Falcons defensive end/tackle Adrian Clayborn has helped to lead a resurgent pass rush.
With veteran Dwight Freeney out with a thigh injury, Clayborn and Brooks Reed are slated to get more opportunities against the Buccaneers in a big NFC South showdown at 8:25 p.m. tonight at Raymond James Stadium.
The Falcons (5-3) have a chance to pad their 1 ½ game lead over the Buccaneers (3-4).
Clayborn, who came up with two key sacks of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, is second on the team with 3.5 sacks on the season. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown against San Diego.
The Falcons have 18 sacks on the season which ranks 11th in the league. The Falcons didn’t sack Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston in the season-opener on Sept. 11. The Falcons did register six quarterback hits, including two from Clayborn.
“We are rushing as a group and we are really coming together,” Clayborn said. “We are starting to learn what each other likes to do, the games that each other likes to run and when we like to run straight. It’s all coming together.”
Clayborn, a defensive end by trade, was originally drafted by the Bucs in the first-round (20th overall) in the 2011 draft. He had two solid seasons and two injured marred seasons, before the Bucs decided not to re-signed him. He had 13 sacks over 36 starts.
Clayborn, who is from St. Louis and played at Iowa, signed with the Falcons last season and was re-signed for 2016.
He’s starting to get comfortable rushing from defensive tackle in the Falcons’ nickel package.
“Yeah, I’m learning the protections and when the center is coming to me and when he’s not and I can make a move inside,” Clayborn said. “When I can bull rush. It’s opening up and it’s starting to look good.”
Clayborn admits that it’s been a tough transition from end to rushing inside from tackle.
“Last year, when I was doing it, I didn’t quite know what I was doing,” Clayborn said. “I was in there just free-styling. This year I’m trying to learn more about the position and it’s starting to work out.”
Clayborn has no ill-will toward the Bucs for letting him walk after the 2014 season.
“Man, they’ve beaten us three-straight since I’ve been here,” Clayborn said. “That’s something that I look at and will use it for a little motivation. We are going to try and get the win and go improve in the division.”
Clayborn has played the most defensive line snaps on the team with 353 (62.6 percent). Freeney had played 216 percent (38.3 percent). Reed, who splits time between linebacker and defensive end, has played 178 snaps on the defensive line (31.6 percent).
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