Tuesday, May 21 What can Atlanta fans expect from Michael Vick this year? Excitement and unpredictability. Vick is a marvelous talent. He runs like Barry Sanders and has the strong arm of a Steve McNair. Still, expect a few more tough days than good ones ... but it might not be all his fault. The Falcons lack speed and depth at the receiver position. The lack of speed at receiver limits Vick's ability to throw deep. If he doesn't have the deep throws, defenses can stack up against him and try to take away the running game. He will stare at a lot of eight-man stacked defenses. What will be exciting will be those days Vick spreads the field with receivers and breaks runs on his own. What will be frustrating will be those days he fails to complete more than 50 percent of his passes. Translated, that means a lot of low-scoring games in which the Falcons will be lucky to get two or three touchdown drives.

One spring after perhaps the franchise's most significant draft (trading up to get Michael Vick), the Atlanta Falcons made a decision that many fans don't understand -- taking running back T.J. Duckett with the 18th overall pick in this year's draft.

Nothing against Duckett. Many believe he was a solid mid-first-round selection -- assuming the team was in need of a running back. But when your major offseason free-agent acquisition is scat back Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and you still have Jamal Anderson under contract, disbelief should be expected more than praise.

The Falcons are on the verge of releasing Anderson, which appears to be a must for a couple of reasons. For one, three's a crowd -- plain and simple. Secondly, the Falcons have a talented, strong-armed quarterback but few receiving targets. Dunn, who had 68 receptions last year, will definitely be an improvement from Anderson in terms of pass-receiving backs. However, Shawn Jefferson and newcomers Jeff Graham (San Diego Chargers) and Alvis Whitted (Jacksonville Jaguars) won't suffice as the only consistent threats at wideout. Anderson's departure would presumably result in the acquisition of another receiving target.

As Vick and former Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler could attest as victims of all but two of the 66 sacks allowed, protection was a major issue last year. Atlanta signed free-agent offensive tackle Todd Weiner (Seattle Seahawks), but might face the same challenge in 2002. Conversely, the Falcons brought in defensive lineman/linebacker John Thierry (Green Bay Packers) to help a unit that produced only 37 sacks in '01.

	FALCONS AT A GLANCE
	Michael Vick threw 2 TDs      last season.
	2001 record: 7-9 Team rank: Defense (30th); Offense (15th) Falcons team news

If the Falcons get better play up front, maybe it'll have a trickle-down effect on the secondary. Atlanta's defensive backs had more than their share of struggles a year ago, ranking No. 30 against the pass in the NFL. Cornerbacks Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan combined for more interceptions (10) than the rest of the defense (eight). Newly acquired cornerback Fred Weary (New Orleans Saints) and safeties Keith Lyle (Washington Redskins) and Keion Carpenter (Buffalo Bills) are expected to keep the Falcons from getting in so many shootouts (or being romped).

One storyline to follow is the future of coach Dan Reeves. When Arthur Blank purchased the team, there was speculation a coaching change could soon follow. Blank quickly ended the speculation by assuring that Reeves would be back in '02. However, Reeve's age (58) and failure to post a winning season since leading Atlanta to the Super Bowl after the 1998 campaign could make him a coaching casualty if a slow start takes place.