3 Best early moves of the Atlanta Falcons off-season

1. Atlanta parting ways with Dean Pees

Dean Pees retiring was a great move both for the former Atlanta coordinator and the Falcons. Pees had been a great DC and was attempting to turn around Atlanta’s often soft defense. The playcalling and decisions in tight games, however, left Pees open to criticism after two seasons of often playing in soft zones or going into prevent defense far too early in games.

Part of the problem wasn’t on Pees but the lack of pass rushers who could win and allow his scheme to work. The flip side of that argument is as a veteran coordinator Pees should be aware of this and call the defense differently or become more creative with his blitz packages.

Atlanta’s defense hadn’t improved and Dean Pees clearly wasn’t adjusting his strategy to what opposing offenses had planned each week. In-game adjustments proved difficult for Pees and resulted in more frustrating comebacks during the 2022 season with the most notable coming in Atlanta’s first matchup against the Saints. It was time for Dean Pees and the Falcons to part ways, with Pees retiring both sides are in a far better position in 2023.