All of the intrigue surrounding the Falcons’ preseason game tonight revolves around Matt Ryan. The first-round draft pick, and projected franchise quarterback, gets his first start in the preseason’s third game against Tennessee.
But what about last year’s first-round draft pick, Jamaal Anderson? Shouldn’t the defensive end, deemed good enough to replace Pro Bowler Patrick Kerney, be generating a smidgen of the buzz Ryan is by now?
Anderson, the No. 8 overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, has not met expectations — for a full season and two preseason games so far this year. He had a sackless rookie season, despite 16 starts. Some will excuse the lack of production because it was his first year and because he is relatively new to the position.
However, now it’s time to show up. Anderson knows it. It’s engrossed him.
“I’m out there just playing, feeling better about things,”
Anderson said. “I’m on the field five, 10 minutes early every day working on my pass rush with [defensive line coach] Ray Hamilton. He obviously saw that me not getting a sack, that was the media hype around me. He knows I have the capability to do this and he’s doing all he can to help me."
“We’re watching extra film, things like that. I’ve talked to some other players and I’ve learned what to look at on film and understand this game better.”
To coaches, learning the position will determine whether Anderson becomes the player he was drafted to be.
“He hasn’t been playing defensive end for very long,”
Hamilton said. “Three years in college and one year in the NFL, so that’s not very long. The average defensive end played it in high school and college. He just needs to keep up on his fundamentals of being a defensive lineman.”
Anderson, who started his college career at Arkansas as a walk-on wide receiver, spent part of his summer working with former Falcons’ defensive lineman Chuck Smith to improve his pass rush. Hand placement, hand violence, opposing player tendencies and using different techniques based on field position are just a few of the nuances introduced to Anderson.
The coaching staff also is rushing Anderson off the edge to capitalize on his athleticism. Last season, he struggled getting off blocks, something that still plagues him.
The Falcons are following the lead of several other teams and are using three defensive ends in some pass-rushing situations.
Anderson has been moved inside to defensive tackle in some formations. It’s much the same as the New York Giants used end Justin Tuck last season with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora rushing off the edges. John Abraham will be used as one of Atlanta’s outside rushers. Chauncey Davis, Kroy Biermann or Michael Boley could be the other.
“It’s kind of bad to say, but you kind of have less responsibility on the pass rush,”
Anderson said. “I have less to think about than last year because this is a get-off, get-up field scheme.”
Anderson recorded a sack in the preseason opener at Jacksonville, which provided a glimmer of hope. Even so Anderson said he’s still finding his way. The coaching staff is guardedly optimistic that if Anderson has some success, things can snowball.
It just hopes that’s not the case if things go the other way.
“He’s progressing,”
head coach Mike Smith said of Anderson. “He’s a guy that’s pressed a little bit. It was nice to see in the first game that he recorded a sack and made a nice play on an underneath pass rush against a draw. He’s progressed well.”
