Falcons Offseason Roundtable: Lingering defensive questions

As the offense appears solidified on paper, there is plenty of curiosity about the direction of the defense.

The quietest part of the offseason leaves plenty of time to ponder how teams will look going into training camp. What are the biggest concerns? Which young players have the most to prove? Who will emerge as a capable contributor or even a potential starter? All teams must use this valuable time to identify and assemble the pieces of what will translate into success.

In this latest roundtable, William McFadden joins me for the final time to analyze several questions about the Falcons’ defense, as he has been re-hired by the Atlanta Falcons.

After being the biggest highlight of last year’s underwhelming season, they enter this year as the unit with the most uncertainty. Given the heavy offseason investment into bolstering the offense, it has left the defense in a position where players will have to emerge quickly, and coaching will be more pivotal than ever to elevate the unit.

How can the rookie defensive linemen insert themselves into the rotation and find their niche as a player to be relied upon?

Allen Strk: All three players will certainly have opportunities, but a real impression is needed to play significant snaps. Ruke Orhorhoro is best suited to start playing on passing downs to give Grady Jarrett or David Onyemata much-needed rest. Both stellar defensive tackles have played an enormous amount of snaps when healthy over their careers. Being able to spell them could be an excellent way to bring the raw rookie along slowly.

Trice has the best opportunity to receive playing time, due to his capabilities as a pass rusher and strong connections with Jimmy Lake. Being recruited at Washington by the team’s current defensive coordinator shows how much respect the coaching staff has for him. Trice’s power and hand usage could be refreshing for a team that lacks violence off the edge. The versatility of Dorlus playing both inside and outside could help him emerge in a crowded rotation. There could be a chance Dorlus and Zach Harrison are the team’s edge defenders when playing base defense. The opportunity is there for each rookie to be in the rotation, which is exciting for what will forever be viewed as a polarizing draft class.

William McFadden: I love this question. It makes me appreciate how these guys can all be used together in the future. Let’s go in order of their selections. Orhorhoro’s most immediate path seems to be as an early-down substitution for Jarrett or Onyemata. He’s got the length and tenacity required to play multiple spots on the defensive line, but there’s more to like with him as a run defender. Trice has a little bit of wild-card energy to him. Yes, he brings a fairly polished package to the NFL, but I have questions about his ceiling in any one given area. So, maybe a role that asks him to do a little bit of everything is what the Falcons have in mind. Put him in advantageous situations to do a variety of things.

Dorlus starts as a rotational pass rusher, which would be the opposite compared to Orhorhoro. His ability to generate pressure from multiple spots makes him a fresh option off the bench for anyone who needs a breather. Finally, Zion Logue is here as a developmental interior nose tackle. I don’t know how much we’ll see of him in his first year.

What type of role will Troy Andersen play this season following the success of Kaden Elliss and Nate Landman as every-down linebackers?

Allen Strk: As my colleague Dave Choate wrote recently, the linebacker position is an intriguing strength. After years of lackluster and undisciplined play, there was stability and strong fundamental consistent performances from the starting tandem. Elliss and Landman were outstanding against the run, making numerous savvy plays and taking on blocks tremendously well. For all their success, Andersen’s intangibles are too good to overlook. He possesses the traits to be a true dynamic three-down linebacker. That should insert him into a starting role, but he must improve against the run to be on the field consistently.

This group set a high bar last year in their standard of play. Andersen’s rawness was sometimes targeted, as his awareness and angles put him in positions to be completely erased out of plays. Processing faster mentally to go with his physical gifts will help solidify his status as the team’s most valuable linebacker. He will enter the season as the starter, but there won’t be much margin for error.

William McFadden: What’s very interesting to me is that there’s a little bit of a logjam at many different spots on Atlanta’s defense. The trio at inside linebacker. Richie Grant and DeMarcco Hellams at the strong safety spot. The outside linebacker position will have a lot of competition, even if we have questions about the emergence of an alpha. I’d expect early on we will see a pretty healthy rotation at each of these spots.

Something I don’t believe we’re discussing enough is that there will be a defensive scheme change. So, what worked for Landman last year may not be a big part of this year’s defense. We don’t know which players will be impacted, but the coaches will let things sort themselves out on the field. That said, Andersen has a broader skill set than Landman, so I think he’ll be deployed in a greater variety of ways.

Should the lack of proven depth at the corner position be a greater concern for Raheem Morris?

Allen Strk: It’s a bit troubling, but the proven coaching experience at the position inspires more belief than most would anticipate when assessing the personnel. The group consists of several unproven players and former high-round draft picks who have struggled in the league. Morris has done tremendously well in bringing the best out of cornerbacks, most recently with a Rams defense, with the least amount of space invested into a unit in the league.

Morris also worked with the Falcons’ defensive back group in 2015, which featured arguably Desmond Trufant’s best season ever and one of Robert Alford’s better years. He is also familiar with A.J. Terrell from the 2020 season, where the rookie corner at the time showed great promise. It would be encouraging to see a veteran added, but Morris’ expertise could elevate the group. That starts with working extensively with players like Clark Phillips, who needs to improve as a tackler.

William McFadden: I would expect it’s high on the list of concerns for Morris and the Falcons at this point. Sometimes it’s not possible to address every need in an offseason. Atlanta fell short of what it had hoped to accomplish at the position.

The Falcons have said that during the draft they weren’t going to reach to fulfill a need at corner, so they didn’t. They’ve made some low-risk moves that could potentially turn into something nice for the 2024 season, but they are still undoubtedly dice rolls. If we’re mapping out ways for the season to go south, one of the quickest would be attrition at the cornerback spot.

Regardless of who is the official starter alongside Jessie Bates, will Richie Grant and DeMarcco Hellams receive playing time with the coaching staff’s desire to be more versatile and three safety looks being more implemented?

Allen Strk: Having a defined starter at a position like safety is always best. It helps build a rapport between both players on the back end. That doesn’t mean the backup can’t have some contributing role, especially with defensive philosophies shifting across the league. Three safety alignments have become more effective. Playing “big nickel” proved effective for top-tier defenses in Baltimore and Dallas last season. Grant and Hellams are capable in-box safeties, who can be tone-setters against the run.

It’s been evident that Grant struggles with deep range and man coverage responsibilities. As previously mentioned, Morris has worked extensively with defensive backs over his career. His track record should provide optimism he’ll devise the best ways to utilize both players, as they will likely be counted on in different coverages and disguises.

William McFadden: You’ll see a healthy rotation at the safety position, but I also expect Grant to start alongside Bates. I like how his skill set theoretically fits in this scheme more than the last one. He’s primed for a bounceback season.

That being said, Morris was defensive coordinator in 2020 when the Falcons had a three-headed monster at safety with Keanu Neal, Ricardo Allen, and Damontae Kazee. You’ll ultimately see all three safeties playing a good bit, but I still favor an improved year from Grant.

A big thanks to Will for joining me one last time for this roundtable!