The Atlanta Falcons dropped a costly season opener to Tampa Bay 23-20 thanks to the efforts of a struggling Younghoe Koo. Still, there were a number of bright spots in the performance, even amid the incredible frustration. Near the top of the list is the efforts of a new free agent addition and instant impact defender in linebacker Divine Deablo. The former Raider was signed to a two-year deal worth $14 million. If Week 1 was any indication, this is going to prove to be an incredible bargain.
Deablo was given a 78.3 PFF grade that was good enough for third highest among Atlanta defenders. This doesn't come as a surprise for fans who watched the game understanding how often the defender jumped off the screen. Wherever the football went, it seemed Deablo wasn't far behind attacking rushers and showing surprising ability in coverage as well. Jeff Ulbrich's defense is unquestionably benefiting from the surprise fit.
Falcons Appear to Have Gotten a Steal This Offseason in Linebacker Divine Deablo
A large piece of the opportunity that Deablo has been given is due to the continued injury struggles of Troy Andersen. There was a time when it appeared the Falcons had found a steal in the hard-hitting linebacker. However, it is hard to feel this way over the past two seasons when Andersen is so rarely able to take the field. Understanding this tendency, the Falcons prepared and brought in Deablo as a potential replacement.
It took only one game for this decision to age incredibly well and make it clear that he was Atlanta's steal of the offseason. While the defense has a lot of work to do, including finding a way to breathe more life into the pass rush, Deablo was a rare positive in the Falcon defense. It is an incredible asset to have a player with this level of speed who can hold up in coverage and willingly attack the run.
This is the type of presence in the middle of the field that was so obviously missed a season ago. It benefits fellow linebacker Kaden Elliss as well, freeing up the defender to be utilized in creative blitzes or to spy more mobile quarterbacks. Both of these things happened on Sunday, with Baker Mayfield being stopped short of a first-down run by Elliss, as well as being forced to throw the ball away too early due to a blitz.
Ulbrich is just starting to figure out this Atlanta defense, and Deablo is going to be a big piece of this. Atlanta fans can only hope that Week 1 is a sign of things to come from the secondary and linebacking groups while hoping for more consistency in the trenches.
Tampa surged in the second-half of the game based on Mayfield's ability to drop back and wait on targets to pop open. Yet again, the pass rush was an issue, a familiar refrain for a fan base that should enjoy what few bright spots there were in Sunday's heartbreaking loss.