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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Babineaux’s a blessing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With so much talk about the defensive line centered around John Abraham, Rod Coleman, Patrick Kerney and Grady Jackson – and rightfully so – the emergence of Coleman’s backup, Jonathan Babineaux, has gone overlooked.
Babineaux, in limited action, has recorded 17 tackles, a sack and he knocked down a pass from Carson Palmer, late in Atlanta’s 29-27 victory over Cincinnati last week that led to a fourth-down punt. In the Falcons’ 41-38, overtime win over Pittsburgh, when Coleman sat out with a turf toe injury, Babineaux had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery and earned the team’s defensive player of the week honor.
Thrust into action after being drafted in the second round last season, the athletic Babineaux floated between end and tackle. Atlanta made a decision this offseason that even though Babineaux was slightly undersized (6-2, 280), he would be most effective rotating with Coleman. The decision appears to have been a good one. Babineaux is hitting his stride. That he is strong against the run and is really taking off as a pass rusher, the Falcons have additional depth to cause problems over the course of the season.
Defensive end/tackle Josh Mallard has also made some solid contributions in a backup role. The high-motored Mallard has a sack and almost got another one but instead, he was the player who forced Palmer into Kerney for the game-ending sack at Cincy.
