Falcons focus on offense, leaving defense with questions

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — While the Atlanta Falcons worked hard this offseason to improve their offense, the defense faced plenty of questions.

The Falcons’ most significant additions on that side of the ball may not be the wearing of pads. Atlanta hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as its new head coach, and Morris brought in Jimmy Lake from LA to be his defensive coordinator.

Morris has been a respected NFL defensive coach for more than 20 years and has won two Super Bowls as an assistant, one in Los Angeles and another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also has experience in Atlanta — he was on the staff from 2016-2020 and became interim head coach this past season.

The Falcons may not have Aaron Donald on their defensive line, but defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, cornerback AJ Terrell and safety Jessie Bates III are all top-tier players. Beyond them? Morris and Lake are going to have to coach them.

Improving the team’s front seven players was a major priority in the draft. Atlanta added four starting defensive linemen or edge rushers and a linebacker. Will that be enough to lift a defense that was average in 2023 and hasn’t had a player with double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley in 2016? Time will tell.

Here’s a look at where the defensive lineup stands after minicamp, and whether each position group is the same, better, or worse.

Defensive line

Ghosts:Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, Zach Harrison, Kentavius ​​Street, Ta’Quon Graham, LaCale London

Losses:Calais Campbell, Albert Huggins, Timmy Horne, Joe Gaziano, Travis Bell, Eli Ankou

Additions: Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Eddie Goldman, Zion Logue, Prince Emili, James Smith-Williams, Kehinde Oginni Hassan, Tommy Togiai, Demone Harris

Better, worse or the same? Worse

Much of the strength of this new group rests on the health of Jarrett, whose 2023 season ended in October with a torn right ACL. Jarrett hopes to be ready for training camp. He and Onyemata, who didn’t practice much this spring, are both in their 30s. But they’re still the keys to this line, especially with the loss of Campbell, who tied for the Falcons’ lead in sacks last season (6.5).

Atlanta will need depth, versatility and pass-rushing ability from second-rounder Orhorhoro and fourth-rounder Dorlus, who many considered a steal at this point. Goldman, a six-year veteran, was an intriguing addition because of his size (6-foot-4, 300 pounds), but he hasn’t played since 2021, retiring at some point. The Falcons were 20th in the league in rushing yards allowed (2,009) last season.

Inside linebacker

Ghosts:Kaden Elliss, Nate Landman, Troy Andersen, Milo Eifler

Losses: André Smith, Tae Davis

Additions:JD Bertrand, Donavan Mutin

Better, worse or the same? Better

Elliss started all 17 games last season and had four sacks. Landman (two sacks, one interception) got plenty of playing time after the loss of Andersen, who missed all but the first two games of 2023 with a shoulder injury.

Andersen was a second-round pick in 2022 and played every game as a rookie, totaling 69 tackles. Getting him back and healthy is a key for this group. So is Bertrand, a fifth-round pick this offseason out of Notre Dame. Morris has nicknamed him “Captain America,” and coaches love his leadership and awareness. Bertrand played first-team in the spring.

Outside linebacker

Ghosts:Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, DeAngelo Malone

Losses: Bud Dupree

Additions:Bralen Trice, Bradlee Anae

Better, worse or the same? Worse

Atlanta was 21st in the league in sacks (42) and did not return its two leaders in that category, Campbell and Dupree, who combined for 13 sacks.

Ebiketie had six sacks in 2023, and there’s hope he can break out in his third year in the NFL. Trice, who the Falcons drafted in the third round in April, has been one of the best pass rushers in college football in recent years. He’s known for his motor, and he also played at the University of Washington with Lake, the Falcons’ new DC. Carter had three sacks last season and 11 pressures. He’s expected to contribute.

Cornerback

Ghosts:AJ Terrell, Clark Phillips III, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford

Losses:Three Flowers

Additions:Antonio Hamilton Sr., Anthony Johnson, Kevin King, Natrone Brooks, Harrison Hand, Jayden Price, Trey Vaval

Better, worse or the same? Better

Terrell is a former second-team All-Pro cornerback and a premier player at his position. The rest of this group is still unproven, even though they’ve had another year to get into their groove.

Phillips and Hughes are competing for the No. 2 cornerback spot. Alford is also on that list, and King, Johnson and Hamilton all got plenty of reps during OTAs and minicamp.

Phillips, 22, was a rookie in 2023 and started five games.

It’s possible management will bolster that unit in free agency. For all their flaws in 2023, the Falcons were seventh in the league in passing yards allowed (3,707).

Security

Ghosts:Jessie Bates III, Richie Grant, DeMarcco Hellams, Micah Abernathy

Losses:Jaylinn Hawkins

Additions: Lukas Denis, Tre Tarpley III, Dane Cruikshank

Better, worse or the same? Even

Bates is Atlanta’s best defensive player, having been selected to the Pro Bowl last season and having thrown six interceptions. The rest of the team has only thrown two (Landman and Grant each had one).

That total of eight interceptions is tied for the third-worst total in the NFL.

Grant has started 15 games and allowed a team-high six touchdowns through the air. Hellams, who has shown improvement, should push him to play.