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A disaster no more Defense key to Atlanta's amazing turnaround
Posted: Thursday January 28, 1999 01:36 AM
MIAMI (AP) -- Rich Brooks shook his head slowly, his body overcome by a protracted, gut-wrenching groan. He was remembering the Atlanta Falcons' defense, pre-1997. "They didn't stop anybody," Brooks said Tuesday, recalling the unit that became his when he accepted Dan Reeves' offer to take over as defensive coordinator of the Falcons two years ago. Chuck Smith was so fed up playing for a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league for an entire decade, he spoke out angrily and wound up suspended for the final game of the '96 season. "It's tough getting up and going in to play for a defense that you knew didn't have a chance going into the game," the defensive end recalled. In 1995, when the Falcons gave up the more yards passing than any other team in NFL history, they had more holes than a putting green. On Sunday, when they meet the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, they will be relying heavily on a defense that cracked the top 10 in run defense (second), points allowed (fourth) and total yards allowed (eighth). It's been a remarkable turnaround, the crucial chapter in the Falcons' storybook rise from 3-13 mess to NFC champion in the space of only two seasons. Even Brooks, architect of the revitalization, is astounded by its haste. "But this is part of an overall plan," he said. "It isn't just defense. Dan Reeves' philosophy is to play sound defense, run the football, don't turn it over and take it away." The Falcons led the league in time of possession (an average of 33 minutes, 10 seconds). They led the lead in turnover margin (44 takeaways, 24 giveaways). They had the sixth-best rushing defense, led by 1,846-yard runner Jamal Anderson. "We kind of wear teams down with the offense," Brooks said. "The defensive players appreciate the fact that when they come off the field, it's not going to be three quick passes and your fanny might be back on the field 45 seconds later." That was a not-so-subtle reference to the run-and-shoot offense favored by the previous regimes of June Jones and Jerry Glanville. While the Falcons put up some staggering offensive numbers in those years, the defense felt like a neglected stepchild. From 1990-96, five of Atlanta's seven first-round picks were used on offensive players. The Falcons also traded two first-round picks for quarterback Jeff George, another first-rounder for receiver Eric Metcalf. Finally, with the Falcons finishing up a three-victory season in 1996, Smith's feelings boiled over. He was tired of practicing against the run-and-shoot, which did about as much good on game day as taking a water pistol to the shooting range. "I had never even practiced against a tight end," said Smith, who joined the Falcons in '92. "That's why we always finished last in run defense." Smith said the Falcons would never have a winning team until they hired a defensive-minded coach. That drew a one-game suspension from Jones, but it was Smith who wound up a prophet. Jones was fired the following week. His successor, Reeves, switched to a conventional offense and turned his attention to the defense -- in particular, the woeful secondary. "The front end wasn't that bad," said Brooks, noting the Falcons still have five starters from their pre-'97 front seven. "But the back end was a disaster." Not anymore. Cornerback Ray Buchanan, signed to a four-year, $13 million contract, gave the Falcons their best coverage player since Deion Sanders. Safety William White and cornerback Ronnie Bradford were bargain-basement free agents who turned out to be bargains. Thirty-five-year-old Eugene Robinson was brought in to quarterback the secondary, barking out orders and compensating for his age with savvy, knowledge and enthusiasm. The revamped secondary bolstered the pass defense and made an invaluable contribution to stopping the run in the gap-control philosophy preached by Brooks. "The two safeties and two corners have to understand where they fit in the running game," Brooks said. "You can cut a 20-yard run to a 6- or 8-yard run if the secondary support is in the proper run-entry position." Now, when linebacker Jessie Tuggle -- a five-time Pro Bowler who used to be the lone bright spot on the Falcons defense -- sprints to a breach in the line, he knows there's someone backing him up. "If you have confidence in your teammates," Tuggle said, "then you're able to go out there and play as hard as you possibly can and put up some great numbers."
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