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Atlanta Falcons: Top Five Players Who Must Be Better in 2018

By Kit Anderson

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Duke Riley #42 of the Atlanta Falcons awaits the snap against the Chicago Bears during the season opening game at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Falcons defeated the Bears 23-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Duke Riley #42 of the Atlanta Falcons awaits the snap against the Chicago Bears during the season opening game at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Falcons defeated the Bears 23-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 06: Kicker Matt Bryant #3 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates his field goal with tight end Austin Hooper #81 to take a 16-10 lead in the third quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Coliseum on January 6, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 06: Kicker Matt Bryant #3 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates his field goal with tight end Austin Hooper #81 to take a 16-10 lead in the third quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Coliseum on January 6, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

4. Austin Hooper Must Improve Parts of His Game 

Austin Hooper had an underrated season with the Atlanta Falcons. He was consistent and played hard. He finished the season with 49 grabs for 526 yards.  Nice numbers for a sophomore tight end.   So why is he on the list you may ask?

The answer is simple, while Hooper was good there are many parts of his game he could improve upon. Run and pass blocking more efficiently is one area I would love to see Hooper’s game develop.

Some of the ability to block and be in the right place is just instinct, the majority is practice and proper coaching. Hooper will have plenty of practice and review plenty of tapes to see how he can improve at blocking his position.

Another area Hooper needs to be better at is in the red zone. He finished last season with only three scores. For a big-bodied tight-end like Hooper, he can do much better than that.

Julio Jones only scored three times as well and was often double and triple covered. Hooper is going to have to become a weapon when the Falcons need to score.

Aside from those two areas, Hooper’s development seems to be going at a great pace. At only twenty-three years old Hooper’s best seasons are still ahead of him.

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