Our season lies in the hands of one person...

[Falco4]

Of course, the topic title is being used for dramatic effect. :P

This is not supposed to be a revelation. All of us know that our secondary was extremely weak last year, especially with our injuries to Williams and Moore.

Everyone thought we needed to focus on a huge upgrade to our pass rush (something that we did not get in the draft). Although I agree with this statement, I think it's important to cite two different cases:

Case #1: Giants Pass Rush: No doubt, this probably was the biggest factor to their superbowl run. They were extremely successful, however, take a look at this past year. Their pass rush was literally a non-factor. Why? Kenny Phillips, an absolute ball-hawk, was injured for the entire year, and the Giants had to deal with a much weaker secondary. So, when the pass rush was less than par for a game, the effect was devastating since the secondary couldn't make any stops.

Case #2: Jets Secondary: Despite having a weak pass rush, the Jets were able to muster a top defense last year. They have, without a doubt, the best secondary in the game. They don't need a pass rush; they blitz their linebackers on almost every down, so having athletic and versitle linebackers are a must. And, with the addition of Cromartie, this team will force a lot of turnovers. And, even though they have both Cromartie and Revis, they added ANOTHER secondary back in the draft. Jets have a clear philosophy: fast and physical secondary backs trump pass rush.

What's my point here? The league, which has been following the Giants model of getting premier pass rushers, is now moving towards the secondary-happy Jets model. TD clearly is showing this: adding a versitile linebacker who is fast enough to rush the QB and drop into coverage. Adding a ballhawk in Franks.

And of course, Dunta Robinson. I feel good about almost every aspect of the Falcons: QB, RBs, WRs, Linebackers, etc. But if I could single-out one person who can make or break the Falcons season, it's Dunta. If he can do what he's being paid to do (shuttin down #1 WRs) as well as lead and improve the secondary, this team can really go all the way. And, by taking a little pressure of our frontline, I think bierman and Abe can really let loose and get some sacks.

Here's an excerpt from the AJC: AJC Article

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"In addition to his skills, the Falcons hope that Robinson can infuse some swagger and confidence into the unit. Before the secondary defended the wide receivers in one-on-one drills, he attempted to set the tone and step into the leadership role.

The cornerbacks gathered in a huddle.

"I said, ‘this is the first step for us to becoming the best secondary in the NFL,'" Robinson said. "‘We have to go out there like we can do it. We [must] have that belief in ourselves.' That's the tone that we are trying to set."

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[falconidae]

Sorry, the most important person is Ryan, hands down. If Ryan has a great year, falcons can outscore other teams. If Ryan has a great year, then the pass rush gets to look much better, because other teams will be forced to pass.

As afar as the D goes- Jerry is more important- if he's healthy and provides the interior pass rush that was lacking last year, this D looks much better.

[Falco4]

Sorry, the most important person is Ryan, hands down. If Ryan has a great year, falcons can outscore other teams. If Ryan has a great year, then the pass rush gets to look much better, because other teams will be forced to pass.

As afar as the D goes- Jerry is more important- if he's healthy and provides the interior pass rush that was lacking last year, this D looks much better.

1) I already believe that Ryan, White, TG, Lofton, etc. will be solid this year. I've already assumed that they will have great years. But Dunta's play will have the biggest impact since he was specifically brought in to revamp the secondary. And, we still don't know if he'll play the same way he did for the Texans.

2) Again, here we have differences in philosophy. Pass rushers are key pieces, no doubt. I would LOVE to have Jerry healthy and causing havoc on the front lines. But i still see teams copying the Jets and getting fast and physical secondary backs. It seems to be par for the course.

[Chitown2ATL_Falcon]

Sorry, the most important person is Ryan, hands down. If Ryan has a great year, falcons can outscore other teams. If Ryan has a great year, then the pass rush gets to look much better, because other teams will be forced to pass.

As afar as the D goes- Jerry is more important- if he's healthy and provides the interior pass rush that was lacking last year, this D looks much better.

Wrong!!! There's an old saying grasshopper, "DEFENSE wins championships!!"

[delaigle]

Wrong!!! There's an old saying grasshopper, "DEFENSE wins championships!!"

OLD is correct

Saints, 20th point allowed, 25th total yards allowed, 26 passing yards allowed, 21 rushing yards allowed

There is also another old saying that football is a TEAM sport

Edited May 14, 2010 by delaigle

[Mr Pickle1]

Wrong!!! There's an old saying grasshopper, "DEFENSE wins championships!!"

It's an old saying for a reason. In today's game, with today's rules, and today's refs, offense wins championships. It just does. All you really need from your D in todays game is turnovers. You get some play makers in the back 7 with ball skills, and a great offense, you're going to do very well.

[Beef]

Offense has a tendency to enable the defense. The Aint's just won a SB 100% based on that concept.

When your team is down 14 points at the half & 21 points in the 4th quarter, scheming on defense becomes significantly easier & looks tremendously better as a result.

Games are won in the trenches, period. A great offense & secondary will be products of our lines. And if the lines play well, it all compounds in on itself with exponential productivity.

Our season lies in the hands of 9 people, not one.

[delaigle]

Actually, if Dunta is as good as many of us of hope, the season would be in the hands of the other defenders, because the opponents would throw away from Dunta most of the time.

[bossFALCON™]

Sorry, the most important person is Ryan, hands down. If Ryan has a great year, falcons can outscore other teams. If Ryan has a great year, then the pass rush gets to look much better, because other teams will be forced to pass.

As afar as the D goes- Jerry is more important- if he's healthy and provides the interior pass rush that was lacking last year, this D looks much better.

pretty much.

plus the pass rush is key with our scheme. it doesn't really matter who we have back there if we can't get after the passer. the giants secondary in 09 was MUCH better than the one they had in 07 anyways, even without kenny phillips.

[Falco4]

Offense has a tendency to enable the defense. The Aint's just won a SB 100% based on that concept.

When your team is down 14 points at the half & 21 points in the 4th quarter, scheming on defense becomes significantly easier & looks tremendously better as a result.

Games are won in the trenches, period. A great offense & secondary will be products of our lines. And if the lines play well, it all compounds in on itself with exponential productivity.

Our season lies in the hands of 9 people, not one.

The idea here is that this 1 person (Dunta) WILL influence the 9.

[falconidae]

1) I already believe that Ryan, White, TG, Lofton, etc. will be solid this year. I've already assumed that they will have great years. But Dunta's play will have the biggest impact since he was specifically brought in to revamp the secondary. And, we still don't know if he'll play the same way he did for the Texans.

2) Again, here we have differences in philosophy. Pass rushers are key pieces, no doubt. I would LOVE to have Jerry healthy and causing havoc on the front lines. But i still see teams copying the Jets and getting fast and physical secondary backs. It seems to be par for the course.

1) Ryan can cover many many problems on D by simply outscoring the other team- that's more important than a good/great CB.

2) W/O a good/great pass rush, won't matter who's in the secondary. Nobody can cover for 6 seconds.

[Beef]

The idea here is that this 1 person (Dunta) WILL influence the 9.

That's like saying Sharper is the reason the Aints won the SB. It's a selfish premise & far from true. They couldn't have done it without Brees, Evans, Colston, Thomas, Greer, Bush, Vilma, or Hartley either.

I understand what you're trying to say though. That D-Rob must make a difference & improve our secondary significantly or we'll be in trouble. I get that.

But you need to understand it's much more than that. Last year's secondary would have been MUCH better if we had some inside pass rush which would have helped our DE pass rush which would have helped overall QB pressures which would have resulted in more hurried/bad throws & potential for big plays from our secondary. Add to that if the offense is always going 3 n' out, playing from behind, & the defense is exhausted because they're on the field for too long & having to always guess what play is coming every down all game, we're going to look worse. But if the offense is always on the field & ahead & the opponents are the ones always playing from behind forcing them to keep trying to throw the ball for big plays & play catchup football, it's easy to scheme for that & there are many more opportunites for the secondary to make plays with those huge advantages.

And the thing is, ALL of that starts & ends in the trenches. Yes, Dunta is important, but he's just a cog in a machine full of cogs.

[DirtybirdUK23]

I personally believe in the doctrine of only being as strong as your weakest link.

It's down to THE WHOLE TEAM. Come on you guys who are here quoting the stats of the Saints as proof that you don't need a staunch D to win games, it is not possible to sustain that sort of production LONGTERM, hence why in the 2009 NFL Draft the Saints were picking at no. 14.

It didn't even work consistently for them throughout the course of the 2009 season, how many times did they come close to losing it with their offence at the helm! And their D whilst the might not have ranked well in points allowed, total yards allowed, passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed, they created 45 turn overs.

So even if Defence alone doesn't win championships, they are a big contributor to the team getting there.

[Dale4Saul2Red0]

OLD is correct

Saints, 20th point allowed, 25th total yards allowed, 26 passing yards allowed, 21 rushing yards allowed

There is also another old saying that football is a TEAM sport

Who played the best defense in the Super Bowl? EXACTLY!

[FalconFanSince1970]

Our season in the hands of T-H-E B-U-R-N-E-R

Check our record with and without good Burner games and get back with me. The Falcons go as Michael Turner goes.

He's won many games when our secondary looked like crap. We've lost many games when our secondary looked good but he was shut down. He is the main cog. Him and the line opens his holes. Not Dunta, Ryan, TonyG, Roddy, Abe, Jerious or Lofton.

Do the analysis and it will come clear in a hurry.

[GuerillaOntology]

I don't know who is worse: You, or Ledbetter?

Cheers,

GO

[falconidae]

Who played the best defense in the Super Bowl? EXACTLY!

That's because Freeney couldn't go full tilt and get the pass rush they needed.

[GuerillaOntology]

That's because Freeney couldn't go full tilt and get the pass rush they needed.

Good point.

+1

[falconidae]

Our season in the hands of T-H-E B-U-R-N-E-R

Check our record with and without good Burner games and get back with me. The Falcons go as Michael Turner goes.

He's won many games when our secondary looked like crap. We've lost many games when our secondary looked good but he was shut down. He is the main cog. Him and the line opens his holes. Not Dunta, Ryan, TonyG, Roddy, Abe, Jerious or Lofton.

Do the analysis and it will come clear in a hurry.

I think this is the year that the equation changes and Ryan becomes more important. Ryan touches the ball every single play on O. If he improves his decision making just a little bit, he takes over as the MVP on O.

I think that if the Oline had been healthy last year , Snelling would have looked better than he did.

Ask yourself, would you rather have Redman/Turner or Ryan/ Snelling? I'm going Ryan/Snelling myself.

[Karst41]

Wrong!!! There's an old saying grasshopper, "DEFENSE wins championships!!"

I promise you that it is the team that scores the most point that wins the game.

[DavyDmx]

Our D-line is the unit that needs to shine the most in order for Dunta and company to flourish. Abe, Beerman, and company need to wreak havoc on opposing Quarterbacks so the "Iceman" can light up the scoreboard like a pinball machine.

[freebird587]

not saying any ONE person is the most important,but the K is a key piece to our winning as we have seen...unfortunatly

[nobkowski]

Actually, if Dunta is as good as many of us of hope, the season would be in the hands of the other defenders, because the opponents would throw away from Dunta most of the time.

I'm not so sure about this; cause unless Dunta is Revis good, he will still get thrown at quite a bit cause the staff has already said he will play whichever side the oppisition's #1 receiver is on.

I believe our fate lies in the combined play of the pass rush and over all coverage. The offense will hold up it's end of the bargain, so-to-speak.

[vabchbirdlover]

I'm not so sure about this; cause unless Dunta is Revis good, he will still get thrown at quite a bit cause the staff has already said he will play whichever side the oppisition's #1 receiver is on.

I believe our fate lies in the combined play of the pass rush and over all coverage. The offense will hold up it's end of the bargain, so-to-speak.

Good post. DL pressure should improve, particularily with PJ's expected return, (that

is, unless the reports of his career ending injury as reported by some are true), and

the continued Bierrman/Sibury development.

[Peyton]

The Jets did not have a weak pass rush last year. They might have had low sack numbers, but that is because teams were so cognizant of the different ways the Jets bring pressure that no teams called slow developing pass plays against the Jets.

The pass rush is the key to this defense getting better. There are very few, if any, CB who can succeed without the benefit of a pass rush, and Dunta Robinson is not one of them.