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Maybe it’s not a bad thing that an Atlanta Falcons rookie has been a little too aggressive. And perhaps that attitude will pay off as he chases one of two Falcons’ first-stringers who are in danger of losing their starting jobs ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
James Pearce Jr. has been mixing it up, a situation that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said needs to be handled better, according to ESPN.
“We’re trying to develop a culture, a style of play for sure, and part of that is the violence with which we play and aggression, the urgency and all that,” Ulbrich said, via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “Today, at times, it went a little too far, and we’ve got to learn how to manage that.”
The other player pushing for a starting role is linebacker Jalon Walker, who was drafted in the first round at No. 15 overall. He has been tabbed as a make-or-break player for the Falcons. Pearce was the Falcons’ second first-round pick, landing at No. 26.
A nine-year veteran with zero Pro Bowl appearances, it seems unlikely that Floyd can maintain his spot at the top of the depth chart. However, Floyd has two double-digit sack seasons under his belt and totaled 8.5 last year.
But Pearce brings a nasty streak that might work in the NFL and for the Falcons.
“He’s prideful as it gets,” Ulbrich said. “He loves this game. He’s got deep love for his teammates. And he wants to come out here and create a strong impression on everybody — and himself included — that he can do this. And you do this at a high level, and I think when you’re in that place of just every ounce of your body’s trying to prove who you are. Sometimes it gets to that place where it can get a little wacky sometimes.
“His anger got the best of him a little bit, and it is going to be a great learning experience for him.”
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Pearce has the pass-rusher edge to him, according to ESPN.
“When you talk about rushing the passer, you’re talking about some of these great pass rushers that we talk about, whether it’s Aaron Donald, whether you’re talking about Von Miller, whether you’re talking about Warren Sapp or you’re talking about Simeon Rice,” Morris said. “Any of these guys that have rushed the passer, they’ve got a little bit of edge, and part of our whole draft, part of our whole philosophy, part of our practice, part of us becoming a team that we want to be and going out and actually doing some of these things is acquiring players with some natural edge.”
Pearce said he simply loves to play this sport. And the Falcons surely love that attitude.
“I think it’s come with the love of the game of football,” Pearce...
