In his eighth season with the Falcons, defensive end Kroy Biermann has been able to study the game from many different angles and positions.
After all that time, he said playing in coach Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme has been fun.
“The way he coaches is kind of how I approach practice and games,” Biermann said. “I was always the guy who kind of came out there and practiced every day and gave it everything I had and took it to the games.”
Biermann identifies with Quinn’s coaching techniques and mental approach to the game. Moreso, he’s been able to enjoy some of the freedom provided for in Quinn’s scheme. Throughout, the coach has driven home the notion that fundamentals and details are the keys to big plays.
“His scheme allows us to have some freedom of moving and setting edges and doing different things,” Biermann said. “The fun thing about that is he allows us to have a little more freedom and lets us see things and make our own decisions rather than being confined to ‘This is how I’m telling you to do it.’”
Quinn said one of the best qualities Biermann brings is his “accountability.” Biermann’s experience shows in his ability to play multiple positions — at linebacker, defensive end and all four special teams groups — proving how vital he is to the defense.
“On every really good team, there are a number of core guys that take on really significant roles and often times we don’t talk about our gratitude and appreciation for them,” Quinn said. “It may not show up on the stat sheet in terms of all he brings to our team, but in terms of the toughness and attitude, the leadership, (Biermann brings them) in a big way.”
Biermann’s experience and dedication, said defensive coordinator Richard Smith, qualifies him as one several leaders on the team.
“We talk about it every single day: Great football teams have more than one leader,” Smith said. “We do have a veteran football team in some of those guys like Tyson (Jackson) and Paul (Soliai) and Kroy.”
Focusing on the Colts on Sunday, Biermann said the bye week helped the Falcons refocus. He said the team as a whole seemed noticeably refreshed.
“It’s always kind of good to get away and take a few days and not think about football and focus on yourself a little bit and get your mind right again,” Biermann said. “Coming back, you dive back into it, but you’re able to kind of be a little sharper mentally.”
The Falcons’ defense will have to address some recent changes in the Colts’ offense.
The offense will be led by 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck while starter Andrew Luck recovers from a lacerated kidney sustained in the a 27-24 win over the Broncos on Nov. 8.
With the new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski replacing the dismissed Pep Hamilton in on Nov. 3, Biermann said the changes only reinforce attention to fundamentals and execution.
“They’re putting (Hasselbeck) in there for a reason, because they feel like he can get them a win,” Biermann said. “They know how to game-plan and how to attack the defense’s weaknesses. They do a good job with disguising some things and they’ve got some tricky stuff we have to look out for.”
