Defensive coordinator Richard Smith said the Falcons will continue to use their four-man pass rush Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles after its preseason success.
Smith said the Falcons’ versatile pass rush has improved with the quickness and stamina of Adrian Clayborn, O’Brien Schofield and Vic Beasley. Smith said he’s eager to see their chemistry through an entire game. He should get his chance when the Falcons and Eagles meet at 7:10 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
“Those guys have been working a four-corner situation,” Smith said. “(The Eagles) are considered one of the top offenses in the NFL. They’ll be a great challenge.”
Coach Dan Quinn said the Falcons’ defense Monday will be a mix of base and nickel packages to combat the Eagles’ depth in skilled wide receivers.
Clayborn said moving into the regular season, he sees the defense adhering to the same aspects of pass rush it used in the preseason.
“There’s a lot more going hard and a lot more (power going) into it,” Clayborn said. “(Sam Bradford) is still a good quarterback, and they have a good offensive line, so we just have to tack him in and make it easy for our defensive backs.”
Schofield, who played against Bradford while with the Arizona Cardinals, said he admires Bradford’s skill and is looking forward to playing against him again.
“It’s always a test of your skill as far as your pass rushers to see how far you can get and how fast you can get back there before (the quarterback) releases the ball,” Schofield said. “Our job as rushers is to get him out of the pocket and make him run and force him to make some throws he’s uncomfortable with.”
Eagles coach Chip Kelly said he and his coaching staff will spend “a lot of time” looking at preseason tape of the defenses Quinn used as they prepare for Monday.
“They generate a really good rush,” Kelly said. “I think Clayborn stood out in the preseason and so has Beasley.”
The Eagles have distinct offensive changes in personnel from last season that will encounter the Falcons’ pass rush Monday.
Bradford will play his first regular-season game as an Eagle after he was acquired from the Rams for quarterback Nick Foles in March.
Kelly said that since Bradford joined the Eagles, his versatility on offense allowed him to quickly adjust to a new offense.
“He’s a smart football player, and really picked up our system,” Kelly said. “I see him adjusting just like any normal quarterback adjusts to pass rush.”
Suffering back-to-back season-ending ACL tears with St. Louis, Bradford started seven games the past two seasons. Although his health has been closely watched, Bradford said that he feels healthy and confident playing in a new offense and with a new offensive line.
“I got more comfortable with the way they set and the way they like to block,” Bradford said. “(The offensive linemen) were great about communicating with me with what they were seeing and how they were communicating with things up front.”
Clayborn, who like Bradford suffered two season-ending injuries with his previous team, said he knows Bradford will be ready to play Monday.
“I myself probably only played seven games in the past two years, too,” Clayborn said. “I’m sure (Bradford will) be ready like I’m going to be ready. We have to be prepared for that.”
Schofield said he and his team are aware of Bradford’s past injuries, but that’s not what the team is focused on for Monday night.
“I think that the way our mindset is, we really don’t worry too much about them,” Schofield said. “It’s just more about technique and what we do and what we bring to the table.”
