Umenyiora, Nolan want stronger Falcons pass rush

Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to see his unit pick up the pace on its pass rush and get more sacks.

The Falcons had two sacks against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and Nolan wants more.

“Two is less than the sacks that you want for the ballgame,” Nolan said. “I think if you averaged about three a game, you’d be up there in the top three or five in the (NFL).

“We came up short as far as numbers, but again, anytime a quarterback does not throw you the ball, some of that is related to pressure. We didn’t get the takeaways that we wanted. It was OK, but we need to keep improving in that area, no question.”

In the Falcons' previous meeting with the Saints, Brees tossed five interceptions and had his streak of throwing a touchdown in 54 consecutive games snapped.

If the Falcons averaged three sacks per game, they would have 48 in a season. Last season, Denver and St. Louis tied for the league-lead with 52.

The Falcons finished with 29 sacks, which ranked 28th in the league. Defensive end John Abraham, who was released over the offseason, had 10 of those 29.

Defensive tackles Corey Peters and Peria Jerry had a sack each against the Saints on Sunday.

The Falcons signed former New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora to replace Abraham. He didn't register a sack, but buzzed around Brees for most of the game.

“One time he was hopeful that he got the sack, and then he looked up to find out that it wasn’t his,” Nolan said. “He was very active. That was good for us from the very beginning. I don’t know if it was the first or second play of the game, but he was in the quarterback’s face.”

Peters credited tackle Jonathan Babineaux with freeing him for his sack.

“Obviously, we can do better,” Umenyiora said. “One of the things we need to work on is getting pressure on the quarterbacks. We always need to get more.”

Umenyiora wasn't satisfied with his performance.

“I need to finish more on the quarterback and get those sacks as opposed to the pressures and hits,” said Umenyiora, who in his first game spent some time standing up in a linebacker stance.

In the season opener, the Rams did not allow a sack, and quarterback Sam Bradford was hit only five times.

The Falcons flip-flop Umenyiora and Kroy Biermann at times, so each will spend time against left tackle Jake Long and right tackle Roger Saffold.

“He’s an outstanding offensive tackle, one of the best in the league,” Umenyiora said of Long. “He’s going to present a challenge.”

Nolan perhaps has a tip or two regarding Long.

“I was with Jake in Miami for two years, so I know Jake real well,” Nolan said. “Jake is a very good player. Jake was banged up in my opinion. He was always nursing injuries down in Miami. He just couldn’t get healed up. It looks to me like he is healed up now.”

Long was taken two picks before Matt Ryan in the 2008 draft as the No. 1 overall pick. He signed with the Rams as a free agent over the offseason.

“I found it curious that he left Miami,” Nolan said. “I thought they would have tried to keep their own, and maybe they just thought he was injury-prone because he was hurt while he was down there. But when he’s healed up, he’s one of the better tackles.”

Jerry believes the Falcons can improve their pass rush.