Random thoughts on the defense and comments from the coordinator on a Thursday afternoon before an extended weekend…
Seven of the Falcons eight picks in the 2009 NFL Draft are defensive players.
Safe to say the team is looking for an infusion of talent and youth on that side of the ball. That, of course, comes with its own set of pros and cons.
But three weeks into organized team activities, defensive coordinator Brian VanGoder likes the upside shown by the speedy group taking shape on the field.
The Falcons are in the process of replacing five starters from a defense that — at the end of 2008 — sported an average age of 27.8
The 2009 Falcons could start multiple rookies on defense including, but not limited to, defensive tackle Peria Jerry, safety William Moore and cornerback Chris Owens. They’re competing with an equally youthful bunch including a second-year safety (Thomas DeCoud) and a third-year defensive tackle (Trey Lewis).
As of Thursday, just three players on the defensive roster are age 30 or older. Twenty-seven are age 26 or younger.
Curtis Lofton, who started at middle linebacker as a rookie, just turned 23.
“Curtis had an outstanding rookie season,” VanGorder said of Lofton, who finished fourth on the team with 108 tackles while playing primarily on first and second down. “Now he’s in his second year and much more comfortable with the system and communications. Therefore he can play a lot faster. He did not play in our sub package last year so that’s an area right now he’s really working on and trying to catch up a little bit… First year to second year we should see good, solid improvement from him.”
Lofton came off the field on passing downs last season. Defending the pass is an area of emphasis moving forward and something the team must do with quicker, but less experienced players.
The Falcons finished 21st in the league last season allowing 220 passing yards per game. The defense got younger in the secondary over the offseason but it will be up to various competitions to determine starters in 2009.
“I think we have to (see who rises to the top),” VanGorder said. “It will sort itself out in mini camp, OTAs and training camp… The competition will sort itself out and the guys that are deserving will earn it over that course of time. Competition is a healthy thing right now.”
The group can get help from the front seven in the form of pressure on the quarterback.
For example…
It’s not a perfect correlation, but it doesn’t take a multitude of numbers to realize more sacks — or hands in the quarterback’s face — creates a poor throwing environment.
John Abraham recorded 16.5 sacks in 2008. No other player had more than four (Chauncey Davis).
VanGorder likes what he’s seeing so far from second-year defensive end Kroy Biermann. He’s put on some extra muscle and, with Abraham taking some time to recoup from injuries, is getting extra reps.
The team also returns a starter in Jamaal Anderson and drafted three defensive linemen.
“I think we’ve got a guy like Kroy who is a year older and has some natural pass rush abilities,” VanGorder said. “Lawrence Sidbury, who we drafted out of Richmond, gives us another speed edge type of guy. Inside with Peria Jerry we drafted another sudden, explosive guy. So we should be much improved and we need to be much improved in regards to the pass rush. How that will all work itself out, we’ll see but it’s a good competition for us right now. The speed and experience factor are the biggest indicators right now that we’ll be better.”
Speed creates opportunity on defense which, in a perfect world, leads to more turnovers.
Here’s a look at the Falcons game-by-game turnover chart from 2008…
Atlanta finished 25th against the run (127.5 yards per game) last season.
The focus thus far has been on speed and explosiveness, but VanGorder also talked Wednesday about what the team can do to replace 345-pound defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who signed a free agent deal with Detroit.
As he puts it, three players are looking to fill the role.
All fit with the overall themes of youth and speed.
“Right now (Thomas Johnson) and Trey Lewis are battling it out,” he said. “Jason Jefferson is a much better looking player. There’s competition in there but I think the size of T.J. and Trey in regards to a Grady comparison gives us that space eater, but a little bit faster and run-to-the-ball kind of guy. We hope we’ll be better.”
Johnson, 305 pounds, has spent time with three different NFL teams. Jefferson started a game for Jackson in 2008. Lewis missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but says he’s rejuvinated and a better student of the game.
Johnson and Jefferson are 27. Lewis is 24.
More from VanGorder through the offseason in various features. Also look for a feature on Lofton on AtlantaFalcons.com next week.
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18 Comments
the falcons should have the push for the best offese in the league. and i am excited to see the speed of our defense. our schedule is extremely rough
I WILL LIKE TO SEE THIS DEFENSE…OUR DEFENSE….WAS SHAKEY..LAST YEAR SO LETS SEE IT THIS YEAR….WE KNO THE OFFENSE GONNA GET THERES…..SO LETS GO DEFENSE………
Every minute the offense is on the field, which looks to be considerable this year, means less time on the field qtrs. 1-3 and more energy for the 4th. I’m intrigued for sure…we forget the D talent that got shelved last year and is now healthy.
All this progress is great but remember we are still rebuilding. This rough schedule is a blessing in disguise. This young talent will see first hand in what it takes to win games. You only get better by playing against better competition.
How many sacks do you think we’ll get this year? I think our pass defence needs to be a lot tighter this year, especially on 3rd down plays.
the falcons should have great speed on defense but the size of the corners scare me. they will need to be really agressive at the snap of the ball and disrupt wide receiver routes. we need to be extemely physical.the schedule will be tough and every game should be played like its our last day on earth
I am glad to see two of our seven draft picks have signed contracts. It is absolutely essential that the remaining five draft choices are signed before training camp starts. This is especially true so these young players we are counting on to replace some of the five veteran players we released from last season can be coached up to the max, develop trust in their teammates, and develop good team chemistry.
I think the addition of Trey Lewis back to the active roster is the going to make the most difference to our defense. He is the only two gap nose tackle we have, and this means we can switch from a four three defense to a three four defense, and if we are smart and sneaky, we can do it without making any substitutions between plays. We can stand Abe up, and move him to a linebacker position. Talk about flexibility and hopefully heartburn and hiccups for our opponents offenses. This can make us even more difficult to prepare to play against. It is nice to have the possibility of making our defense as complex, deceptive, and effective as our offense already is.
With the great coaches returning from last year and finally some continuity we should see a dominant defence at least by the second half of the season, when it counts the most. Hopefully we will still be in the chase for homefield advantage and a first week bye. I have high hopes! GO FALCONS!!!
Alot of people are worried about the toughness of our schedule, but remember all we really have to do is win our division (i.e the Cardnails.)
best offense and average D we are good to go to the superbowl
Basically there is no place to go but UP for our young defense.
Should be very interesting.
I like what we are doing on “D”.But I believe that you have to have great tackling corners,and safeties to compete for a championship.
I don’t think the defense will have instant success espeically dealing with the wild cat week 1 but i think by the time playoffs come we will have a top 15 defense as long as injuries are not a factor
i’ve been a falcons fan since i can remember and we’ve always had a problem on our defensive side of the ball(jst my opinion) especially when we ran the 3-4 def.(can’t stand a 3-4 defense this very day). I think the problem was the pretty boy players we bring to our team such as deion sanders and players like deangelo hall(glad we traded him) that never would tackle anyone. We still have some tackling issues but have shown remarkable improvement over the years. I’d like to see one of our young talents on defense cause a couple of fumbles with some jaw-rattling hits like Jessie Tuggle would’ve done. All we need now are one or two HEADHUNTERS on D and we are set. can’t depend on Abraham to sack the running backs too i’m hopin curtis Lofton steps up and become that HEADHUNTER this season that earns a lot of respect from the opp. offense and a lot of problems. Either way i’m Falcon…ain’t nothin gonna change that…p.s U GOTTA LOVE MIKE SMITH HE’S A GREAT COACH WITH AN ATTITUDE AND STERN HAND THAT WE’VE BEEN MISSIN IN ATL. GO GET’EM FALCONS!!!!
i think we need to look at Chris Ellis and Chris Mcallster cause John Abraham needs help i like the young guys but im still worried about our pass rush cause Chauncy Davis is not enough Jamel Anderson might could become a DT but he aint no DE hes proved that and the only db we have is Chris Houston and i know that Mcallster is comen off a knee injury but u could move him to Saftey if that knee is still alil ify but he knows how to win and has that leadership that a young defence needs im just sayn
I love the 3-4 defense in situational football. And let’s give the young guy’s on defense a shot before we go sign’in thirty something veteran’s for big money. Beside’s I’m sure they’re going to cut more veteran’s as the season get’s closer. And if we need them they’ll be able to step in and play right away at a high leavel.
The best thing for our D is the return of Trey Lewis…..You all will know him before this yr is over…..Get ready for a great D and not in a few years…..Falcons!!
i love football.and the defense is going to be great next year. the best part to me is to watch a stopping d. go falcons
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