ATL All Day
Fansided

Tackling Machine is Perfect Target for Falcons' New-Look Defense

By Richard Louis

Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Falcons have a crucial offseason ahead of them. After going 8-9 and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Falcons will use free agency, trades, and the NFL Draft to improve the roster.

Following the season, Atlanta fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and replaced him with Jeff Ulbrich. He was with the Falcons from 2015-2020, holding a variety of roles. Ulbrich was a Linebackers coach, assistant head coach, and interim defensive coordinator.

With him being back in Atlanta, the Falcons are already linked to a pending free agent. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen released an article ranking the top 50 free agents. In that piece, free agent linebacker Jamien Sherwood has been linked to the Falcons.

Fowler wrote, "Three different personnel evaluators brought up Sherwood to me unprompted when discussing the free agency class. Watch for Atlanta, which features a lot of former Jets staffing, or San Francisco, where former Jets coach Robert Saleh now runs the defense."

Falcons Rumors: Falcons Are a Team to Watch for Jamien Sherwood

Sherwood was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent four seasons under Ulbrich with the Jets. He played in a reserve role from 2021-23 but was thrust into the starting rotation this season.

Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley played in only four games this season due to multiple injuries, forcing Sherwood to step up. Over 17 games (16 starts), Sherwood finished first in the NFL in solo tackles (98) and tied for third in total tackles (158).

According to PFF, Sherwood had a 73.8 overall grade (35th among 189 eligible linebackers), a 77.1 run-defense grade (40th among 189 eligible linebackers), and a 66.2 coverage grade (39th among 189 eligible linebackers).

The 25-year-old is a downhill thumper with great play recognition skills. Sherwood also played safety in college and transitioned to linebacker in the pros. With that skillset in his back pocket, it gives him an edge in coverage against running backs and tight ends.

Linebacker Kaden Elliss led the way this past season for the Falcons, racking up the sixth-most total tackles (151) with five sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception.

With one stout linebacker in the fold, Atlanta could be adding another one.

Home/Atlanta Falcons