One Way or Another, Youth Will Be Served for the 2009 Atlanta Falcons Defense

Radical youth movements aren't usually a recipe for success in the NFL, but if the Falcons are going to make the playoffs in 2009 they have no choice, they have to grow up in a hurry.  If they don't, they're going to be the young and the playoff-less.

Gone are 33 year old Keith Brooking, 35 year old Lawyer Milloy and 36 year old Grady Jackson.  The old men on the defense are now free agent signee Mike Peterson and John Abraham who are 32 and 31 respectively.  The Falcons drafted defensive players with their first five picks and all five could expect to compete for playing time right away.

The projected Falcon defense, based on the first mini-camp, will average 25.9 years of age.  This doesn't even factor in Peria Jerry, William Moore, Chevis Jackson and Chris Owens, who could start by the time the season rolls around.

Peterson has played 11 seasons.  Abraham has played nine.  Nobody else has played more than five.  Erik Coleman (five seasons) and Johnathan Babineaux (four) are the only other projected starters with more than two years of playing experience.

You read that right.  The Falcons could be starting as many as seven players with fewer than three years playing experience.  That could change if Coy Wire beats out Stephen Nicholas for the weak side Linebacker job, Von Hutchins beats Brent Grimes at Cornerback and Chauncey Davis unseats Jamaal Anderson at Defensive End.

Still, with all the rookies, the average age of the Falcons reserve defenders is 24.8 years old.  Coy Wire is the only back-up in his 30s.

There are a few players with more than three years of NFL service in the defensive mix, but two of them, Jason Jefferson a reserve Defensive Tackle, and Jamal Fudge, a Safety, are both towards the bottom of the defensive rotation. 

It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect Atlanta's defense to struggle in 2009.  The 2008 defense wasn't spectacular, they were 24th in the league in total defense. 

That said, and this next point might shock you, football games are won by scoring more points than your opponent.  The Falcons were 11th in scoring defense last year.  There is no way to project how such a young defense will compare.

What Atlanta's offense was able to achieve last year with so many young players was an anomaly.  It stands to reason lightning won't strike for Atlanta two years in a row.  The hope is that the beefed up, and more experienced, offense will help neutralize a drop off in defense. 

Regardless of how good Atlanta's offense might be, a return trip to the playoffs hinges on a young defense.  The young guys are going to have to grow up in a hurry.