Is this the missing piece? All of the offseason media bashing of the Falcons has focused on the big question of the pass rush. The team has changed systems yet again with yet another new defensive coordinator, and last year's top two leaders in sacks are no longer on the team. Up to this point, the biggest change for the defense under Raheem Morris has been an emphasis on the interior. I say that's long overdue. So now they have Grady Jarrett returning from injury, David Onyemata, Ta'Quon Graham back to full speed after his gruesome 2022 knee injury, last year's third rounder Zach Harrison, this year's second rounder Ruke Oh-row-row-row-your-boat, fourth rounder Brandon Dorlus, and others. Two years ago they were so thin in depth that a six-pack of muppets played over 1000 total snaps on the line. Now they're overloaded. The interior linebacker group still has Kaden Elliss and emerging star Nate Landman, and 2022 second rounder Troy Andersen is back from injury. The team added J.D. Bertrand in the fifth round, and there are three other prospects in the hunt for a depth roster spot or at least a place on the practice squad. The secondary features Jesse Bates and Richie Grant at safety. Losing DeMarcco Hellams (not on season ending IR, but out for an extended time) hurts, but the depth candidates have all had strong showings in camp and in the first preseason game. Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips have both stepped up at CB, A.J. Terrell obviously leads the group, Dee Alford has proven to be a solid rotational player, and they've added Antonio Hamilton and Kevin King to round out the unit. And the entire offense is loaded: Cousins throwing to London, Pitts, Mooney, and Bijan Robinson out of the backfield is a very happy thought. The entire offensive line returned intact, and they've added potential depth from the draft with Jase McClellan at RB and Casey Washington at WR. So it's back to the edge group as the One Big Question Mark. What exactly does the team have to spark the pass rush? 2022 second rounder Arnold Ebiketie showed solid development in 2023, with 6 sacks (only a half sack behind the two team leaders). Lorenzo Carter will be back to the OLB role in this year's 3-4, which is a better fit for him than end in last year's 4-man front. And with three solid interior linebackers, the team has used Kaden Elliss at the SAM position at times during camp. Will they do it in the regular season? He had 6 sacks in 7 games playing that role for the Saints in 2022. But... that's still not convincing. Third rounder Bralen Trice would have rounded out that group, but he's out for the season after getting hurt in the Miami exhibition game. Exit one rookie, enter one veteran returning from injury who was at a contract impasse with the Patriots. If he passes his physical, Matthew Judon is now a Falcon. He's 32, so he's not the ultra long term answer for anything. But he had double digit sacks in 2021 and 2022 before getting hurt in 2023. Atlanta hasn't had anyone rack up 10+ sacks since 2016. This is EXACTLY what Atlanta needed, and he might truly be the final piece of the puzzle to clinch the division for the Falcons.
