The Falcons are coming off a playoff birth in 2008, and GM Thomas Dimitroff seems confident in today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution that the team will be even better in 09:

The Falcons went 11-5 with a playoff berth. Expectations have gone from extraordinarily low to extraordinarily high, and GM Thomas Dimitroff doesn’t have a problem with that. He’s as excited about the offense and the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez as anybody.

He believes the loss of five veterans from the defense, including Lawyer Milloy and Keith Brooking, isn’t a big deal. When asked about the youth and inexperience on defense, he said, “I can tell you that we as a staff will never be afraid to play our young players.”

One Matt Ryan-like rookie season will embolden a guy. And yes: He believes next year’s team will be even better. “You’ll see improved speed and urgency on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We’ll definitely be an improved product.”