What's Next for the Falcons Foursome?

The Falcons have a come a long way in four years. Atlanta was struggling as one of the worst teams in the NFL, Michael Vick was suspended for his actions in a dog-fighting ring and coach Bobby Petrino skipped town in the middle of the night to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Where do the Falcons go now?

Thomas Dmitrioff came to Hotlanta from the New England Patriots with a winning attitude for owner Arthur Blank. Dmitrioff brought in a new head coach in Mike Smith--a defensive guru from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the hottest free agent--running back Michael Turner from San Diego, and a drafted a quarterback from Boston College named Matt Ryan.

The franchise's new foursome enjoyed immediate success, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season in 2008. Ryan was awarded the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Atlanta would finish the season in a loss in the Wild Card round to the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinal.

The following season the Dirty Birds missed the playoffs at 9-7, but did manage to snap the club's embarrassing mark of 44 seasons of never having consecutive winning seasons in 2009.

With a regular season record of 13-3, Atlanta had their best regular season since the 1998 Super Bowl squad. The Falcons secured a division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the playoffs before being absolutely destroyed 48-21 by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers in the Georgia Dome.

The past four years have led to yesterday's offensive debacle, a 24-2 beating from the New York Giants. "Offensive" is meant in both ways, the offensive side of the ball and the coaching staff's repulsive play calling. Atlanta was 1 for 5 on third and fourth downs less than 2 yards. When the Falcons score one-third the number of points that Zaza Pachulia, an awkward Georgian forward for the Hawks, is averaging this season it was a horrendous day on the gridiron.

With the playmakers at the Falcons disposal, this should never happen.

Now defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder has left the NFL for Auburn, and it looks as if current offensive coordinator will be hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins or the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Falcon fans have many questions as they head into the offseason about the four-man anchor that brought Atlanta unprecedented success.

Thomas Dmitrioff- Though he has brought a bevy of free-agent talent to Atlanta on the field a la Dunta Robinson, John Abraham and Ray Edwards, Dmitrioff has plenty of work ahead this season with no first or fourth round picks in April's draft. Of course, aging veterans and the offensive line will have to be addressed along with the hiring of new coordinators.

Matt Ryan- In the latter stages of yesterday's game, while watching Atlanta's porous offensive output, I began to ask myself, with his poor performances in postseason play, when does Matt "Smirnoff Ice" Ryan begin to receive comparisons to the often criticized Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo? The biggest difference is that Romo waits until the fourth quarter to ruin his team's chances of advancing, whereas Ryan (3 TD, 4 INTs in three playoff games) only scores in mop-up duty after the Falcons' losing fate is long decided. Ryan has shown the clutch gene in the regular season but has immensely underperformed when it counts.

Ryan's first feeble attempt on 4th and 1

Mike Smith- Play calling, play calling, play calling. One would think after losing to New Orleans on a failed quarterback sneak on a 4th and 1 conversion that Smith would have learned his lesson. Nope. Twice the Falcons were stuffed running the "Matt Ryan-curls-up-into-a-fetal-postion-and-hopes-to-fall-to-a-first-down" play on fourth down yesterday. When you are on the road in playoffs and especially when your offense is struggling, you take the points.

Michael Turner- The Burner Turner had 41 yards on 15 carries yesterday. He turns 30 in February. Which because of the wear and tear taken at the running back position usually a red-flag age for this position. No doubt he had his great moments during the regular season, but without a consistent running game Ryan was forced to throw too soon, and there was no threat of play-action.

Is this it? I hate to think so, but look at the rest of the NFC. Green Bay and New Orleans are going no where from the top. The Chicago Bears had their starting quarterback go down, keeping them out of the playoffs. The Detroit Lions are rising, and with the new pride Jim Harbaugh has instilled in San Fransisco they appear headed in the right direction. Even within the division it looks like Carolina's Cam Newton will be a threat for years to come.

Making the playoffs was a tremendous accomplishment for a rookie coach and quarterback, but now just getting to the postseason is not enough. Success in the postseason, not the regular season, matters now in Atlanta.