Kyle Shanahan Wants A Balanced Offense In Atlanta

New Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan looks to bring balance to a team that has struggled to run the football in the last three seasons.  The Falcons’ offense under Dirk Koetter, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was heavily predicated on the mid-range passing game.  As talented as Matt Ryan and his receiving corps were under Koetter, opposing defenses had no problem blitzing Ryan with great regularity as they knew the Falcons were going to pass the ball most of the time.  It didn’t help that his offensive line was slow and experienced.  We saw Ryan on his back way too much for a Pro Bowl passer of his caliber.

Kyle Shanahan said after Week 2 of organized team activities, “Our goal is to be balanced.  You want to make teams defend both the run and the pass on first and second down.  Try to be in a 50-50 area.”  It’s comforting to know that Atlanta’s previous lack of balance on offense is being addressed both on the field and in the classroom.

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Players are eager to see just how the running game and passing attack feed off each other in Shanahan’s new look offense.  Running back Antone Smith said, “The system does work, obviously.  The track record has been working since the Denver days.”  But even with Shanahan’s often-praised running game, you still have to make the most of your opportunities and Smith seems well aware of it.

New WR Leonard Hankerson spoke highly of the receiving corps he is now apart of saying, ” it’s one of the best I’ve been on.”  Hankerson played in a talented WR group in Washington with DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Santana Moss.  His comfort with playing alongside talented receivers makes for a nice fit for him here in Atlanta.  Not to mention, Hankerson played under Kyle Shanahan in DC for three seasons (2011-13), so he is familiar with our new OC’s passing game.

“Our goal is to be balanced.  You want to make teams defend both the run and the pass on first and second down.  Try to be in a 50-50 area.” – Atlanta Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan

It’s not even training camp yet, but I’m excited that Shanahan will make running the football part of the Atlanta Falcons offensive game plan in 2015.  As much as I would like to see Matt Ryan throw for 4,500 yards through the air, I would rather see him lead us into the playoffs with 3,500 passing yards in Shanahan’s more balanced offense.

I think Coach Shanahan will design and call plays to better use his players in space.  If Mike Smith couldn’t intimidate anybody with size, why not use speed and blow by everyone in the NFC?  I believe Kyle Shanahan has the weapons in place to have a top ten offense in the NFL in 2015.  Still way to early to tell, though.  Rise Up, ATL!