Falcons proud of season, but not satisfied

ATLANTA - Now comes the hard part for the Atlanta Falcons.

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Sure, they've had a few breakout seasons - the first division title in 1980, that Super Bowl appearance in 1999, a spot in the NFC championship game this year - but sustained success has always been elusive.

As the Falcons head into their 40th season, having come just one win short of the Super Bowl, they face an enormous historical burden: Amazingly, this franchise has never managed back-to-back winning seasons.

If form holds, Atlanta will go into the 2005 season with huge expectations, only to wind up as a major disappointment.

But first-year coach Jim Mora - actually, it's time to declare that he's not a rookie anymore - refuses to look back. He believes this team, with only three 30-something starters, is poised for long-term success.

"It's a bad thing for the rest of the league because we're coming," Mora said Monday, less than 24 hours after the season ended with a 27-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Indeed, the Falcons made huge strides this season. They won the NFC South with an 11-5 record. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. They routed the St. Louis Rams in the divisional round.

The ride stalled in Phrozen Philly. The Eagles made Michael Vick look downright mediocre and moved on to face defending champion New England in the Super Bowl.

"It's mixed emotions," Mora said. "On one hand, you're very proud of what you accomplished, because we did accomplish a lot. But on the other hand, you just can't accept not winning it all."

There is a significant difference between the '98 team - which lost to Denver in the Super Bowl but slumped to 5-11 the following year - and this group.

The "Dirty Birds" relied heavily on older players such as Chris Chandler, Jessie Tuggle, Eugene Robinson, Cornelius Bennett, Tony Martin and Terance Mathis. In fact, the leading tackler (Bennett) and top receiver (Martin) were cut soon after the season because of salary-cap concerns.

This team, led by the 24-year-old Vick at quarterback, is better positioned for growth. Running back Warrick Dunn (30), defensive end Brady Smith (31) and defensive tackle Ed Jasper (32) are the only regulars who've left their 20s behind. The list of unrestricted free agents is a short one: offensive guard Roberto Garza, kicker Jay Feely, linebacker Matt Stewart, cornerback Kevin Mathis and return specialist Allen Rossum.

The Falcons have locked up most of their core players, doling out nearly $80 million in guaranteed bonuses over the past 13 months to Vick, Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, dominating defensive tackle Rod Coleman, emerging cornerback DeAngelo Hall, offensive guard Kynan Forney and cornerback Jason Webster.

"We feel that we have the right people on the bus," Mora said. "Some guys will have to get off and we'll get some new guys on. But we feel like the bus is headed in the right direction. We're just not where we want to be yet."

Of course, it all starts with Vick. He finished the season with a thud - 11-of-24 passing, four sacks and a key interception against the Eagles - but was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time and signed the richest contract in NFL history.

Vick is an unparalleled runner, gaining 902 yards and leading the NFL with a 7.5-yard average. On the other hand, there's plenty of work to be done in the West Coast-style passing game that was installed by Mora and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

"The system was new for everybody," Vick said. "We didn't jell together as a team until about the fifth or sixth game. There is a lot we can take away from this season."

While Vick has one of the strongest arms in the league, he seems more comfortable throwing on the run than out of the pocket. And his receivers, Peerless Price and Dez White, were virtually nonexistent this season. Crumpler led the team with 48 receptions, while Price (45 catches, three touchdowns) and White (30 catches, two TDs) muttered quietly about their lack of involvement.

Mora expects the receivers to play a bigger role next season.

"It's something that will happen," he said. "For us to become the explosive, consistent type of offense... that we want to be, then we will have to make strides in terms of getting the ball to the wideouts."

After leading the league in rushing, the Falcons wants to keep their unheralded offensive line together, so look for a big push to re-sign Garza. Feely has a strong leg and might return, though he was a bit inconsistent in the second half of the season. Stewart will probably head elsewhere since Atlanta can plug in Demorrio Williams, coming off a strong rookie season.

Jasper, part of a front four that helped the Falcons lead the league in sacks, said after Sunday's game that he will probably retire. Mora talked with Jasper on Monday, urging him to take his time making a final decision.

"Ed Jasper is definitely the type of person, the type of character individual who you want in your organization," Mora said. "He's a glue guy."

The Falcons believe they finally have the glue to keep things together after a successful season. Mora doesn't even want to talk about the lack of staying power for past Atlanta teams.

"I think the culture has changed. I think the environment has changed. I think the character of this team is very strong," he said. "I think we're over that hump. I don't know what our record will be - I'm not predicting - but I just believe that we're heading in the right direction."