The Atlanta Falcons have struggled to rush the passer for the better part of a decade, specifically in recent years. Since 2017, the team has failed to rank outside of the bottom ten in sacks. The Falcons reached a new low last season. As a team, the Falcons only sacked the quarterback 18 times - the next lowest team was Philadelphia with 29.
The Falcons were aggressive in adding depth to the position this offseason, and they needed to be. Scott Bair, the Digital Managing Editor for the Atlanta Falcons, joined the Morning Show to discuss the pass rush. He told the show that he is interested in the growth of the group, but specifically mentioned why he is excited to see what Lorenzo Carter can bring to the unit.
"In addition to Casey Hayward, who I think is very important. (Rashaan) Evans who they need as a strong, vocal middle linebacker," Scott told the Morning Show. "But a guy that we haven't mentioned yet is former UGA standout, Lorenzo Carter."
The former third-round pick of the Giants back in 2018, and product of Norcross High School, returned to his home state on a one-year contract. Carter will look to stabilize a unit that has largely struggled to consistently get after the passer.
In the 14 games that Carter started in 2021, he accounted for five sacks, with each coming in his last four games. Giving further perspective into the ineptitude of the pass rush in 2021, even though Carter was sack-less through week 14 as he was returning from a ruptured Achilles, he would've finished as the Falcons' sack-leader by the end of the season.
What excites Scott the most is how Lorenzo Carter fits into the scheme of defensive coordinator, Dean Pees. "He's physically built for this defense. I think that his signing, while he doesn't have a long track record of being dominant on the outside, I just think that this guy is a scheme fit."
This is a pass rush that has been completely rebuilt. New additions include two 23-year-old draftees in Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone to replace the departed Dante Fowler, Steven Means, and John Cominsky.
"If you think about all of the 'new' up there (in Flowery Branch), you think about all of the 'young' up there from the drafted kids," Bair started, "Lorenzo Carter needs to be that stabilizing force, and I think he can be that."