Atlanta Falcons: Beasley Has Emerged as Atlanta’s Best Defensive Player
By Kit Anderson
Vic Beasley is enjoying a great season with the Atlanta Falcons. He has become not only a good player for the Falcons but one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons came into this season wondering where they would find anything close to a pass rush? NFL experts and team execs alike agreed that their pass rushing attack was a weakness and something that needed to be addressed in the off-season.
Dwight Freeney the veteran pass rusher was brought in to help boost the Falcon’s attack and the Falcons shored up a defensive line that struggled to stop the run game or put any type of pressure on the quarterback. One year later the Falcons surprised analysts and fans alike with a very good pass rushing defense that has the NFL’s leading sack artist of the 2016 season.
Vic Beasley’s season is being overshadowed by the defensive struggles that the Falcons had throughout the season. Beasley was the best pass rusher in the NFL in 2016 piling up a league leading 15.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles one of which was taken back all the way for a touchdown. Beasley is a dynamic player who uses his quickness to get past lineman who have a large size advantage.
Beasley has become not only the Falcon’s best defensive player but one of the best linebackers in all of the NFL. He has the speed to go out in pass coverage,is able to stop the run, and as already mentioned is one of the best pass rushers in the league.
What makes Beasley’s break through even more impressive is considering the issues that he had as a rookie coming out of Clemson. Beasley struggled with his size disadvantage often getting bullied on the line and disappearing at times altogether. While he showed flashes of what he has become in a game against Carolina, overall his season was disappointing and left many fans calling Beasley a draft bust.
Beasley didn’t let his struggles or the late team and defensive struggles get to him he put in the work and came back in 2016 ready to use his size to his advantage and that is exactly what he has done. With Diwght Freeney’s help Vic Beasley is becoming a great defensive player that will be an integral part of the Falcon’s young defense for a long time to come.
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Beasley has enjoyed a breakout season but the most important games are yet to come. While Matt Ryan is the most important player for the Falcon’s playoff chances Beasley is easily the 2nd most important player for the Falcons because as Beasley goes so does the Falcon’s defense.