The Atlanta Falcons knew heading into this offseason and especially the 2015 NFL Draft that their pass rush needed an infusion of talent. With new head coach Dan Quinn in the mix, the Falcons needed to bolster their pass rush beyond belief so they can rebound nicely this upcoming season defensively. They made a bold decision in the 1st Round with their No. 8 pick by selecting linebacker Vic Beasley to be the long-term answer they needed on defense.
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At 6’3″ and 246 pounds, Beasley will definitely be a force to reckon with in 2015. In his collegiate career at Clemson, he contributed 90 tackles, 33.0 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. Needless to say, he will definitely be a big part of defensive coordinator Richard Smith‘s game planning once the games actually start to matter.
So far during organized team activities, Beasley was praised by Smith for his speed and ability to make plays at any given moment. In an article written by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, here is what Smith had to say so far on Beasley:
"“I’m not saying he’s a Von Miller. You’ve got to go out and earn those things. But I think if you talk to Vic, he would tell you that [Miller] is one of the players that he’s watched over the years. But he does have that elite quickness, very similar to what Von Miller had when he came out.”"
Needless to say, that’s a pretty big compliment to give to someone but it’s absolutely merited. When comparing both athletes, they each possess that rare kind of speed that could wreak havoc against opposing offenses.
Of course this is just OTAs that don’t feature the full equipment he’ll have to wear weekly come the regular season but if it’s any indication now, he should have a pretty seamless transition from the college scene into the pros.
Considering that last season the Falcons were only able to produce 32 sacks, Beasley should be able to absolutely increase the potential of the team to finally bring some pressure against quarterbacks. His presence should put the Falcons on a better path in this key statistic that if they can excel in, should produce quite the turnaround season for the team.
May 26, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley (44) shown on the field during OTA at Falcons Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
With Beasley, outside linebacker Brooks Reed and defensive end Adrian Clayborn all in the mix for the first time on the Falcons, the youth and experience should yield much better results with their pass rush in 2015 than ever before.
Since Beasley is expected to contribute immediately, it’s great to see that right off the bat he’s living up to the hype that he generating entering this year’s draft. Of course only time will tell what path his NFL career will take but for now, he’s saying and doing all the right things necessary for future success.
Overall, keep an eye on Beasley as he evolves heading into this upcoming season. Once he perfects his pass rushing moves, there is no telling just how far he’ll go plus not to mention, how that will help the Falcons finally be considered competitors in the NFC South again.
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