And one pretty big one.

	FALCONS AT A GLANCE
	Jamal Anderson
	Last year: 14-2, first place in NFC West; lost to Denver in Super Bowl Key returnees:: QB Chris Chandler (3,154 yards, 25 TDs); RB Jamal Anderson (1,846 yards, 14 TDs); WR Terance Mathis (64 receptions, 1,136 yards and 11 TDs); DL Lester Archambeau (11 sacks); CB Ray Buchanan (7 Ints) New faces: DL Pellom McDaniels (Chiefs); WR Chris Calloway (Giants); S Marty Carter (Bears); DL Patrick Kerney (first-round pick); QB Danny Kanell (Giants) New places: WR Tony Martin (Dolphins); LB Cornelius Bennett (Colts); DB Devin Bush (Rams); DL Antonio Edwards (Panthers) Watch out: Anderson got the big bucks after his training camp holdout. Can he put up another 1,800-yard plus rushing season? Better than '98: The addition of Carter and re-signing of Ronnie Bradford assures much-needed help at the safety position. Worse than '98: Pass protection for Falcons QBs, who were sacked 53 times a year ago. -- Scripps Howard News Service

Who is going to stretch the field as departed wide receiver Tony Martin did last season?

Martin was let go in February in advance of his legal problems (he since has been acquitted), and his absence leaves a void.

It might be hard to believe, especially in light of Jamal Anderson's 1,846-yard rushing season, but by several definitions Atlanta had one of the most prolific downfield-passing attacks in the NFL last year.

Martin, who led the team with 66 receptions for 1,181 yards, and Terance Mathis combined for more receiving yards than every tandem in the league except Minnesota's Cris Carter and Randy Moss. And the total difference was seven yards.

Quarterback Chris Chandler also led the league in average gain per pass attempt (9.65 yards).

Wide receiver Chris Calloway, signed the day Martin was waived, led the Giants in receiving the previous four years and will start at split end. But he will not stretch the field.

"We still got a lot of questions at the wide-receiver position," head coach Dan Reeves said.

A defense that was No. 2 against the run last year but No. 21 against the pass looks quicker with new strong safety Marty Carter. New starting linebacker Keith Brooking is as quick as last year's leading tackler, Cornelius Bennett, who was waived in a cost-cutting measure.

But just as Bennett had way more experience and savvy than Brooking, it's unclear if the Falcons can replicate the uncommon chemistry they had on and off the field last year.

Defensive end Chuck Smith, one of nine starters who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, insists that watching Anderson get a five-year, $32 million contract after a 14-day holdout was not a disruption.

"I don't see it threatening anything," Smith said. "I don't care how much the next man makes. If you understand the economics of the game, you don't care about that stuff. Nobody around here cares about that stuff."

They care plenty about the wide-receiver spot, though. Second-year man Tim Dwight started the first three preseason games at split end. He's lightning-quick and fantastic once the ball is in his hands. He is evolving as a route runner but occasionally has problems catching the ball. Ronnie Harris missed the first exhibition game with a groin pull and didn't have a catch in the second against Baltimore.

Fifth-rounder Eugene Baker made an impression in the first two preseason games, but he fumbled once and made other mistakes. Also, he's not as fast as the others.

		With the loss of Tony Martin, the Falcons need to find some speed at wideout. Is it Tim Dwight? But Dwight isn't a regular receiver. He's a special teams player. Martin was the biggest factor in helping Jamal Anderson and Chris Chandler be successful because he was able to stretch the field. The Falcons lost a player who run by defensive backs. They acquired Chris Calloway, a good possession receiver, but two good possession receivers, Calloway and Terance Mathis, won't scare many teams. Anderson will see more nine-man fronts than he's ever seen. I know the Falcons are thinking playoffs, but they will have to win the division to do that. One team is going from the NFC West, and I don't think it's Atlanta.

Rondel Menendez, a seventh-round choice, has been exciting as a return man, but Reeves has said "he's killing us on offense" with mistakes.

The team signed speedy veteran J.T. Thomas, but he's struggling to learn the offense and hasn't gotten much work. Second-year man Jammi German, a third-round choice in 1998, is trying to find a spot in the mix too.

"All those guys have shown at times they can do it," Reeves said, "but we just haven't had any consistency at that position."

Might these problems leave Anderson less running room as a safety sneaks even closer to the line? Might Mathis, who averaged nearly 18 yards per catch last season while scoring 11 touchdowns, be double-teamed to death?

Stay tuned.

Here's a position-by-position look at Atlanta's roster:

Quarterbacks
Chandler has had back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and with age and experience has become a much better player. Picking up Danny Kanell in the offseason was a good move. Reeves continues to say Kanell and third-year pro Tony Graziani are in competion for the backup spot. Grade: B+

Running backs
Anderson appears primed, and Bob Christian, easily one of the most underrated fullbacks in the league, is healthy again. Atlanta has a backup fullback for a change (rookie Jeff Paulk), and speedy Byron Hanspard looks almost completely recovered from the knee injury that kept him out in '98. The coaches would love to get Hanspard 6-8 touches per game on sweeps, draws, screens, etc. If Hanspard can't hold up, especially early in the season, second-year RB Ken Oxendine is available, running with far more authority than he did as a rookie. Grade: B+

Receivers
Don't underestimate the value of Mathis, who is sneaky-quick, smart and a heckuva downfield blocker. After that, who knows at wide receiver? TE O.J. Santiago gets better each year, and backups Brian Kozlowski, ever-improving Rod Monroe and second-round pick Reggie Kelly have Reeves thinking of keeping four tight ends. Given that he wants to run more two-TE sets, that's not a bad thing. Grade: B-

Offensive linemen
All five starters return, led by OLT Bob Whitfield, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl recognition. ORT Ephraim Salaam, who started as a rookie, is bigger and better. C Robbie Tobeck was better last year than the coaches expected. Calvin Collins and Gene Williams are the starting guards. Grade: C+

Defensive linemen
DEs Smith and Lester Archambeau and DTs Travis Hall and Shane Dronett form one of the league's top starting units. First-rounder Patrick Kerney and Pellom McDaniels add depth at end, and Ed Jasper has been a surprise at tackle. The line has more depth than last year. Grade: A

Linebackers
MLB Jessie Tuggle may be 34 years old with sore ankles and limited range in pass coverage, but he's a tackling machine, and the Falcons don't ask him to do much against the pass. Strong-side starter Henri Crockett will be better someday inside but is solid where he's at. Brooking is learning fast. Craig Sauer is a top-notch backup, and sixth-rounder Jeff Kelly may help in the middle once in a while. Grade: B

Defensive backs
Carter is an upgrade over William White at strong safety. Despite being 36, FS Eugene Robinson is in better shape. Pro Bowl CB Ray Buchanan is solid as a rock. Ronnie Bradford and Michael Booker continue to compete for the other spot. Grade: B-

Special teams
PK Morten Andersen shows few signs of slipping at age 39. P Dan Stryzinski isn't a long kicker but gets outstanding hang time. Special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis has had very good coverage units the last two years. Despite a season-ending knee injury to special-teams ace Gary Downs, a reserve running back, they should be solid again. Grade: B+

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