FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons will have a chance to ramp up the pass pressure against a shaky Carolina Panthers’ offensive line.
Mounting a pass rush will be the X-factor when the Panthers (3-4) face the Falcons (3-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Panthers’ offensive line has been ravaged by injury. The team gave up six sacks and 10 quarterback hits in its 25-3 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.
Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees doesn’t want to blitz to create pressure right now. However, that doesn’t preclude the rest of the defensive linemen from getting to the quarterback and Pees has to try to play coverage. In order to blitz, the Falcons have to play better man-to-man coverage, Pees noted.
The Falcons have not been able to mount much of a pass rush and tried to fabricate one by blitzing 89 times, according to Pro Football Reference’s advanced defensive stats. Linebacker Foye Oluokun is the team’s top blitzer with 25 and is followed by linebacker Deion Jones (15 blitzes), Isaiah Oliver (10) and Steven Means (10). Oliver is on injured reserve.
Overall, the Falcons have 10 sacks, 21 hurries and 15 quarterback hits. Only the Chiefs and Jaguars (eight) have fewer sacks than the Falcons.
Jones, defensive end Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and outside linebacker Dante Fowler lead the Falcons with two sacks each. Fowler currently is on injured reserve.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett leads the team with three hurries and three hits.
Jarrett also has one sack.
“There are people that die on the hill that sacks are the only number, and some people buy into that narrative, and that’s why guys get paid certain numbers,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith. “There’s other defenders in this league that can really affect the quarterback, putting pressure internally on the pocket or making them step up or helping them get off the first read.”
It actuality, you need sacks, hurries and hits. Jarrett’s hurry on Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa led directly to an interception by linebacker Foye Oluokun in the win over the Dolphins.
“There are some teams that are really good at design and they have a coordinated rush,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of ways to affect the passer. …We’re always looking to find different ways to affect the quarterback.”
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Next Four Games
Panthers at Falcons, 1 p.m., Sunday, October 31
Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7
Falcons at Cowboys, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
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