Remember back when the only problem the Falcons had on defense was covering the tight end?
While the unit’s ranking has descended in all key areas this season, the revamped linebacking corps will get tested by perhaps the best tight end in the business in San Francisco’s Vernon Davis.
Rookie Joplo Bartu figures to be the main player on the hot seat, but it wouldn’t be prudent to expect defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to leave him alone on Davis.
“(Davis is) an outstanding athlete,” Nolan said. “He’s got tremendous speed.”
In the NFC Championship game last season, Davis was a nightmare for the Falcons. He caught five passes for 106 yards, including a 31 yarder. He also had a touchdown grab and perhaps ended Stephen Nicholas time as a starter.
Nolan tried a couple different combinations on Davis last season and none of them worked. He had free safety Thomas DeCoud on him early. Later, he switched to a combination of Nicholas and a safety.
The Falcons were so worried about the read-option that they left a major void in the defense that was exploited by Davis.
In this game, rookie safety Zeke Motta could see some time on Davis if DeCoud is not fully recovered from his concussion.
Davis is turning in another stellar season. He’s caught 49 passes for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“Being physical will be the key,” strong safety William Moore said. “We have to be physical from the beginning because of the athletes that they have like Vernon.”
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