Jim H. from Buford, Ga.
"What 'new' wrinkles do you believe we will see, especially on defense, after the bye week?"
That's a great question, Jim, and one I'll keep in mind for when we get the chance to speak with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich this week. You've also given me the perfect opportunity to plug our Heart. Mind. Fist. series that ran during the bye week and digs into Ulbrich’s philosophy for building a great defense.
A big part of that philosophy is keeping a lighter menu of plays and wrinkles to keep players mentally liberated. However, there are some early trends that have me thinking there might be more to Ulbrich's defensive designs than I initially thought.
Did you know the Falcons have the highest blitz rate in the league at nearly 47%? For comparison, the Jets had the NFL's lowest blitz rate (17.4%) during the 2023 season, Ulbrich's last full year as defensive coordinator. That suggests to me an evolution, and blitzes will naturally require a little bit more play design.
However, I think part of the reason for that significant uptick has to do with Atlanta's personnel. When you've got a player like Kaden Elliss, the number of stand-up rushers the Falcons do and present a lot of five-man fronts on defense, having a blitz-heavy element makes sense. But, remember, it starts with the players, and that's where I think you'll see the wrinkles.
As Atlanta's defenders spend more time on the field together, especially the younger players, I expect you'll see different flavor profiles begin to emerge. Plus, getting a player like A.J. Terrell back, and potentially a few more down the line, will help evolve the defense as well. I don't think the design will change all that much, but we should hopefully see leaps in how it is executed.