Atlanta Falcons DC Dean Pees is known around the league to have a complicated defensive scheme that can take several seasons to fully implement.
One way to make the year to year implementation of his intricate defense easier is to have a roster with familiar faces in the meeting rooms.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, in particular at the linebacker position, there are a lot of new faces in the room to learn the complex system.
The only returning starter at linebacker for the Falcons defense that finished 29th in the league in total defense in 2021 is MLB Deion Jones.
The other three starters from 2021, NFL leading tackler Foye Oluokun (signed with Jaguars), OLB Dante Fowler (released, signed with Cowboys) and OLB Steven Means (not resigned) have been replaced with an influx of veteran free agents, (Lorenzo Carter, Rashaan Evans) and highly regarded draft picks.
(Troy Andersen, Arnold Ebiketie, DeAngelo Malone)
The Falcons also have a few rotational players returning from 2021, including Mychal Walker and Ade Ogundeji.
But, will all these new faces at the LB position provide the Falcons with much needed depth at the position or just a handful of questions to be answered on rotations and snaps.
When recently asked about the LB room at OTAs, Falcons HC Arthur Smith replied by saying, “It’s going to be a tough group to make decisions on.”
Coach Smith further remarked, “if a lot of guys continue to progress as we think they will, it gives you the opportunity to create different personnel packages.”
Only time will tell how far Coach Pees can bring along his defense with so many new faces to learn, but if the team is going to be competitive in 2022, the defense will need to help an offensive unit that may struggle to point up points in bunches.
The Atlanta Falcons will open the 2022 regular season on Sept 11 vs New Orleans.