Atlanta Falcons: Top Five Current Falcon’s Players
By Kit Anderson
- Vic Beasley
Vic Beasley has changed the Falcon’s defense and is a big part of the Falcon’s success this season. A year ago Beasley was considered a bust and the Falcons wondered if they would even have Beasley in a starting role. Not only that but the Falcons were in the bottom of the league in pressures and had zero pass rush. Quarterbacks could sit in the pockets forever until the Falcon’s secondary finally broke down.
A year later and the Falcon’s defensive strong point is their pass rush. Not only that but Beasley leads the league in sacks and fumbles forced at his position. Beasley was more dynamic this season then Von Miller or any other household name pass rushers. He has taken a huge step forward in his game and is the best defensive player on the Falcon’s roster in 2016.
Talking about the steps forward that Beasley has taken wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the role that Dwight Freeney has played in developing the young pass rusher. The veteran defensive end has been a productive situational pass rusher for the Falcons while still being able to mentor Beasley and teach him how to be successful as an NFL pass rusher. He has reportedly helped add the spin move to Beasley’s arsenal as well a move that Freeney is known for and still works over a decade later.
If the Falcons end up in Houston Vic Beasley deserves just as much credit as any of the offensive star players that are on the Falcon’s roster. In a little under a year Beasley has gone from an after thought on an average team to the leading sack artist in the NFL on a playoff powerhouse. Funny how quickly things can change.