Why Beasley must be paired with a veteran pass-rusher

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Photo credit © Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons are bringing back defensive end Vic Beasley at his fifth-year option price tag of $12.8 million. 

The eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft has had some inconsistencies in his four years in an Atlanta uniform. He produced a total of 10 sacks over the past two seasons after recording a career-high and NFL-best 15.5 in 2016. He had five sacks and no forced fumbles last season as the Falcons finished tied for 22nd in the league with 37 sacks.

However, you may find a new set of stats even more frustrating as a fan when it comes to Beasley.

The Falcoholic crunched the numbers for Beasley when he's had a veteran pass rusher by his side--i.e. Dwight Freeney and Bruce Irvin--and when he hasn't had that veteran prescience. And here's what they look like:

#Falcons DE Vic Beasley by the numbers:24 games WITH veteran pass rusher: 19.5 sacks, 17 TFK, 20 QB hits40 games WITHOUT veteran pass rusher: 10 sacks, 11 TFK, 14 QB hitsSo the Falcons need to sign a veteran pass rusher stat, right? -- pic.twitter.com/4f9BGwUeQ6

— 92.9 The Game (@929TheGame) March 20, 2019

What do these numbers say about Beasley as a player?

"From the player standpoint, he lacks confidence, and I think he gets confidence from talking and learning from other players than more so coaching," former NFL cornerback Bryant McFadden said. 

"It's frustrating. It seems unusual to me that four years in that we're having these same conversations," Andy Bunker says as a Falcons fan. 

"If he's a rookie, if he's a second-year guy, I get it. He needs a vet to rely on. Twenty-five years old man, you've been in the league for four years now. You've played plenty of games to know what you need to do in this league. And yet, the numbers still tell us that having a veteran on your side, having a hand to hold while you cross the street, is what you need to perform at your best."

"Right now, Vic has no one to run to that he trusts and that he can gain confidence from because clearly the coaches, they're not doing that," McFadden replied. 

Andy wonders how far are the Falcons willing to go to babysit a guy into being a productive member of your team before they say 'this is too much?'

*Note: Veteran defensive end Bruce Irvin, who was with the Falcons and Beasley last season, just signed with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday*