Matt Ryan and Julio Jones continued performing as one of the most entertaining QB-to-WR combos in the NFL last in-depthseason, but the Falcons as a whole foundered through a 6-10 season, good for just third place in the bad NFC South.

While Tony Gonzalez and Steven Jackson are gone, there’s still plenty of offensive firepower on the roster to compete with anyone during a given week. But is there enough supporting cast to contend for the playoffs under new coach Dan Quinn in 2015?

Allen Strk, staff writer for The Falcoholic and co-host of the FalcFans podcast joined us to share some thoughts.

Zoneblitz: Atlanta went 6-10 last year and finished third in a bad NFC South – how would you assess the season and how it matched expectations?

Strk: With how poor the NFC South was, expectations weren’t met. It was such a strange season through witnessing the downfall of a perennial contender in the New Orleans Saints. Then you look at the comical coaching blunders of Mike Smith through losses against the Browns and Lions. This team really should have finished 8-8 at minimum, which was my pre-season prediction for them. In the end, it was an overall disappointing season in an embarrassing division.

Zoneblitz: What did you think of the firing of Mike Smith? Was it the right move?

Strk: The move had to be done following such a season-defining loss against the Carolina Panthers. Smith had garnered the reputation of being a liability with clock management. Another case can be made for him being a liability in big-game situations. The playoff losses against the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers were both fairly lopsided. For Atlanta to beat New Orleans in definitive fashion in week 16, then get dominated by a mediocre Carolina team in a playoff play-in game was the final straw.

Zoneblitz: The team retained Thomas Dimitroff and brought in Dan Quinn as Smith’s replacement – what are your thoughts on those moves?

Strk: Quinn wasn’t necessarily on my radar, but he’s well accomplished and respected. Many defensive players have praised his coaching strategy and mentality. While Rex Ryan would have been entertaining, I’m optimistic on Quinn’s chances to make this defense a credible unit.

Thomas Dimitroff shouldn’t have been retained though. The lack of a true pass-rush has been a constant issue for years. His decision to sign the likes of Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson to “toughen the team up” was absurd. In a passing league, you don’t overpay for run stuffers. The list goes on and on about Dimitroff’s failures. In the end, he’s failed to learn from his mistakes and has derailed the franchise’s momentum over the past two seasons.

Zoneblitz: The Falcons still have some offensive skill talent, but have not truly replaced Tony Gonzalez, nor is there a sure-fire workhorse RB on the roster. Plus the offensive line could use some work – what are the priority fixes for those units?

Strk: We’ve seen over the past few years how teams acquire or draft productive running backs. They can literally come from anywhere in free agency or in the draft. Atlanta will likely draft a power running back within round three or four, although I’ve been advocating that Steven Ridley would be a quality signing. The tight end position is going to be extremely difficult to upgrade. Many analysts have stated how this year’s tight end draft class is weak.

Jordan Cameron would have been such a sensational signing, but as usual Thomas Dimitroff fails to take a calculated risk. Rob Housler and Jermaine Gresham are options that have been somewhat productive. It’s highly unlikely that they’ll be complete assets though. Besides defensive end, tight end is the most concerning position on the roster. The offensive line is only missing a left guard following the release of Justin Blalock. That seems like a position that will be filled within the second or third round.

Zoneblitz: Julio Jones is All World, but how much does Roddy White have left? And with Harry Douglas and Steven Jackson gone, are there other skill players to step up?

Strk: Roddy White has possibly two years left in being an effective receiver. It will be crucial to draft the right replacement for him within the second or third round. That will be essential toward moving White to the slot, where he should be playing at this point in his career. Leonard Hankerson may be a surprise asset, if he stays healthy and improves on using his hands rather than his body to catch passes.

The running back position is still unclear at this point. Devonta Freeman is positioned to be a vital part of the rushing attack. Antone Smith is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league. The lack of size makes neither player capable of being a workhorse back. A power back will be needed for the upcoming season to create a potential scary trio in the backfield.

Zoneblitz: What is your assessment of Matt Ryan at this point in his career? Is he the QB to take Atlanta to the top?

Strk: This question always boggles my mind. It’s understandable why people who don’t watch the Falcons, question Ryan at times. When judging a team, the first initial reaction is looking at the quarterback play. If a team wins ten games in two years like Atlanta has, Ryan will be the centerfold of attention.

Ryan is a fantastic quarterback that has steadily improved over the past four years. His decision-making and arm strength continues to grow exponentially. What was added to his repertoire this season was the ability to scramble more effectively. While his athleticism will never be on the level of Andrew Luck, his ability to escape pressure was a pleasant surprise. Pressure can still rattle at him at times, but that occurs with almost every quarterback. Ryan has proven himself to be a franchise quarterback that can take Atlanta to the top, which was nearly proven in the 2012 season.

Zoneblitz: The defense gave up 417 points and didn’t really look great in any phase of the game – what pieces are already there to work with and how does the team go about fixing that unit?

Strk: Desmond Trufant is arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the league. His development toward being a top-tier cornerback has been well documented on Pro Football Focus. His ability to play physical and maintain proper positioning with the biggest receivers is unbelievable to watch. William Moore is still one of the better safeties in the league, although injuries derailed him last season.

Ra’Shede Hageman could be on the verge of something special. Consistency and technique are the only two things that have hindered his development. Justin Durant and Robert Alford should be productive players as well. After that, this team really needs to get better within the front seven. Any semblance of a pass rush has to be created through their first-round draft pick and other role players. The likes of Soliai and Brooks Reed have to live up to their contracts. If any sort of pass rush can be somehow mustered together on a weekly basis, improvement will occur among this beleaguered unit.

Zoneblitz: What Falcons have a chance to break out in 2015?

Strk: Even though he was mentioned above, Hageman has to be on top of my list. The sheer raw power and athleticism drove him toward being productive through the last month of the season. It’ll be essential for him to continue to work on his technique rather than rely on power. They’ll need him to step up greatly with Corey Peters not being re-signed.

Zoneblitz: What is your reaction to free agency at this point and what would you like to see the team do through the rest of free agency and in the draft?

Strk: The free agency period wasn’t terrible like last off-season. When you witness a team give 11 million guaranteed to a mediocre player like Tyson Jackson, it can’t get much worse. The signings have been a bit underwhelming. From losing out on players like Derrick Morgan and Brandon Graham, the lack of an established pass rusher on the roster has to be frustrating.

If they can sign a veteran like Dwight Freeney or even John Abraham for a reunion tour, that would be fine by me. A tight end like Housler or Gresham would be a decent signing. Both players have been underwhelming, but the tight end draft class doesn’t offer much. Atlanta knows that they can’t go into next season with Levine Toilolo as their default starter. A pass rusher and tight end are positions that still can be addressed over this next week. Running back and left guard seem destined to be addressed in the draft.

Zoneblitz: How far is this team from contending for a playoff spot?

Strk: They can win the NFC South right now, which isn’t a ridiculous statement to make. Tampa Bay is clearly rebuilding and has several holes on their roster. New Orleans has been reshuffling through their entire off-season. The defense is an absolute disaster, while the offense lacks true playmakers aside from Brandin Cooks. Carolina is the only legitimate threat, and they haven’t made any improvements to their below-average offensive line.

As flawed as the Falcons are defensively, they can win eight or nine games and win the division. This stat will be repeated constantly this summer, so remember this now. Atlanta has the easiest schedule going into the 2015 season. A combination of the NFC East and AFC South has proven to be extremely beneficial on paper. In this unique situation, a playoff spot is there for the taking.

Zoneblitz: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Strk: You can follow my work on The Falcoholic through SB Nation. I’m also the co-host of the Falcfans podcast alongside Aaron Freeman. You can find that podcast through both The Falcoholic and Falcfans websites, along with ITunes.

Follow Allen Strk on Twitter at: @Allen_Strk
Follow The Falcoholic on Twitter at: @TheFalcoholic
Follow FalcFans on Twitter at: @FalcFans
Follow Zoneblitz.com on Twitter at: @ZoneblitzCom

Previous In Depth: Chicago Bears
Next In Depth: New York Giants