Falcons rookie defensive end Takkarist McKinley had a quarterback sack and hit against the Buccaneers last week.
He has six sacks on the season and is tied with Aundray Bruce for the second-most sacks by a rookie in team history. He needs one to tie Ron Pitts and two to claim the record.
“The game is starting to slow down for me,” McKinley said. “It’s not as fast as it used to be for me like in the (exhibition) season and early in the season. It’s starting to slow down. I’m just trying to go out there when I get my opportunity and just rush.”
McKinley has played 349 of the defensive snaps (37.6 percent) at both right and left defensive end.
“We certainly know that that’s something that he can do,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We started him off at right end, then he’s played on the left end, so he’s probably the most equipped to play on both sides, and we train him that way in practice.”
McKinley also believes they he’s rushing better with his teammates.
“Sacks are not just a one person thing,” McKinley said. “It’s a group thing including the (defensive backs) and the linebackers. If the (defensive backs) are locking up the receivers that gives us more time to get to the quarterback. It’s definitely a group thing.”
The Falcons had two sacks on the elusive Drew Brees in the first meeting with the Saints on Dec. 7. The teams meet again Sunday.
It was one of the defense’s better performances of the season. It held the Saints to season lows in yards (306), points (17) and rushing yards (50).
“The biggest thing is that we got some help from our offense,” McKinley said. “I felt that time of possession was huge. I think our offense had the ball for 30-plus minutes (34:41) compared to their 20 minutes (25:19). That right there, the offense was keeping the drives going on third downs and keeping the ball away from Drew Brees and their offense. They are explosive and that was huge for the defense.”
McKinley is also earning the respect of his elders and had a good outing against Tampa Bay.
“I’ll give (Bucs quarterback Jameis) Winston credit,” Quinn said. “He avoided some at the end to extend some plays, but on (the Grady Jarrett-Adrian Clayborn split sack), not only was it a good rush by Takk, it was also set up well by Grady and Clayborn, the way it was orchestrated in terms of the pass rush stunt. All those guys can communicate and keep making improvements in that way.
“There are a lot of things that we’re rushing better, and Takk is a big part of that. We’re encouraged by his improvement.”
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