Atlanta Falcons: Jaeden Graham Should Be the Backup Tight End

How Promoting Jaeden Graham Will Help Improve The Atlanta Falcons Offense

Inserting Jaeden Graham into double tight end sets would make the Atlanta Falcons offense more potent. Having a better receiving threat that is also a capable blocker, would allow the team to use the formation more often.

This could be the answer to getting the team’s ground game on track, as the Atlanta Falcons have struggled in that department so far. The team is averaging just 65 rushing yards per game, on just 3.8 yards per carry.

Creating a more balanced offense will unlock the Falcons play-action passing game. This is an area that quarterback Matt Ryan excels in.

Adding a second tight end onto the field more often would also allow the Atlanta Falcons to protect their quarterback better. This gives the offense the option of leaving one tight end in to block when the look shown by opponents dictates it is needed.

The Falcons could even get creative by using two tight ends, in some of the empty backfield sets that offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter loves to run. A five-man corps of Jaeden Graham, Austin Hooper, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Mohamed Sanu, must all be respected and accounted for at all times.

The team can also max protect out of the empty backfield set with two tight ends on the field. This would be especially useful when teams try to attack the formation with cover zero blitzes.

To be fair, most of the good work that Jaeden Graham has done, came against backup players in preseason action. Yet the case can also be made, that much more defensive attention was focused on him in those situations.

Certainly, Jaeden Graham is inexperienced, especially when it comes to going against first-team NFL defenses. Nevertheless, with the way Luke Stocker is playing, the rookie Graham couldn’t possibly fare much worse.

It is time for the Falcons to make the change, and elevate Jaeden Graham on the depth chart. He could be the shot in the arm that the Atlanta offense needs.

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