On Defense: Falcons Seek To Align Personnel with Scheme

As the old adage goes, offense wins games and defense wins championships. If that’s the case, then it’s no surprise that the Atlanta Falcons didn’t go very far in last year’s playoffs.

Last season, the Falcons were fortunate to have a potent offense because their defense was porous, particularly the run defense. In fact, last season the Falcons were ranked 25th in run defense, surrendered 4.9 yards per carry, and allowed 127.5 rushing yards per game.

Atlanta’s worst run defense showings included allowing 184 rushing yards against Kansas City, 192 rushing yards against Philadelphia, 184 rushing yards against New Orleans, and 202 rushing yards in the season-finale against St. Louis.

Additionally, run defense, or lack thereof, was one of the key factors in Atlanta’s 30-24 playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals. During that loss, Atlanta struggled to get penetration and although Arizona only gained 86 yards on the ground, it was Atlanta’s inability to stop the run that allowed the Cardinals to extend drives and eat time off the clock.

On defense, the Falcons utilize the 4-3 base defensive scheme, which aims to balance the run and pass defense. The scheme is reliant on having weighty defensive tackles upfront, high caliber defensive ends and an active middle linebacker.

In theory, each defensive player has a specific responsibility, depending on the offense’s scheme. Defensive tackles are tasked with stuffing the run, or getting penetration during passing plays. Defensive ends must be big enough to challenge on the line during running plays and agile enough to get around lineman on passing plays.

For this scheme, the ideal linebackers are so-called "tweeners" who primarily help in stopping the run, but in pass coverage they cover tight ends and running backs. The middle linebacker is responsible for sideline-to-sideline coverage. The strong side linebacker covers the tight end in pass coverage and fights off blockers on running plays. The weak side linebacker, who is the likeliest to blitz the quarterback during passing plays, matches up against the fullback in run defense.

Finally, cornerbacks and safeties cover wide receivers, flankers, and tight ends in pass coverage. In blitzing situations, the corners are essentially left in man coverage, where is there basically zero room for error. And on run defense, the strong safety is moved near the defensive line.

However, there is a significant chasm between schemes in theory and schemes in practice. Perhaps cognizant of the chasm, the Falcons paved the way for the departures of older (literally and figuratively) players such as Lawyer Milloy, Grady Jackson and Keith Brooking. In lieu of veteran players, the Falcons have entrusted their defense to younger players like middle linebacker Chris Lofton, defensive end Jamaal Anderson, and 2009 first-round draft pick, defensive tackle Peria Jerry.

Jerry is expected to be able to help fix one of Atlanta’s biggest flaws: getting penetration on the line. Last year, at Mississippi, Jerry ranked second in the nation among defensive tackles with 18 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

“We’ve said from the very beginning that we wanted to be a team that can run the football and stop the run,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “Last year, we addressed the running the ball. This year, we’ve taken the first step in stopping the run. Peria is a very aggressive, hard-nosed, tough football player.”

Aside from the addition of Jerry, Atlanta also drafted Missouri safety William Moore and signed veteran linebacker Mike Peterson, who had 84 tackles last year as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Through the draft and other off-season transactions, Atlanta has transformed an older, veteran defense into a youthful, unseasoned—and untested—one, which some consider an immense gamble.

Gamble or no gamble, expectations are relatively high for a young defense that must yield immediate dividends, especially if the Falcons expect to capitalize on the success of last year.