FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Once the shock factor wears off, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake's method of coaching makes sense.
In the lead-up to the Falcons' Week 11 game against the Denver Broncos, Lake played clips from different professional fights for the defense. Each held a different message.
For example, Lake had the unit watch Jorge Masvidal's 2019 fight against Ben Askren. Masvidal knocked Askren out five seconds, the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Another selection from Lake: Diego Corrales' 2005 victory against Jose Luis Castillo. Corrales was knocked down twice but pulled through in the 10th round to win on a technical knockout.
"What I'm showing, obviously, is starting fast and bringing the aggression," Lake said. "But there's also the resiliency factor."
That's how he wants the Falcons' defense to attack its opponents moving forward.
It's not how the Falcons' defense performed in last Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons prevented the Saints from scoring on their first offensive drive but allowed them to take more than six minutes off the clock. Then, the Saints compiled three consecutive scoring drives in the first half, giving them 17 of their 20 overall points.
In the second half, the Falcons stepped up, forcing five three-and-outs and giving up just that final field goal. The damage, however, was already done.
"It's natural for you to walk into a game like, 'All right, let's feel these first couple plays out,'" Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said. "But we can't have that mindset anymore. It's Week 11. Stuff isn't changing. Defensive calls aren't changing too much. We just got to line up and execute at a high level."
That is the mentality Lake hopes to instill by showing exactly what attacking in the arena looks like. Acting without hesitation means fully understanding what is required at any given moment. Where does that start?
"In the preparation," Falcons outside linebacker Matthew Judon said. "You can start fast and play fast when you know what you're doing. So, we have to know exactly where everybody is, what we're doing, and then what's our execution, communication, and how we get in and out of checks."
All game long, too.
Because while the outcome of Masvidal-Askren was decided in seconds, the Corrales-Castillo outcome took its time. And yet, both are iconic fights. Both offer lessons the Falcons could and should learn.
"It's just a way to relate to the players and show them something," Lake said. "No different than maybe your history teacher or your favorite teacher in high school. He had this awesome presentation, and you might still remember it to this day. That's really what we are. We're football teachers."
