Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta Braves
Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta Braves
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has set a clear objective for the Atlanta Falcons: impacting the opposing quarterback. During his introductory press conference, Ulbrich emphasized this focus by stating, "Affecting the quarterback is my top priority."
The Falcons struggled with sack production in 2024, finishing second to last in the NFL with 31 sacks. Only the New England Patriots had fewer, with 28. Despite an overall record of 8-9, compared to the Patriots' 4-13, Atlanta showed some improvement late in the season. They recorded just 10 sacks through Week 12 but added another 21 from Week 13 onward.
Ulbrich highlighted that while sacks are important, they are not the only measure of defensive success. He explained, "You've got to affect the quarterback in two ways... Either we affect him physically... Or we affect him from the standpoint of a coverage perspective and try to confuse him."
In terms of pressure on quarterbacks, Atlanta managed to rank ninth in hurries with 58 but tied for 21st in knockdowns with 42. Arnold Ebiketie led the team with six sacks, followed by Matthew Judon with 5.5 and Kaden Elliss with five.
Ulbrich acknowledged various factors influencing sack performance: "It's not just the men all the time," he said. "Sometimes it's the scheme. Sometimes it's the context of the game."
Before joining Atlanta, Ulbrich spent four seasons with the New York Jets. Under his guidance, their defense ranked among the top five in total yards over three consecutive years. The Jets achieved moderate success in sacks during this period but never finished better than a 7-10 record.
Reflecting on defensive strategy, Ulbrich concluded, "You can't thrive in this league from a defensive standpoint without a good pass rush."
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