After playing defensive back for four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Kemal Ishmael initially was hesitant about moving to linebacker this season. Now, he’s all in on playing inside “the nasty box.”
Ishmael’s physical style of play and versatility that he demonstrated last season when filling in at linebacker is what encouraged both the Falcons and Ishmael to make the switch in April.
Ishmael’s favorite part of the transition over the past two months has been the physicality.
"Just taking pride in going down in the nasty box and you know taking on blockers, hitting people, and you know that's a big part of my game,” Ishmael said. “Guys went down last year, and I stepped in like we’re supposed to do, and I played pretty well, so I'll do anything for the team."
The Falcons first saw potential for Ishmael at linebacker against the Denver Broncos on Oct. 9.
The weakside linebacker spot needed depth with rookie linebacker De’Vondre Campbell out with an ankle injury. Coach Dan Quinn threw Ishmael in the mix, which turned out to be a successful gamble. In the Falcons’ 23-16 win, Ishmael totaled a team-high 10 tackles.
“We knew after seeing him play that that he would be capable,” Quinn said. “Adding that speed to the linebacker group, which is something we’re always looking to do, and he seemed like the ideal fit to do it. He gained some size to do it and he hasn’t lost a step.”
In March, Ishmael signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to remain with the Falcons.
To beef up for his new position, Ishmael said he gained about 15 pounds during the offseason, mainly by eating lean meats.
"I'm bigger now, but it feels good and you know, my body, I naturally get bigger anyway, so it was easy to put on that weight,” Ishmael said. “Just maintaining a good look and a spot where I can move. So (I) changed the diet that everything was all for the best.”
Since he had to learn how to be a professional linebacker on the fly when he played against the Broncos last season, Ishmael has been studying nightly. The former defensive back revealed one of the bigger challenges he’s faced while transitioning is nailing down alignments.
“It’s going good. He’s our Swiss army knife,” linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “He can do it all. Mike, Will, Sam, base. He plays all three positions and plays them all really, really well. He has a strong grasp of this defense.”
In the transition, Ishmael has worked with his new position group learning from Ulbrich and from linebackers Campbell, rookie Duke Riley and LaRoy Reynolds.
While Ishmael is going through a difficult transition and learning tactics from his position group, Ulbrich said the five-year veteran has brought some lessons to the younger linebackers that reach beyond position group.
“He’s been really good for the young guys, bringing them along and teaching them not only the defense, but what it takes for them to be successful in this league. It’s good,” Ulbrich said.
Because he played defensive back or receiver his entire career, Ishmael acknowledged he initially wasn’t thrilled about moving to linebacker. The former Central Florida defensive back said the resistance was “a pride thing.”
Now Ishmael said he’s happy with the transition, but occasionally he’ll walk by his old defensive back room in the Falcons’ Flowery Branch practice facility and his former position group will ask if he misses them.
He does.
"You know, I'm going to miss going out there doubling Julio (Jones) and stuff,” Ishmael said. “Sticking guys like Devonta (Freeman) and Tevin Coleman. That's a whole (other) different challenge. Those guys can run, they got the move so I mean it's a new chapter in my life and I'm taking it head on."
Ishmael spent all four years of his NFL career with the Falcons after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. In his career as a defensive back, Ishmael recorded 196 combined tackles, five interceptions and one touchdown.
