Brooks Reed rushed the quarterback more than 1,600 times in his four seasons with the Texans without much production to show for it — and that was with sack master J.J. Watt, the two-time NFL defensive player of the year, drawing most of the attention from opponents.
Reed acknowledges his credentials don’t suggest he can help the Falcons generate an effective pass rush. But he said he’ll produce more as a pass-rusher now that he’s left the Texans to play linebacker for Falcons coach Dan Quinn.
“Being in a clean slate with new coaches, I think it will be a little bit different,” Reed said Wednesday, a day after he signed a five-year contract with the Falcons.
Reed, 28, played outside linebacker in Houston’s 3-4 alignment and said he will play strongside linebacker in Quinn’s 4-3 “under” defense. That position is responsible for holding the edge on running plays and defending in pass coverage, but also is tasked at times with rushing the quarterback.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reed rushed the quarterback 1,625 times with the Texans. Reed was credited with 14.5 sacks, and Pro Football Focus also counted 17 quarterback hits and 106 hurries.
The Falcons’ defense was among the worst in the NFL in 2013 and 2014, and the lack of a consistent pass rush was a primary culprit. The Falcons ranked 31st of 32 teams in sacks per opponent pass attempt in 2014 and 25th in 2013.
Quinn’s Seattle units ranked fifth in sack percentage in 2013 and 11th in 2014. Reed said Quinn is putting a “big emphasis” on the Falcons generating a pass rush, and Reed intends to be a key part of that effort.
“I know the stats haven’t shown for it in the past, but I’m working hard every day to get better,” Reed said. “(Quinn) is going to put us in the best possible position to succeed. It’s a defense for the players to get to the quarterback and move him off the spot.”
Reed was one of two projected starting linebackers who signed with the Falcons at the start of free agency. The team also signed ex-Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant, who said he projects to play weakside linebacker for the Falcons.
Durant said he’s cleared to participate fully in offseason activities after recovering from a torn right biceps that ended his season in October. The Falcons are scheduled to begin their team activities April 6.
Durant has started 80 of 95 games over eight seasons since the Jaguars selected him in the second round of the 2007 draft out of Hampton. In six starts in 2014 Durant had 49 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. At the time of his injury, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters Durant was “in the top three or four performers” on defense.
“I’m quick, explosive, fast to the ball,” Durant said.
Durant, 29, said he was attracted to the Falcons because of Quinn’s reputation as a defensive guru in Seattle. Durant said he checked on Quinn with current Seahawks defenders Cliff Avril and Tony McDaniel, and both players vouched for the coach.
On Wednesday, the Falcons announced the signing of wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.
Hankerson played for Washington through last season. A third-round pick in the 2011 draft, he has played in 31 games, with 14 starts, and caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards with six touchdowns during his career. Hankerson played in one game last season, battling back from an injury he suffered at the end of the 2013 season.
A fourth new Falcons addition, guard Mike Person, worked briefly with Quinn in Seattle. Quinn rejoined the Seahawks before the 2013 season, and Person was in camp with Seattle that summer before being released before the season.
The Falcons will have at least one new starter on the offensive line after releasing veteran left guard Justin Blalock. In 16 games with the Rams in 2014 Person played mostly on special teams while logging 66 plays on offense.
Person, 26, said he’s a good fit for new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone blocking scheme.
“My ability to move and run, to be able to get guys moving while still being physical while you are running,” Person said. “A lot of people think the outside zone is a soft way of blocking people, but you are attacking people and being physical while turning them out and making them run.”
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