The Falcoholic
The Falcons have question marks dotting the defense, but a strong base to work with.
The Atlanta Falcons improved a year on the defensive side of the ball, though they cratered late in a way that put a dark cloud over that side of the ball thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness. The challenge this year won’t just be sustaining those modest gains, but exceeding them, ensuring the expected offensive improvement for Atlanta doesn’t go to waste.
The Falcons have put curiously few resources into ensuring that happens, with a major investment via the draft along the defensive front and a couple of modest signings in the secondary. While we could see more additions this summer, it appears Atlanta will bank heavily on their new-look coaching staff and improvement from existing players delivering them better outcomes. It’s a big bet, one we have to hope will pay off.
What does the depth chart look like today? Let’s look.
Starters: Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, Ruke Orhorhoro, Zach Harrison
Rotational options: Brandon Dorlus, Eddie Goldman, Ta’Quon Graham, Kentavius Street, LaCale London
Reserves/roster hopefuls: Zion Logue, Willington Previlon, Tommy Toigai
Atlanta made a considerable investment up front in this draft class, with a pair of intriguing young players and a late size/strength gamble added to a line that already featured two of their stronger defensive starters. Whether that translates into greatness remains to be seen, but this is a much deeper group now.
Functionally, I think the four players I’ve listed above will play starter’s snaps, though the configuration of those players is what we’ll need to see. Jarrett is the first name worth mentioning as the team’s heart and soul, a proven high-end starter who is one of the league’s most effective defensive tackles against the run and a player capable of bringing pressure regularly. So long as Jarrett is healthy—and we do have to start worrying a little bit more about that after year and with his age—he’s one of the league’s better players up front, and a crucial piece of this line.
Onyemata had a tremendous year when healthy in 2023, showcasing a disruptive ability this line had been missing next to Jarrett. With good health, he’ll play a considerable number of snaps and should help the Falcons boast one of the league’s most frustrating interior groups, but the health is a bit of a question mark after he missed three games and was banged up down the stretch. The infusion of youth should help the Falcons keep him fresh.
Orhorhoro will end up playing starter’s snaps by the time all is said and done, even if he’s learning on the job. The Falcons will line him up across the line to try to give him favorable matchups where his alarming strength and speed can help him defeat blockers, and with time and energy he ought to be another high-end run defender and, if we’re lucky, a year one force as a pass rusher. At the very...
