Ideally, Falcons coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Richard Smith would love to create a pass rush from the front-four defensive linemen.
But after not registering a sack against Tampa Bay, the Falcons are considering blitzing more to manufacture some pressure and sacks.
Quinn figured that the Falcons blitzed Tampa Bay about 10 times. Two of their credited five quarterbacks hits came off blitzes. Quinn counted six quarterback hits during his film review.
When the Falcons blitz, they must play more man-to-man coverage and are counting on rookie linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to hold up in coverage against backs and tight ends. He was called for a defensive holding on Tampa Bay’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the first defensive possession.
“We’re pleased to see him at the line of scrimmage being able to challenge,” Quinn said. “That’s going to be a factor for us and one that we knew we wanted to be able to do. I was anxious to see him and Kemal Ishmael.”
Rookie safety Keanu Neal, who’s likely to return against the Saints at the earliest, was also drafted to help cover backs and tight ends. Ishmael is starting for Neal.
“We knew that was going to be a factor with Keanu Neal and so with him out we’re going to ask Ish to step up and do some things as well,” Quinn said. “It’s definitely a plan of what we want do, and we started that somewhat (against Tampa Bay).”
Quinn was not pleased with the overall pass rush, but found some positives.
“Well we saw more speed for sure,” Quinn said. “That part we saw. I think it ended up being six quarterback hits. Not all of them are on the four-man rush. It’s really an area that we’re still emphasizing and we’re not going to be as good as we will be as we’re working through the year both in our base package and nickel package. There were definitely some signs of encouraging things.”
The Falcons want sacks, but they count the hits and hurries, too. The Falcons’ defensive braintrust, at the very minimum, want the make the opposing quarterback throw on the run.
“Most quarterbacks when you get them off the spot the completion percentage goes down and honestly that’s what you’re looking for first,” Quinn said. “What you love about the sacks on first and second down are the yards that are lost and even third down it’s an opportunity to get the ball off somebody.
“Generally, the most fumbles come from the quarterback so getting him off the spot is good, but we do like tackling where that opportunity is there to make a game-changing play with the sack, that’s the forced fumble.”
The Falcons had a tough time getting to Winston, who threw some accurate passes when under duress.
“For us not to get him down there were some hits, but it’s still a factor when you get the guy wrapped up and you’re taking a shot at the ball on the way down,” Quinn said.
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