Falcons secondary coach: ‘We have to take the ball away’

The Falcons only scored ten points during last week’s loss to the Titans, but offensive futility wasn’t the team’s only issue.

Defensively, Atlanta seems to have regressed as well. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota isn’t considered a top-tier passer, and came into Sunday’s game leading the league in sacks taken.

He’d finish with 227 passing yards, three touchdowns, a QB rating of 129.7, zero sacks and zero interceptions against the Falcons.

Secondary coach/passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson touched on just about all of the team’s defensive issues when he talked to reporters on Wednesday.

Passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson: We just have to play better. We have to tackle better and we have to get off the field on 3rd down. We have to take the ball away. pic.twitter.com/olWM82o3ra

— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) October 2, 2019

Henderson is correct, especially about the turnovers. On the season, Atlanta’s defense has -5 turnover differential.

Quarterback Matt Ryan has six interceptions alone, while the Falcons defense only has two interceptions as a team. Desmond Trufant recorded both of those picks in a Week 2 win over the Eagles.

Something needs to change on the field or the changes could be coming from the top down once the season is over.