New leadership could push the Falcons defense up in the overall rankings in 2017.
The Falcons, who report for training camp on Wednesday, will return 10 of the 11 players who started in Super Bowl LI, but will be under the direction of new defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel.
Manuel is moving over from defensive backs coach and will replace Richard Smith. Also, Bryant Young was hired to replace Bryan Cox as the new defensive line coach.
The only Super Bowl starter not on the roster is defensive end Dwight Freeney.
With the key players back, the Falcons are hoping to get marked improvement from the young unit and have a better plan of attack from the first-time coordinator.
Here are five bold predictions for the Falcons defense in 2017:
1. Vic Beasley will have 12 sacks. Beasley had a breakout season in 2016 as he won the Deacon Jones Award after leading the league with 15.5 sacks. He had four sacks as a rookie.
Beasley is expecting to receive more attention this season, but with a more balanced pass-rushing attack, he should still flourish. The Falcons have a lot of players to help supplement the pass rush.
They added defensive tackle Dontari Poe and defensive end Jack Crawford in free agency. They also drafted defensive end Takkarist McKinley, who’s recovering from shoulder surgery.
Manuel is also hoping that ends Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, and Derrick Shelby will also rush the passer. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who had three sacks in the Super Bowl, wants to continue where he left off.
If the other players are able to win their one-on-one matchups, then Beasley will have opportunities to get some one-on-one matchups. He’ll also have to figure out how to anticipate and beat the second blocker in order to have another double-digit sack season.
The last Falcon to have back-to-back double-digit sack seasons was John Abraham in 11.5 and 10 in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The team has not had two double-digit sackers since defensive end Patrick Kerney (13) and defensive tackle Rod Coleman (11.5) did it in 2004.
2. Deion Jones will score 4 touchdowns. Jones has two touchdowns last season as a rookie.
In his second season, Jones knows how to use his speed better in coverage and will come up with two more scores in 2017.
Jones is a play-maker on defense and when he gets his hands on the ball, he has running back-like instincts and speed.
Just call him Barry Sanders of the new wave of speedy middle linebackers.
The Falcons are counting on Jones making major strides in his second season. He’ll also be asked to become more vocal on defense. Jones is still listed as weighing 222 pounds by the team, but wants to play between 230 and 235 pounds this season.
3. Jalen Collins will lead the Falcons in interceptions. The former second-round pick from LSU received some extended playing time after Desmond Trufant was injured last season.
He played well after a bumpy rookie season. Collins will allow the Falcons to match up better with bigger receivers and gives them some flexibility to play more coverages.
When Collins is on the field, he’ll get plenty of action as teams will tend to stay away from Trufant’s side of the zone.
With Collins’ improved play, they Falcons could match up with top receivers based on height, weight and speed. For example, Robert Alford could matchup on Tampa Bay’s DeSean Jackson. Over the course of the game, they could use Trufant, Alford and Collins in order to wear down Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans or New Orleans’ Michael Thomas.
Options are a good thing to have.
4. Grady Jarrett to lead league in TFLs. The Falcons believe that Jarrett will continue to develop in 2017.
If teams elect to double-team Dontari Poe, the quick Jarrett should be able to beat his one-on-one matchup. If teams are sliding to defensive end Vic Beasley, Jarrett should be free to collapse the interior of the line, get up the field and make some plays in the backfield.
Six players – Houston’s Jadeveon Clowney, Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David, San Diego’s Joey Bosa, Houston’s Whitney Mercilus, New York Giant Olivier Vernon and New Orleans’ Cam Jordan – led the league in tackles for losses with 17 each last season.
Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald led the tackles in the league with 15 tackles for losses.
Beasley led the Falcons with 11 tackles for losses last season. Adrian Clayborn had eight and Jarrett had seven.
5. Falcons will be ranked in top half of league.
Manuel inherited a young and athletic unit that has several areas to improve on.
The Falcons, playing seven first- or second-year players, last season ranked 26th in rushing yards per play (4.52 yards), 28th in passing yards (266.7), 26th in sacks per pass attempts (5.19), tied for 29th in first downs per game (22.4), 26th in third-down percentage (41.78), 32nd in red-zone percentage (72.73) and 27th in points allowed (25.4).
“The main focus is on us,” Manuel said. “The numbers will take care of themselves.”
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