The Falcons Defensive Line Is Stepping Up In 2011

by Dave Choate on Sep 21, 2011 7:30 AM EDT in Falcons News

You can forgive Jay Cutler and Michael Vick for singing a little Queen and David Bowie. They have been under pressure, after all.

Groan-worthy opening aside, the Falcons are delivering on the defensive line's considerable promise. Thus far, the Falcons have piled up five sacks in two games and have successfully applied pressure throughout. That's due to the defensive line.

Gone are the days where John Abraham carried the pass rush by himself, with occasional contributions from Jonathan Babineaux and Kroy Biermann. For the first time in recent memory, every starter on the line and most of the reserves are delivering.

Here's a small sampling:

Abraham: 2 sacks
Biermann: 1 sack, 1 interception for a TD
Ray Edwards: 1 fumble recovery
Peria Jerry: 1 monster hit and forced fumble against Michael Vick
Lawrence Sidbury: 1 sack

Keep in mind that guys like Jonathan Babineaux and Vance Walker have definitely contributed when on the field, too.

What's behind this surge? Mostly just talent. The Falcons are bringing a ton of heat thanks to a quality group of players up front, and Brian Van Gorder is showing some ability to give them assignments that allow them to rush. Even if Abe is still dropping back into coverage from time to time.

Of course, it would be a little unfair to not mention that the Eagles and Bears both have largely putrid offensive lines, too. That has to be a factor, but I'm a big believer in the group that the Falcons have put together.

They'll now get a chance to smash John Freeman and LaGarette Blount into the ground on Sunday. If the last two games are any indication, they should be plenty successful.

Do you think the line will keep it up throughout 2011?

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What it comes down to...

Is health mostly. Jerry is fully back, if Babs can come back without any problems and if Ray Edwards plays like he did against the Eagles (he also had a couple TFL’s with the fumble recovery) and not like he did against the Bears I think the D-line will have a pretty dominant year.

by Adam_S on Sep 21, 2011 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

This

We started off the year with loads of depth at DT and DE, but next thing we know, Peters is out early, then Babs goes down. Vance Walker is doing a splendid job of subbing in, but I don’t think he can be an every down DT. We need some combination of at least two of Peters, Jerry, and Babs healthy at all times. On DE, we have been fortunate to not have any injuries yet. /knocks on wood. This line has a lot of potential, and it is showing a lot of promise early. We need these guys to stay healthy to give us the best chance to win.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Sep 21, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

to give more credit to Abe

if I’m not mistaken, Abe was the one who forced the second fumble by Vick. So, his line should read: 2 sacks, 1 FF

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Sep 21, 2011 8:03 AM EDT reply actions

Were they using ray to rush the middle a few times?

I think so. The funny thing about Ray is that he can actually pull the coverage thing off. I feel most comfortable when he drops back rather than any of our other DEs. I’m not saying I think its the best idea but he fits better in that role.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 21, 2011 8:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I'm so happy. Even when Abe had Kerney, we still didn't have this depth. Falcons rule!

by YokoFalcon on Sep 21, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

Consistency

Our defensive line (maybe excluding John Abraham) shined early last season and dwindled down as the season went along, with a tougher schedule and tougher division we can’t afford to be flukey. You have the Saints who can do it all, the Bucs who have Blount who’s looking like the second coming of Brandon Jacobs, and the media’s beloved Cam Newton who’s, lets be honest, numbers are very bloated due to his number of pass attempts (3rd most in the league, and still ranks only 16th in the league in passer efficiency). Eh, just in case he’s the real deal our defensive line needs to play lights out because he can move his feet a little faster than the rest of the QBs we’s have to play this season, plus they “supposedly” have a two headed monster in the backfield whom to this point they’ve chosen not to really utilize because they’re throwing the ball so much. I believe our depth is deep and our rotation is talented enough to do some great things this year agianst some of the league’s best offensive lines. I just hope we can stay healthy, especially Peters and Babineaux.

by dirtybirdy84 on Sep 21, 2011 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

The Queen joke literally made me laugh out loud.

That’s my contribution to this good article.

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

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by Turner_The_Burner on Sep 21, 2011 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

For the statsier among you

I plan to re-visit this post with more in-depth metrics once we have a larger sample size.

by Dave Choate on Sep 21, 2011 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

Looking at some numbers

RE has the highest WPA for DE’s with Abe being 4th. Abe is first in EPA and RE is second. I don’t have DVOA numbers for the guys. RE is still getting the rust off after not playing much in preseason.

Jerry is second in the league for WPA and EPA (that is for DT’s). Again. no DVOA numbers.

The DL is looking very good so far. When Babs and Peters are at full strength it will be even better. Any word on Peters condition?

by mwalex on Sep 21, 2011 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

should no sometime this afternoon

although I’m sure it will be vague.

by KMarch on Sep 21, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

mind not yet functioning

no should be know. Yes, I no the difference (see what I did there?).

by KMarch on Sep 21, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, I'm a little slow...

…but what is WPA, EPA and DVOA stand for?

by TheSpectr on Sep 21, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Link

which should explain most of them.

by KMarch on Sep 21, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks KMarch

Preciate it!

by TheSpectr on Sep 21, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

DVOA is a Football Outsiders stat

WPA and EPA are from Advanced NFL Stats. Their link is here (KMarch linked to DVOA).

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Sep 21, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Great so far

Although, as you mentioned, we played two teams with very suspect O-Lines. Considering that Cutler was never murdered by the Saints, I’m not so sure our performance against the Bears was as good as we thought.

However, I think Ray is shaking off some rust and looks to be getting good penetration. I like his versatility and think he’s already taking some heat off of Abe. Biermann has looked solid as well. I hate that we lost Babs so early, but PJ is looking pretty great so far. From what I can see, he’s extremely explosive off the snap. He’s going to be a nightmare for centers and guards going forward.

All of that said, we NEED these guys to be good-to-great. Our secondary is still in the mode of giving up big plays and until that gets fixed (fire BVG), we need our line to give us the sacks and forced fumbles to kill the drives of the great offenses like Green Bay and New Orleans.

by The DW on Sep 21, 2011 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

* never should be "nearly"

by The DW on Sep 21, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

JUST A NOTE

There is not word 1 in todays AJC about the Birds.

by old cuss on Sep 21, 2011 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

The bucs o-line will be a good test for our d line

And with Freeman being somwhat mobile and BIG, our dline will have it’s hands full with the bucs offense, they have a good line. If they can put up a good performance @ TB then i will believe we have a better defense overall this year.

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 21, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Just a note.

Sam Baker sucks, he’s a Busty Busterson.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 21, 2011 10:45 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Preach! Pass the collection plate to me..

.. because I agree. Are there any better LT’s on the free agent waiver wire that we can take a look at prior to the week 6 deadline?

by TheSpectr on Sep 21, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't Abe have a FF as well?

I might be wrong on that.

What’s crazy:

That means Abraham is on pace for 16 sacks

Biermann is on pace for 8 sacks…and 8 INT’s for TD’s…maybe that’s why BVG keeps dropping our DE’s into coverage…

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by ndnpride8806 on Sep 21, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

you're right about Abe and his FF

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Sep 21, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

if you watch the game tape

watch it with a stopwatch in your hand. you will notice that all recievers, backs and TE’s are fully covered for the first 3-4secs of the play, and almost instantaneously every single one of them uncovers and the dbacks lose their assignments…the fact that this happens every time leads me to believe it is by design. BVG expects to have the QB pressured within 3-4ssecs, which is the reason we play so much off coverage so that the eyes of every DB is on the QB and thus when he gets pressured our DB’s jump on the ball is almost instantaneous resulting in interceptions. Now the intimidation factor works with the fact that every single DB is watching the QB and the QB knows this, but our problems arise when they pick up our blitzes and stop the pass rush. Thats why when im watching the game my heart drops every time i see a perfect pocket around the QB because the defense is not designed to cover for longer than 4 secs anyways. Yes its a very simple defense but with a defensive line like the one the giants/bears have it can be a very very very productive defense. I think as our DL become more consistent they will get better over the season on defense as a whole.

by GTbacker on Sep 21, 2011 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Very nice analysis

I feel the same way. Whenever they have a long time in the pocket, we’re screwed. That’s why Aaron Rodgers tore us apart last year; he could extend plays and create time for his receivers to open up.

by orion12 on Sep 21, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Nobody

Nobody can cover quality WRs in the NFL longer than 4 secs. Nobody. Well, maybe Derrell Revis maybe can for 4.5 to 5 seconds, but that’s about it. The speeds, the angles, Howitzer arm QBs. Asking too much.

If you were directly above him, how could you see him? Because I was inverted. [Bullshit] No, he was man. It was a really great move. He was inverted.

by 66fredo99 on Sep 21, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

^This

No scheme covers a WR for more than 4 seconds. I don’t even think Nnamdi, Revis, and Charles Woodson all on the same team could cover WRs in the NFL for 4 seconds.

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by ndnpride8806 on Sep 21, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

True in man-to-man

However, a good zone scheme – or even a mesh-scheme – will limit the throwing lanes for a QB while also putting the secondary in positions to make plays on the ball. A good scheme can “cover” receivers for longer than 4 seconds, but has the weakness of being prone to giving up bigger yards on runs and quick outs.

by The DW on Sep 22, 2011 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

right

like the jets or ravens using Ryans Amoeba zone defensive scheme. Not your typical looking zone so all the timing and lanes are off a little and causes alot of problems for a teams passing attack. I just think we need to use our defensive talent MORE, by letting them go after a QB. The saints ate Cutler alive cuz they constantly went after him with 5 or 6 guys sometimes 7. We just set back in zone coverages and let him kill us, instead of sending Cb blitzes or LB blitzes, which the saints did a lot of. We have speed and size on defense now, so we need to use it more by going after teams QB’s more instead of the damn bend but dont break defense!!

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 22, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Another note

BVG looks like a child molesterer with that stache and haircut.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 21, 2011 11:22 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think he is intimidating other coordinators with the porn star look.

by SmokeyBell on Sep 21, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

It's a terrible look.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 21, 2011 11:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I remember my older brother sporting that same look in the mid 80's.

Too bad he’s bald now, I could tell him that BVG is bringin it back.

by SmokeyBell on Sep 21, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Ron Jeremy's lost brother

by svene on Sep 21, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm telling you all...

as this defensive line gets better as the year goes on we are gonna start crushing people!! (on that side of the ball anyway)

Now, if we can just cut down on the stupid shit like Dunta HEADBUTTING people during game!! Cut the crap Dunta, your better than this!!

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 21, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

BVG did not have that look at UGA>

by old cuss on Sep 21, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

And the people of UGA were thankful

by Dave Choate on Sep 21, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes...yes we are...

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 21, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding pass rushing,

Notice that Abe almost always has two linemen blocking him with one of them with their hand up in his face mask. Our LT on the other hand rarely has help.

by old cuss on Sep 21, 2011 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

I confess like the feel of the D-line better this year than last, but nobody but Abe stands out yet as a legit pass rusher, Bierman is a jack-of-all-trades athlete who could probably play LB if he had better wheels. You notice him when he’s out there. But so does the other team. Jerry looks able up the middle now that he’s healthy. We know what Babs can do. Edwards, the fumble recovery notwithstanding is still a wait and see, at least to me. Sidbury and Peters are serviceable enough. The key is staying healthy. it’s a long season.

If you were directly above him, how could you see him? Because I was inverted. [Bullshit] No, he was man. It was a really great move. He was inverted.

by 66fredo99 on Sep 21, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

Did you even see how many TFL's RE had against PHI?

Peters is serviceable enough? Wow.

by mwalex on Sep 21, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

With our talent on defense, I would like to see us go to a 3-4 next year

Biermann and even Abe would be awesome OLB like Mathews for GB, we would just ned to get some size at DT so we could hold thwe point of attack and even get push intot the backfield.
Front 3 – RE,PJ, and Babs
4 LB’s – Kroy, Abe, Lofton, and Spoon

The reason I think this would work is that I truly think Beirmann is a clay mathews type player, but he’s just in the wron position. He goes TOO FAST on the rush and runs right past the QB most of the time, most linemen just try to keep pushing him farther back as he goes into the backfield. Now imagine if he had a running start from an OLB position, then when he runs fast he would actuallty end up at the qb RIGHT ON TIME, not to mention trying to stop Abe from rblitzing from the other OLB position.
JUst a thought. Mainly cuz I think Kroy would fit very well into a position like mathews, in there just to blow up as much as he can.

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 21, 2011 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

This again?

Abe failed at OL with the Jets and that’s why they traded him. Now, at his age, he isn’t fast enough to play the position nor would is he durable enough for a lot of snaps during the game.

KB is too slow for OLB and that transition wouldn’t be easy for him and I don’t care what position he played in college. Going fast on a rush for a few snaps a game is not the same as Matthews, no where close.

Also, with KB and Abe at LB the pass coverage would be worse.

I’m also guessing that KB and Abe would start over Nicholas, based on your scheme above. Really? Nich’s can play rings around both of them at LB.

PJ is not bog enough for a pro NT either. It would take two years at a minimum to get a decent 3-4 up and running.

by mwalex on Sep 21, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldnt dismiss this just because of Abe

He wont be there forever. Also, how many times a game do you see us rush only 3 players? Several, wouldnt it be better if those 3 players were supposed to be the 3 down linemen? Besides I never said Nicks wouldnt be used he would be an awesome weapon in a 3-4 scheme as well, he would take Abe’s spot in a rotation, CMS does that, he likes to keep em fresh, so in reality what I am saying is that we would in essence have the same front 7 just in a different configuration to put more pressure on the QB’s and prevent the short passing games from eating you up all the way down the field. Like I said, just a thought.
As of right now we could go with this configuration since Babs is out.( I know we aint gonna switch right now, duh)
3 linemen – RE, PJ, Abe
4 backers – Kroy,Spoon Nicks and Lofton
I just think it would cause much more havoc for teams to get yards on us or have the time for plays to develop.
I just think we have the Athletes to do both if we wanted. I wish we could switch between the 2 defenses during games or from week to week depending on the opponent. The 3-4 does have it’s advantages against passing teams, and we face a lot of those in the NFC trying to get to the SB.
I am satisfied with our talent and their play, just not the schemes and playcalling.Try something else maybe?

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 22, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

If the Falcons switched to a 3-4

All that talent is wasted.

The defense is built on speed, and honestly, our front 7 is doing an adequate job (I’m taking that Chicago game as a fluke.)

As Falcons fans, we’ll always be nervous about the back 4, but I’m ok with with the front 7 is doing, and assuming the LB’s will improve with time. The D-Line is awesome.

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by ndnpride8806 on Sep 21, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions