Jonathan Babineaux Will Rebound In 2012

by Dave Choate on Feb 21, 2012 8:00 AM EST in Falcons Talk

FLOWERY BRANCH GA - JULY 30: Jonathan Babineaux #95 of the Atlanta Falcons runs drills during opening day of training camp on July 30 2010 at the Falcons Training Complex in Flowery Branch Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jonathan Babineaux has dominated at defensive tackle for so long that a year without that dominance seems awfully jarring.

It's not that the USS Babineaux was a bad player in 2011. Quite the contrary. It's just that missing three games, amassing your lowest tackle total of your career and only coming up with one sack can't be called an elite season, especially when you are Jon Babineaux.

In his best years, Babs is basically unstoppable. He's never had an overwhelming set of numbers at defensive tackle, but he's got a unique knack for getting into the backfield and being a disruptive force. His fingerprints are all over some of the team's best defensive plays since he was drafted, and he was quietly recognized as one of the better tackles in football. So what if he'll be 31 this season?

I think you'll be looking at a better year from Babs in 2012, which will help the rest of the line in turn. Part of that is a belief that his skills really haven't eroded all that much as he enters his 30's. I think you can draw a bright line between his injury and how long it took him to really get going in 2011, and the overall state of the line last year.

Why, if the Falcons might lose John Abraham, would Babs do better in 2012? Simply because I believe this will be a more aggressive scheme, one that will call for Babs to punch into the backfield the way he's so clearly accustomed to. Babs fared well in BVG's scheme in years past, but there was rarely a ton of time to rush the passer. That may change.

Also, Babineaux just has too much natural ability to be contained, assuming he's not entering a steep decline phase I'm not seeing. With the Falcons probably needing more of an interior rush with a little bit of a shaky situation at the ends, Babs will have to step up. I think he will.

Do you agree?

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I certainly hope

Babineaux can step his game up this season. He did have the MCL early in the season last year so I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. It would have been nice to have our 1st RD draft pick at DT use the injury to Babs as an opportunity to show up but I honestly don’t think that’s ever gonna happen. Peria Jerry is entering bust territory unfortunately. One more year for Babs to show something, at 4.1 mill base he’s not that big of a cap hit. If Babs can’t return to form this season I say cut or trade him and cut Peria Jerry, no trade possible in his case. Question for you Dave. Osi Umenyiora is set to make 3.9 mil next season, would you give up a 2nd RD pick for him at age 30?

by Kushion on Feb 21, 2012 8:27 AM EST reply actions

I thought I heard that Osi is a free agent, and has a house in Atlanta?

If that is true, I am 100% in favor of signing Osi, and letting Abraham go.
As for Babs, he will be fine, just not a pro-bowler.
Jerry just doesn’t look like he is going to work out.
There could be some excellent DTs available with our first pick (#55) in the 2012 NFL Draft.

by durst on Feb 21, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

He's in the last year of his deal.

by Kushion on Feb 21, 2012 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

I don't trade for Osi

No doubt he’s a dominant force, but as you pointed out, he’s getting older, and he’s got significant injury issues almost each season. Then there’s the fact that he bitches nonstop about his contract. Add to that the Falcons would only be guaranteed a year of his services, and that’s not a very good deal for ATL imo.

by KMarch on Feb 21, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

ok, thanks. I would not trade for him, not since we have such few picks already

by durst on Feb 21, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

I like Osi but

He wants a big contract and fails to understand he is a pass rusher not pass rusher/run stopper. Because of that, the Giants aren’t going to pay him top dollar…With that said, numbers don’t lie. When you average over 10 sacks and 5 FF per yr over the past 4 yrs, you are changing the outcome of a game. I totally think he’s worth a 2nd rounder as long as he understands no team will break the bank over him.

by leonw92 on Feb 21, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

Osi is not due $3.9MM in 2012

he is due $4.6MM including signing bonus.

by mwalex on Feb 21, 2012 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Really?

I thought when a player is traded the signing bonus is accelerated and paid by the original team. Could have sworn that was the case in professional football. Can anyone confirm or deny my claim?

by Kushion on Feb 21, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

Babs

Definitely disappeared this year. Injury issues influenced his play for sure. I hate to question players’ motivation, b/c basically fans just do it as an excuse to hate on players they don’t like, but I do for Babs this season. He started to break out and look back to form during the Colts and Saints game midseason, then just disappeared again for the rest of the season. ATL played some great to good OLines in the 2nd half of the season, but Babs was even a non-factor against many of the poorer ones they faced.

This is a show-me season for Babs.

by KMarch on Feb 21, 2012 10:06 AM EST reply actions

DT is a huge concern

We have no interior pass rush-none. I remember 2 games in particular (the Texans game and 2nd Saints game) where all the QB did was step up or move around in the pocket to avoid our DE’s and complete a back breaking pass. Babs’ play was concerning because at times he looked like his old self but most of the time he was simply invisible. I’m not so sure Nolan will be comfortable with any DT (other than Peters) and may decide to convince the FO to bring in new blood (e.g. Paul Soliai)

by leonw92 on Feb 21, 2012 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Why wouldn't he be comfortable with Babs

He is still a great player that is only 30, a somewhat down season doesn’t change that. As for Soliai he is a 3-4 NT that only eats up blocks he won’t improve the interior pass rush.

by Hutch11 on Feb 21, 2012 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

Because he was invisible weeks after returning from the MCL injury

I hope he rebounds because we need someone to collapse the pocket.

by leonw92 on Feb 21, 2012 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

That was probably due to the injury though.

by mwalex on Feb 21, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions

I think his injury slowed him all year.

I have some big expectations for a healthy Babs lining up next to Cory Peters.

'Each of us is a mixture of some good and some not so good qualities. In considering one's fellow man it's important to remember the good things ... We should refrain from making judgments just because a fella happens to be a dirty, rotten SOB.' John Wayne, Playboy Interview 1971

by jcaustic on Feb 21, 2012 11:48 AM EST reply actions

I would like to sign Paul Soliai. Would rather have a consistent run stopping NT than an expensive injury prone edge rusher. Plus MN needs him for his scheme, the more double teams the better.

by dnldbrk on Feb 21, 2012 12:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions