FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees looked at over 900 plays during the bye week, evaluating how his defense has played through the first 14 weeks of the season.
“It takes a lot,” he said. “A bye week isn’t really a bye week.”
Specifically, one area that he evaluated was first, second, and third downs.
“If there’s a lot of third-and-ones, that means the first and second downs weren’t that good because you want them on third-and-long,” Pees said. “If you’re in third-and-one a lot, that percentage isn’t going to be good.”
Pees noted that it’s not so much about what a defense has run on third-and-one, but more so what calls were made before that to allow the offense to be in that position.
“You break it down into third-and-short, third-and-middle, third-and-long, and how you do compared to the rest of the league and look at your calls,” he said. “If it’s an episode where it’s not very good, well why? Is it a certain call, was it a certain coverage? You look at people. Do the same guys show up all the time? You look at all those kinds of things . It’s a lot of things. Third down isn’t just in itself not just the problem. The problem is if they get to third-and-one, most teams are going to convert third-and-one.”
Atlanta ranks 30th in third-down conversion percentage at 47 percent. For the Falcons, who are competing for a playoff spot, limiting the number of third-down conversions heading into this final stretch will be crucial. Atlanta’s defense also ranks 27th in passing yards per game. game and 25th in rushing yards allowed this season.
And while watching film and making evaluations, Pees also looked at personnel changes that could potentially be made, though he didn’t pinpoint any specific areas on the defense.
“You evaluate all those things,” he said. “Some guys can play man [coverage] better than they play zone, and some guys play zone better than they do man. Some guys can play the run better than pass. You take all those things into consideration. It’s a big process to do it .”
The Falcons defense has seen a lot of changes this year with several young players thrust into expanded roles, and with four regular season games remaining, there could be some changes. Let’s take a look at a position groups that may see changes:
Cornerbacks
The cornerbacks room has a ton of talent in A.J. Terrell, Dee Alford, Darren Hall, Rashad Fenton, Isaiah Oliver and Cornell Armstrong. On the same subject : 10 years later I tried on my old high school cheerleading uniform – people say I still look just as good…. Could we see a player like Alford have an expanded role at the cornerback spot? That’s something we won’t know until Sunday against the Saints and going forward, but he’s ready either way.
“Whether it’s one rep, five reps, 10 reps, I’m just going to try to do my job when I’m on the field,” Alford said. “That’s the mindset I got, you know, even if it’s limited reps or a lot of reps. I’m still going to try to be me.”
Inside Linebackers
Although veterans Rashaan Evans and Mykal Walker have locked in as the inside linebackers when healthy, Troy Andersen has been a key contributor to this position group and could see more significant reps moving forward. Andersen currently has 274 total snap counts this season, with the fifth most tackles on defense so far this season. To see also : Pike County Basketball Cheerleaders 2022-2023 | Sports | newswatchman.com. He is quick and agile and can be active in coverage and defense of the run if he makes the right reads, takes the right angles and tackles well.
Edge Rushers
Pees said on Dec. 1 that rookies Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone have made strides in the fact that “they’re playing faster because they understand more. On the same subject : Friday update: “Great opportunity…”.”
Ebiketie has been a force on the edge, sitting in the top 10 for beginners. He currently has 432 snap counts and could potentially see more reps in these final four games. Malone is another player who may have an expanded role late in the season behind either second-year edge rusher Ade Ogundeji or veteran Lorenzo Carter.
“The longer you’re around, the more you understand, the faster you get to play,” Pees said. “When you sit there and think all the time because you’re not really sure, you usually don’t play too fast. I think they progress very well for rookies.”
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons running back B.J. Baylor #36 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Mykal Walker #3 catches a ball during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Jay Bendlin/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Ford #28 walks across the field during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Jay Bendlin/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Frank Darby #88 laughs during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Jay Bendlin/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Josh Ali #80 jogs during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Jay Bendlin/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Nathan Landman #55 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Josh Ali #80 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons coach Dean Pees during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Nathan Landman #55 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
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