Falcons shift D-line, hoping for more pressure

Falcons defensive end Jamaal Anderson watched Super Bowl XLII with great interest.

He doesn’t remember David Tyree’s miraculous catch against his helmet. All Anderson kept replaying in his head all off-season was the relentless and unmerciful pass rush the Giants unleashed on New England quarterback Tom Brady.

One player kept jumping out at him, New York’s Justin Tuck, a defensive end by trade who registered two sacks and a forced fumble while bringing the noise from the defensive tackle spot.

Anderson, the No. 8 player taken in the 2007 draft, started 16 games and didn’t get a sack.

“We saw what the New York Giants were able to do last year, and we want to be that new New York Giants defensive line,” Anderson said.

So when the Falcons staff came to him about trying to rush from defensive tackle like Tuck, he jumped at the opportunity. He played some tackle in the exhibition finale against Baltimore.

“It was pretty cool,” Anderson said. “I got a few pressures up the middle. I was able to see what Justin Tuck did last year. I can definitely use my quickness to my advantage in the middle. We are just trying to find mismatches on the field and utilize them.”

With John Abraham on the other end, it would seem that Anderson could fall into a couple sacks as quarterbacks run away from the Falcons sack-master. Abraham had 10 of the Falcons’ 25 sacks last season.

“We’re going to emphasize stopping the run on first and second down, and that will put us in good situations to get to the quarterback,” Anderson said.

In Anderson’s defense, the Falcons did not have an experienced NFL defensive line coach last season. Under former NFL player and longtime coach Ray Hamilton, Anderson has worked on refining his techniques and has a better understanding the power needed to rush the passer.

Trying to race around the edge only works for a couple of plays in the NFL. Anderson is getting stronger and learning how to use his power and how to mix up his moves to throw offensive linemen off-balance.

“One of the big things that we’ve been preaching is rushing the quarterback,” Anderson said. “I feel like the secondary has been doing a great job of making the quarterback hold the ball. Now it’s our job to get there.”

Anderson has taken to Hamilton’s teachings.

“We are just continually working on technique and being violent and making plays,” Anderson said. “The defense is set up for the defensive line to make plays. That’s what we have to do.”

Anderson did register a sack in the preseason opener. He doesn’t want to start pressing, but he knows high draft picks are expected to wreak havoc and cause major disruptions in the pocket.