Falcons fans are a funny bunch, myself included, because while there are always optimists, most have been beaten down by a collection of low points that they may never recover from until the team finally hoists a Lombardi Trophy. There is a fear that comes with having high expectations for this organization, but following two massive defensive acquisitions over the last few days, I’m officially ready to be hurt again.
Everybody is well aware of the potential when discussing the Falcons offense. This is a club that already had a lot of bright spots on that side of the ball; they were just hampered by absolutely dismal quarterback play. Kirk Cousins might not be Patrick Mahomes, but he might as well be considering who he is replacing in Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. He’ll be a force multiplier for the entire offense, which has the opportunity to be something special, led by a bright offensive mind in Zac Robinson.
Defensively, however, there were a lot of concerns as recently as last weekend. The pass rush had some gaping holes, and the secondary was in even worse shape. With the acquisition of Matthew Judon, the Falcons finally land the pass rusher they’ve been attempting to acquire for over a decade. He may not be on the level of Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt, but he will be the best sack artist to don a Falcons uniform since John Abraham. Pair him with Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata on the interior, and all of a sudden, Atlanta has a defensive line that could be one of the better units in football, especially if some of the younger guys take some positive steps forward.
Linebacker was never an issue. Kaden Elliss is one of the best second-level players that nobody talks about, a steal in free agency a year ago. Troy Andersen is a former second-round pick that’s oozing with potential and finally healthy again after missing most of last season. However, in Andersen’s place, Nate Landman stepped in and proved more than capable of starting. Who gets the bulk of the reps next to Elliss has yet to be determined, but it is a fantastic problem to have, giving Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake some more versatility defensively.
But in today’s NFL, an elite front seven can look pedestrian if the secondary doesn’t do its part. A few days ago, an argument could be made that the Falcons had the worst secondary in all of football. Jessie Bates III is a star at safety, and A.J. Terrell is a top corner, but after those two, Atlanta featured a bunch of depth pieces in starting roles and guys that probably shouldn’t even have jobs as depth pieces.
That all changed when the Falcons announced the signing of four-time All-Pro safety Justin Simmons. The acquisition gives Atlanta the best safety duo in the league, a duo capable of masking some of the issues the Falcons may have opposite of Terrell on the boundary. Like Bates, Simmons is a defensive coach’s dream, a true ballhawk that is versatile with tons of experience.
That might be what’s most exciting about this new-look Falcons defense this season. It’s an intriguing mix of proven veterans, young talent with untapped potential, and versatile weapons that can be deployed in various roles. If Jimmy Lake is all he’s cracked up to be, he should have a field day making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks, something we haven’t said about the Falcons in a long time.
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Photo: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire
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