Falcons secondary under the microscope as defense faces upcoming tests

As the Atlanta Falcons offense puts together long drives and lights up scoreboards, the team is in high spirits after winning their first three divisional games. The summer hype about them becoming one of the more prolific, well-balanced attacks is coming to fruition.

After being at the center of every conversation for being incredibly frustrating during the first month of the season, they have found a groove where the public can only admire their recent performances. The disappointment has shifted towards a defensive group that has underperformed during Atlanta's three-game winning streak.

There were always doubts about the defensive line generating pressure with four-man rushes. Relying on consistent veterans to be at the center of the unit seems like a wise idea until it's evident that their best days appear to be behind them. What wasn't expected is how a stout run defense when healthy last season has completely unraveled, as it's now allowing the eighth-most rushing yards per game this season.

An interior line led by David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett with Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen, and Nate Landman at linebacker should inspire confidence, not concern, about their ability to limit running games. Although the entire unit has rarely been fully healthy this season, it's alarming how running backs are consistently getting to the second level by running through open gaps.

That has left what was considered one of the biggest concerns going into the season as the strength of Raheem Morris' defense. The secondary has remained mostly organized and prevented big plays. That was one of the positive aspects of last year's defense when coached by Ryan Nielsen. While Nielsen's defense played far more man coverage, they stayed compact and limited big plays at their best.

Alongside Jimmy Lake, Morris' defense is similarly performing at a higher level, albeit using far more zone coverage variations with Cover 1 and 4 being favorably used. They have been solid, but schematic flaws and personnel concerns within the unit could prove costly going into a stretch of games against pass-oriented offenses in Seattle, Tampa Bay (again), and Dallas.

Easy completions, chunk yards, limiting explosives leads to timely plays As much as Morris succeeded as the defensive coordinator of the Rams, he garnered criticism for how often quarterbacks were given high-percentage looks on underneath and intermediate throws. The heavy reliance on playing zone allowed decisive quarterbacks to hit openings when the opportunity arose. Shifting from playing a man-heavy scheme that Nielsen runs to the types of zone coverages Morris runs was bound to have its challenges. It could have been smoother if Morris had been hired last season when the secondary played two years under Dean Pees' traditional Cover 2 and 4 looks. The timing didn't work out, leaving a unit that seems better suited to press wide receivers and play man coverage rather than stay positionally disciplined and handle zone coverage responsibilities.

Opposing quarterbacks are completing a league-leading 73% of their passes against the Falcons. While Morris' defense ranks last in completion percentage, they have only allowed 6.3 yards per competition . That is tied for third next to arguably the best defense in the league in Minnesota. Those statistics indicate what Morris and Lake are running by keeping plays in front of them. It's fair to question if it's the best system to implement, especially when considering two of the top players in the secondary are among the highest-paid players at their respective positions in A.J. Terrell and Jessie Bates.

The secondary can be praised for stepping up against Kansas City and New Orleans. They can be equally critiqued for their shortcomings against Tampa Bay and Carolina. One of the glaring concerns about the pass defense that goes beyond the defensive backs is how frequently passes aren't being contested at the catch point. The Falcons only have eighteen pass breakups in six games. Bates and Dee Alford are tied with the most at three each.

Considering they've been mostly in close games, it's alarming to see players not around the ball more often. Whether the coaching staff allows them to play more tight man coverage or personnel plays more urgently by anticipating routes and closing down pass catchers more quickly, the entire unit must challenge the opposing quarterback's decision-making more consistently. The pair of interceptions against Carolina were positives in that regard.

Those numbers can't entirely fall on the secondary, either way. According to Pro Football Focus, Elliss has allowed 20 receptions on 23 targets. That will certainly inflate the high completion percentage statistic. The lack of a pass rush will put any secondary in precarious positions where they can only maintain their positioning for so long. It also has to be mentioned that all five interceptions came at either crucial moments or generated impressive individual efforts.

Bates, Terrell, and Clark Phillips have produced interceptions in the fourth quarter. Justin Simmons had his signature moment intercepting a Patrick Mahomes throw in the end zone. Who could forget Troy Andersen's pick-six off Mathew Judon's savvy deflection on an attempted screen by Derek Carr? Those moments have played a major role in the Falcons being on top of the NFC South. They will need even more to remain there going into an upcoming intriguing three-game stretch.

Making strides or shootouts on the horizon? While the upcoming three opponents have significant defensive flaws, they all possess aggressive quarterbacks who can take over a game with their array of playmakers. Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Dallas are built to attack defenses through the air. Unless they are playing with a sizable lead or Kenneth Walker is running like prime Adrian Peterson, these offenses want to exploit mismatches on the perimeter and produce explosive plays downfield.

The way in which the Falcons have managed to limit those plays will be tested. Although Tampa Bay's longest completion went for 23 yards in their first meeting, they have the weapons to break open any defense, including Atlanta in a second effort.

Before what should be a fascinating rematch against the Buccaneers , a desperate Seahawks squad comes to Atlanta coming off three infuriating losses. Falling behind in games and failing to maintain a steady offensive rhythm has left them scrambling for answers. Despite their issues, they possess one of the more dangerous offenses in the league. That starts with Geno Smith and a trio of dynamic wide receivers.

The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar highlighted that Smith leads the league in dropbacks. Coping with negative game scripts and an ultra-aggressive offensive coordinator does inflate those numbers. Throwing the ball frequently is their best path to success, given the offensive line limitations and wide receivers' ability to win individual matchups. The way offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb uses stack and bunch alignments to get DK Metcalf, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett free releases and open space will pose problems for a secondary that hasn't faced a trio of wide receivers of this caliber all season.

Metcalf will be playing with a chip on his shoulder after being on the receiving end of unfortunate plays not going his way against the 49ers. Morris did use Terrell a bit to shadow Mike Evans a few weeks ago. It wouldn't be surprising to see him do something similar against Metcalf, although Terrell's tendency to get overzealous can become problematic against bigger wide receivers who embrace facing physical cornerbacks.

An eye-opening late-game interception against Carolina could earn Phillips more playing time. While Mike Hughes has exceeded expectations by being steady on the outside, the coaching staff is starting to insert Phillips into the fray with greater frequency and comfort. His smooth technique, high football IQ, and ball skills make him an intriguing corner who can make game-changing plays. Incorporating him more often may prove to be valuable against shifty receivers like Smith-Njigba and Lockett. In a matchup where both offenses aim to push the pace and produce explosive plays, some defensive risks must be taken to get stops and force turnovers.

As the cornerback rotation could receive some slight alterations and players like Terrell know they need to step up, it makes the secondary one of the biggest things to watch closely for in the next three games. They have held their own, but it needs to go beyond being a make-or-break defense. Bates will be at the center of that, and is a player Kirk Cousins said reminds him of Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. That kind of praise doesn't get much better for the sharp, playmaking safety. His presence will be massive going against quarterbacks who aren't hesitant about threading the needle down the seam and throwing in-breaking routes into tight windows.

Bates usually shines brightest in the big games. It's only a matter of time before he produces another memorable performance. Will he receive that assistance from his teammates who can't allow the Seahawks to get loose and find a consistent rhythm? That's the big question for a secondary that has been cohesive but remains vulnerable due to Terrell not playing up to high standards, looming questions over Alford's production in the slot this season, and most of all how the coaching staff is insistent on schematically allowing high-percentage looks with their zone coverage setups.

The next three games will give a strong indicator regarding whether the secondary truly stands as an improved unit in 2024, or is one that can't hold up against pass-oriented offenses.