How Atlanta Falcons LB Troy Andersen recovered after heartbreaking injury

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After every Atlanta Falcons home game during the 2023 season, second-year linebackers Troy Andersen and Nate Landman walked back to their apartment together.

The trap ? Landman was living the life Andersen hoped he would be.

Andersen, a 2022 second-round pick, entered last year as the starting linebacker alongside Kaden Elliss while Landman served as a backup. This was supposed to be a breakthrough season for Andersen. Instead, his campaign was cut short after suffering a torn pectoral late in Week 3.

Landman took the opportunity and ran, finishing in the top 10 in Pro Bowl voting among linebackers after recording 110 tackles and seven tackles for loss.

Andersen, conversely, watched from the sidelines. He spoke glowingly about Landman, calling the 2022 undrafted free agent a tremendous player who is an old-school fighter at the position.

And while Andersen learned from watching Landman, the overall experience of having his season ripped away from him is one he hopes he doesn’t experience again.

“Well, first of all, it sucks,” Andersen said after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “Nobody likes to be injured. You just try to stay mentally engaged as best you can. Work on your body. You have a lot of time on your hands. Work on little things that you’re trying to get better at.

“Stay engaged in meetings, watch games. Just act like you’re playing even if you’re not.”

Andersen and Landman watched film together during the season. They talked about the matches that had just been played and those to come. Now they’re two members of a linebacker team that Andersen thinks could be special this fall.

First-year Falcons head coach Raheem Morris agrees with Andersen. Morris said he was particularly impressed with the room’s communication, singling out Elliss and Landman.

But Andersen is starting to become more confident in this role. His voice is getting stronger, Morris said, and he is starting to see and feel Andersen’s vocal presence during OTAs.

“I have to say right away that the warnings are clearer,” Morris said. “There’s more clarity in what we’re doing. There’s more clarity in what he’s saying to his front and that has to come from Barrett Ruud, his linebackers coach, and what we teach in the room .”

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Andersen believes increasing his voice is a necessity for the linebacker; That’s part of the territory of the job, he said, and being comfortable with your voice is paramount to establishing a defensive front and making adjustments.

The Falcons have only had five OTA sessions, but Andersen is already looking forward to training camp — he’s used to hitting people. For now, he is overcoming his aggression and getting back to playing football after a long absence from the field last fall.

And while he may not be able to show off his full range of skills due to the nature of the sessions, the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Andersen distinguished himself from Morris early on – in a big way. partly because of his athletic qualities, highlighted best. by his 4.42 40-yard dash time.

“Fast,” Morris said. “Troy is extremely fast. He’s fast. He has great quickness in short spaces. And right now we can’t tackle, but you love the approach. And you love all the things he goes through in his head, the intention of the ball, his level of communication.”

Morris noted Andersen’s intentionality in improving a phrase the Falcons describe as shot awareness, which involves keeping the ball in the shot, tackling on the right side and using the right shoulder.

This is the next step in the development of Andersen, 25, who is still relatively new at linebacker after spending the first part of his college career as a quarterback and running back at Montana State . He only started playing linebacker at the collegiate level in 2019, and 2021 was his first year full-time.

As such, Andersen faced a steep learning curve entering the league. He spent much of his rookie year on special teams, playing 61 percent of Atlanta’s third-down snaps compared to just 43 percent on defense.

Whether it’s communication, shooting, or understanding concepts, Andersen has come a long way in two years – and he believes he still has a lot of information left to absorb.

“You’re always learning,” Andersen said. “I’m still learning every day. It’s crazy going into year three. You understand what offenses are trying to do – you understand your job and your plan. It’s important to always try to pick things up and s ‘improve in this match.’

The coaches directly tasked with overseeing Andersen’s growth are new. Morris, Ruud and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake were each hired this spring, adding new schematic twists to the product Andersen grew accustomed to last season.

But Andersen said Morris and his team have been great so far, citing a strong culture that is characterized by a friendly environment, hard work and continued support. Andersen also likes the weight room, nutrition and training room assistants hired by Morris.

Andersen noted that he feels good – back to normal, if not better – and has enjoyed his return to the field. He has been fully cleared to participate in OTAs and has no limitations at this time.

At this point in the offseason program, Morris said the Falcons are focused on attention to detail and communication. Learning Lake’s 3-4 base defense is another strong point, which Andersen particularly likes.

“I think it’s really exciting,” Andersen said. “You can see it on the field: everyone wants to play fast, play free, be physical. Communication is happening. Once we get the pads on, I think it’s going to be fun and I can’t wait to see it all come together.

Andersen is in a different situation now than he was a year ago, surrounded by new coaches and facing a battle for snaps with Landman.

Yet the more things change, the more they stay the same. Andersen remains capable of having a breakthrough campaign, and regardless of how the Falcons split at linebacker, he figures to receive a consistent dose.

Morris believes Andersen has capitalized on his time off, improving his preparation and process off the field. These habits translate regardless of the system, Morris said.

Suddenly, the once bright-eyed Andersen stepped into a leadership role in the heart of Atlanta’s defense. He only played in 19 games and made just seven starts, but there’s more to his story than what the numbers indicate.

And Morris believes Andersen is poised to write a more positive chapter in 2024, sparked by a new perspective aided by perhaps the biggest setback he has faced in his young career.

“He doesn’t seem like a younger player to me,” Morris said. “He feels like a veteran. He feels like a guy who knows exactly how he wants to do his job. And he knows his process. He teaches that process to other people. And it’s fun to watch.”

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