Atlanta Falcons: Our Kingdom For A Pass Rush
by Dave the Falconer
on Nov 20, 2008 8:00 AM EST
in Editorial
8 comments
With all the talk of secondaries and pass rushes and Panthers games, oh my, I figured it was time to talk about one of the Falcons' most glaring weaknesses. No, it's not their abiding love of chocolate or their tendency to stand awkwardly in front of the cast of Oklahoma!
It's the pass rush.
Here's a little statistical breakdown for you: John Abraham has 11 of the Falcons' 18 sacks for the season. If we didn't have him swatting aside offensive linemen like King Kong swats airplanes, we'd have exactly 7 sacks on the season. That would be good for second to last in the NFL, one ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, who I'm relatively sure employ defenseless baby gerbils along their line. This is madness.
As several of you have suggested through the course of the year, getting more pressure on the quarterback would solve many of our glaring issues in the secondary as well. Defenses are keying on Abraham and daring Jon Babineaux, Jamaal Anderson and Grady Jackson to come after them, to say nothing of our formerly fearless linebacking corps. Clearly, the defense needs to at least situationally make some changes.
We just don't have the personnel, though. Kroy Biermann was drafted to rush off the edge and should be utilized more frequently to see if he's got a prayer of doing that. Chauncey Davis is the very definition of solid, but Jamaal Anderson has more raw talent if he can ever find some consistency. Babineaux is having a solid year, but neither he nor Jackson specialize in getting to the quarterback.
That should leave our linebacking corps, but there's been a puzzling lack of big plays there. Keith Brooking is somewhat marginalized by the scheme he's in and his advancing age, while Curtis Lofton really isn't being asked to rush the quarterback. If anybody knows how to get Michael Boley back on whatever demon he was riding through the last couple of years, write a letter to Mike Smith right now. None of these guys have viable backups, either.
This to me says one of two things need to happen. Either the defense needs to start coming up with new looks and new packages this season, or the team needs to drastically overhaul its line in the off-season. Given that the team is playing a more conservative scheme right now, it seems much more likely that the Falcons will unearth a defensive tackle and possibly a defensive end in next year's draft. Unless John Abraham can clone himself, our outlook is pretty bleak on that front.
Thoughts?
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1.) Kroy Biermann looks awful out there. He can’t push anyone around, and he’s always locked up with a blocker. He’s got a high motor, but he might be better suited to backing up a LB or CB.
2.) Davis and Babineaux are excellent backups. If they aren’t asked to start, they give lots of depth on that line.
3.) LBs: I feel like everyone is minimized because of scheme. Lot more LB coverage instead of blitzing of spying.
4.) No viable backup? Stephen Nicholas would rip your head off for that. I can only assume you mean that there’s no depth once Nicholas inevitably takes over Brooking’s starting job?
5.) There is no question DL is the #1 priority in the draft. Hell, it was almost the #1 priority in THIS draft, but with all the wholes, and Ryan’s play, clearly the F.O. knows what’s going on. I expect to see that Monster DT from ’Bama to take over in the middle, and maybe a FA DT pass-rusher. I think Jamaal Anderson will develop. I pray Jamaal Anderson will develop. Jamaal Anderson, PLEASE develop!!!
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
by iRonin on
Nov 20, 2008 9:32 AM EST
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Terrance Cody
Would it be possible to have two man-mountains like Cody and Grady Jackson on the same team? It would seem almost unfair.
Those guys could take three steps apart and still be shoulder-to-shoulder. Seriously, every run a team would make on us would necessarily have to go to the outside because the inside would be clogged with two men weighing as much as some Japanese cars, with twice the size.
Hyperbole? Not if you’re lining up with them in front of you.
So, Cody would be nice, but what about that DE from Texas, Orakpo? Given the quality of those players, it would probably be one or the other. And considering some of the lines that guy’s had to deal with in the Big 12, yet he’s tied for 16th in the country in sacks… I like him over Cody, I think. Plus, if the Falcons are truly into making quick, decisive personnel decisions now and Anderson just doesn’t pan out by years end, maybe you get Orakpo to either replace Anderson or motivate the hell out of him. Don’t know if he’ll be there when we pick, but I think he’d be great for us.
Plus, we’d be well on our way to earning the coveted Team with the Weirdest Names award. Orakpo? Weems? Who knows what’s next?
(Sidenote: Perhaps, for brevity’s sake, the Team with the Weirdest Names Award should be shortened to The Gbaja-Biamila Trophy?)
by Cerbera on
Nov 20, 2008 11:49 AM EST
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The nice thing about Cody
is that he can also be utilized on offense. Saban has used him as an OL and a FB this year to great success (save that one down at Ole Miss that sent Mount Cody to a two week injury).
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by tlozwarlock on
Nov 20, 2008 12:05 PM EST
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Cody and Jackson
I’m actually thinking of Cody as a replacement for Jackson, or maybe a change of pace for him.
In reality what Atlanta needs (amusingly enough) is a Rod Coleman type who can get to the passer, or at least begin collapsing the pocket up the middle. I think a DT rotation of Cody, Jackson and a situation pass-rush DT, coupled with Anderson/Abraham, and some situational players at DE (kinda like how Green Bay has run their DL the past two years, or would if everyone is healthy) might be the best approach.
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
by iRonin on
Nov 20, 2008 1:16 PM EST
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Cody has shown good penetration but so far, at least on Bama’s DL, has yet to reach the QB ala Babineaux. But when a QB does finally get flattened by Cody, the trainers might as well bring out the stretcher.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by tlozwarlock on
Nov 20, 2008 3:09 PM EST
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Couldn't agree more.
We need to rattle the quarterbacks because our young secondary isn’t going to get the job done every time. Abe and co need to do to the Panthers and the remaining foes exactly what they did to the Saints a couple of weeks ago: rattle the QB.
One week, we’re making Drew Brees, the most prolific passer in the NFL this year, look like a rookie. The next week, we’re letting Jay Cutler (?!!) look like Drew Brees (should look). Our line needs to press and press and press and frankly I don’t think the talent is there right now. Yes, we’ve got Abe (who seems to go down at least once every game) and Anderson, who’s teetering on the edge of bust.
I feel the draft in 2009 will be a heavily defensive one for our Falcons.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by tlozwarlock on
Nov 20, 2008 11:14 AM EST
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Duh!
How much more offense do we need? I can only imagine a younger center, a stronger RT, and a TE that can block first, but has some hands and speed too.
Aside from that, I couldn’t figure out much to fix on the line. Coaching and gelling are the main points that need to continue.
Defense needs a serious overhaul however. Mainly on the line. I feel like the whole scheme is predicated on getting pressure and there’s only one real pass rusher out there. LBs and DBs are given greater coverage responsibilities, but they can’t maintain tight coverage forever. The key is going to be getting after the QB, Giants-style, and taking them out of their rhythm. DL needs a serious tuneup.
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
by iRonin on
Nov 20, 2008 1:18 PM EST
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how sweet
would it be to land a julius peppers if the panthers dont resign him. just a thought.
by iloveroddywhite on
Nov 21, 2008 12:00 AM EST
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