Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel made his point very clear in team meetings last week.
“We will tackle,” Manuel told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of the theme of his speech after the Falcons missed 15 tackles in a 43-37 overtime loss to the Saints.
The Falcons (1-2) face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1), who have a plethora of offensive weapons and are averaging 30 points a game, at 1 p.m. Sunday in the palatial Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Manuel doesn’t care that his unit has been ravaged by injury nor that he has to move on without his three of his top defenders in middle linebacker Deion Jones (broken right foot), strong safety Keanu Neal (knee) and free safety Ricardo Allen (left Achilles).
“It’s like every position that we’ve had an injury to it,” Manuel said. “There’s a combination of guys … these guys have to come in and make sure they own their role, whenever they are called upon make sure you dominate.”
Damontae Kazee had already taken over for Allen at free safety, as Allen was playing more strong safety. Jordan Richards is up for the strong safety role in run situations. Duke Riley is playing middle linebacker, while DeVondre Campbell is handling with the signal calling.
“First, I’m going to start with tackling,” Manuel said. “I’m going to start with that first with all of them.
"If we do that at a very high level, we will be very good. We are not going to ask any one man to do a job that's bigger than him. But we are going to ask you to dominate your role."
The unit will get a boost from the return of defensive end Takkarist McKinley, who missed the Saints game with a groin injury.
“Takk has a tremendous gift,” Manuel said. “You know that Takk is going to give you everything that he has. He brings toughness to our defense. ... To have him this week is going to be exciting.”
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