Old pro Dwight Freeney rushed the passer effectively for the Cardinals in 2015 in part because they were sure to limit his workload. He played 255 snaps over 11 games (23.2 per game) and recorded eight stacks.
A year later Freeney, 36, has a part-time role with the the Falcons, but is on the field more often. He’s played 193 snaps over seven games (27.5 per game) and has three sacks. Sunday’s game against the Chargers was his least productive so far: one pressure, one hit on 17 rushes (though Freeney’s threat as a rusher did help free teammates on stunts).
The Falcons have limited Freeney’s practice time in an effort to keep him fresh.
“That was by design, for sure,” coach Dan Quinn said. “When he is able to do his thing, we want to make sure he is featured in the best thing that he does which includes third down (pass situations) and two-minute. For him we try to limit his workload early in the week when we are not as much into our nickel package. And then when we spend the majority of our time in third down and at the end of the game in the two-minute scenarios, we love having him in there.”
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