Atlanta Falcons: The Tough Kroy Biermann Situation

When times are tough for a team, fans love a scapegoat. It’s easy to point the finger at the poor performance of a few players, rather than assess the playing group as a whole. Unfortunately, a standard ‘average’ performance can cause a player to be vilified if he’s on the wrong side of the fanbase. One player who, in recent weeks, had found himself on the outside looking in is Atlanta Falcons DE/OLB Kroy Biermann.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, the edge rusher out of Montana enjoyed successful spells early on in his career as a complimentary piece to the Falcons pass rush. His tackle and sack numbers were impressive for someone on limited snaps and, when paired with John Abraham, filled the starting role solidly if not unspectacularly in 2011 and 2012.

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A hybrid style player, Biermann is undersized for a true 4-3 DE but his quickness has allowed him to factor well into the coverage game. In fact, Biermann seemed the perfect fit for defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s ‘amoeba’ style defense – athletic enough to line up anywhere in the front 7, able to show pressure but drop back into coverage and a strong enough leader to marshal the defensive line. When the Falcons released John Abraham following the 2012 season, Biermann was left as the only established edge rusher on the Falcons roster, and was thrust into the spotlight more so than in the past. He started 2013 unremarkably, collecting just 5 solo tackles and 0 sacks, before tearing his achilles and being placed on injury reserve for the remainder of the season.

Now, 3 games in to the 2014 season with an experining contract, Biermann finds himself on the wrong side of the fan base due to uninspiring performances and a dismal statline. Having posted just 15 tackles, 0 sacks and a mere 3 quarterback hurries despite playing close to 80% of the Falcons defensive snaps, fans have been quick to point the finger at Biermann as the weak link on defense – but is this criticism justified, and where do the Falcons go from here?

“At first glance, it would appear that fans have every right to be critical of Kroy Biermann’s season. The defensive end has struggled since becoming a focal point of the Falcons pass rush. His stat line to date is anything but impressive, and at 29 years old it’s easy to suggest we’ve seen Kroy reach his ceiling.”

At first glance, it would appear that fans have every right to be critical of Kroy Biermann’s season. Despite having succeeded in a complimentary role, Biermann has struggled since becoming a focal point of the Falcons pass rush. His stat line to date is anything but impressive, and at 29 years old it’s easy to suggest we’ve seen Kroy reach his ceiling. As mentioned earlier, Biermann has played in nearly 80% of defensive snaps, having played 162 of the 206 this season. The number may have been even higher were the Falcons starters not rested in week 3. Despite many opportunities to do so, Biermann has only affected the play 18 times (15 tackles and 3 QB hurries) in 162 snaps, suggesting he is involved in only 11% of the Falcons defensive plays.

Whilst not a perfect measure, this number does indicate that it’s easy to see why fans would be so quick to call Biermann a non-factor. To be fair, they’re not wrong. The once promising Biermann showed all the right signs early on in his career, but has become completely obsolete in the Falcons pass rush in 2014. He has also been embarrassed a number of times; juked out of his shoes by Pierre Thomas is week 1, blown up by a rookie fullback in week 2 and continually pushed out of position in week 3. So why is he on the field so often?

Sep 15, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Daryl Richardson (26) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Kroy Biermann (71) during the game at Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Rams 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

For starters, Biermann is trusted by the coaching staff. In a linebacking corps that contains two sophomore UDFAs and two rookies, a veteran presence has its advantages. Similarly, outside of Biermann and rotational end Osi Umenyiora, the defensive end stocks feature one rookie, two sophomores and one third year player. Veteran experience and an understanding of the playbook is helping Biermann keep his job in an otherwise unproven defensive group. Secondly, Kroy Biermann is an above average run defender, and can serve a useful role setting the edge. Though his tackle numbers don’t indicate it, Biermann does well at keeping opposing running backs between the tackles, where they can be swallowed up by the improving interior of the Falcons D-line. Thirdly, Biermann’s ability to drop back into coverage and confuse the QB with movement helps the Falcons pre-snap, but his dwindling athletic ability upon his return from achilles surgery is reducing his success in coverage. It would seem that Biermann has a role, but is being used far too often in situations that he can no longer contribute consistently. So what are the options for the Falcons?

“The Falcons must reduce Kroy Biermann’s role to that of a rushing down end, and utilise the pass rushing ability of our younger ends to pressure the quarterback. At the end of the season, the Falcons should be left with much greater defensive end depth that when 2014 began, and will be able to assess Kroy Biermann’s status as a free agent based on what he shows as a stuational pass rusher.”

It needs to be said that, whilst young, our defensive end group has looked excellent in the limited snaps they’ve taken this season. Third year DE Jonathan Massaquoi has been credited with 7 tackles and a sack in barely half the number of snaps when compared with Kroy Biermann (82-162). Despite having only played 39% of defensive snaps, Massaquoi has shown just as much in pushing the pocket and pressuring the QB. 2^nd year end Stansly Maponga has recorded 2 tackles and a sack in just 18% of the Falcons defensive snaps. As usual, the numbers don’t tell the full story here.

The younger ends have proven much more difficult for opposing offensive tackles to deal with, and have shown much more by way of pass rush moves and pocket pressure. After seeing an increase of snaps in week 3, and having had more time to learn the playbook, it is clear the Falcons need to get the young pass rushers more involved. That said, Maponga, Massaquoi and Malliciah Goodman can be less effective at setting the edge in run defense when compared with Biermann. From here, the solution seems obvious.

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As we saw in week 3, Biermann needs his snap count reduced. Playing Biermann early in games, and in rushing downs and distances, allows the Falcons defense to operate effectively from the first whistles. However, as the game goes on, and especially in passing situations, the Falcons must rotate the fresh, young DEs onto the field. If this requires us to simplify the nature of Mike Nolan’s ‘amoeba’ defense for now, then so be it. The Falcons must reduce Kroy Biermann’s role to that of a rushing down end, and utilise the pass rushing ability of our younger ends to pressure the quarterback. In doing so, Maponga, Goodman and Massaquoi will gain valuable experience, to the point where they can be relied upon for much higher snap counts than in previous seasons. At the end of the season, the Falcons should be left with much greater defensive end depth that when 2014 began, and will be able to assess Kroy Biermann’s status as a free agent based on what he shows as a stuational pass rusher.

What do you think of Kroy Biermann’s season? Should the Falcons look to reduce his snap count, or is he just in a rough patch? How much game time should our younger defensive players get? Please comment your thoughts below, and as always keep up to date with Falcons news, views and analysis through Blogging Dirty.

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