Off Topic » 3 weak spots on the Atlanta Falcons roster after final cuts

The Atlanta Falcons cut down to the best 52 players they had. 52? They only had to cut down to 53 Youth Matt Bryant Jersey , so maybe the guy who originally made it parked in Thomas Dimitroff’s bicycle spot. So far, it sounds like they kept a roster spot open to keep open for players cut by other teams.Sorry, Austin Pasztor, but Thomas Dimitroff really liked some other players better. Which ones? Well, he isn’t sure yet, but he’s got a pretty good idea, as long as they get cut.Now that we have the finalish roster, we can take a deep dive at how the depth shakes out. Here are the three worst positions.Defensive EndThe Falcons only kept four defensive ends, and the top three have dealt with injuries in the last few seasons. Vic Beasley, Takkarist McKinley, and Brooks Reed are definitely a solid top three ends, but we are just one injury away from getting a little too much of run stuffer Derrick Shelby. Dan Quinn might have a higher opinion of Shelby than us, but definitely not by much because Shelby was cut after refusing a pay cut earlier this offseason. It’d be perfect if that last roster spot went to a defensive end with some pass rushing abilities. If not, lets just hope Steve Sarkisian figures out how to put up 30+ points per game.Tight EndAtlanta has a pretty clear depth chart at tight end: Austin Hooper to catch, Logan Paulsen toblock http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-desmond-trufant-jersey , and Eric Saubert to hopefully fill in incase either of those guys get injured. I’m much more worried about replacing Hooper, who looked like an important cog to the offense during first-team drives. Paulsen can most certainly not fill in, and it is unclear if Saubert can be that guy yet. Atlanta doesn’t have a tight end that should make the practice squad, which would be good to have in case of emergencies. So we really, really, really need Hooper to stay healthy. Running BackAtlanta has one of the best running back duos in the league, but both backs are frequently spending time with the trainer. Every year we get to see the third-string back fill in, and that back this year is Ito Smith. He made a few splash plays this preseason, but everything in between made it look like he is not ready. It’d be good to see at least one more back on the roster, if not on the practice squad. The Falcons could then promote the back in case of an injury to Devonta Freeman or Tevin Coleman.For the Falcons, recent injuries a test of The Brotherhood The first two weeks of the 2018 NFL season have been incredibly unkind to the Atlanta Falcons. Sure, the team sits at an even 1-1 record, but an injury maelstrom suddenly finds the S.S. Brotherhood running a skeleton crew. It’s the first time since Dan Quinn took the helm that the injury scourge has befallen so many so soon, and the burden now rests on the players and coaches to show that the bonds they’ve forged can withstand the tempests of a season that already finds them taking on water.If The Brotherhood was ever more than a mere mantra, we’re about to find out. The Falcons have already lost their starting strong safety Keanu Neal to an ACL injury Andy Levitre Jersey , their starting middle linebacker Deion Jones recently underwent a surgical procedure on his foot, and now starting left guard Andy Levitre is gone for the season. We’re still holding our breath on the status of a number of other players, as well.The injury bug hasn’t just bitten the Falcons. It’s moved in, seemingly infesting the foundation at Flowery Branch. You can hear it in the walls.But these are the dire situations that The Brotherhood is supposed to be built to withstand; a next-man-up mentality that regardless of the storms and squalls that every team must face, the guy behind you is there to pick you up. If Dan Quinn’s Brotherhood motif runs as deep in this organization as it appears, then you want an Atlanta Falcon in your foxhole. After a hard-fought win against the Carolina Panthers, next on the slate is the New Orleans Saints. An offense that can overwhelm you in a moment’s notice like a storm surge cresting a hull, the Saints will certainly prove a handful for a defense trying to find its footing after losing Neal and Jones. The linebackers will need to be on full alert, as Drew Brees will be looking to gash them with heavy doses of Alvin Kamara dump-off passes. It’s worrying, sure, but it’s yet another test for an Atlanta Falcons team that seems destined to face them all season long.So we find ourselves back to The Brotherhood. It’s two weeks in, but the Atlanta Falcons have seen more than a season’s worth of injury. They are battered and banged up, but they still possess a potent offense and a defense that may need to be more opportunistic than consistent. If this team can continue to weather what’s already come their way, then it will be proof-positive that The Brotherhood is a testament and not just a tagline.