The Atlanta Falcons late season defensive success will translate into 2020

For the first half of the 2019 season, the Atlanta Falcons defense looked like an absolute train wreck. Throughout the second half of the season, however, the defense performed exceptionally well and this success will translate into next season thanks to the coaching changes that were made.

Before Dan Quinn relinquished defensive play-calling duties over to then wide receivers and assistant coach, Raheem Morris and linebackers coach, Jeff Ulbrich, the Atlanta Falcons were 1-7 and nothing was going right.

The defensive backfield looked completely lost and the defensive line was getting zero pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. To make matters worse, the defense gave up a whopping 250 points through eight games.

After changes were made at the bye week, the Atlanta Falcons went on a 6-2 run to close out the season. It looked like a completely different team from what we saw throughout the first half of the season. The defensive backs looked like they knew what they were doing and for the most part, played excellent coverage.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday that they have hired Joe Whitt Jr to take over the secondary as Morris takes control of the defense he helped improve.

The defensive line, specifically Vic Beasley, became a force along the defensive line once coaching changes were made. Beasley had one and a half sacks heading into the bye week. By the end of the season, Beasley had eight sacks with two forced fumbles.

The defense as a whole started forcing turnovers on a consistent basis and, with the exception of the 35-22 defeat at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, held every opponent under 30 points, three times holding their opponent under 20 points and twice they held their opponent without a touchdown.

These are incredible statistics put up by this defense in the second half of the season and it shows how good this defense can be.

The team even proved that they can play against the best teams in the NFC by beating the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Atlanta Falcons recently promoted Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator and Jeff Ulbrich to assistant head coach, two guys who are the most responsible for this remarkable turnaround.

With these changes made for next season, Atlanta Falcons fans should expect a defense that looks more like the one we saw throughout the second half of the 2019 season. If that’s the case, then the rest of the NFC better watch out.