Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel is seeing ghosts this week.
While watching film of Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, he’s thinking about another speedy quarterback who used to play at the demolished Georgia Dome, Michael Vick.
“Let’s talk about it. We’ve seen it from around these parts before,” Manuel said Wednesday. “A guy with that enormous ability. You have to look at it as a guy who can also throw from the pocket. He can make plays happen. He’s very electric. (Jackson’s speed) adds a different dimension. It’s going to be hard for one guy to stop him.”
The Falcons’ run defense, which has been porous during a three-game losing streak, will face a unique challenge when they play the Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Ravens (6-5) have crafted a two-game win streak behind a strong rushing attack that has featured running back Gus Edwards and Jackson.
Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner from Louisville, was selected with the 32nd pick in the first round. He’s started the past two games because of Joe Flacco’s hip injury. Jackson rushed the ball 37 times in wins over Cincinnati and Oakland.
“You better have your cleats in the grass and be ready to go attack,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.
The Falcons’ run defense has been part of the team’s slide to the fringes of the playoff race. They’ve given up 221, 132 and 150 yards in the three-game losing streak after pulling even to 4-4.
Also, Cleveland’s Nick Chubb powered through the defense for 176 yards. Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott slashed through the unit for 122 yards. New Orleans’ Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara did the thunder-and-lightning deal on their way to 141 yards against the Falcons.
“It’s been tough,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said of the last month of action. “It’s definitely been tough. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough. “
Jarrett has 31 tackles, four tackles for a loss and 10 quarterback hits. He knows the Ravens and the rest of the opponents on the schedule are going to at least try to run the ball first.
“People are definitely going to try to attack us on the ground because lately it hasn’t been consistent,” Jarrett said. “We definitely want to get back to consistent.”
Against the Ravens, the Falcons must account for the speedy Jackson. The unit is expected to receive a boost from the return of middle linebacker Deion Jones, who was back on the field with the first-team defense.
“Getting Deion back, that was refreshing in the huddle,” Manuel said. “Just from that standpoint. That was a huge part of it, just seeing him back. Now, he’s getting snaps in the huddle, that actually added to the confidence of the other guys.
“Now, (DeVondre Campbell) doesn’t have to do that all of the time. For Foye (Oluokun) it’s not just a voice in the room, it’s a guy who’s probably standing next to you.”
Jones hasn't played since the season opener when he suffered a broken foot. He's been back practicing with the team since being activated Nov. 12. Last week, he was still doing some work with the scout team and was inactive against the Saints.
“It’s going to come down to the battle up front,” Manuel said. “We have to make sure that we handle what we need to handle as far as that offensive line, which is doing a really good job.
“If you look at the last two games, they are averaging over 200 yards rushing. So, we have to do a really good of stopping it and make it manageable so that now they have to pass the ball, which makes a better third down for us.”
Edwards, a undrafted rookie free agent, who played at Rutgers after graduating from Miami, also has the Falcons’ attention.
“He’s a guy that likes to get downhill,” Jarrett said.
But it’s Jackson they are mostly concerned about.
“Lamar is a special athlete,” Jarrett said. “He does a really good job of moving the ball in the run game for them.”
Jackson is still learning the NFL’s pass defenses.
“He made a couple of nice passes, too,” Jarrett said. “He’s definitely a threat.”
Quinn has pointed out that the Falcons must follow some of the same defensive rules they used against Carolina’s Cam Newton and New Orleans’ Taysom Hill.
But the players see Jackson as an entirely different player.
“I don’t feel like there is a comparison to what we’ve seen, as far as the level of athlete that he is,” Jarrett said. “He’s a guy who can play anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t think there is a comparison to anybody in the league to what he can do as a quarterback.”
There’s an outside chance that the Ravens will play both Flacco and Jackson.
“You have to be prepared for whatever way they want to go,” Jarrett said.
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