2014 Atlanta Falcons: An Identity on Both Offense and Defense Was Discovered

Who are the 2014 Atlanta Falcons?

This seems to be a question a lot of analysts have been asking. Michael Schottey of Bleacher Report has questioned whether the Falcons are for real despite the drubbing of what looks like the NFL's worst team for the 2014 season in the Buccaneers. 

And he may have a point, because the Falcons haven't exactly faced some of the toughest teams in the NFL just yet. They also looked pretty miserable against a Cincinnati Bengals team that is currently leading the AFC North after winning its first three games.

The biggest thing that stands out about this is that the Bengals went into Baltimore and beat the Ravens. Then they handled both the Falcons and the Titans easily. This says more about just how good the Bengals are than how bad the Falcons, Ravens or Titans may be.

Through the first three games, the Falcons have tried to show different offensive and defensive looks in their search for an identity. They may have finally found what a Mike Smith Atlanta Falcons team should look like. 

On offense, the Falcons should be a quick-strike, attacking offense that can run the ball when needed. On defense, the Falcons need to be a blitzing, run-stuffing defense that forces quarterbacks to beat them down the middle of the field as their talented corners are blanketing the outside receivers.

Attack, Attack, Attack on Offense...

After scoring 56 points versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers using an uptempo, no-huddle offense to jump-start the offense, the Falcons need to realize that they have to play aggressive and keep the pedal to the metal on offense. They need to continually attack defenses and impose their will on their opponents.

It's tiring to see the Falcons using a "take what they can get" approach on offense. As Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution puts it when he describes exactly what the Falcons' identity on offense should be moving forward, "They need to play fast. They need to be a full-length vinyl album spinning at 78 RPMs, not 33.3. They need to make opponents’ heads spin and gasp for air on the back pedal."

This is exactly what Atlanta Falcons fans have been asking for since Mike Smith has come in as the head coach. He came off as too conservative, like he wasn't willing to blow someone out. This year, he looks like a different kind of coach. The Falcons don't get down on themselves when they are down. And they fight to keep their lead so that they can win big when they are up.

Hopefully, Coach Smith has learned the lessons that 2013 taught him about his offense's strengths and weaknesses. Adding Devin Hester and Devonta Freeman to the group of speedsters that the Falcons already had will only continue to allow them to develop an identity as the team who will attack you after they have already beaten the tar out of you.

Identity has always been a big question for the offense. By showing that the Falcons are now a speedy, attacking, uptempo outfit versus the Buccaneers, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has given Atlanta its blueprint for what the offense should be moving forward.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

...Then Attack, Attack, Attack Some More on Defense

Just like how the offense needs to keep the pedal on the metal, the defense needs to do the same. For the defense, that means playing the run tough and forcing offenses into long third-down conversion attempts. Atlanta has some talented pass-rushers that they can make sure to put in the right packages for 3rd-and-long situations.

For this to work, the Falcons need to focus on packaging their defense properly. They haven't been able to do it right during the first two games, but it looks like they figured out the proper rotation during the Tampa Bay game. In the secondary, the Falcons have the right players to create turnovers should the front seven do their jobs and be rotated right. The real question comes from the front-seven rotation.

On running downs, the Falcons need to make sure that Ra'Shede Hageman, Paul Soliai, Corey Peters and Malliciah Goodman are in there to attack the offensive line. They can all take up blockers and allow the linebackers behind them to flow to the ball. They also need to make sure that in four-down linemen sets that the Falcons have Joplo Bartu, Prince Shembo and Paul Worrilow at linebacker.

This grouping should allow the Falcons to stuff the run effectively while allowing them to put in some pass-rushing sets. In those pass rushing sets, Peters, Jonathan Babineaux, Jonathan Massaquoi, Osi Umenyiora and Stansly Maponga should be allowed to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback. Attacking through stunts and other blitz packages should allow the Falcons the ability to set the tone.

Being able to put the pressure on the offense by turning them into a one-dimensional team and blitzing to knock around quarterbacks and force them off of their game. If the Falcons can do this every game moving forward, they'll finally have a defense that defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and head coach Mike Smith can be proud of.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.

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