Atlanta Falcons Need Vic Beasley to Return to Form
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons lost two big pieces of their pass rush in Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn this off-season. They will need Vic Beasley to step up and help fill the void.
Vic Beasley is one of the biggest keys to the Atlanta Falcons defense succeeding in the 2018 season. After sacking the quarterback 15.5 times in 2016 Beasley’s numbers dipped to 5 sacks in the 2017 season.
Watching the Falcons it is obvious the dip in his numbers came from playing linebacker more so and rushing the passer less. Beasley will again be focused on rushing the passer in 2018 and the Falcons will need him to return to form.
Adrian Clayborn and Dontari Poe may not have been stars but they were important and consistent defensive pieces. Vic Beasley will be looked at to help fill the void left by their departure. His ability to use a spin move and speed rush the passer will be huge to the Falcon’s 2018 success.
Without Beasley stepping up the team will be relying on Takk Mckinley and other unproven defensive linemen to provide a pass rush.
If the team can get Beasley to return to 2016 form their defense has the ability to be one of the better units in all of football. If not, there will be a lot of concern if the Falcons can rush the passer consistently.
In a pass-first League, it is a dangerous inability to be unable to rush the passer consistently. The Falcons defense stepped up and carried a stacked but anemic offense.
If the Falcons can find a way to repeat their defensive success while playing better offense they will easily be NFC favorites.
Vic Beasley is the biggest key to the Falcon’s defensive success in my opinion. Whether or not 2016 was the outlier year is a question that can only be answered once the Falcon’s long off-season comes to an end.