FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons have some tough decisions to make — on and off the field — and Lawrence Sidbury is right in the middle of a few of them.
On the field, Sidbury has four sacks, tied for the team lead with John Abraham. The defensive end had two sacks in Sunday’s victory over the Vikings. The numbers are impressive considering Sidbury’s reserve role, as he gets between 10-20 snaps per game.
“I think when a guy is productive like Lawrence was on Sunday, you’ve got to look harder at him,” Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “He’s still a young player. I know he’s been here some years now, but he’s still a young player. ... He’s starting to finally get a little bit more comfort level with the NFL and our system.
“Again, the production, the two sacks were outstanding. We have to take a good, hard look at him.”
Off the field, Abraham is in the final year of his contract. The All-Pro defensive end will make $8 million this season. Both the Falcons and Abraham must decide whether he returns next season and at what price. In addition, fellow reserve defensive end Kroy Biermann is the final year of his contract.
Sidbury has one year remaining on his four-year contract after being a fourth-round draft pick (No. 125 overall) in 2009. He is due to make $565,000 next season. His continued development will be a factor as the Falcons take a hard look at a roster that has 20 contracts set to expire after the season.
“This is my third year,” Sidbury said. “You have to show something. I’ve been here two years, and it’s been a process for me. I’m just trying to make the best of my opportunities.
“It’s been a learning process, honestly. I was raw when I got here and I think everyone knew that. At some point, you have to turn potential into production. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Sidbury praised the veteran leadership along the defensive line in helping him mature as a player. He credited Abraham, Biermann, Ray Edwards and former teammates Jamaal Anderson and Chauncey Davis.
“I feel fortunate because I hear stories from other teams where sometimes the vets don’t want to help,” Sidbury said.
Sidbury (6-foot-3, 265) had two sacks Sunday that accounted for 13 yards of losses. He has eight tackles in the Falcons’ 11 games.
“He’s done a nice job in his rotation,” coach Mike Smith said. “He’s taken advantage of his opportunities when he’s had an opportunity to get out there and be part of the rotation. When you have that type of production, it sure turns a lot of heads, not only on our coaching staff but on the opponent’s staff as well.”
The Falcons are 27th in the NFL with 20 sacks, meaning Sidbury has accounted for 20 percent of the team total.
While Sidbury insists he isn’t concerned with individual statistics, he is aware of the importance of getting the opposing quarterback on the ground.
“Any pass rusher will tell you to get a sack is almost like scoring a touchdown,” Sidbury said. “It’s a big play for the defense. You destroy everything. ... It’s a big play for the team and not just for the person who gets the sack.”
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