The All-Atlanta Falcons Team: Defense

The Gritz Blitz, Mr. Falcon, Prime Time and The Hammer.

The Atlanta Falcons have had many defensive strengths and standouts over the franchise's history, and those above are just a few to name.

To continue my All-Atlanta Falcons team, here are the defensive members of the unit.

(As a reminder, the years in parentheses are the years the players were in Atlanta, not necessarily the full longevity of their careers).

Defensive Ends: Claude Humphrey (1968-1974, 1976-1978) and Chuck Smith (1992-1999)

Humphrey was an early addition to the Falcons after the organization drafted him in the first round in the 1968 NFL draft.

And Humphrey didn't disappoint as he finished his career as Atlanta's career sacks leader (94.5). In his first season in 1968, he was named the AP defensive rookie of the year.

In 1976, Humphrey recorded 15 sacks, which ranks him second in Atlanta history in single-season sacks behind John Abraham, who broke Humphrey's record in 2008 with 16.5.

Humphrey was named to the Pro Bowl six times (tied with Jeff Van Note for most of any Falcon) and to the All-Pro first team five times.

Smith had a good career for Atlanta in the 90s, recording over 10 sacks in three different years. Before leaving Atlanta for Carolina in 2000, he totaled 58.5 sacks for the Falcons.

In 1997, Smith recorded a career high 12 sacks, and the year after in 1998, he helped guide a strong Atlanta defense to Super Bowl XXXIII. Smith was named to the All-Pro team in 1997.

Others considered: John Abraham

Defensive Tackle: Shane Dronett (1996, 1997-2002)

Dronett was a part of a stout defensive line in 1998, when the Falcons made their only Super Bowl appearance.

Dronett sat in the middle of a defensive front that only gave up 75 rushing yards per game. At defensive tackle, Dronett tallied 6.5 sacks in 1998, and racked up 6.5 more in 1999.

Sadly, Dronett committed suicide at his home outside of Atlanta in early 2009. Dronett was only 38 years old.

Others considered: Rod Coleman, Tony Casillas

Linebackers: Tommy Nobis (1966-1976), Jessie Tuggle (1987-2000), Keith Brooking (1998-2008) and Fulton Kuykendall (1975-1984)

In addition to becoming the first Falcons player, "Mr. Falcon" was the first member to make this team.

Tommy Nobis was affectionately dubbed Mr. Falcon because he's the first member of the franchise. Nobis was selected first overall in the 1966 NFL draft by Atlanta, which was an expansion team that year (interestingly enough, Nobis was also selected fifth overall in the AFL draft by the Houston Oilers the same year).

Nobis didn't disappoint either as he was the 1966 defensive rookie of the year. The same year he posted a remarkable 294 tackles, which still stands as the single-season record in Atlanta.

Throughout his 11-year career in Atlanta, Nobis led the team in tackles nine times. He made five Pro Bowls (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972) and made the All-Pro team in 1968.

Former Miami running back Larry Czonka once said, "I'd rather play against Dick Butkus than Nobis." Nobis' No. 60 is retired by Atlanta as he is in the Ring of Honor.

Tuggle, simply put, was a beast for Atlanta.

During his career, one spent entirely in Atlanta, "The Hammer" totaled 1,809 tackles and 21 sacks. He also added six interceptions during his 14-year career. He's the only Falcon to put up over 200 tackles in two different seasons (201 in 1990, 207 in 1991).

Tuggle was a member of the 1998 Super Bowl XXXIII runner-up team to Denver.

Tuggle made the Pro Bowl five times (1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998) and is recognized in Atlanta's Ring of Honor. His No. 58 jersey is retired.

Brooking was a local hero for the Falcons, growing up in Senoia, Ga. and attending college at Georgia Tech. He was drafted by the Falcons in 1998 and played his entire career in Atlanta until this year when he signed with Dallas as a free agent.

As a Falcon, Brooking tallied 972 tackles and 17 sacks. He's a five-time Pro Bowler (2001-2005) and in 2002 he became the fifth player to make over 200 tackles in Atlanta (he had 212, a career high).

Kuykendall played 10 seasons for the Falcons and was said to have given up his body for the team.

Nicknamed "Kaptain Krazy," Kuykendall threw his body at blockers that got in his way of making the tackle. Kuykendall made a run at Nobis' single-season tackles record in 1978 when he totaled a Falcons second-best 284.

Kuykendall was a member of the Falcons' defense dubbed the "Gritz Blitz" in 1977 that held its opponents to just 129 points for the year, setting the record at the time for fewest points allowed in a 14-game season.

Others considered: Buddy Curry, Greg Brezina, Joel Williams

Cornerbacks: Deion Sanders (1989-1993) and Rolland Lawrence (1973-1980)

"Neon" Deion Sanders might have been the most talented athlete to ever play for Atlanta, and he goes down as the best cornerback to play for the Falcons even though he only played for five years.

Sanders electrified the crowd with not only his corner skills, but as a kickoff returner—beginning with returning his first kickoff for a touchdown in 1989 against the Los Angeles Rams.

While Sanders was in Atlanta, he grabbed 24 interceptions (a career high seven in 1993) and scored three defensive touchdowns. His only sack of his career came as a Falcon in 1991.

Sanders, also known as "Prime Time," was a nine-time Pro Bowler, including making the squad three times as a Falcon (1991-1993), and was named to the All-Pro team six times, twice while in Atlanta (1992, 1993).

In addition to Sanders' three defensive touchdowns, he also scored on three kick returns, two punt returns and two pass receptions—totalling 10 trips to paydirt.

In his eight-year career as a Falcon, Lawrence set the franchise record for career interceptions with 39. He had a career high nine interceptions in 1975, scoring his only defensive touchdown as an NFL player.

Lawrence was named to one Pro Bowl in 1977.

Others considered: Ray Buchanan

Safeties: Scott Case (1984-1995) and Ray Easterling (1972-1979)

Case played 11 years for the Falcons, highlighted by a stellar 1988 season.

That year, he set Atlanta's single-season interception record with 10, a record that still stands. His 10 interceptions led the NFL that season.

As a Falcon, Case snagged 30 interceptions and scored one defensive touchdown.

Because of his 10-interception season in 1988, he was named to the Pro Bowl, the only one of his career.

Easterling played eight seasons in the NFL, all of them with Atlanta.

He was a late-round draft pick, going in the ninth round out of Richmond, but proved to be a consistent player in Atlanta's secondary in the 70s.

Easterling compiled 13 interceptions during his career, including a career-high four interceptions in 1977.

Others considered: Lawyer Milloy

Punter: Michael Koenen (2005-present)

In only four seasons, Koenen has averaged 42.3 yards per punt in 64 games, after beating out Toby Gowin for the job in 2005.

In 2008, Koenen set an NFL record for defensive punt return yardage, only allowing 20 punts to be returned for 49 total yards (out of 63 total punts). His season long last season was 60 yards.

Koenen's also the only punter in the league to handle kickoff duties as well, and for half the season in 2005 he handled placekicking as well (although he struggled, despite nailing a career long 58-yard field goal against New England).

Even though Koenen has only played for four years in Atlanta, it's hard to ignore his accomplishments thus far compared to past Atlanta punters.

Others considered: John James, Dan Stryzinski