5 moves the Atlanta Falcons can make to become Super Bowl contenders
4. Reunite Ryan Nielsen and Marcus Davenport
Ryan Nielsen, the man in charge of the defense, has an impressive track record, having served as the New Orleans Saints defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2022. Fans should be excited about what this means for the team’s defense. Nielsen now has an exciting opportunity to bring Marcus Davenport, one of his former players, with him to Atlanta.
Davenport, who was selected 14th overall in the 2018 draft after a stellar four-year career at the University of Texas San Antonio, has all the makings of a dominant pass rusher at the next level, with his combination of size and explosiveness. With Nielsen’s experience developing young talent, there’s no doubt he could help Davenport unlock his full potential in Atlanta.
Hardcore fans of the game understand that individual sack numbers don’t tell the full story, despite skeptics pointing to Davenport’s relatively low sack total last season. Davenport’s impressive 12 percent pressure rate shows he consistently affected opposing quarterbacks, even when he couldn’t get home for the sack. And with that kind of consistency, there’s no doubt he could be a force to be reckoned with in Atlanta.
Davenport’s versatility is one of his most valuable traits. While he’s more than capable of winning off the edge in a traditional pass-rushing role, he can also wreak havoc on the interior when he’s matched up against guards. There’s no telling what kind of damage Davenport could do on the field with Nielsen’s potentially creative defensive schemes.
The addition of Davenport to the defensive line could complement the talent of Grady Jarrett, who is already a proven force on the interior defensive line and has shown the ability to collapse the pocket and disrupt the run game. With Davenport’s ability to attack guards and generate pressure, the two could create a formidable one-two punch in the middle of the defensive line. Opposing offenses would have to account for both Davenport and Jarrett on every snap, opening up opportunities for other defenders to make plays.
Nielsen’s expertise in developing young talent makes it easy to imagine Davenport reaching new heights under his tutelage.