunity to prove that he can be an impact back in his first year as the full-time starter. Also, how great would it be to see Joey Harrington finally put it all together? A feel-good story would be extra sweet with all the off-the-field distractions in Georgia.

2007 Draft Review:

The Falcons were loaded with draft picks in '07 as they selected 11 players in the 7-round draft. Their top overall pick was standout defensive end Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas, which they followed up in the 2nd round by taking former Texas roadgrader Justin Blalock and Anderson's Razorback teammate CB Chris Houston. Blalock will likely move from his college position of tackle to a more interior spot on the line as a guard or center. You may remember that Houston made a name for himself last Fall in his season opener when he shut down new Carolina Panther Dwayne Jarrett in a man-to-man matchup. The rest of the draft was used to filter depth throughout the rest of the roster. Draft Grade: B

Key Acquisition:

In light of recent developments, QB Joey Harrington has unexpectedly become a crucial member of the Atlanta franchise. This will likely be Harrington's final shot at being a starting quarterback in the NFL and since he doesn't have much competition, it's his job to lose. Harrington played fairly decently in his first preseason game, but he's going to have to be spectacular if this team has any playoff expectations.

Key Departure:

Alright, I promised myself I wouldn't waste anymore time on Ron Mexico, but lets face it...Michael Vick is the key loss for the Atlanta Falcons. He won't be back this year and Warrick Dunn said it best when he said that none of the Falcons are hoping that Vick comes back to the team.

Offensive Preview:

Jerious Norwood is a promising young running back, but the rest of the offense is sub-par at best. Joey Harrington is a below average quarterback prone to terrible mistakes. Joe Horn is past his prime and injury-prone and his fellow starting WR Michael Jenkins has yet to show anything spectacular as he enters his 5th year in the league. To make things worse, four-time Pro Bowler TE Alge Crumpler is struggling to come back from offseason knee surgery.

Defensive/Special Teams Preview:

The Falcons have a solid defense, but it probably won't be enough to carry them into the playoffs. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson will have huge footsteps to fill with the departure of star DE Patrick Kerney, who jumped ship over to Seattle. DeAngelo Hall has some experience under his belt and should be a lockdown corner for the club and free agent signee Lewis Sanders will be opposite him in the starting lineup. John Abraham, Keith Brookings, Lawyer Milloy and company will have to be lights out if the Falcons are going to stand any chance this year.

Season Prediction:

Lets face it, this is a franchise in turmoil. Most Falcons fans probably want to skip to the offseason and pretend like this season never existed. The offense will be weak and the defense will be solid, but definitely not good enough to carry them into the playoffs. The good news is that Bobby Petrino should get an opportunity to coach his former college QB Brian Brohm in 2008.

Projected Finish

3 Wins, 13 Losses (4th in the NFC South)