Sarkisian putting last year behind him

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. » Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian spent the offseason, training camp and preseason fine-tuning an Atlanta offense that’s expected to be elite in his second year.

When the Falcons and Eagles open the season Thursday, Sarkisian will be back in his role as play-caller, giving him a chance to move past some of the disappointment of eight months ago.

“To say that we had a fourth-and-goal at the 2 against the team that went on to the win the Super Bowl and it was a bang-bang play tells you that we’re very close, and it’s been this offseason of getting over that hump,” Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian’s first season wasn’t exactly a bust. But the Falcons dropped from first in scoring to 15th. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the league MVP the year before, threw 18 fewer touchdowns, was intercepted five additional times and had his passer rating fall over 16 points.

Even worse, the offense developed a reputation for being predictable. Atlanta scored its only touchdown in the divisional playoff game after the Eagles lost a fumble at their 18. The Falcons, who were favored, went scoreless in the second half.

Yet they still had a chance to sneak away with a win before it all fell apart at the 2.

With the ball on the left hash mark, the Eagles said they knew the call before the snap as soon as tight end Levine Toilolo motioned right. They had only one half of the field to defend as Ryan rolled right and came under quick pressure.

Julio Jones, the star receiver and obvious target, fell down, but got up quickly enough against cornerback Jalen Mills to turn and face the quarterback. Ryan lofted up a perfect pass.

The ball went through Jones’ hands.