Training camp has arrived in Atlanta, as the pressure begins to intensify, with a revamped defense seeking difference makers and a solidified offense aiming to be more prolific.
For the third consecutive season, the Atlanta Falcons enter training camp with high expectations. The journey toward the playoffs continues following two disappointing seasons where the opportunity was there for the taking. Unlike the previous two years, there is more stability with an offense returning all starters except at center. It also helps when the coaching staff remains firmly intact on the offensive side of the ball.
The total opposite has taken place defensively, which is understandable given the woeful play across the unit in 2024. A total revamp was necessary, adding much-needed youth to an aging defense. There is still an enormous amount that needs to be answered defensively, as the offense gels with who they envision as the next great quarterback in Atlanta.
Aaron Freeman joins me for the start of another season of roundtable discussions by analyzing defensive personnel, potential skill position players emerging behind the primary playmakers, and offensive schematic improvements.
Do you believe there will be a definitive starter alongside Kaden Elliss, or will Troy Andersen and Divine Deablo both play significant snaps?
Aaron Freeman: Yes, Deablo will be the definitive every-down starter next to Elliss. But that doesn’t mean Andersen won’t also play significant snaps. He’ll likely be the front-runner to earn snaps as the third linebacker in the team’s 4-3 base defense.
The Falcons didn’t pay Deablo $14 million over two years to come in and compete for a starting spot. His price tag is comparable to that spent on Elliss in 2023, and Deablo will be trusted to provide the speed, athleticism, and coverage ability that Andersen once promised, but couldn’t deliver due to his lack of availability over the past two seasons.
As for Andersen, if he can stay healthy this year, his athleticism can add value as a part-time third linebacker. The Falcons dabbled with Andersen playing in some 4-3 looks in their second matchup against the New Orleans Saints for a half-dozen plays. But the Falcons can no longer expect or ask him to be anything more than a part-time player at this point, given his extensive injury history. Hopefully, with the pressure off him, he can go out and have his best summer yet. But even if that happens, Deablo is the one you trust to remain atop the depth chart.
Allen Strk: When Morris spoke about Deablo being capable of handling green dot responsibilities, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would earn his place in the starting lineup. The starting experience combined with the athletic traits is what the defense needs going into a critical season where they are integrating several young players into a revamped defense.
The opportunity to play more base could be greatly beneficial for a defense that struggled to stop the run last season. Fewer light boxes with more athleticism at the linebacker position may provide solutions that weren’t previously available to them, due to injuries and underwhelming linebacker play. That’s where Andersen can make his mark. As frustrating as the past two years have been for him, there is too much ability to reduce him to being a pure backup. Andersen will play some sort of role as long as he remains healthy, while Deablo takes command as the starter.
Which skill position player that wasn’t involved in the offense last year could develop into a capable contributor with a strong summer?
Aaron Freeman: Hopefully, the answer is Kyle Pitts. But, thanks to the foot injury that kept him limited throughout the offseason, I wonder if he will be on a pitch count to start training camp, which could limit his potential to have a strong summer.
So my answer is KhaDarel Hodge. Towards the end of 2024, we started to see him eat into Ray-Ray McCloud’s snaps. That trend could continue in 2025. Hodge brings more size and blocking prowess than McCloud in the slot or “F” wide receiver role in this offense while showcasing comparable receiving ability. McCloud’s best trait is his ability with the ball in his hands, but Hodge also showed he’s no slouch in that department thanks to his memorable “walk-off” touchdown catch and run against the Tampa Bay Bucs last year. I suspect McCloud will still be the primary guy, but there’s little reason not to also involve Hodge more this season.
Allen Strk: Although he is best suited to returning kickoffs and punts, Jamal Agnew has some explosiveness that can be utilized. He could be the gadget player Zac Robinson envisioned using Rondale Moore as. Whether it’s jet sweeps, bubble screens, or vertical shots off play action from heavy formations, there are big play possibilities with Agnew’s skill set.
It’s a matter of utilizing them better than Doug Pederson did during his time in Jacksonville. The former Super Bowl champion coach was too reliant on bubble screens and stretch runs that defenses read from the start of the play. Being more diversified with the play calling designed for Agnew could spark a big play or two, depending on the matchup. Before anything else, Agnew must prove he is fully recovered from fracturing his left leg in January 2024.
Besides Ruke Orhorhoro, which young player are you watching closely to see if he can be consistently in the interior tackle rotation?
Aaron Freeman: If I can’t pick Orhorhoro, then the obvious choice is Brandon Dorlus. Coming off a season where he played just 19 snaps across two games, Dorlus has a lot to prove this year. He should see an increase in playing time, but how much exactly he gets will be determined by the extent of his improvement in key areas. Between him and Orhorhoro, he looked further long as a pass rusher coming out of college. Yet, it was going to be difficult for him to steal snaps away from veterans like Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata in that department.
Where Dorlus needed the most work on his game was in run defense, and the team just had too many better options in that arena, including Orhorhoro. Despite Jarrett’s departure, he’ll still have to prove himself as a viable option on passing downs over vets like Onyemata and free-agent pickup Morgan Fox. But he’ll also need to make significant strides in run support. Helping him in the latter category should be kicking outside to play defensive end at times. There, his size can be considered more of an asset than it would be along the interior.
I’ll also be paying close attention to Zach Harrison, who could be a breakout player for the Falcons this year. That said, he might see a larger chunk of his reps on the edge than inside this year.
Allen Strk: Considering all the investments made across the defensive line, particularly at the edge rushing spot, Harrison may be more relied upon on the interior. He would be an ideal fit to line up as an edge defender in base sets, but there are only so many snaps the defense will play in base. Harrison has too much potential to be restricted to one role. His long arms, violent hands, and relentless motor make him someone who can emerge into a dependable player.
While it’s yet to be determined how much he weighs, after the coaching staff asked him to put on weight last offseason, Harrison should be capable of contributing in multiple areas to give the defense a much-needed imposing figure on the defensive line. It’s a unit in desperate need of power on the interior. While Onyemata and Orhorhoro will be most counted on during passing downs, Harrison’s versatility may push him toward earning reps on the interior in critical moments.
With almost every starter from last year’s offense returning, is there anything in particular you’d like to see them focus on preparing for the season?
Aaron Freeman: NFL teams are notorious for not showing their hands during the summer, so what I am invested in seeing, like increased play action and a diversified run game, are unlikely to be unveiled until September.
Those are two things that could unlock higher levels of production for both the Falcons’ passing and running games this year.
The team’s league-low usage of play-action last year has often been attributed to Kirk Cousins’ physical limitations following an Achilles injury. Well, Kirk is no longer the team’s starter, so nothing should be holding back this team from dialing up their play-action attack. Especially since most successful young quarterbacks benefit from a higher degree of play action early in their careers. Play action not only simplifies reads, but it also helps generate explosive plays, something Michael Penix’s arm talent can only amplify.
The Falcons’ overreliance on their outside zone run scheme made sense, given its effectiveness in 2024, and it has been a tried-and-true approach for this team for several years. It should remain their bread-and-butter run concept, but sprinkling in different looks can both challenge defenses and generate more explosive runs. The Falcons began to incorporate a few new run concepts after their bye week last year. However, we won’t know how much the Falcons plan to incorporate these new elements until the real games take place in September.
As far as training camp goes, I hope Adnan Ikic gets a chance to see Penix pushing the ball downfield vertically, unlike how camp went the last time he attended with Desmond Ridder at the helm.
Allen Strk: Aaron is spot on with the expansion of play action and run designs. Those were two of the primary issues surrounding the offense schematically. Another frustrating aspect within the offense was the lack of varying formations. The incessant usage of 11 personnel became so redundant that defenses began capitalizing on it, particularly in short-yardage situations. Putting McCloud in a position to block a safety was a recipe for disaster, leading to failed conversions.
With more play action and different run concepts, various formations should be utilized more to make the offense more unpredictable. That will be something to monitor during training camp as the offense begins to gel with Penix. There shouldn’t be severe limitations in what the offense can do. While Penix will need to develop as an overall quarterback and build a rapport with Ryan Neuzil, the offense shouldn’t be anywhere close to as rigid as it was last season.