John J. on X/Twitter
Tori, what’s going on with Troy Andersen? With Deablo out we could really use him, and I don’t know if JD Bertrand can cut it.
I understand your concern. I do. Especially given how the game transpired against the 49ers. Not having Deablo was a blow to the defense. And they will be without him for some time now as Raheem Morris said he fractured his forearm and is considered “week-to-week.” Depending on the severity of the fracture, we could be talking a few weeks and a potential return after the trip to Germany. But that is just speculation on my part as a person who one time broke her wrist in middle school. So, take that with a grain of salt.
Deablo’s shoes are tough to fill, and you are correct in your inquiry that based on athletic talent and speed along, Andersen would be the natural next man up. However, Andersen is not available. Asked specifically about a return from PUP, Morris said just this week that there was no news to report about a potential elevation.
So, you’re going to have to continue to rely on others on the roster. Though Bertrand took the bulk of the reps on Sunday night, I don’t put it outside the realm of possibility that missing Deablo means uptick in opportunities for others like Josh Woods, DeAngelo Malone and even DeMarcco Hellams.
Woods played well in the preseason. He isn’t as fast or as long as Deablo, but he’s a thumper and plays hard. Jeff Ulbrich said really good things about Woods when we sat down with him for the Heart, Mind, Fist feature last month. Ulbrich said Woods is all heart. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Falcons give him a nod. Then, there’s Malone, who’s been cross training at both inside and outside linebacker this season. We actually saw Malone in at the end of the Bills game, nothing an interception that put the game on ice. Depending on how reliable they feel Malone is as a true inside linebacker, he’s an option that matches Deablo’s length. You just would lose some cover ability if I had to guess.
Then, there’s Hellams, who could even drop down closer to the line of scrimmage if necessary, particularly if you need more help covering a tight end over the middle. The Falcons could easily put together a three-safety set that has Hellams mimicking what Deablo could do in coverage.
All of this to say, that yes, it stings not having Deablo, but the Falcons are not without options for how to adjust until he returns. In fact, there are quite a few options beyond Bertrand and Andersen.