The Atlanta Falcons' defense has come charging out of the gate in the early parts of the NFL season. What has led to this success? The Morning Shift welcomed in Falcons analyst and broadcaster Dave Archer to discuss why Jeff Ulbrich's mentality has fueled this team.
The first-year defensive coordinator has brought his attack-style mentality to Atlanta, but it starts with simplifying what he's asking his players to do.
"[Ulbrich] played the game," he said Friday morning. "The guy played at a high level. I think there's a lot to that, when you understand when you're putting defenses together and understanding what guys are trying to figure out prior to the play. I want my guys to play as close to full-speed as they can, and if they're thinking, then there's that indecisiveness."
Atlanta is playing fast and letting their physicality make thing difficult on opposing offenses.
To this point in the season, the Falcons have reaped the rewards of this system. They find themselves in the top two of most every major statistical category, and in the top five in sacks.
It's early in the 2025 season, but Ulbrich's simplified scheme has done wonders for a previously weak Falcons defense.