Falcons defense still can't catch a break after rough offseason

Going into Week 1,there was a big question markabout whether the Atlanta Falcons defense would be able toget pressure on the quarterback. This wasn't just a question for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but for the entire season.

It's a fair thing to ask, especially with how crazy the offseason was for the Falcons. Jalon Walker tore his ACL during training camp, and about a week or so later, James Pearce Jr. was suspended for the first eight games of the season. Walker and Pearce were drafted by the Falcons in the first round last season, and they showed they'd be the two main players on the edge for the future.

Now, with both of them out, the Falcons have to rely on their depth, and they showed against the Steelers that it was no problem. They were able to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers and even forced a turnover in the first half. Outside of AJ Terrell having a few blunders, the secondary played well, and coming out of the game, it looked like there would be nothing to worry about as the season went on.

Da'Shawn Hand is a big loss for the Falcons

Unfortunately, some bad news came the next morning, as Da'Shawn Hand willmiss the rest of the seasonwith a quad injury. Hand was set to be an important part of the Falcons' interior line this season, and that just happens to be another player put on the shelf for the season. It feels like at this point the team can't catch a break, but defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is good at getting the most out of his players.

LaCale London will be looked upon more to make an impact, as well as players such as Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith. They showed against the Steelers that they can get pressure up the middle, and they'll have to keep doing it at an even higher level.

Falcons defense has to work together to make an impact

This could also put more pressure on the secondary, especially if the Falcons can't get to the quarterback as fast as they need to. If they're struggling with stopping the run, the linebackers will have to fill the gaps better. It's going to take complete group effort to make a difference, and the Falcons should be ready for the challenge.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Ian Cunningham add some more depth on the line with Hand's recent injury, and the Falcons have enough cap space to even make a trade if they want to.

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