Responsibility isn’t entirely on the staff, however. The players also own a large share of accountability for their own education.
Ulbrich makes sure each film cut-up his unit watches is tagged with a voice-over that provides a mini lesson and additional context a defender might need. This turns defensive meetings from lectures to conversations, where players are actively engaged and bringing questions to the coaching staff. The buy-in begins before the meeting starts.
“I think the teaching is a little bit different with Brich,” Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said of his defensive coordinator.” And just his presence, man. That’s one thing I’ve been really impressed with, is the person that he is and the way that he’s explaining our style of play.”
The enhanced communication during meetings serves to reinforce the trust between players and coaches, which is then cemented on the practice field. A more refined playbook allows for more time spent practicing each page. Through this constant repetition, mastery is gained.
It’s this process that unburdens a player’s mind.
“Ultimately, the goal is unconscious competence — where we are just reacting and playing — because the best defenses do that,” Ulbrich said. “The only way I can get there is if I can put these guys on repeat and not give them too much. … They know it; it’s in their DNA. They just do it, and they just react, and they play at a high level.”
Ulbrich’s process for instruction is aimed at creating muscle memory so deep that the brain is unable to interfere. Free from the mental taxation of thinking through each call and subsequent responsibility, a player’s natural instincts become louder.
Like an actor who knows her lines so well she can be fully immersed in the emotional authenticity of the scene as it unfolds, so too should a player have such a command of his assignments.
“When you’re able to go up there and we’re all watching the same tape and making sure that we see the same things and we’re making the same calls, I think that kind of breeds confidence,” Bates said. “And usually communication breeds confidence. It makes you feel comfortable.”
Early in training camp, one Falcons defender stood out to Ulbrich in this way. Fresh off a true breakout season, Kaden Elliss’ presence on the field caught the attention of his new defensive coordinator. He knew about the linebacker’s versatility, which would be key in his multiple approach, but Elliss’ processing speed was a pleasant surprise.
“You’re very careful about the level of detail and the amount of nuance that you give someone because, at times, it slows players down,” Ulbrich said. “And I would say it slows more players down than it doesn’t. He is the exact opposite. I think the more information you give him, the better he gets.
“We had this little coaching point about striking a match on this motion that we were doing today and mid play, he’s screaming out the coaching point. He has this amazing ability to apply the information in real time.”
Each player’s instincts add a new flavor to the defense. While some coaches prefer to pull all of the strings on game day, others lean into their group’s unique abilities and help blend that into their approach.