Atlanta Falcons Weekend Mail Bag: May 12th Edition

So, as a new feature here, I'm going to start answering mailbag questions similar to how Pat Yasinskas or Knox Bardeen do as the ESPN and Bleacher Report NFC South reps, respectively. The only twist for my mailbag is it will be only Falcons questions. 

Starting off, we have jj73cuda asking:

"

@scar988 Yea .....How's Matty looking this yr...and ole Bc guy

— jj73cuda (@jj73cuda) May 11, 2012"

JJ, with an improved offensive line and better chemistry with the wide receivers, it wouldn't be surprising to see Ryan look much more like the field general he was in the 2010 season when he led the team to a 13-3 record. 

He should also see another improvement on his stats. In the new scheme and with better health in 2012, Julio Jones should be able to get around 1,500 yards if everything is clicking. Ryan should have yet another career year, and the team should be much better with the improved line.

I'm going to go on record that if Ryan, White, Jones and Gonzalez are healthy all year, Ryan should be able to top 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. With Ryan putting up these kinds of numbers, the Falcons should easily be a 12- to 13-win team. 

Up next, Seth Bond asks:

"

@scar988 How much 3-4 do you expect to see this year an how soon in the year if so??

— Seth Bond (@sethbond30) May 11, 2012"

Seth, a lot of fans seem to be buying into the 3-4 usage, but I'm not one of them. The Falcons don't have a good nose tackle candidate for any 3-4 move, and while the Falcons have personnel to have some great linebackers, the nose tackle is essential in the scheme.

If Atlanta does run some 3-4, it will likely be in nickel sets with a 3-3-5 alignment having the three big corners, Decoud and Moore at safety, Nicholas and Weatherspoon outside at linebacker and Tatupu inside at linebacker. The line would likely be pass-rushers galore with whoever proves to be the best ends on the outside and the best inside rusher in the middle.

And finally, we'll close out with Corbin Miles asking:

"

@scar988 who do u think will win the LT stop this year??

— corbin miles (@Kor3bin) May 11, 2012"

Corbin, that's a great question. There are three very interesting candidates in Sam Baker, Will Svitek and Lamar Holmes. Holmes was the third-round pick this year and is arguably the most natural pass-blocker of the three.

Baker was 2008's first-round pick and is a solid player in the run game, but he has been a terrible pass-blocker at the NFL level. Svitek has been the opposite of Baker as he is a good pass-blocker but bad run-blocker.

As it sits right now, if Holmes is completely healthy and can refine his pass-blocking technique, he should be the starter in 2012 at left tackle. Another option could be to have Clabo pull a Todd Weiner for a year and slide over to left tackle while Holmes plays right for a year, and then flip them in 2013.