FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Looking at the Falcons' defense from earlier in the season to now, it may seem like a tale of two pash rushes.
Atlanta totaled just 10 sacks in the 11 weeks leading up to the bye week, fewest the league. While the Falcons still have the lowest total this season, their 16 sacks since Week 13 are the second most in the NFL. Even when the sacks weren't coming at the current rate, Atlanta's coaching staff was adamant things were trending in the right direction.
"It's because the work was put in. There were some games where, again, you should look at the stat sheet, and everyone saw all zero sacks, but we affected the quarterback," Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said after Week 15. "We made him throw an interception. We made him get off the spot and throw it out of bounds, and they've got to punt. So, even though we didn't get the direct result on the stat sheet, the work that they were doing was paying off. And now, it is cool. Obviously, the last three weeks, we've got some production, and it's a nice reward for those guys for all the work that they've put in."
There were glimpses that a boon was possible.
Against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, the Falcons sacked the quarterback three times, their highest total to that point. However, that game remained an outlier. That quickly changed after their bye in Week 12. In the first game back, they recorded a season-high five sacks versus the Los Angeles Chargers. They followed that game up with two four-sack performances, and most recently sacked Giants quarterback Drew Lock three times, including a strip-sack that was recovered for a turnover.
So, what changed?
The bye week allows for a greater degree of self-scouting, which has become a weekly necessity in the NFL, and the pass rush evaluation paid off. Lake said Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was "instrumental" in providing insights because of his experience on both sides of the ball. In addition to accruing more than a decade of experience coaching defense, Morris spent four years working with the Falcons' offense from 2016-19.
While Morris and his staff's specific findings were kept close to the vest, they have pointed to improved run defense as one explanation for the increased pass-rush production.
"Our rush defense has been the best its been in the last month. And that's what creates [opportunities for] us to be able to go after the passer," Lake said. "So first-and-10, if we're stuffing the run in; second-and-10, here we go — we can pin our ears back and then all of a sudden we stuff them there."
Since the bye week, Atlanta has allowed just 70.3 rushing yards per game, the second-fewest in the league. They ranked No. 17 in average rushing yards allowed (127.2) before that. Overall, the Falcons have been a stronger defensive team. Take a closer look at the numbers before and after the bye week.
| STAT | PRE BYE WEEK | POST BYE WEEK |
|---|---|---|
| SACKS | 10 | 16 |
| TOTAL YPG ALLOWED | 357.1 | 275.8 |
| RUSHING YPG ALLOWED | 127.2 | 70.3 |
| PASSING YPG ALLOWED | 229.9 | 205.5 |
As much as some lamented over the players and coaches preaching patience, it was true.
"It's the stuff that's coming on that I was kind of talking about while we were building in the process. These are the things people give up on too soon," Morris said. "And I'm like, 'Guys, I'm just telling you, I see it, [but] I have no proof." But now they're putting out the proof on tape."
Outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie is a great example of the rewards patience can provide. The third-year rusher recorded four of his five sacks after the bye week. He's not at all satisfied, though, and said after the Giants game that he still feels like he's leaving some on the table. Outside linebackers coach Jacquies Smith noted that Ebiketie has been generating pressure throughout the season, but now a confident Ebiketie is getting the passer down more consistently.
"A lot of times when you come into a season with a new staff and he's hearing coaching, he's hearing different things that maybe he didn't hear last year," Smith said. "Sometimes it takes some time for it to really get through both of those ears and really understand what we're asking of him, and trying to develop his game and finding the little niches and nuances in the scheme. I think he's done a good job of grasping that, and now the results are starting to show."
Ebiketie and inside linebacker Kaden Elliss lead the team with five sacks apiece. Since Week 13, their four sacks are tied for third in the league, alongside Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro rusher T.J. Watt. Elliss recorded the strip-sack against the New York Giants last week. He's also the team's leading tackler and the queen on the chessboard for Atlanta's versatile defense.
"I'm so proud of Kaden. He's putting the work in. You see him out there. You see him in the film room first and then out here at practice," Lake said. "He's doing a great job of using his hands, knows his run fits – striking blockers, shedding blocks, tackling. His tackling is better than it was from game one to this game. I can't say enough about the progress and the improvement that Kaden has made, and the critical element he is for us in the run defense and our pass rush."
Elliss and Ebiketie aren't the only players who have increased their production. Outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone, who's typically a special teams standout, notched his first-ever multi-sack game in Week 15. Outside linebacker Matt Judon, who only played four games last season due to injury, has recorded two sacks since the bye and also had a pick-six against the Giants, the first touchdown of his NFL career.
While they've been better against notable pocket passers like Sam Darnold and Justin Herbert, the defense will face another big test in Week 17 against Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels is the only quarterback in the league to lead his team in rushing yards. He's No. 2 among quarterbacks with 737 rushing yards. That's second only to the Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, who recently became the league's all-time rushing quarterback.
"It's going to be a chess match all night long on Sunday," Lake said. "It's going to be a tremendous challenge for our defense. We've had an awesome opening week of practice. We've still got a lot of things to clean up, but we're excited for this challenge."
