The Falcoholic
During the Atlanta Falcons two-game losing streak, one player has garnered attention for all the wrong reasons.
JD Bertrand looks like he doesn’t belong out there, and given that the committee Jeff Ulbrich discussed hasn’t materialized, that’s been a major problem for the defense. The Falcons have talked up Bertrand’s ability and effort in the past and clearly like the young linebacker, but if they’re going to rely on him, they need better. What’s causing this performance, and can he be salvaged?
The speed of the game is overwhelming the young linebacker, whose strength is supposed to be his brain. If you’re going to be a sub-par athlete, you have to be able to make up for your lack of physical gifts by having a mental edge, but Bertrand is one of the last players on the field to move every snap.
The former 5th-round pick struggles to diagnose his keys and react with the limited time he’s given. This has led to Bertrand getting washed out on runs and picked on in the passing game. Once difficult blocking angles are now a breeze, thanks to the extra step linemen gain from Bertrand’s inability to react. The defense was susceptible to the run before he was placed into the starting lineup, but now teams are ripping off big runs with the second-level defender constantly behind and out of position.
We’re seeing these issues in coverage as well, where teams are continuously attacking Bertrand. Zone coverage requires quick feet and an understanding of leverage and angles. Bertrand is creating windows for the opposing quarterback that did not exist when Divine Deablo was patrolling the middle of the field. He struggles with identifying who is entering and exiting his zone and shows a lack of instincts when the ball is in the air.
There is nothing the coaches can do to make him react or move faster. Jeff Ulbrich came in and simplified this defense for the front seven; he can’t do anything to make life easier for Bertrand. The player either understands what’s in front of him or he doesn’t.
Physical gifts can help you recover on a bad rep, but a lack of gifts can turn a bad rep into an embarrassing one. The thing that is hurting Bertrand most right now is something he cannot change: his size. The big knock on the linebacker coming out of Notre Dame was that he was too small to play on most downs in this league. The multitude of plays that end with a ball carrier or lineman running him over emphasize that
Even when Bertrand is on time, he’s often physically outmatched and washed out of the play. It isn’t just offensive lineman having their way with him either; tight ends and even wide receivers are moving the linebacker with ease. When an offense can get away with blocking a linebacker with their slot receiver, the opportunities to exploit that weakness...
