The Falcons had to be proactive to improve defensively with limited resources this offseason. They dedicated everything they could to initiate change for a defense in need of talent across the board.
A season-ending loss to the Panthers won’t be viewed as a season-defining moment when assessing the 2024 Atlanta Falcons’ season. What was most notable from that defeat, outside of Michael Penix Jr. making several highlight-reel throws, came during the postgame press conference.
Raheem Morris was asked about what he likes about the defense going forward. He mentioned Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell as top-tier players at their respective positions in the secondary. He understandably highlighted Kaden Elliss for his versatility and the chaos he brings across the line of scrimmage. That was all he said. The fact that he was only moved to mention three players was indicative of the disastrous state of the Falcons’ defense.
They were among the bottom in the league in crucial statistical categories like sacks, third down conversion percentage, and completion percentage. The lack of speed was evident, especially up front with eight players aged 28 years old or older. Not having Troy Andersen left them severely limited at linebacker. As well as the secondary played at times, the personnel limitations were exposed against playoff teams in Minnesota, Washington, and Denver.
While Morris’ decision to hire Jimmy Lake as their defensive coordinator merits criticism, a porous defense can’t stem just from lackadaisical scheming and poor communication. They didn’t have enough talent to hold up against above-average opposition.
After a deflating loss in Minnesota, it was apparent how much Morris needed young talent across all three levels of his defense. Heavily relying on veterans translated to disappointing results. Young players were either misused, not given enough opportunities, or struggling to step up. After going all in at the quarterback position and signing a dynamic playmaker in Darnell Mooney last off-season, it was time for the franchise to go all in defensively. They did just that.
Attacking the Biggest Obstacle
If any coach knows how debilitating it is to not have a capable pass-rushing group, Morris would unfortunately be able to have in-depth conversations about it. During his coaching career in Atlanta, the most productive seasons he saw from the front four came in 2017 when the defense produced 39 sacks, and in 2016 when Vic Beasley pulled off one of the most preposterous double-digit sack seasons ever. It’s been grim otherwise for Morris, who has been stuck watching quarterbacks largely at ease in the pocket when they face the Falcons.
Following the decision to reunite with Jeff Ulbrich in January after coaching alongside him in 2019 and 2020, the message was clear about prioritizing adding pass rushers. Even if it meant a drastic shift from how the defense was structured two years ago, they were ready to inject speed, bend, and versatility to a defensive front in need of revamping. The days of putting 260-270-pound defensive players on the edge on passing downs were over. The days of depending on throwing various designs at the wall schematically to create pressure were over. It was time to count on pass rushers who can be counted on to win individual matchups and destroy pockets.
Drafting Jalon Walker and James Pearce is a major statement in terms of building a fresh nucleus up front. Adding two blisteringly quick, impressively athletic pass rushers creates a completely new dimension that Morris and Ulbrich will be tested to maximize. Walker brings numerous possibilities with his overall skill set. The damage he can cause inside, especially if aligned with Elliss, could lead to overwhelming opponents in a flash. As important as it will be for him to produce off the edge, his versatility will present plenty of problems as long as he is utilized effectively. While the coaching staff will watch their share of tape on Micah Parsons to spark schematic pressure ideas, it was wise on Walker’s part to distinguish himself. He is destined to create his path toward being a game-wrecking force.
Trading back into the first round to draft a prospect at the same position will always raise questions. That occurred in the 2019 draft when the Falcons traded up from the second round to select Kaleb McGary with the 31st overall pick after drafting Chris Lindstrom with the 14th overall pick. Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff were going to solidify the right side of the offensive line by any means necessary after Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times in 2018.
It’s only fitting for the Falcons to do business with the Rams again six years later to select Pearce to bolster their pass rush. While it’s a major risk for a front office that has made its share of questionable decisions in the first round, drafting a pure edge rusher like the two-time first-team All-SEC defender could prove to be a franchise-changing move if he becomes the player they envision.
Morris recently said it’s very hard to find pass rushers. Although some organizations like the Ravens identify them often, it’s a sensible statement considering how much the Falcons have struggled to acquire them in the past two decades. Signing Leonard Floyd was a savvy move in bringing a player with familiarity with Morris’ defense, one who is known for getting to the quarterback in various ways. SB Nation’s Doug Farrar highlighted his effectiveness by noting that the veteran edge rusher produced five sacks and 14 total pressures while Nick Bosa was sidelined last season in San Francisco.
Combine two exciting rookies and a Super Bowl champion starter with Arnold Ebiketie flashing as a contributing pass rusher and the pieces are there to generate legitimate, consistent pressure. It’s been some time since the Falcons had this many potential disruptive pass rushers coming off the edge. How they produce will determine if this project transforms the defense into a tone-setting unit that breaks opponents instead of severely bending like they have been largely doing for the past two decades.
Fresh Secondary Reinforcements
While Lake’s coverage alignments and soft zones left much to be desired, the Falcons’ defensive back group looked overmatched in key matchups. Even in both victories against Tampa Bay, they allowed several explosive plays. The losses to Minnesota and Washington showed their inability to hang in man coverage when the coaching staff decided to blitz more frequently. Quarterbacks regularly picked on Dee Alford in the slot. Justin Simmons’ diminishing range and poor open-field tackling resulted in big gains. The issues were glaring.
Drafting Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. to address flaws at nickel corner and safety alongside Bates shows strong intent to improve. An instinctive, aggressive safety like Watts could work wonders in forcing more incompletions and capitalizing on risky quarterback decisions. There are also more opportunities to play two deep to prevent explosive plays downfield while having two ballhawks that can make game-changing plays. Safety is one of the more difficult positions for rookies to acclimate to at the pro level. It’s still extremely encouraging for the front office to make a credible move to address one of the bigger personnel needs on the roster, even if Watts doesn’t make a major initial impact.
Not having a slot corner playing with consistent fluidity, route recognition, and cohesiveness with teammates proved costly for the Falcons. Alford made far too many fundamental errors, leading to high-percentage throwing windows, particularly on third down. Bowman Jr. provides optimism that he can be that difference maker in the nickel. His versatility as a former safety and physical style is intriguing, along with the quality experience in playing zone coverage. The Falcons had to get quicker, sharper, and younger in the secondary following last season. They may have found two players who can elevate this group as the driving force behind the defense’s improvement.
Balancing Excitement While Recognizing Uncertainty
Starting fresh defensively is bound to generate enthusiasm for the future. As exciting as Ryan Nielsen’s defense was at times in 2023 to make the unit respectable, it was largely because of veteran free agent signings. There weren’t many young players emerging as potential long-term building blocks.
This draft class presents a genuine opportunity for the defense to develop players who can become difference-makers and solve prolonged positional issues on the roster. Warren Sharp’s most valuable draft class list ranks the Falcons at the top for having the best draft based on value. That suggests what could be on the horizon for a defense under experienced coaches who had some success with far less talented units in the second half of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
For all the optimism, this draft class can’t fully raise the defense’s performance levels alone. Players like Ruke Orhorhoro and Troy Andersen must become consistent starters at the heart of the defense. The coaching staff has to do more to bring the best out of Zach Harrison’s promise while finding how to utilize Bralen Trice effectively. The way the interior line fares with an aging David Onyemata will be critical to their success. There are still plenty of concerns about the defense going forward.
Unlike in past years, a credible plan with legitimate long-term investment has been set in place for the unit to become capable of doing its part in bringing playoff football back to Atlanta rather than simply holding on for long enough as the offense does the heavy lifting.