Right, not gonna matter probably in the end but fuck the defense looked like shit at the end, don't care what injuries we had.
Obviously the correct move which we haven't really seen often enough. Would love Robert Saleh but it looks like he's going back to San Francisco.
Just an incredibly bad hire. Was a complete joke at Washington and had no experience as a DC in the league. still can’t believe we’re stuck with Morris for a while.
I honestly think morris will be fine with strong coordinators. Lake was not that at all. Still haven’t decided on Robinson, but I think I like him mostly
For the first time in I don’t know how long, the OC put the ball in the hands of the best players and look at the (individual) results.
He going to hire someone that will help him with clock management or will he just continue to blame his QB?
One potential candidate to replace Lake is former Falcons assistant and New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, according to Fox 5's Miles Garrett. “Not saying he’ll be the guy, but a name to watch to replace Lake could be former #Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich,” Garrett posted on X. Morris has a long-standing connection with Ulbrich, who served as his defensive coordinator when Morris was the Falcons’ interim head coach in 2022 following Dan Quinn’s dismissal. Ulbrich was part of Atlanta’s coaching staff from 2015 to 2022, beginning as a linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator. Since leaving Atlanta, Ulbrich has been the Jets’ defensive coordinator, overseeing units that ranked 1st, 29th, 21st, and 20th in scoring defense during his tenure. He was assigned interim head coaching duties in New York following Robert Saleh's midseason firing this year. As Morris and the Falcons search for Lake's replacement, Ulbrich makes a lot of sense for a name to watch.
So one year he’s had a good defense with the Jets? Also, if someone willingly comes back to this dysfunctional franchise, I immediately worry about their decision making…
Side note hope TB keeps Bowles. Watching that shit last night was really familiar for me as a Falcons fan
Taking Ruke Orhorhoro at 35 should have gotten everyone fired. Holy shit that was so bad, my god. As of now we have 5 picks(15, 46, no 3rd round thanks to Judon signing , 117, 199, 241) in the draft and ~4 million in cap space. I realize the cap space will change but this is grim. /rant, thanks for listening
and my biggest fear is the FO thinks Ruke, Trice and Dorlus will be a lot better in '25 so we won't draft any DL/Edge
I am more optimistic than I have been in a long time because it seems like they have found a quarterback.
Ideally we trade back to accumulate more picks and draft OL and DL. Just not sure how eager teams will be to move up in this draft. So naturally we'll trade up and draft someone with a 2nd round grade
Braden Fiske and T'Vondre Sweat were beasts in college and sitting there and we traded up for a guy that only was 3rd team all ACC once.
the algorithm sent me this after reading your post and now I’m debating whether or not I should jump off a bridge, blow up the Benz, or maybe both
It's still early, but that Ruke pick has got to be the worst Falcons pick in the last couple decades, right? At least ones like the Pitts pick was betting on talent within a stone's throw of the general neighborhood of where others were evaluating him. Like Bijon was overdrafted for a RB too, but his talent is luckily making it justifiable. How does anyone justify spending almost late first round value on a guy all available evidence showed would be a 3rd and has so far has shown value of like a 5th?
2021 2nd round - S Richie Grant --- signed over, 37.7 grade in 2024 per PFF (#111 out of 111 graded safety min 150 snaps) 2022 2nd round - EDGE Arnold Ebiketie --- 68.2 grade in 2024 per PFF (#38 out of 71 graded edges min 500 snaps) 2022 2nd round - LB Troy Andersen --- 60.4 grade in 2024 per PFF (#60 out of 93 graded linebackers min 225 snaps) (426 total snaps in the last 2 seasons due to injuries) 2022 3rd round - LB DeAngelo Malone --- 36.1 grade in 2024 per PFF (#152 out of 153 graded linebackers min 90 snaps) 2023 3rd round - DL Zach Harrison --- 67.2 grade in 2024 per PFF (#33 out of 128 interior defenders min 250 snaps) 2024 2nd round - DL Ruke Orhorhoro --- 56.2 grade in 2024 per PFF (#88 out of 167 interior defenders min 150 snaps) 6 picks in the first 3 rounds the last 4 drafts on defenders and this is what we got. A league average edge (at best) and a league average interior player. 2 of the worst players in the league at their positions in Grant and Malone, a linebacker who can't stay on the field and is a project when he can in Anderson and a clearly well overdrafted Ruke. This front office group still having a job is an absolute joke, but here we are. You can't build an NFL roster when you whif on this many top half of the draft picks.
The best players on our defense last year - signing due to our last DC's familiarity in New Orleans (Ellis) - expensive free agent signing (Bates) - draft picks from previous front offices (Terrell, Jarrett) Who on defense has Fontenot drafted that even remotely impresses you? Clark Phillips maybe? Landman was a nice find in the UFDA pile. They've had 4 drafts!
Rich McKay probably loves this. I’m underwhelmed but if we don’t nail our draft it doesn’t matter if Spags is our DC
But fucking man do we love retreads that have been here except when we had an offensive staff with Shanahan, LeFleur and McDaniel
The best part about this hire is that it might kill Buck Belue, who hasnt shut up all week about how Ulbrech recruited Roquon Smith to UCLA only to leave the day after signing day
They were the #1 total defense and #1 passing defense since 2022 and the only defense to be top 5 in total defense each of the last 3 years according to the graphic the Falcons social media team just shared.