3 Falcons With The Most On The Line In 2015

The Atlanta Falcons might have some decisions to make with some of their recent draft picks. There comes a time in every young player’s career where it’s make or break. After a couple of seasons at the professional level, teams begin to realize what a player is going to become. It the front office likes what they see in a player, he may receive a contract extension or command a pay raise on the open market. But if he fails to live up to expectations, the team may decide to go in a different direction and he could find himself out of the league. Here are three Atlanta Falcons that need to have a breakout season in 2015.

CB Robert Alford

I like Robert Alford. The tenacity he brings to man coverage is great when it works. But there lies the problem. Alford is a bit of a risk-reward type of cornerback on the outside. While he his ballhawking skills are clear, he does get burned many times by skilled receivers.

Perhaps Alford playing the wrong position and may do better playing nickel in a Dan Quinn defense. Robert could also fall victim playing alongside Desmond Trufant, as Tru is well on his way to becoming a Pro-Bowl caliber cornerback. So he might unfairly look worse by comparison.

In terms of make-or-break for Robert Alford, it’s more along the line if he is a starter or not. There are always roster spots for guys with great hands in the secondary. But getting beat vertically and not tackling well can certainly limit future snaps for Alford if he doesn’t progress in Year Three with the Atlanta Falcons.

DE Malliciah Goodman

Malliciah Goodman is too entering Year Three with the Atlanta Falcons. The pass rusher out of Clemson has had minimal success in an underwhelming Falcons front seven. The former third round pick has to make the most of his playing time under Coach Quinn as the Falcons have drafted an elite pass rusher out of Goodman’s alma mater, Vic Beasley.

While Goodman and Beasley may not play the same role in Quinn’s front seven, one thing is for sure: Coach Quinn will get after the quarterback and won’t reward underperformance. I’d like to believe that Atlanta’s pass rush will drastically improve in 2015. But Goodman might get squeezed out of the rotation if he doesn’t make the most of his snaps this season.