Atlanta Falcons: Grading the defense at Falcons bye week

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley (44) runs during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Defensive line

Weeks 1-4: B
Weeks 5-9: B
Overall: B

There’s been a lot to like about the defensive line this year, particularly with the run defense. Atlanta has allowed just 88.9 yards on the ground per game, and they have faced matchups with the likes of DeMarco Murray, Arian Foster and Doug Martin.

The biggest issue has come with the pass rush. This was the Achilles heel on defense last year, and it remains a problem now. Even with the addition of rookie Vic Beasley—who has seen his hot start cool off in recent weeks—the Falcons have made just 10 sacks in nine games, which is No. 31 in the NFL.

What this does is puts more strain on the secondary, which has to hold its coverages for longer. This makes it much easier for receivers to get open, and NFL quarterbacks will always operate more efficiently with a clean pocket.

Outlook: The run defense has been excellent, but the pass rush needs to step up a gear. The Falcons are on pace for 17 sacks, five fewer than the 22 they posted last year, which was a major disappointment. Putting more pressure on the quarterback will be a point of emphasis moving forward this year.

Next: Linebackers