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Gonzo's role in Atlanta

He'll do more than just block for the Falcons Matt Bowen

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The addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons’ roster will pay major dividends when this offense starts to move the football down the field, and despite reports that say the Pro Bowler will have a decreased role in his new town, I still see Gonzalez as one of the best tight ends in the game this season.

Tony Gonzalez APGonzalez adds to the offensive weapons in Atlanta this season.

One thing we have to understand is that Gonzalez put up monster numbers the last two seasons in Kansas City (96 receptions, 10 TDs in ’08; 99 receptions, 5 TDs in ’07) because he was the only option for an offense that was anything but efficient.

That will change in Atlanta, but I have a hard time believing that a playoff team like the Falcons — who have one of the best young arms in the game in QB Matt Ryan — would trade away a valuable second-round pick in 2010 for a tight end who will spend his time blocking for Michael Turner and catching five-yard out routes.

Sure, we all know that Turner is one of the major reasons this team made a run to the postseason in ’08, but we can’t deny the fact that if you add up the number of catches for the Falcons’ tight ends last season, you don’t even reach 20 — and that’s poor production for an NFL team, let alone a playoff team.

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey loves the tight end position, and I can only imagine what he’s been thinking this offseason watching film of divisional opponents in the NFC South — because he now has another weapon to work with.

Think of it this way: The Falcons’ offense will go through Turner, WR Roddy White, and Gonzalez. That’s three weapons at the skill positions that I would line up against anyone in the division. Now, add in the arm and expected second-year development jump from Ryan, and suddenly, a team we all thought surprised us last year looks like a team we expect to challenge for the NFC South title in ’09.

Matt Ryan MRGonzalez will be a big target for Ryan in the red zone.

But do we still question what Gonzalez’s role will be in this offense? Or do we wonder what will happen to him if he has to block for Turner? Folks, despite the fact that every tight end in this game is a blocker in run situations — and that includes Jason Witten, Chris Cooley, Antonio Gates and others — they are also receivers, and they make their money in the red zone and on third downs.

That’s exactly why Gonzalez is now in Atlanta instead of wasting away in K.C. for another season.

I’m not worried about Gonzalez having to share the ball in Atlanta because in the Georgia Dome, he’ll have more opportunities to get in the end zone and make bigger plays. Defenses will not be able to game plan around him — there are just too many weapons.

And inside the 20-yard line, I would put my money down that he’ll be Ryan’s No. 1 option because as much as we talk about Witten or Gates, Gonzalez is still the best at getting open and using his size and athletic ability to make plays in the end zone —and the tape doesn’t lie.

Relax, Falcons fans — Gonzo will still be a major player in Atlanta this season.

Comments

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Northwoods Tom
Jul 08, 2009
11:30 AM

I think Gonzo would sacrifice some catches for a playoff run...

The word playoffs and KC don't exactly work well together.

Men of Troy
Jul 08, 2009
11:59 AM

Gonzo will score eight plus TDs, but the defense of this team will prevent them from going back to the playoffs again...

No match for the Saints offense or the running game of the Panthers.

Falcons could go 10-6 and not get in.

Jack
Jul 08, 2009
01:48 PM

Men of Troy, the Saints D isn't exactly a match for the Falcons O, and what Carolina has in the running game, it makes up for with deficiencies at QB and receiver. I don't see the Falcons running away with it, but talking about the NFC south as an elite division is a bit of stretch. Keep in mind they play the AFC East and NFC East in 2009.

Da Coach
Jul 08, 2009
02:52 PM

Still see this NFC South race coming down to Falcons and Saints in December....

Adam S
Jul 08, 2009
05:13 PM

The uptick in TE production should really help out the rest of the Atl offense. Their season hinges on the development of their young defense.

Gasman
Jul 09, 2009
09:21 AM

What is the difference between the Falcons´ offense and the Redskins´? I'm asking that because Turner/Portis, White/Moss, Gonzalez/Cooley and Ryan/Campbell don't seem like wild comparisons, and yet the Redskins offense is predicted to stink (unless a second WR steps up) while the Falcons' offense is predicted to flourish. Is it coaching? The line?

To me, this article shows that either the Redskins are underrated or the Falcons are overrated.

Jack
Jul 09, 2009
11:37 AM

Gasman, here's the difference in 2008:

Turner 1699 yds 4.5/carry 17 TD
Portis 1487 yds 4.3/carry 9 TD

White 88 rec 1382 yds 15.7 avg 7 TD
Moss 79 rec 1044 yds 13.2 avg 6 TD

Gonzalez 96 rec 1058 yds 11 avg 10 TD
Cooley 83 rec 849 yds 10.2 avg 1 TD

Ryan 7.9 y/att 87.7 QBR 16 TD
Campbell 6.4 y/att 84.3 QBR 13 TD


So basically all of the Falcons you named consistently outproduced the redskins you paired them with. So whats the difference? About 75 yards of offense and a TD per game.

Bennett GB
Jul 09, 2009
12:07 PM

T-Gon (as I'm sure no one calls him) is another knock on Ted Thompson's caution.

While being prudent is great and has served Green Bay well (and I'm a huge fan of not throwing money away on declining players), it also means that trading for players that can make the difference is non-existent.

If I remember correctly, Green Bay could have got him from Kansas for a 2 a couple of years ago. They weren't, and still aren't, blessed at TE.

It goes in the 'What If' folder, along with not trading a 3 to Los Angeles for Randy Moss.
Concerns over his behaviour?
I haven't heard a peep out of him since he signed for New England!

gasman
Jul 09, 2009
12:13 PM

Jack:

Thanks for the stats, they are really insightful, but are those differences really significant looking forward? Remember that Gonzalez wasn't in Atlanta last year, and as Matt said, racked up huge numbers because he was the Chiefs' only option. If you factor in the difference in schedules (where clearly the Redskins had tougher opponents), the fact that it was the first year in the offense, and that Portis was slowed by injuries, I think that those stats don't prove that the Falcons' players are better, talent-wise, than the Redskins'. Therefore, looking forward, if you only look at those 8 players, I don't see why one team has high expectations and the other has low expectations.

Maybe it's other aspects of the game: the line, the coaching, the divisions. I'm just saying that I don't buy the argument that a good QB, RB, WR and TE combo is enough.

Matt Bowen
Jul 09, 2009
01:00 PM
Matt Bowen

Gasman-

The Redskins line is questionable at best and Ryan is a better option at QB over Campbell.

Thanks.

Jack
Jul 09, 2009
04:40 PM

Gasman, I gotta say production counts. Those numbers don't prove that the falcons have more talent, but they do prove that the Falcons have executed more consistently. That doesn't mean that the Skins can't improve or that the Falcons can't backslide, but it does explain why expecations are where they are.

You asked what the difference is. The answer is production.

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