Atlanta Falcons fans might have cause for concern as it relates to Vic Beasley and the team’s impotent pass-rushing defense in 2016.
Facing a Miami Dolphins offense that has been fodder for pass rushers the past four years, Atlanta’s defense failed to register a single sack and barely applied any pressure at all.
Beasley was drafted No. 8 overall last year, and it was expected he’d be a significant contributor on the defensive line as a pass rusher. After logging just four sacks last year, it appears the second-year player might be stuck in reverse at this time.
He suffered a shoulder sprain this summer but didn’t want to put any blame on that injury when asked about it following a humiliating performance on Thursday night.
“Nah, it ain’t working right now,” Beasley said, via ESPN.com. “I have to go to the film room, go to the practice film, and try to critique some thing. It is [frustrating] at times. I just know I have to keep working. … I know what’s expected of me, but it’s not a sense of pressure. It’s just what’s expected of me. I just have to keep attacking each day.”
One word of advice we’d like to offer Beasley is that random spin moves probably aren’t his best weapon.
https://twitter.com/CharlesRobinson/status/769176979731918849
Clearly, Dwight Freeney he is not.
The Falcons are trying to find a place within the defense for Beasley’s natural athleticism and explosiveness to shine. He was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker this summer, but so far we’re seeing quite the tepid on-field response to the change.
Atlanta was the worst in the NFL last year at sacking quarterbacks, logging just 19. If things don’t turn around quickly for Beasley and the rest of the front seven when it comes to rushing the passer, it’s probable the defense will once again be among the worst in the league on this score in 2016.