As teams set their 53-man rosters over the weekend, here are some quick thoughts about the effects of the cuts on the NFC South:
Falcons: Michael Koenen will handle kickoffs, field goals and punting duties in Week 1 vs. the Panthers. Koenen has a strong leg and handled all punts, kickoffs and long field goals (50 yards or more) last season, but veteran kicker Todd Peterson handled most field goals and all PATs. I can't remember the last time in the NFL that one player handled all three kicking phases in a game as the only active kicker. According to the people I spoke to in Atlanta, Koenen simply was the best for both jobs.
What does it do for Falcons? It creates an extra spot on the 45-man roster on game day, and that can upgrade their special teams from a coverage standpoint. The downside for the Falcons would be if Koenen were to suffer an injury or be unable to perform at a high level doing both jobs. Stay tuned.
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