FLOWER BRANCH, Ga. – Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pease was asked during a press conference this Thursday about how the defensive rookie fared in his first pro season. , which started with an evaluation of a specific player and turned into a commentary on the defense as a whole.
“I think everything [the rookies] Pease said. “Is there anyone who played great? I haven’t been a great coach either. None of us have had great results. They’re all better, that’s what you’re after, are they better now than they were at the beginning of the season?
“I think that shows the defense. I would say the defense is doing better than it was at the beginning of the season. We’re playing against the same guys. The rookies and the defense in general.”
That’s hard to argue with, especially with points being the only stat Pees cares about.
The Falcons have allowed only 21 points or less in five straight games. It’s about putting your team in a position to win. It’s plain and simple.
They are 28th in total earned run average and 23rd in points scored. It’s still not good. They don’t make enough game-changing plays in their pass rushes or pick up passes from the field. However, they are very good at critical downs.
And, as Pease said, we’re on a positive path to improving Atlanta’s defensive culture.
They are playing better defense than they did last year. They are doing better than they were at the beginning of this season and head into the offseason when they have more resources to add real impact players in the draft and free agency.
“If I had played the way I did at the beginning of the year or last year, I don’t think it would have worked out as expected,” Pease said. “In my eyes, we’re playing much better than we did in the first half of the year – much better. We’re heading in the right direction. Isn’t that what you want?
“If it’s not trending at all, that’s not what you want. If it’s trending in the wrong direction, that’s bad. I think it’s trending in the right direction.” If you have a culture I love the way the players play and the way the players prepare It’s part of the culture We have players that take it seriously For them It means a lot. They practice hard and play hard. Are our players the most capable? Maybe not, but yes play hard? Must be tough and know what to do. They’re doing it.
Pease likes people who always try their best. Grady Jarrett and AJ Terrell are the only established upper tier players, and he says accurately that they aren’t the most talented defensemen. Not enough depth and talent to win. That’s where the extra offseason he asset comes in. And if we can put more talent into a defensive culture centered around intelligence, toughness and effort, we can achieve something.
“On top of that, you’ve got a player of great ability, a Pro Bowler or a Hall of Famer,” Pease said. “I have no complaints about them. We are heading in the right direction.”
