{"id":53784,"date":"2025-05-16T03:45:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/53784\/"},"modified":"2025-05-16T03:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:45:17","slug":"how-the-falcons-new-pieces-fit-the-defense-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/53784\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Falcons\u2019 new pieces fit the defense this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

ExploreSchedule-makers were impressed enough to give Falcons five prime-time games<\/a><\/p>\n

They also added defensive backs Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in the draft. <\/p>\n

Floyd, a former top 10 draft pick, has hit his stride late in his career. The Falcons are hoping he can lead the charge in the pass rush and have a impact on the younger players.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s the ex-player in me, (but) I think there\u2019s nothing more powerful than just seeing it modeled right in front of you,\u201d Ulbrich said recently. \u201cThere\u2019s something extremely powerful for a young player to be around that. So, having Leonard Floyd here will be huge as far as the development of these young guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Floyd, a former Georgia standout who\u2019ll turn 33 on Sept. 8, has 48 of his 66.5 career sacks over the past five seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn amazing resource, tons of experience,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cObviously, he\u2019s had tons of production. I mean, it\u2019s rare that you get a player like that (who) just has consistently produced as far as pass rush is concerned for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons are also high on the addition of Fox, who has 27.5 sacks in mostly reserve roles with the Rams (2016-20), Panthers (2021) and Chargers (2022-24). <\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2026 players that find great process equals greatness,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a magic formula. It\u2019s real. So, having guys like Morgan and Flo will help those guys\u2019 development tremendously.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons were ecstatic when Walker fell to them with the 15th overall pick. They traded back into the first round to get Pearce, whom they had targeted at the 15th spot. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll both start as edge elements, so they\u2019re going to work as outside linebacker\/edge\/defensive end,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be versatile. We\u2019re going to be multiple, but that\u2019s where they\u2019re going to start.\u201d<\/p>\n

On first and second down, Ulbrich wants Walker to master playing on the edge. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think that there\u2019s something there that\u2019s really special,\u201d he said. \u201cGive him an opportunity just to have one home initially and become as good as he can at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

On third down, Ulbrich has a plan for Walker, too. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can get creative with him, and that\u2019ll be part of his superpower,\u201d Ulbrich said. <\/p>\n

Pearce will be edge only. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll go from there,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

ExploreAll things Atlanta Falcons news<\/a><\/p>\n

Pearce\u2019s combination of height (6-5) and speed (4.47 in the 40-yard dash) made him intriguing for the Falcons. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you looked at the best rushers in this draft, you could have made a case that he was the best one from a pure edge element,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cSo, we had conviction in that. We did a lot of work with him on the field and off the field and felt great about the man that he is and the player that he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulbrich said he couldn\u2019t believe Pearce didn\u2019t get quickly snapped up after they took Walker. The Falcons traded back in at 26th with the Rams to get him. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was pounding the table, and I know our entire staff was,\u201d he said. \u201cI know (general manager) Terry (Fontenot) was on the same page with that. So, it just made too much sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons pass rushing woes have been well-documented: no double-digit sacker since Vic Beasley in 2016 with 15.5 and the perennial spot near the bottom of the league in sacks. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have high hopes,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cI have high hopes for this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watts, who was taken in the third round (96th overall), will get a chance to play early. The Falcons were not expecting him to be available. <\/p>\n

\u201cI had him as a second-round guy,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cI thought he was going to be long gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons were impressed with Watts\u2019 instincts. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe understands defense from a conceptual level, where he knows \u2026 everything that\u2019s going on,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cYou can feel it. You can sense it, even if you don\u2019t know football, you can feel it because he\u2019s got anticipatory stuff that is elite.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watts finished his career tied for third in Notre Dame history with 13 career interceptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cA really cool player, and a very similar player I would have said to when I evaluated Jessie (Bates III) coming out, guys that play the neck up elitely,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cHe\u2019s an exciting one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bowman is going to have a shot to earn the nickel back position. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I think that\u2019s a little bit more conducive to his skill set, a little bit shorter limbs, a little bit smaller stature,\u201d Ulbrich said.<\/p>\n

Bowman measured at just under 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds at the scouting combine. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think nickels, they need short-space quickness; they need the ability to match guys in the slot,\u201d Ulbrich said. \u201cObviously, they\u2019re going against typically the quickest receiver, so he matches that profile perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons signed 11 players after the draft. Former Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant was a three-time first-team All-Big 12 player. He had 13 career interceptions.<\/p>\n

Coach Raheem Morris was with the Falcons when Brian Poole made the team as a rookie nickel back and ended up starting in Super Bowl 51. <\/p>\n

\u201cA crazy stat is that 11% of the starters in the National Football League are undrafted free agents,\u201d Morris said. \u201cSo, I thought that was a pretty cool stat to give those guys (before the rookie minicamp started), to let those guys know that everybody\u2019s got a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

ExplorePHOTOS: Falcons rookies take part in rookie minicamp<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the Falcons\u2019 depth chart look like heading in to the OTAs: <\/p>\n

OFFENSE<\/p>\n

QB: Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins, Easton Stick, Emory Jones<\/p>\n

RB: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Jase McClellan, Carlos Washington Jr., Nathan Carter, Elijah Dotson<\/p>\n

WR: Drake London, Chris Blair, Jesse Matthews, Quincy Skinner Jr., Makai Polk <\/p>\n

WR: Darnell Mooney, Casey Washington, David Sills V, Nick Nash, Dylan Drummond<\/p>\n

SWR: Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge, Jamal Agnew<\/p>\n

TE: Kyle Pitts Sr., Feleipe Franks, Teagan Quitoriano, Joshua Simon<\/p>\n

TE: Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, Nikola Kalinic<\/p>\n

LT: Jake Matthews, Brandon Parker, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Jordan Williams, Joshua Gray <\/p>\n

LG: Matthew Bergeron, Elijah Wilkinson<\/p>\n

C: Ryan Neuzil, Jovaugh Gwyn <\/p>\n

RG: Chris Lindstrom, Kyle Hinton, Matthew Cindric<\/p>\n

RT: Kaleb McGary, Storm Norton, Jack Neolson, Joey Fisher, Kilian Zierer <\/p>\n

DEFENSE (4-2-5 Nickel) <\/p>\n

DE: Leonard Floyd, James Pearce Jr., DeAngelo Malone, <\/p>\n

DT: Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Ta\u2019Quon Graham, Simeon Barrow Jr. <\/p>\n

DT: David Onyemata, Morgan Fox, Kentavious Street, LaCale London, Khalid Kareem<\/p>\n

DE: Jalon Walker, Arnold Ebiketie, Bralen Trice, Zach Harrison<\/p>\n

ILB: Kaden Elliss, JD Bertrand, Josh Woods, Caleb Johnson <\/p>\n

ILB: Divine Deablo, Troy Andersen, Malik Verdon, Nick Kubitz<\/p>\n

LCB: A.J. Terrell, Kevin King, Natrone Brooks, Dontae Manning<\/p>\n

RCB: Mike Hughes, Cobee Bryant, Lamar Jackson, Keith Taylor <\/p>\n

NCB: Billy Bowman Jr., Clark Phillips III, Dee Alford<\/p>\n

SS: Jordan Fuller, Xavier Watts, Benny Sapp III<\/p>\n

FS: Jessie Bates III, DeMarcco Hellams<\/p>\n

Special teams<\/p>\n

K: Younghoe Koo, Lenny Kreig<\/p>\n

P: Bradley Pinion<\/p>\n

LS: Liam McCullough<\/p>\n

KR: Jamal Agnew, Ray-Ray McCloud<\/p>\n

PR: Jamal Agnew, Mike Hughes<\/p>\n

AJC staff writer Gabriel Burns contributed to this story. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ExploreSchedule-makers were impressed enough to give Falcons five prime-time games They also added defensive backs Xavier Watts and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53785,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2074],"tags":[2566,223,254,2554,224,7,6,3243],"class_list":{"0":"post-53784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-atlanta-falcons","8":"tag-ajc-freelancer","9":"tag-atlanta","10":"tag-atlanta-falcons","11":"tag-atlantafalcons","12":"tag-falcons","13":"tag-football","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-rookie-minicamp"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114515458575244440","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}