Atlanta Falcons Weekend Mailbag: August 24 Edition

Every Friday as the Falcons prepare for their next opponent, I will be doing a Twitter mailbag with just Atlanta Falcons questions. This week, there's a batch of five questions that really stood out for the article.

If you want to get into a future Atlanta Falcons Mailbag, just Tweet me @scar988 with the hashtag #BRFalconsMailbag and I'll try to fit your question in.

Blake Hudgens leads off with a question that is likely prompted by the injury Will Svitek received that will have the veteran out for the season (h/t Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

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@scar988 #BRFalconsMailbag are we looking to acquire any additional O linemen via trade or anything? #Falcons

— Blond Barbarian (@BlakeHudgins) August 24, 2012"

This is definitely a great question. The Falcons don't seem to be too preoccupied with trying to find another tackle as the position was already pretty crowded as it is. Expect the Falcons to stick with the group they have right now in Sam Baker, Tyson Clabo, Mike Johnson and Lamar Holmes.

It's a lot of money and value invested in those guys as Baker was a first-round pick. Holmes was a third-round pick. Clabo signed a big contract before the 2011 season and Mike Johnson was 2010's third-round pick and can also play both guard spots.

Corbin Miles asks a follow up to the question that Blake asked:

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@scar988 now who do you think will win LT with the latest injury news???#BRFalconsmailbag

— corbin miles (@Kor2bin) August 24, 2012"

This one has two answers. Because it's not just who wins the left tackle job out right but whether they can keep it. The Falcons have a mentality that every position is always being competed for, and that's especially true this year on the offensive line.

Initially, expect Sam Baker to win the job and be the starting left tackle. The Falcons will realize that completely changing protections for him is going to be too bothersome and that Lamar Holmes is ready around week five or six to be the starter.

Soven Bery asks about the Falcons receivers here:

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@scar988 Who do you think will have the better season: Julio Jones or Roddy White? #BRFalconsMailbag #Falcons #FalconsFam

— Soven Bery (@realsovenbery) August 24, 2012"

Julio Jones should break out this year to the tune of 85 catches, 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns. Roddy White should still have a great year even though his targets will lessen to around 80 catches for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns.

Either way, both guys will have a good year, possibly a great one. In the end, it's a great thing that the Falcons have both guys because it doesn't really matter who does better as long as they both hit their expectations.

Josh Gamez asks about Michael Turner's supposed decline:

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@scar988 are many people reading too much into Turner's struggles thus far into the preseason? Or is it a legit concern? #BRFalconsMailbag

— Josh Gamez (@straight_edge76) August 24, 2012"

It doesn't seem like he has been struggling that much to me. He's been catching the ball well out of the backfield and blocking well. Part of the struggle in the running game is a lack of blocking from the offensive line, specifically at right guard.

With the ascension of Peter Konz, the Falcons should see a nice increase in Turner's numbers from the preseason. Also, if Lamar Holmes ends up starting by the time the season ends, the Falcons offensive line should be big, strong and road grating.

And finally, the Orginal ATLien asks about who will step up this year but still not get recognized:

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@scar988 who will be the defensive and offensive unsung heroes #BRFalconsMailbag 

— Original ATLien (@Kartelnometry) August 24, 2012"

On offense, it's going to be Michael Palmer. He will be getting the snaps as the second tight end this year, and as a blocker, he is one of the best off the bench. As a receiver, he is starting to look like he has learned quite a bit from Tony Gonzalez as his routes are crisper and he finds soft spots in zone defenses.

On defense, it's going to be Akeem Dent. He's not going to be an All-Pro caliber middle linebacker this year. But he should be very reminiscent of a more athletic version of what Curtis Lofton was in the 2008 season.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek, runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and hosts Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

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