The last time the Falcons were considered to have a respectable pass rush was in 2017. They finished 13th in the league in sacks with 39. With a coalescence of rising young talent and stout veterans, it was a group built to compete in the trenches against the best. Grady Jarrett, Vic Beasley, and Takk McKinley provided the juice to produce drive-ending stops. Dontari Poe, Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Derrick Shelby, Ahtyba Rubin, and Courtney Upshaw solidified the rotation with power and discipline
to knock offensive lines backwards. It was a fascinating group that helped lift the offense up during setbacks to get the Falcons back into the playoffs.
They haven’t come close to having that amount of talent on the defensive line since, which is one of the primary reasons why they haven’t made the playoffs since. Raheem Morris was on that staff as a wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He knows how crucial it is to be well-equipped on the defensive line. He witnessed what can happen when you aren’t between the end of the Dan Quinn-Thomas Dimitroff era and last season, where the defensive line had eight players who were 28 years old or older.
A sluggish front with declining players is a recipe for disaster. It cost the Falcons last season, leading to an offseason where a total revamp was required. Led by the returning Jeff Ulbrich, a full commitment was needed to acquire pass rushers and develop young talent. They couldn’t rely on one established edge rusher or attempt to see if some mid-round pick can emerge to be the focal point.
It was time to do everything possible for quarterbacks to feel uneasy standing in the pocket when facing Atlanta. While the approach was costly, the Falcons have hit the 50-sack total for only the second time in franchise history. Here is how they accomplished such a massive feat, which felt impossible to attain for years.
It starts with coaching
The defensive coaching staff has implemented an aggressive philosophy to elevate young players, while devising overwhelming blitz designs and using simulated pressures. There is a clear plan to develop each player and maximize their respective skill sets. It must be acknowledged how influential some of the game plans have been in certain games in bringing out the best in a group without a true dominant pass-rushing force yet. Whether it’s never allowing Josh Allen to get comfortable or forcing Drake Maye to panic in the pocket, the Falcons have rattled some of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Unleashing Kaden Elliss with a more concerted plan has given them a greater platform to create mismatches and have opposing signal callers guessing. While Elliss shone as a blitzer last year, it mostly came from blitzing through the A or B gap. Ulbrich has moved him around the line of scrimmage on twists to cause chaos with different edge rushers or interior tackles.
Elliss is an incredibly savvy player with a high football IQ. Inserting ways for him to be consistently involved in the pass-rushing plan has been an integral part of their success. From using Divine Deablo and Dee Alford, or Billy Bowman Jr., as blitzers through the B-gap, to moving around James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker in various ways, Ulbrich has been masterful in navigating how he wants to attack offensive lines with smart, physical players beyond relying on a standard four-man rush.
The terrific defensive coaching goes beyond schematic improvements. Defensive line coach Nate Ollie has made his mark. His influence speaks volumes when Khalid Kareem comes off the practice squad to play only his second game this season, generating multiple pressures against Arizona, including one that allowed Arnold Ebiketie to earn the clean-up sack. Brandon Dorlus recently spoke about the importance of working together collectively to have the second-most sacks in the league.
The coaching staff has instilled a strong belief within the group up front that they can impose their will by being unified and attack-minded. It has translated into being six sacks away from surpassing the single-season franchise sack record set in 1997.
Edge rushing investments
No matter how well-constructed your scheme is, an effective pass rush requires capable edge rushers who possess the power and explosiveness to generate pressure. You need them to be able to convert speed to power. The ability to win with a blistering get-off, violent hand usage, and bend around the edge is essential. The knack of chasing down quarterbacks with a relentless motor is invaluable. For the Falcons to have formed a group of Pearce Jr., Walker, Ebiketie, and Leonard Floyd has been pivotal in their growth as a unit.
Although Walker and Floyd have endured injuries this season, they have still managed to make their mark in numerous games, collectively challenging opposing offensive lines. The way they set the tone in a hostile environment against Minnesota laid out what they are capable of. Regardless of what the Vikings have become, it was early in the season when they commanded enormous respect for what they accomplished in 2024 thanks to one of the best coaches in the league. A six-sack demolition in primetime led to terrific performances against Buffalo, New England, and Indianapolis, where they flustered three prolific offenses with the edge rushers posing problems in a plethora of ways.
Pearce Jr.’s ascendance in the second half of the season has been eye-opening, mostly with how he’s winning individual matchups with a pure bull rush, clever hand usage, and swift moves. Per TruMedia, he ranks 19th in pressure rate among players with more than 200 pass-rushing snaps. Although Walker hasn’t been quite as impactful in recent weeks, he was at the forefront of their success in the high-profile matchups against AFC opposition. Between his rapid movement off the edge and his versatility lining up around the line of scrimmage, there are many ways he can impact games.
What Floyd and Ebiketie have done to complement them has been invaluable in not forcing the rookies to play 35-40 snaps a game from the start. The Falcons didn’t have many options off the edge for countless seasons over the past decade. What they did this season has been massive in not only maintaining a strong dosage of pass-rushing options but, also, allowing their two rookie edge rushers to develop gradually without being overly relied upon.
Interior growth
Although the success hasn’t quite materailized how the coaching staff envisioned it, the interior rotation has generated its share of pressure to produce moments of destruction. David Onyemata’s influence can’t be discounted following a down year. His resurgence in overwhelming guards and being more than willing to dish out punishment on stunts to free up space for whoever lines up alongside him has been noteworthy. Every productive defensive line needs at least one veteran presence. For the Falcons to have Onyemata and Floyd gives them the experience to run a wide variety of pressure concepts with younger players with precision.
One of those younger players has been Dorlus, who currently leads the NFC in sacks for an interior defensive lineman. What he has done to convert a productive preseason into sustainable success is hugely impressive. When watching him battle in the trenches, it doesn’t take long to recognize his tremendous work ethic. How he gains leverage with his pad level, uses his hands effectively, and never gives up on plays has elevated him toward being a key player within the group. Despite injuries derailing his season, Zach Harrison deserves praise for finding his niche as an interior rusher while still being capable as an edge defender. If he can stay healthy, there is no telling what he can become with his long arms and impressive technique.
Why the coaching staff won’t feel completely satisfied is Ruke Orhorhoro’s lack of progression. Considering the organization traded up to select him in the second round last year, there hasn’t much to suggest the move was worth it. Orhorhoro hasn’t won enough pure matchups consistently on passing downs. Given the lack of a true nose tackle on the roster who can take on double teams, Orhorhoro was bound to struggle handling that responsibility. For him not to offer much as a pass rusher, outside of being effective on stunts, is concerning.
Not every player will make strides or maintain a certain high level of play on the defensive line. There is still hope for Orhorhoro in a slightly reduced role or playing alongside someone bigger than Onyemata to lessen the amount of double teams he has taken on this season. Regardless of what happens with his development, the rise of Dorlus and Harrison to pair with Pearce Jr. and Walker creates an exciting future ahead for the defensive front.
