Knox Talks: NFC South Mailbag 4/20 Edition

Every Friday I'll ask for NFC South questions to be submitted via e-mail or Twitter. I'll post the best ones here, and answer the rest in a personal response. So, like Pat Benatar so wonderfully said, "Hit me with your best shot."

What's on your mind?

I thought that most of the questions were going to revolve around the two hottest topics around the league right now: the upcoming 2012 NFL draft and the newly-announced schedule. I was right. 

Prof DL,

Believe it or not, that was the first thing I noticed about the Falcons schedule too. I did some digging around on the schedule over the past two years and found that Atlanta doesn't really get bothered by road trips (except maybe the first game of the season) or extended road trips.

Over the last two seasons, Atlanta is 10-6 on the road in the regular season and has played five times in the back portion of extended road trips. What I mean by that is, if the Falcons have had to be on the road for multiple weeks, how have they fared? And the answer is they are 4-1.

Football isn't like baseball. A baseball player might not see his house for two weeks at times because teams stay out on road trips. These football players travel to the games on Saturday, play on Sunday, then return home. They are in their own beds Monday through Friday. And even when they play at home on Sunday, they still go to a team hotel on Saturday and stay there.

It's a routine each week and I don't think it matters too much if they alternate venues each weekend or play extended games on the road or at home.

Jon Paul,

The first thing that jumped out at me was the relative ease of the New Orleans Saints schedule over the first seven weeks. As well all know, head coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season, and interim head coach Joe Vitt will miss the first six games due to his own suspension.

Those first six games are going to be very important.

The Saints play: Washington (5-11), Carolina (6-10), Kansas City (7-9), Green Bay (15-1), San Diego (8-8), have a bye week, and then Tampa Bay (4-12). The combined 2011 record of those six teams are 45-51, and that's greatly aided by Green Bay's 15-win season.

The schedule makers left Atlanta out of the first six weeks—San Francisco and the New York Giants too.

Mark,

That's a great question, and my answer may make people go "Huh?"

I think the Falcons will take an offensive lineman (I'm guessing here, as everyone is) with their first selection in the draft, a second-round pick at No. 55. The Falcons will want to go vertical more in 2012 in offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's new offense, and quarterback Matt Ryan's going to need some more time to throw.

That said, improving the defensive line is more important.

By that I mean, if the Falcons can find a way—or ways—to get to the opposing quarterback a little more frequently in 2012, they can add wins to their record.

I'm not saying that the Falcons have to lead the league in sacks. But the team must provide more pressure against the pass next season, especially since Atlanta plays in an NFC South with three of the top 10 passers in the NFL.

So, to answer your question, I'm going to say the defensive line. I wouldn't be surprised to see Atlanta add an end and a tackle to the roster come the draft next weekend.