{"id":87789,"date":"2025-05-29T11:05:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T11:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/87789\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T11:05:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T11:05:09","slug":"the-falcons-are-banking-on-youth-to-fix-their-defense-but-will-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/87789\/","title":{"rendered":"The Falcons are banking on youth to fix their defense, but will it work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite needing immediate upgrades, the Falcons made only modest free-agent additions. And after spending four of five draft picks on defense, they\u2019re in the development game. If new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is going to orchestrate a turnaround, it will be because he and his staff proved good teachers.<\/p>\n

ExploreForget about the Falcons roster. Raheem Morris needs to be a better coach.<\/a><\/p>\n

What a treat for Ulbrich and defensive-minded coach Raheem Morris in his second season. They should view this as a privilege. They\u2019re tasked with overseeing a largely homegrown unit that can help guide the Falcons out of this defensive malaise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the biggest part of our game (player development),\u201d Morris said. \u201cFree agents are expensive. You get the chance to go out there and draft guys. You get to watch them go play and be exciting. You watch your own, raised at home. That is truly exciting for us. I\u2019m so excited about the last two (draft) classes and what that can look like, everybody getting their opportunity to play this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Falcons drafted defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (second round), edge rusher Bralen Trice (third round), defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus (fourth round) and linebacker JD Bertrand (fifth round) to assist their defense. All players contributed in a limited capacity except Trice, who tore his ACL in the exhibition opener (he\u2019s expected to be ready for training camp). The team needs more from this group moving forward.<\/p>\n

This spring, the Falcons added edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., who instantly assumed the pressure of fixing a moribund pass rush. The team also drafted defensive backs Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., adding a couple of big-school, experienced defenders to the back end. The Falcons need a couple of home runs here.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s face it: We have some young guys who are going to have to make some impactful plays for us this year,\u201d All-Pro safety Jessie Bates said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

ExploreJamal Agnew brings strong mentality, leadership to Falcons<\/a><\/p>\n

Ages of some notable Falcons defenders (*denotes drafted by team):<\/p>\n

DL- David Onyemata (32), Morgan Fox (30), Ta\u2019Quon Graham* (26), Brandon Dorlus* (24), Zach Harrison* (23), Ruke Orhorhoro* (23).<\/p>\n

Edge- Jalon Walker* (21), Leonard Floyd (32), James Pearce Jr.* (21), Arnold Ebiketie* (26), DeAngelo Malone* (25).<\/p>\n

ILB- Kaden Ellis (29), JD Bertrand* (25), Troy Andersen* (26), Divine Deablo (26).<\/p>\n

CB- A.J. Terrell Jr.* (26), Mike Hughes (28), Clark Phillips III* (23), Dee Alford (27), Billy Bowman Jr.* (22), Cobee Bryant (23; the bet here is the undrafted rookie, whom the Falcons have lauded, makes the team).<\/p>\n

S- Jessie Bates (28), Xavier Watts* (23), Jordan Fuller (27), DeMarcco Hellams* (24).<\/p>\n

The depth chart includes three prominent players aged 30 or above. Beyond that, some of these individuals have very little experience, like Dorlus, Orhorhoro and Phillips, and some have none at all, such as Walker, Pearce and Watts.<\/p>\n

This shifts the spotlight to the coaches, who must prepare the youngsters not only to contribute but to do so at a level that\u2019ll help the team qualify for the playoffs. If the Falcons are left on the outside again, the prevailing thought is there will be more changes. The franchise\u2019s stability hinges on its draftees.<\/p>\n

ExploreFalcons\u2019 Michael Penix Jr. finding his voice ahead of second NFL season<\/a><\/p>\n

But the responsibilities here aren\u2019t just on the coaching staff, as Bates notes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust getting those guys in here, making them feel comfortable,\u201d Bates said of his leadership role as a veteran. \u201cMaking them feel comfortable in the scheme and just let them know that you\u2019re in your dream. You just started your dream. But there\u2019s a whole lot more that you can do in this league. You didn\u2019t just get here to get drafted and play one year. You want to have a long career. Just teaching those guys the daily habits. Not just talking about it but being an example for these guys every single day. You do little stuff every day, the type of stuff that adds up. Next thing you know, you\u2019ll be on year eight like me. Good things will happen for you and your family. So just talking to those guys about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bates continued elaborating, explaining that players like him, Floyd and even the more experienced offensive players must set examples.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where you have to have your leaders, some solid leaders who these young guys can see,\u201d he said. \u201cSee what it looks like. What is the right way to go about your days? Sometimes it\u2019s good to have some young bucks that have no clue out there, they just know how to go fast.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith those two guys off the edge, Jalon and James, I think we\u2019ll be excited to watch those guys. Just watching them in their individual work, 1-2 step get off the ball, it\u2019s been pretty impressive. There\u2019s going to be some learning things as well as they get through the season, but that\u2019s where you have leaders and guys who have to step up. The older guys who\u2019ve been there before need to show them what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons will see if youth does indeed provide innovation \u2014 the innovation being a quality defense. Around these parts, such would be considered transformative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite needing immediate upgrades, the Falcons made only modest free-agent additions. And after spending four of five draft…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":87790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2074],"tags":[2566,223,254,2554,224,7,6,11903],"class_list":{"0":"post-87789","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-ota"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114590798619945420","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87789","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=87789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}