Finally flying fast on defense, Falcons no longer riding offense's coattails
ATLANTA — Youthful exuberance flowed from a corner of the Atlanta Falcons locker room Sunday night, bolstered by the reality that a Super Bowl date awaited.
“We’re known as the misfits,” Ricardo Allen, a third-year safety, told USA TODAY Sports, within earshot of a few teammates. “Look at us. We’re not supposed to be here.”
Allen was referring to the band of defensive backs who held up against the Green Bay Packers while the front line put a relentless rush on Aaron Rodgers during the 44-21 thrashing that was the NFC Championship Game.
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Allen, a fifth-round pick in 2014, took a moment to provide biographical nuggets about his brethren. Keanu Neal, the rookie safety, was panned as a reach when the Falcons drafted him 17th overall last spring. Jalen Collins, a second-round pick in 2015, played only 10 games at LSU. Corner Robert Alford was a small-school product from Southeast Louisiana. Deji Olatoye was cut from the practice squad. C.J. Goodwin is a converted receiver. Sherrod Neasman entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Allen himself was cut from the practice squad as a cornerback, then switched to safety.
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“(Desmond) Trufant was the only one they said was a fit,” Allen added of the former first-round cornerback, who is on injured reserve.
The Falcons have mixed and matched the pieces to formulate a special chemistry in their secondary. The rise and increasing confidence of the DBs also reflect a much larger picture: Atlanta won the NFC with a defense that starts four rookies (including nickel back Brian Poole) and four others in just their second pro seasons.
For all of the exploits of a high-powered offense sparked by presumptive NFL MVP Matt Ryan and phenomenal receiver Julio Jones, the fast progression of the young Atlanta D is something to behold. It’s a testament to exceptional work on several levels — scouting, coaching, the dedication of the players — that proves that an NFL defense can essentially be rebuilt on the fly. The young studs include second-year edge rusher Vic Beasley, who led the NFL with 15½ sacks during the regular season, and rookie linebacker Deion Jones.
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"The more you play together and gain experience together, the faster you can play,” said Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who arrived last season with defense on his calling card after coordinating the Seattle Seahawks and their Legion of Boom, which advanced to back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014.
“So we’re playing faster now than we did earlier in the season. Our speed hasn’t changed in terms of our 40 times but — because our communication, because of the style and attitude that we’re able to play with — we’re able to play faster.”
Speed surely has a double meaning here. The Falcons fly to the football with fresh legs and are fast learners.
“We’re so young, we have no option other than to buy in,” said Collins, who ripped the ball from fullback Aaron Ripkowski to extinguish an early Green Bay scoring threat, then recovered it.
“Ricardo made the hit, I went for it. We teach that during the week. Second man in, goes for the ball.”
What might have become a 10-7 game turned into 17-0 as the Falcons converted the turnover into a touchdown.
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It's easy to be skeptical of a young unit, which was burned for 124 points in the season's first four games, and benefits greatly from an offense that regularly provides leads that allow the defense to play aggressively. Yet after smothering Seattle in the divisional round, the defense went a long way toward proving it isn’t merely riding the coattails of Ryan and Co. given the manner in which they shut out Rodgers and Green Bay for the first half Sunday.
But the biggest test awaits in Super Bowl LI, with the Patriots bringing the highest level of football IQ to all the versatility contained in their offense.
Still, there’s something to be said for growth from within, measured in some ways by the mistakes that have been reduced with experience.
“The success is always in the struggle,” said Allen, who had the interception of a desperate, deep heave by Rodgers late in the first half — which the Falcons converted into another touchdown. “And we struggled long enough.”
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“Those deep shots? People coming out taking shots any time they want to? We’re not giving those up any more,” Allen said. “People have to grind to get on the scoreboard.”
Nothing easy. That’s the mark of good defense. As is progress.
"We went through a lot of issues and problems early in the year," said veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney. "But that was to be expected. We had to play catch up. Right now, those boys are playing.”
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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell
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