Last season, the Atlanta Falcons defined the term "dysfunctional".
The franchise quarterback was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for dogfighting. The head coach ditched the team after 13 games to return to college. Many veterans players, led by TE Alge Crumpler, turned on the coaching staff. The team suffered through three different starting quarterbacks and fifteen season-ending injuries to finish 4-12.
This year's iteration of the Atlanta Falcons couldn't look any more different. New GM Thomas Dimitroff orchestrated a blockbuster draft weekend for the Falcons, bringing in a new franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan, his blindside protection in T Sam Baker, and a new starting MLB in Curtis Lofton. They gave big money to free agent RB Michael Turner (6 years, $34.5M, $15M guaranteed) and 3rd overall pick Matt Ryan (6 years, $72M, $34.75M guaranteed), and threw them both into the starting lineup immediately. They made defensive coordinator Mike Smith from the Jaguars a first-time NFL Head Coach, and gave him a team with eleven first-time starters.
The result? 10-5, with a guarantee playoff berth and a chance to win the NFC South and clinch the #2 NFC seed in the playoffs (and the 1st round bye that comes with it).
I'd say that's quite a turnaround.
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