To wonder how the Falcons are going to generate a pass rush this season is essentially to question whether Osi Umenyiora still can do it.
Not long ago Umenyiora was a key part of the New York Giants’ fearsome pass rush, and he was the Falcons’ key defensive signing in 2013. Even last season, when the Falcons’ defense didn’t do much of anything well, Umenyiora had 7.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and 29 hurries in 440 pass attempts, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Falcons didn’t add a proven edge rusher during the offseason nor did they draft an elite pass-rushing prospect. That leaves Umenyiora as by far the most accomplished pass rusher on the roster and, judging from practices so far, he will take on a part-time role as a designated pass rusher.
Umenyiora said he feels a responsibility as the team’s best pass rusher.
“Yeah, no question,” Umenyiora said. “But we have some young guys that can do it. We’ve got some young guys who can play, but they are going to have to step up. The pass rush can’t just be one guy; it has to be a collective thing. As a group, we are going to be much better than we were last year.”
The Falcons are banking on more production from some young pass rushers, in particular Jonathan Massaquoi. They believe the addition of bigger linemen will improve the run defense, leading to longer down-and-distances for opponents. And they plan for coordinator Mike Nolan’s multiple fronts to cause confusion for pass-blocking schemes.
The Falcons have a lot of room for improvement. They ranked 24th of 32 teams in sack percentage (sacks per opponent pass plays) in 2013. During the six-year reign of coach Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons have never ranked better than 20th in sack percentage.
The Falcons hope to make distances more favorable for pass rushing this season. Nolan said new additions Paul Soliai (345 pounds at nose tackle) and Tyson Jackson (296 pounds at 3-4 defensive end) should help collapse the pocket. Holdover defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux is an effective inside pass rusher.
But the Falcons really are counting on those players to improve the run defense and, by extension, the pass rush. Opponents gained an average of 4.84 yards rushing on first down against the Falcons last season, worse than all but eight teams in the league.
“In order for me to do what I do well and best, and that’s rush the passer, you have to be able to stop the run,” Umenyiora said. “Paul, Tyson, ‘Babs,’ these guys are some of the best in the league, and they are going to put us in position where we can rush the passer more than we were able to do last year. Last year we were not able to get teams in third-and-long, it was always short (yardage) with the option of rushing and passing, and it kept us off balance a little bit.”
If the Falcons are able to get into more favorable circumstances to rush the passer, individual players still have to do their parts. On the micro level, none of the team’s pass rushers could consistently get pressure on the quarterback in 2013.
The Falcons added defensive line coach Bryan Cox to the staff for this season, and Nolan said offensive line coach Mike Tice and assistant Wade Harman have noticed good technique from the pass rushers.
“Both have complimented Brian and the defensive line for using their hands and pass rush and things like that,” Nolan said. “Hopefully that helps. It can’t hurt.”
Umenyiora said he plans to play this season at 245 pounds, about 10 less than last season, to help his pass rushing.
“As you get a little older, in order to maintain your speed and quickness you are going to have to drop weight a little bit,” said Umenyiora, who turns 33 in November.
Massaquoi, a fifth-round draft pick for the Falcons in 2012, started to show some promise as a pass rusher when his snaps increased late last season.
“We have pass rushers, but we need to continue to ascend in our craft,” he said. “The pass rush is going to come.”
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