If you found yourself questioning what the fate of the Atlanta Falcons will be following Friday’s loss to Tennessee in their first preseason game, then it is probably safe to say that you were not alone.
However, despite the final outcome of the game, the newly installed Dean Pees defense was undoubtedly the most impressive and promising thing of the night for the Falcons. Pees, who’s known for bringing the pressure on opposing offenses from anywhere on the field, had his defense dialing up early and often Friday night as they would finish the night with 74 total tackles, with six for loss of yards and seven total hits on the Titans quarterbacks, including four sacks, which safety Jaylinn Hawkins, defensive end Jonathan Bullard and linebacker Shareef Miller, each accounted for one, and showing how Pees’ likes to dial up the pressure from anywhere on the field.
The most notable defensive performance came from rookie linebacker, Dorian Etheridge out of Louisville. Etheridge accounted for 13 of the Falcons tackles, seven of those solo tackles. Falcons also had an additional six players with four or more tackles, including Dwayne Johnson, who finished with five, four solo. Richie Grant and Delrick Abrams also had four solo tackles each. It is also worth noting that the Falcons’ defense forced the Titans to punt five times Friday night, including on Tennessee’s first two drives that combined for 11 plays and 20 yards on 7:43 of possession. The Falcons’ defense was also effective on Tennessee’s third down possession, only allowing the Titans to convert 3-13, showing that the ability to get off the field is there. And to think, tonight’s defensive performance enlisted rookies and back up players, so I can only imagine that with starters in the mix of Pees’ defensive schemes, the Falcons’ defense just may be one of the best to watch this season.