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Paul Worrilow: Even Better in 2015?

By John Buhler

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LB Paul Worrilow has been the Atlanta Falcons’ most consistent front-seven player the past two seasons.  After going undrafted out of the University of Delaware in 2013, Paul has become one of the most recognizable members on the Falcons defense.  His lunch pail work ethic has resonated with countless fans as he has become Atlanta’s tackling machine.  After playing on a dismal defense these last two seasons, can Paul Worrilow be even better in 2015?

-= Related: Can Matt Ryan Improve Under New OC Kyle Shanahan? =-

Part of the reason Worrilow wore the Green Dot for the Falcons defense under former DC Mike Nolan is because of his football intelligence.  Paul at times seemed like the only guy that who could keep up with the complexities of Nolan’s head scratching defense.  Even a year later, I still don’t fully understand what exactly that defense was trying to carry out.

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    • Paul was still able to make stops for the Falcons when often times his teammates found themselves flat-footed and confused.  Now Worrilow plays in a new defensive scheme that is a truer version of a 4-3 with a coaching strategy to play as fast as humanly possible.  I believe Paul can play more freely for Dan Quinn in new DC Richard Smith’s defense, as he won’t have to second guess every part of an exhausting mental checklist.  He can just go out and play ball!

    Worrilow should have some help this season in his linebacker group.  The free agent acquisitions of Justin Durant and Brooks Reed give the Falcons capable NFL starters than can go a long way in bolstering what was arguably the weakest LB corps in the League last season.  Paul will have more than just Joplo Bartu making plays beside him in the middle of the field.

    I feel like when he was playing under former HC Mike Smith, Paul had to assume the Swiss Army knife role in the Falcons defense to make up for a multitude of defensive inefficiencies scattered all across the gridiron.  Worrilow had to drop back into pass coverage more times than I was comfortable with.  I even saw him having to pull something out of nothing and try to contribute in Atlanta’s non-existent pass rush.

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    Dan Quinn will have Paul Worrilow doing what he does best for the Atlanta Falcons this fall: stop the run, cover tight ends, and relay defensive messages to his unit.  Perhaps he will get even better at pass coverage in certain scenarios as he can have a more focused attention to that part of his game.  No longer will Paul be spread thin in this Falcons defense.

    It’s not out of the realm of possibility that if the Falcons were able to execute playoff-caliber football, Paul Worrilow could make his first trip to the Pro Bowl.  I think with the help of this new coaching staff, especially LBs Coach Jeff Ulbrich, Paul can continue to improve in his third NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons.

    Next: Vic Beasley: What Should We Expect In Year One?

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