2010 Pre-Season Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart

As a fan and someone with close connections to the Atlanta Falcons, I am very exited for this season.

The Hall of Fame game is August 8th, with the Bengals playing the Cowboys. The Falcons kickoff the pre-season on August 13th against the Kansas City Chiefs. For this slideshow I will go through each position and tell you who will make the team, rounding out the 53 man roster.

Quarterback

Starter: Matt Ryan (1)
Had a sophomore slump last year, but the turf toe didn't help. He has shown the "it factor" and is still considered the franchise quarterback.

Backup: Chris Redman (2)
Did a good job when filling in for Matty Ice last year. Is a good game manager and maybe an elite backup quarterback in the league.

Running Back

Starter: Michael Turner (3)
An 1,000 yard rusher in 2008 and couldn't stay healthy (like many other Falcons) last year. If he doesn't produce, he might want to watch his back.

Backups: Jason Snellling (4) and Jerious Norwood (5)
Snelling saved the Falcons ground game last year and will continue to get carries. Norwood can never stay healthy enough to see the field. If healthy (a big if) Norwood adds another dimension to this team.

Fullback

Starter: Ovie Mughelli (6)
Rarely gets carries, good blocker at a dying position.

Wide Receiver

Starting Wide Outs: Roddy White (7) and Michael Jenkins (8)
My only concern with Roddy is his signature backflip, every time he does that I hold my breathe. Jenkins is steady, but has never really broken out.

2nd String: Harry Douglas (9) and Eric Weems (10)
Harry Douglas was out all of last season, so his return helps this group a lot. I could see him, (Douglas) taking Michael Jenkins spot in the starting lineup. Weems has improved each year and is a good kick/punt returner.

Others: Kerry Meier (11)
Meier, a rookie, has blazing speed and has even burned Dunta Robinson in Mini-Camp.

Tight Ends

Starter: Tony Gonzalez (12)
He has said this will be his last season before we see him in Canton,Ohio.

Backup: Justin Peele (13)
Solid veteran backup, good blocker and is dependable.

Others: Colin Peek (14)
Loved this guy coming out of 'Bama, I think he has a lot of potential. He would be on the practice squad.

Offensive Tackle

Left Tackle
Starter: Sam Baker (15)
Is becoming the franchise left tackle that the Falcons drafted him to be.

Backup: Will Svitek (16)
Maybe my only one word summary: Solid.
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Right Tackle
Starter: Tyson Clabo (17)
Was an un-drafted journeyman before finding Atlanta in 2005 (his second season). Has been coached up to the point of being one-half of one of the best right sides on an offensive line in the NFL.

Backup: Garrett Reynolds (18)
Is currently being trained to play both tackle and guard. Is more comfortable at tackle because he has played there for longer.

Offensive Guard

Left Guard
Starter: Justin Blalock (19)
Consistent, does his job and you will probably not hear his name once during the season.

Backup: Brett Romberg (20)
With a rookie coming in at center he needs to play somewhere and is capable of playing guard.
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Right Guard
Starter: Harvey Dahl (21)
Is known to be a dirty player and is recovering from an ankle problem in 2009.

Backup: Mike Johnson (22)
Great potential and versatility, could be a starter in the future.

Center

Starter: Todd McClure (23)
A loyal, longtime Falcon and has a 128 game consecutive start streak going.

Backup: Joe Hawley (24)
Being groomed to eventually take over for McClure when he retires.

Defensive End

Left Defensive End
Starter: Kroy Biermann (25)
I think this will be his breakout season, possibly a pro bowl appearance. Has improved in both seasons as a pro so far.

Backup: Jamaal Anderson (26)
Good run stuffing defensive end and pass rushing defensive tackle on third downs. Good in a rotation, but five million dollars is expensive for a rotational backup.
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Right Defensive End
Starter: John Abraham (27)
Sack number went from 16.5 to 5.5, in part due to the injury of Peria Jerry. His aging and production might continue to drop.

Backups: Chauncey Davis (28) and Lawrence Sidbury (29)
Sidbury has really improved since last year, with his speed coming off the edge (has been taking karate classes). Davis is a dependable backup defensive end and puts up decent numbers for a rotational guy.
These guys should both be in the rotation.

Defensive Tackles

Starters: Peria Jerry (30) and Jonathan Babineaux (31)
Jerry was looking good in his first two games as a pro, before hurting his knee and ending his season. Babineaux should benefit from Jerry's return and is coming into his own.

Backups: Thomas Johnson (32), Vance Walker (33) and Corey Peters (34)
Walker and Johnson made a combined ten starts last season and filled in pretty well. Peters, the second round draft pick, is raw so will take some time to develop.

Linbackers

Strongside Linebacker
Starter: Stephen Nicholas (35)
First time starter last season. Is a rush end in certain defensive packages.

Backup: Spencer Adkins (36) and Robert James (37)
Adkins is good on special teams and James is a roster filler.
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Middle Linebacker
Starter: Curis Lofton (38)
Became a three-down linebacker and a tackling machine last season.

Backup: Coy Wire (39)
Dependable veteran and leader.
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Weakside Linebacker
Starter: Sean Weatherspoon (40)
First round draft pick, the Falcons hope he rounds out this young linebacking core of the future.

Backup: Mike Peterson (41)
Has taken his new role well as a backup and mentor to the young guys (Sean Weatherspoon in particular.)

Cornerbacks

Cornerbacks
Starters: Dunta Robinson (42) and Brian Williams (43)
Robinson gives the Falcons the number one corner they've needed since Deon Sanders left town. Williams was hurt most of last year, but when healthy is a quality number two corner.

3rd & 4th CB's: Chris Owens (44) and Brent Grimes (45)
These two ended last season as the starters. Grimes led the team with six interceptions and is very athletic while Owens continues to get better.

Others: Chevis Jackson (46) and Dominique Franks (47)
Chevis Jackson is slipping, but still is talented enough to make the roster. Was a steal in the fifth round, but for now will handle kick/punt return duties and be the fifth corner (barring injury.)

Safety

Strong Safety
Starter: Thomas DeCoud (48)
Is an emerging star and showed shades of that in 2009.

Backup: Shann Schillinger (48)
Sixth round pick from Montana, will compete with Matt Giordano for this spot.
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Free Safety
Starter: William Moore (49)
Will try and win this job from Eric Coleman after being out his rookie year.

Backup: Eric Coleman (50)
Moore will be favored for the starting job, because they invested a second round pick in him, leaving Coleman to sit on the bench.

Special Teams

Kicker: Matt Bryant (51)
Will win this job with his experience and the way he kicked last year after being brought in.

Punter: Michael Kohnen (52)
Strong leg, one of the better punters in the NFL.

Long Snapper: Joe Zelenka (53)

The End

Thanks for Reading and feel free to comment.