Clayborn hoping for fresh-start with Falcons
New Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn has a big following in Atlanta already
When he played for Iowa, he destroyed Georgia Tech’s offensive line in the Orange Bowl after the 2010 regular season, camping out for most of the game in the Yellow Jackets’ backfield.
“I remember that game,” said Clayborn via phone, after he was signed by the Falcons to a one-year deal possibly worth $4.5 million. “It was a fun game. It was one of the best games of my career.”
After that dynamic showing, Clayborn was selected in the first-round (20th overall) of the 2011 draft by Tampa Bay. He had 7.5 sacks as a rookie while playing under Raheem Morris, the Falcons’ new secondary coach. But he played in just three games during his second season, recording 5.5 sacks in 2013, before playing only one game last season after suffering a torn triceps.
He talked to former Tampa Bay defensive end Michael Bennett, who played for Falcons head coach Dan Quinn in Seattle for the past two season, before signing with the Falcons.
“I asked (Bennett) about him as a coach and he had some positive things to say,” Clayborn said.
The defense added another familiar name Wednesday when Kroy Biermann, who led the team in sacks last season, was re-signed after testing free agency. Contract terms were undisclosed, but the team listed him as a defensive end. He played outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 defense last season.
Clayborn is looking forward to re-uniting with Morris and defensive line coach Bryan Cox, who was with Tampa Bay in 2012-13.
“Coach Morris was the first one to believe in me anyway,” Clayborn said. “(Cox) is a 4-3 line coach. He knows what he’s doing. He knows offenses and how they are trying to work against us. He’s a good coach.”
During Clayborn’s time with Tampa Bay, he played for three different head coaches. Greg Schiano followed Morris and Lovie Smith replaced Schiano last season.
“My mindset is that I just want to come in and help the Falcons get back to playing good defense,” Clayborn said.
Coming from another NFC South team, he’s very familiar with the defensive players, including Biermann
“With the guys that they have there already and help from the guys who are coming in, I think as long as we gel together as quickly as possible, we’ll be fine,” Clayborn said. “We’ll play hard and get after the quarterback. We are good players. It just takes that right gel and takes that right coaching. We’ll be good.”
The Falcons have also added linebackers Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O’Brien Schofield in free agency.
“When you look at all of the great defensive lines, (you see) guys playing together,” Clayborn said. “They know what each other is doing and they are all working as a group.”
Schofield, a former Seahawk, is looking forward to re-uniting with Quinn.
“To me it’s a very special opportunity because coach Quinn was one of my favorite coaches in Seattle,” Schofield said. “Just the intensity and energy, his understanding of the game and it’s all about having fun. I think at this level, some guys can lose sight of that.”
Schofield was a reserve in Seattle.
“Right now, I haven’t really focused on what the playing time will be,” Schofield said. “I’m just trying to get integrated and meet my new teammates. I’ll let them use me however they need to used me. They’ve seen my film and know what I’m able to do.”
Clayborn watched as Bennett left Tampa Bay and developed under Quinn. Bennett turned his stellar 2013 season into a new four-year, $28.5 million contract.
“That’s the ideal situation,”Clayborn said. “I’m just looking at coming in here and playing as hard as I can. The rest will work itself out.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
