2003 BUCS
	Michael Vick will miss at least six games.
	Head coach: Dan Reeves (7th year). 2002 record: 9-6-1 NFC North finish: 2nd Season opener: Sept. 7 at Cowboys Schedule | Depth chart

So now the Falcons are cranky, bitter even. Maybe taking offense to the notion that so many fans and pundits have thrown in the towel on the season after star QB Mike Vick was knocked out with a broken right leg in a preseason game can work to the Falcons' advantage.

With Vick, the Falcons were seen as a legitimate playoff contender. Without him, they're … what? Well, prized offseason acquisition Peerless Price can tell you what they're not.

"We're not just another bunch of guys," said the former Bills wide receiver, who was acquired in a March trade to jump-start the Atlanta passing game. "Just because everybody else writes us off, we don't write us off."

If Atlanta is to string together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the 38-year history of the franchise, Vick won't be a part of it for at least the first four games -- and perhaps as many as seven -- depending on how quickly his broken right fibula heals.

Price should help fourth-year quarterback Doug Johnson transition into a starting role. Newcomers in the secondary, namely cornerback Tyrone Williams and strong safety Cory Hall, also will be counted upon to join now healthy cornerback Ray Buchanan to get the ball back to the offense faster than they did last year.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Johnson's not shy, and the former undrafted free agent survived a tenuous relationship at the University of Florida with Steve Spurrier. He benefitted from it. Johnson knows plenty about a pro-style passing offense, even if he has sarted only three NFL games. Johnson has good size, a strong arm, and a gunslinger's mentality. He was masterful in his only start in 2002, a 17-10 win on the road over the Giants. Until Vick returns, the four-year veteran will have to be better than most people think. Beyond Johnson, however, there's no depth. Second-year pro Kurt Kittner did not attempt a pass as a rookie and routinely loses his aim in practice. Before suffering a modest knee injury, David Rivers was good in NFL Europe this spring — as a backup. Grade: C-plus (B-MINUS WHEN VICK IS BACK)

Running backs: After a decent first game to begin last season, Warrick Dunn was awful for the next five, rushing 46 times for a combined 91 yards. Then, when rookie T.J. Duckett suffered knee and foot injuries, Dunn took off. The retirement of underrated Bob Christian leaves the Falcons with rookie Justin Griffith and George Layne, who has played in six NFL games, at fullback. That's part of the reason Duckett and Dunn will share the same backfield at times, although not as much as some fans would like. Either way, a running game that was ranked No. 4 in the NFL last season -- in large measure due to Vick's 777 rushing yards -- will be counted upon early. Grade: B-minus.

Receivers: Price is in Atlanta to score and help other Falcons score more via the pass. Atlanta ranked fifth in the NFL in points last season, but the Falcons had just 18 passing touchdowns. Price had nine in Buffalo. If he works as planned, and tight end Alge Crumpler is worked into the offense the way he should be, it will make Johnson that much better. Flanker Brian Finneran is much better suited to be a No. 2 target than the No. 1 option that he was last year. MarTay Jenkins, the speedster who had been with the Cardinals, eschewed a long-term deal with Arizona to come east. He thought he would work up big numbers on the same field with Price, but instead he was waived. Beyond these guys, Atlanta will rely on youngsters. Grade: B-minus.

Offensive linemen: Atlanta did nothing of consequence to address the offensive line during the offseason. Team officials believe that 12-year veteran left tackle Bob Whitfield, when combined with all the returning starters who are between the ages of 24 and 27, can only get better as a unit. Last year, the Falcons cut their sacks allowed from 64 in 2001 to 36 and finished fourth in the league in rushing. Right tackle Todd Weiner, signed as a free agent from Seattle last season to protect Vick's blind side, is quite a pass blocker, and he has worked hard to improve as a run blocker. Beyond that, center Todd McClure is savvy if undersized, and offensive guards Travis Claridge and Kynan Forney (and sometimes Roberto Garza) don't scare anybody. Grade: C.

Defense
Defensive linemen: Defensive end Patrick Kerney, who will start on the left side but play both sides, posted 10½ sacks last season and 12 in 2001. He has endless energy, and Brady Smith has a similar style only with less stamina and durability. Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, who joined the Falcons right before the start of last season, was very good by December, but he still is not natural, backing up nose tackle Ed Jasper. When the Falcons switch out of the 3-4, however, and go with four down linemen in most passing situations, Johnson is the real deal. Swing man Travis Hall, once among the NFL's best interior linemen, continues to battle the strained abdominal muscles that plagued him last season. He's coming off major surgery to repair that injury, and Jasper is coming off major back surgery. Depth is a problem. Grade: C-plus.

Linebackers: Inside linebacker Keith Brooking is one of the best in franchise history, as his 212 combined tackles and assists last year attest. He's a hitter with great range, although he lacks the penchant of, say, Baltimore's Ray Lewis or Chicago's Brian Urlacher for making game-changing plays. Chris Draft will surprise a lot of people with his speed, and he may be the smartest defender on the team. Outside, Sam Rogers and Matt Stewart are more than just plain savvy, if not spectacular, and backups Will Overstreet (who might beat out Rogers) and former Bill Keith Newman (suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances) would start for a lot of teams. As a group, these guys run very well. Grade: A-minus.

Defensive backs: By cutting Ashley Ambrose and signing Williams as a free agent to play cornerback, the Falcons got younger and cheaper. Whether they got better remains to be seen. Although Hall, a former Bengal, should afford more range than Gerald McBurrows at strong safety, he's no coverage specialist. Young cornerback Tod McBride and second-round draft choice Bryan Scott are bigger than average and were brought on board to help Atlanta match up better with big receivers like Tampa Bay's Keyshawn Johnson and Joe Jurevicius. If Juran Bolden, another big guy who played well last year, can bounce back from a torn right patellar tendon, it would help, but he can't be activated for at least six weeks. Nothing, however, would help more than if Buchanan regains the form he had before his suspension- and injury-plagued 2002 season. Grade: B-minus.

Special teams
Last season, punter Chris Mohr led the NFL in net average, thanks to his great hang time and outstanding coverage. Kicker Jay Feely, meanwhile, led all kickers in field-goal attempts (40) and points, and tied for the lead in field goals made (32). He also was No. 1 in the NFC in touchbacks. Combine this with coverage specialists such as reserve linebacker Artie Ulmer, reserve safety Kevin McCadam and longtime special-teams ace (and part-time running back) Travis Jervey, and there's a reason why special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis is smiling so much these days. Grade: A.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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