According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analytics, the Atlanta Falcons ran the least percentage of three-plus wide receiver sets in the NFL by a surprisingly wide margin. Remembering that Arthur Smith was head coach and a mixture of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke was at quarterback makes this less shocking, however, the distance between them and the next number is astonishing.
The Falcons were dead-last with 18%, who was second-to-last? Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers with 39%. For yet another year, the Falcons went against everything modern football stood for and Smith paid for it with his job. To Smith's credit, the wide receiver room was thin, outside of Drake London, nobody could win down the field. If anything, Kyle Pitts was a better wide receiving threat on his bad leg than the hodgepodge (yes, that was intentional) of Khadarel Hodge, Mack Hollins, Scottie Miller and late addition Van Jefferson.
Suffer no longer, Falcons fans.
At the top of that list from Warren Sharp was the spot from whence offensive coordinator Zac Robinson resides: The Los Angeles Rams. The Rams ran three-plus wide receiver sets on an absurd 95% of their snaps last season. And if you look at their weapons, who could blame them? Los Angeles had the threats of rookie sensation Puka Nacua, the always-open Cooper Kupp and the speedy Tutu Atwell to take the top off a defense. Threats of those three with a solid running game from Kyren Williams and Tyler Higbee roaming underneath led to a top-ten offense and a playoff berth that nobody saw coming.
In 2024, Atlanta has their version of a three-headed monster in the receiving room with London and new acquisitions Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud. There was talk that Atlanta could add another premier piece to that room, but the only addition was Illinois Casey Washington in the sixth round.
As long as Kirk Cousins slings the ball around like he did before his season-ending Achilles injury, the Falcons offense will look completely different in 2024 in the best way possible.
