Super Bowl LI: Former ACC greats will help Atlanta Falcons secure victory
When the Atlanta Falcons take the field against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, there will be a multitude of familiar faces from the ACC. If the dirty birds hope to dethrone Bill Belichick and the dynasty that is the New England Patriots, these select ACC alumni must be at their best.
Offensively
The Atlanta Falcons come into Super Bowl LI averaging 33.8 points per game (1st in NFL) due in large part to the right arm of former Boston College great, Matt Ryan. Ryan played himself into the MVP discussion this season, completing 69.9 percent of his passes for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns.
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Matt Ryan has been nearly perfect during the Atlanta Falcons playoff run, completing 70.66 percent of his passes for 730 yards and seven touchdowns. For the Falcons to defeat the Patriots Matt Ryan must first and foremost take care of the football as he has done all season long. Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia are revered for their ability to dial up exotic blitzes and coverages. With two weeks to prepare for this football game, the Patriots will surely be prepared.
From there, Ryan must distribute the ball to his playmakers, Belichick is also known for his ability to take away opposing offenses best playmaker. In the Falcons case that player would be Julio Jones. Luckily for Matt Ryan, the Falcons have a plethora of other weapons including Mohammed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Devonta Freeman, and Tevin Coleman. Before he was weaving through NFL defenses, Freeman was terrorizing defenders in the ACC at Florida State.
Defense
The Atlanta Falcons defense has their work cut out for them. Completely shutting down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense is simply unreasonable. Containing the Pats, however, is vital and the Falcons have a few former ACC players that can help get it done.
A pair of former Clemson Tigers will help the Falcons secure a victory in Super Bowl LI. Vic Beasley, whom led the NFL in sacks this season with 15.5, must get after Tom Brady. The Patriots gunslinger gets the ball out of his hands at a staggering pace. In order to beat the Patriots you must get to Tom Brady and throw off his rhythm.
The other former Clemson Tiger on the Falcons goes by the name of Grady Jarrett. At 6’0, 291 pounds Jarrett is far from the biggest defensive lineman in the NFL. That being said, Jarrett’s motor and quickness off of the ball makes him a pest for opposing offenses. The Falcons will need Jarrett to disrupt the pocket from the interior defensive line.
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In order for the Falcons to win Super Bowl LI, they must stick to their guns. Let Matt Ryan rip it to his play makers on the edge and bring pressure early and often. Tom Brady is going to get his regardless of what the Falcons do and personally I’d rather lose trying to win, than lose because I was trying not to lose.