Atlanta Falcons: Why Can’t They Find a Pass Rush?
It’s a quarterback-driven league but it’s also supposed to be a quarterback-driven-into-the-ground game — unless you’re the Atlanta Falcons.
Woe is spelled the Atlanta Falcons pass rush as of late.
It seems no matter what this team does, be it through the draft or via free agency, this franchise can’t seem to find any solutions.
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Let’s do a quick recap. In 2014, this team (still under the guidance of head coach Mike Smith) totaled 22 sacks, tied with Houston. That’s the same number as Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston had by himself, who led the NFL in sacks that season.
Last year, in head coach Dan Quinn’s first year at the helm, Atlanta totaled an NFL-low 19 sacks. That’s 1.5 sacks fewer than NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt (17.5).
A year and a half ago, the team used the eighth overall pick to grab Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley. He would lead the Falcons with four sacks in his rookie campaign, one less quarterback trap than Oakland Raiders All-Pro Khalil Mack managed in one afternoon at Denver in 2015.
So last Sunday at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, here comes Beasley (now at outside linebacker) as well as free-agent additions/defensive ends Derrick Shelby and Dwight Freeney.
No sacks…and no win. Jameis Winston completed 23-of-33 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns (1 interception) in his team’s 31-24 victory. It dropped the Falcons to 1-6 vs. NFC South rivals under Quinn dating back to last season. Which means there’s a rematch with Winston and two more games each this season against New Orleans Drew Brees and Carolina’s Cam Newton.
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Talk about pressure? It’s the lack of it on defense that is making the Falcons an afterthought in their own division. Since opening 5-0 last season, Atlanta is a disappointing 3-9 – six of those losses within the NFC South.
Talk about some sobering numbers? This club has now totaled 41 sacks in their last 33 games dating back to the start of the ’14 season.
Let’s put that in stunning perspective: A total of 10 teams in the league had more sacks than that in 2015 and the Rams were tied (41). Under Quinn, the Falcons have not totaled more than two sacks in his 17 games as a head coach and 18 straight games overall. The last time this team tackled an opposing quarterback for a loss in a game was Week 16 of 2014.
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What is the solution? This Sunday, the Falcons travel to Oakland and face a Raiders’ team that scored 35 points in a one-point win at the Superdome. They will have to deal with the likes of quarterback Derek Carr and wideouts Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts.
But if Beasley, Shelby, Freeney or defensive end Adrian Clayborn, etc., don’t get to know Carr up close and personally, it adds up to another long day for an Atlanta team with a major weakness when it comes to today’s game.