The Falcons’ defensive struggles have been arguably the biggest reason they are 1-7 halfway through the 2019 season.
Injuries in the secondary to corner Desmond Trufant and safety Keanu Neal have played a role in this, but Atlanta’s defensive line — which has been mostly healthy through eight games — has been the defense’s primary issue.
Before last week’s loss to the Seahawks, the Falcons hadn’t recorded a sack in a month. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, the man who ended the month-long drought, is leading the team with three sacks.
While Atlanta’s edge rushers have underachieved this season, Jarrett is playing the best football of his career. Pro Football Focus has Jarrett graded out as the league’s No. 4 interior defensive lineman, with an elite PFF grade of 90.2:
Jarrett signed a big extension in the offseason, and so far, it looks like a bargain for Atlanta. As much as the Falcons have disappointed in 2019, Jarrett’s ability to bring it each week proves he’s a great building block for this team going forward.
The team will surely try to make some changes around their star defensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft and free agency.
