Atlanta Falcons: Is the Pass Rush Fixed for 2015?

The Atlanta Falcons came into the off-season with one clear goal in mind: Fix the pass rush. According to ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required), the Falcons had the fourth worst pass rush in the NFL with a -15.4 score.

Adrian Clayborn has missed 28 games in his 4 year career but when healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with

Now that the rookie mini-camps are underway and the “off-season” is practically over, are the Falcons going into the season with enough?

Adrian Clayborn

Clayborn will be a big hit or a huge miss.

In four years in the NFL, he has missed 28 games, 15 of them coming from last season. That is 44 percent of games that he has missed in his time in the league. But when healthy, every coach knows that he can be a big part of a team’s success on defense.

Vic Beasley

The Falcons had several options to go with sitting at the eighth pick, and they went with Vic Beasley.

"“This is the perfect fit for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons needed to find a pass rusher, and they have taken arguably the best pure pass rusher of the entire draft class. Beasley is an explosive athlete and he will immediately upgrade the defense. He can help the team from day one, and new head coach Dan Quinn will be delighted with the addition. A lot of work needs to be done, but this is the perfect start for the Falcons as they aim to rebuild the unit. Beasley also revealed that he was a Falcons fan growing up, and this was a dream move for him. Overall, this was almost the perfect fit for Atlanta coming into the draft, and they have got their man without needing to strike a trade. A+ for Thomas Dimitroff here.” Freddie Boston"

Beasley should help the team from day one, and he was widely regarded as the most polished pass rusher in the draft.

Kroy Biermann

Biermann may have been the most scrutinized and hated player on the Falcons last season, but that didn’t stop Thomas Dimitroff from striking a new deal with the defensive end. Although the numbers (4.5 sacks) show that he isn’t so bad, the stat sheet doesn’t reveal everything. He missed a lot of sacks, and gave away many opportunities. BUT, the fan base really shouldn’t be so mad about bringing Biermann back. Although he did miss a lot of tackles, at least he was able to get pressure on the quarterback. It’s also not so easy to play with no help around you. Besides, he’s tired of the hate.

Conclusion

With the addition of Adrian Clayborn, Vic Beasley, and the return of Kroy Biermann, the Falcons hold undoubtedly the most improved pass rush going into the 2015-2016 NFL season. If Clayborn is able to stay healthy and Beasley lives up to the hype, Georgia Dome will be blowing up in it’s last few years with the team.