"The last time the Falcons were considered to have a respectable pass rush was in 2017. They finished 13th in the league in sacks with 39. With a coalescence of rising young talent and stout veterans, it was a group built to compete in the trenches against the best. Grady Jarrett, Vic Beasley, and Takk McKinley provided the juice to produce drive-ending stops. Dontari Poe, Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Derrick Shelby, Ahtyba Rubin, and Courtney Upshaw solidified the rotation with power and discipline to knock offensive lines backwards. It was a fascinating group that helped lift the offense up during setbacks to get the Falcons back into the playoffs."
"They haven't come close to having that amount of talent on the defensive line since, which is one of the primary reasons why they haven't made the playoffs since. Raheem Morris was on that staff as a wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He knows how crucial it is to be well-equipped on the defensive line. He witnessed what can happen when you aren't between the end of the Dan Quinn-Thomas Dimitroff era and last season, where the defensive line had eight players who were 28 years old or older."
The Falcons possessed a strong pass rush in 2017, combining rising young talent and veteran depth to generate drive-ending stops and help reach the playoffs. The defensive line talent dwindled in subsequent years, contributing to playoff absences and a roster with many aging players. Raheem Morris recognized the importance of a well-equipped defensive front from his prior coaching role. A sluggish, declining front prompted an offseason revamp led by Jeff Ulbrich, focusing on acquiring pass rushers and developing young players. The organization committed significant resources to make quarterbacks uncomfortable and rebuilt the rotation to restore pressure and production.
Read at The Falcoholic
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