Atlanta Falcons pass rush will be tough to handle in 2017
The Atlanta Falcons have built an enviable defensive front. They will be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators in 2017…
Imagine having Takkarist McKinley and Vic Beasley on the same team.
The Atlanta Falcons are going to have a lot of fun with that possibility, and eventual reality.
When the 2017 season begins, the Falcons are going to have a very fearsome group of players that can get after the quarterback, starting with the reigning NFL sack champion in Vic Beasley.
Beasley was a high draft pick because of his elite athleticism and speed, and his ability to bend around the edge quickly to make a play on the quarterback. Beasley’s combination of speed, burst off the snap, and ability to get pressure from almost anywhere on the defensive front are only going to be enhanced by the presence of a player like McKinley.
McKinley has great functional strength and can bully offensive linemen into the quarterback when he wants to, but he’s a lot more versatile as an edge rusher than people really give him credit for. He’s explosive off the snap and also has that natural bend around the edge to get to the quarterback consistently.
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He’s strong and fast with long arms, and when the Falcons are able to pin their ears back and just get after the quarterback, it’s going to be really tough for teams to block both at the same time.
Not only these two off the edge, either. The Falcons went out this offseason and picked up Dontari Poe, who can certainly add pressure from the interior defensive line. They also have Grady Jarrett, who burst onto the scene in last year’s postseason. He’s another player that’s tough to handle on the inside, and there are other talented players up front in Atlanta as well.
Ra’Shede Hageman is a former second round pick that can play both inside and outside. Adrian Clayborn – when healthy – is a solid option off the edge, as are Brooks Reed, Courtney Upshaw, and recently acquired Jack Crawford, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Falcons have a lot of intriguing combination options up front defensively, but the wow factor will come off the edge with speedy and athletic McKinley and Beasley.