re: "Atlanta Falcons. This is another juggernaut with no weaknesses."

quote:

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Steven Jackson has always had our number, regardless of how terrible or good his teams have been. I think that ends this year though. Dude looked pretty pitiful in preseason in all honesty and I don't see him doing very well behind that line either.

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I've actually been saying at work to be wary of Jackson this season. The Rams Oline was actually one of their few bright spots(for run blocking at least).

The Falcons last year were obviously worse at run blocking than the year before. You can say all you want about it being Turner's fault, but the truth is more fault was on the Oline than on Turner.

And since the Oline seems to have regressed more I don't take that as a good sign for Jackson in the run game. I do think that makes him more useful as a receiving back because they may have to dump off a lot more passes.

And if we are talking mileage go compare Turner and Jackson side by side. Jackson is a mere year and a half younger but has 756 more rush attempts(at least 2 seasons worth) and actually has a lower career ypc(4.2 vs. Turner's 4.5).

He has also taken a bunch more hits from catching the ball(407 to only 70). Take it from a guy whose had Jackson in fantasy the last 2 years, age is catching up(and he had 2 other seasons where he missed 4 games each). He has been getting hurt in games(though he missed only one whole game) and him going out in the first or second quarter of a couple of games and not returning has cost me. His attempts has also been falling sharply the last two seasons.

Overall I think at best Jackson is a side step in the run game but he will bring a receiving threat that Turner never did.

And I'll apply this to Umenyiora too, except I think he's actually a downgrade from Abraham. Biermann looks to be improving though so there's that. And the DTs actually look like they may be able to finally step up.