Things To Look For In Training Camp: Defense Edition

As I said before I had plans of riding to The Branch to see what I could see but as time to depart got closer and closer the skies got darker and darker and well I didn't make it out the front door. Although no rain fell in my area (shout out to the misleading GA weather and weather reports) the trip was cancelled, but I am going to try and be at the Atlanta Falcons KIA Motors Friday Night Lights team scrimmage at Peachtree Ridge High School at the end of the week (again weather permitting). Monday, we talked about the offense, which didn't have much turnover from last year other than the lost loss of some role players and the gain of a new coordinator, today we are going to get in some defense.

For the first time in what seems like forever the Falcons have a defense that I believe will play on a consistent level and not shrink down to play at the level of the competition. In recent years I have felt like the defense has left some plays out there and left many of us scratching our heads from the sofa. Not this year from the rumblings around the team this defense is much more aggressive than it’s ever been since Mike Smith took over in 2008. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder left the team to return to the college ranks as defensive coordinator at Auburn, although I'm sure he would have been let go after his defense failed to pressure the quarterback, and get off the field on third downs last season.

There is an old saying that defense wins championships and with the Falcons looking to be healthy at almost every position and bringing in Mike Nolan to break into the gold mine of talent that the team has. If the Falcons can put together a solid year on defense and stay healthy then the sky is the limit for the unit. Unlike the offense, the defense has had some huge changes, the loss of LB Curtis Lofton via free agency is one many would say is a huge hit, I disagree. Don't get me wrong, I see why it could be a problem but I'm not ready to throw in the towel on the linebacker unit. That’s just one of the few things we will be looking at in this edition of Views From The Nest.

• Middle Linebacker
• Cornerback Trio
• Pass Rush
• Leadership
• New Defense

Middle Linebacker

If you didn't know, Curtis Lofton left the Falcons via free agency to join The New Orleans Saints.... DO NOT adjust your screen, you did read that correctly. Leaving what many believe to be a huge whole in what was considered the team’s defensive strength last year. As you read earlier I don't think losing Lofton will spell disaster for the defense. This is mainly because the Falcons have been planning for this departure since last year, hints drafting Akeem Dent out of UGA in the third round of the 2011 draft. Last year Dent played special teams and led the unit in tackles and if you see him play at Georgia you would know that this young man is a thumper!  Atlanta brought in former Pro Bowler Lofa Tatupu to "compete" for the starting job but im under the impression that it was just so they didn't have to out right hand the job over. Since being signed before free agency, Lofa has been released due to injury and replaced by fan favorite Mike Peterson! Peterson, or Unc (nickname given to the 14 year vet by his teammates) was brought in a couple of years ago and helped developed Sean Weatherspoon and now he is charged with the responsibility to help groom Dent into the Middle linebacker I expect him to become. However with a little coaching up the former bulldog will be much better than his predecessor. 

Cornerback Trio 

As I said earlier the defense has experienced some huge changes, and I said I didn't consider losing Curtis as one of them. However the changes to the cornerback position are one that has many fans excited. Brent Grimes was tagged as the franchise player, Dunta Robinson restructured his deal and just before the 2012 NFL draft Thomas Dimitroff sent essentially a bag of Lay's and half bottle of Diet Coke to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Asante Samuel giving Atlanta the best trio of corners in the league. Moving Robinson into the nickel, one of the Falcons biggest weaknesses a year ago, and having Samuel and Grimes man the outside should give opposing quarterbacks fits and giving the pass rush that extra second to get some pressure. In a league like this one you need good corners that aren't afraid to make the play, that's exactly what Atlanta got when they got Asante, and he isn't shy about letting you know about it either. Quickly becoming the “Mouth of the South", in practice and with the media, he is bringing a level competition and swag that the secondary has lacked for a long time. In a video I watched on YouTube the corner known as Deuce Deuce told reporters, "We ain’t taking no sh*t" judging from that, he means business.

Pass Rush 

Long story short. Can we get one? Last year the Falcons, outside of John Abraham, didn't know what it meant to get to the quarterback and bring him down. The team managed just 26 sacks with 9.5 coming from Abraham the team didn't do so well. Signing Ray Edwards after the lockout had fans thinking, FINALLY we have someone to put on the other side who can do some damage however none of use realized he had just come off a knee surgery just weeks before the team was set to begin camp. While he was ok against the run he only managed 3.5 sacks, which isn't what you expect from the self-proclaimed missing link. With Edwards looking to be healthy again, the new pieces in the secondary and rotational players like Kroy Biermann, Lawrence Sidbury Cliff Matthews and 2012 draft pick Jonathan Massaquoi out of Troy; I am hoping that we can finally generate enough push to force quarterback either to the turf or to throw a pass to the wrong team.

Leadership 

Yes, leadership. Going into year five the Falcons are considered a veteran team, but the majority of the guys on this team fifth and fourth year guys who have experienced a lot of success and a lot of wins but have never experienced any playoff success. So what do the Falcons do? Bring in Mike Nolan with 31 years of coaching of coaching experience and we weren’t stopping there. Also they add Asante Samuel (10 years) and Chris Hope (11 years) to put some toughness into our young secondary and, brought back Unc to show our young middle linebacker the ropes. Players that have been to where this team is trying to go and have done what we are trying to accomplish. Win when it matters and hold up that Lombardi come February. That’s 52 years of experience (not counting Peterson because he was here last year) added this off season on just the defensive side of the ball alone, so look out when you see the Falcons fielding a smarter more knowledgeable unite than it has in years past. 

New Defense 

As I said before, defense wins championships and the Atlanta Falcons are looking to build a contender. By replacing Brian VanGorder with Mike Nolan, Mike Smith expects the defense to be more aggressive and less likely to give up huge plays on third down. A defense is supposed to confuse an offense and since Nolan had played 4-3 and 3-4 schemes I’m pretty sure that he will be able to trick the opposition. Lofton is out Dent is in, Samuel is taking over for Robinson who is moving inside to play nickel and with a healthy Edwards who is to say this can’t be the top defense in the league? Since 2008 a team with Nolan on staff has only finished outside of the league’s top 10 twice (2008 49ers and 2011 Miami Dolphins). If he can bring that kind of success to Atlanta then look out! Don’t think I forgot Sean Weatherspoon. Entering year three he is becoming the sole leader of this defense with his play on the field quickly got the attention of the league, even as an 2012 "anonymous" player rater (yeah I say its him!). With all the talent on the offense don’t sleep on the defense or you might be in for a rude awakening. 

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