FLOWERY BRANCH – Can O'Brien Schofield pump some life into the Falcons' dormant pass rush?
In some nickel pass rushing situation, Schofield will moved over to the right defensive end position in place of rookie Vic Beasley, who will move to the left side, when they face the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The right side normally features the team’s premier pass rusher. It’s the spot that former Falcons defensive end John Abraham played most often and preferred. It’s the quarterback’s blindside and if the right end gets around the corner clean, he should have a natural kill-shot on the quarterback.
“Absolutely,” Schofield said when asked if he can help out the pass rush more. “I think the coaches have done a great job of evaluating our talent, evaluating how well guys play together and just understanding the opportunity at hand. I think that the guys that we have in there understand their roles and their job.”
Schofield has started five of nine games this season. He leads the team with two sacks along with Beasley and defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn.
He was with head coach Dan Quinn in Seattle for the past two seasons after being drafted by Arizona in the fourth-round of the 2010 draft.
Schofield, who was projected as a second- or third-round pick before suffering a knee injury at the Senior Bowl, has 15.5 career sacks. He'll rush alongside of Clayborn.
“I just think that from the opportunities that I’ve been able to rush with Clay, the times that I have, we’ve had some really good chemistry as far as us being able to run some games,” Schofield said. “I think our game plan and the way that we are going to pass rush is going be basically to our talent level of the guys that we have out there. The coaches are putting everybody in a great position to be successful.”
Schofield started 27 of 44 games at defensive end for Wisconsin. He had 17 sacks and 33 tackles for loss. His 12 sacks during the 2009 season were tied for third most in a single season in school history.
Schofield know the Falcons will face a stiff challenge trying to get veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the ground. He’s a scholar at reading defenses and has a quick release.
“We do have the awareness and the mindset that we’re not playing a rookie,” Scholfield said. “You know you are playing against a veteran quarterback and he’ll probably be able to use the snap count to try to draw guys off season. He’ll have good check downs because he knows how to read defense.”
The Falcons have a plan to get to Hasselbeck.
“The biggest thing for us is going to be stopping the run and making them one dimensional,” Schofield said. “Make him have to beat us with his arm. Giving our rushers a chance to get the pressure on the quarterback.”
The Falcons consider Hasselbeck, who posted victories over Jacksonville and Houston this season, dangerous.
“You always respect someone who’s done as much as he’s done,” Schofield said. “To play a long time in this league and be effective, you give the most respect to that. You always respect your opponents. I think we’re going to be focused on what we do and make him deal with us.”
