The Falcons are giving up 154.4 yards rushing per game, which ranks 26th in the league.

“There is no rule against whipping a block and making a play,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “That’s something that we’ve got to get better at. I think everybody has kind of been feeling their way around now. . … We’ve got to cut it loose and go make plays especially in our run defense.”

Tampa Bay running back Bobby Rainey rushed for 163 yards against the Falcons last season.

“This is a good running team,” Smith said. “(Tampa Bay coach) Lovie (Smith) is going to try to run the football. They’ve got two backs. We anticipate the Doug Martin will be back and Rainey, we had a hard time tackling him when we played them last year in Tampa.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Unlike last season, when Kirk Cousins was the undisputed starter for the Atlanta Falcons at quarterback heading into training camp, this season it's Michael Penix Jr. (center). Training camp begins next week. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC