Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Dean Pees is beloved by his players, and their response to his latest comments about entitlement in the coaching ranks is more proof.
Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is beloved by his players, and their response to his latest comments about entitlement in the coaching ranks is more proof of this.
On Thursday, Pees talked about his belief that coaches who lack experience tend to overlook certain aspects of the job, such as communication and humility.
After the team shared his press conference on Twitter, a few Falcons, including Cordarrelle Patterson and Lee Smith, praised the old-school approach of Pees.
One of the first things Arthur Smith did after landing the Falcons head-coaching gig was convince Dean Pees to come out of retirement.
One of the first things Arthur Smith did after landing the Falcons head-coaching gig was convince Dean Pees to come out of retirement and be his defensive coordinator.
Listening to Pees speak, it’s easy to see why players respond to him. He has a no-nonsense approach, a wealth of experience, and he can relate to his players on a human level. That third trait is something Pees takes pride in, and it’s something that he developed by coaching and teaching at all different levels.
In today’s recap, we listen to Pees give some good life advice, rookie tight end Kyle Pitts returns to practice, and Matt Ryan has a chance to make history.
Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is a big fan of Grady Jarrett and had plenty of praise for the veteran Falcons defensive lineman while speaking to the media this week. Not only is Pees impressed by what Jarrett does on the field, but …
Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is a big fan of Grady Jarrett and had plenty of praise for the veteran Falcons defensive lineman while speaking to the media this week.
Not only is Pees impressed by what Jarrett does on the field, but also by the former Clemson standout’s work ethic and the type of person he is off the field.
“Everybody knows he’s a good player. He’s an active player,” Pees said. “But all really good players in the league are not necessarily good practice players who go out there and practice every day, hard, and go at it. He does. Not everyone studies the heck out of the film and stuff. Sometimes they just count on their natural, raw talent. He studies. He’s a great person off the field. He is a mature man.”
Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowler and former All-ACC player at Clemson, has played for the Falcons since being selected by the franchise in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The seventh-year vet has played in 105 games during his NFL career thus far, accumulating 340 total tackles (54 for loss), 26.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Pees believes Jarrett is the model of a true professional that young defensive players in the league should strive to emulate.
“I can’t say enough great things about the guy in every aspect of his life, from my standpoint – as a football player, being around him as a person, everything about him,” Pees said. “There’s nothing I can find negative about the guy. To me, he’s what all young players at the defensive line – all young players, period, on defense – that’s what I should aspire to be like, that guy. That’s a professional football player that takes his job serious on every aspect.”
“All young defenders should aspire to be like @GradyJarrett.” #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/jl2ltuHer2
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 9, 2021
Christmas is right around the corner. Once again Clemson Variety & Frame is ready to make it a special holiday for your favorite Tiger.
Order today to make sure your gift arrives in time for Christmas.
Pees said Lawrence is capable of making any throw.
One would think that an opposing defensive coordinator would be licking their chops against the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense. The unit has struggled to get much going in the passing game with its depth at receiver being pushed to the limit, and the ground game hasn’t been able to pick up the slack as James Robinson has been a bit limited with heel and knee injuries in recent weeks.
But Atlanta’s Dean Pees is not looking past this offense, and there’s one reason why: rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It hasn’t been the best start to his NFL career, but he’s been much more efficient with the ball recently, throwing just one interception in the last five games.
Pees said Lawrence is as capable as any passer in the NFL.
“We’ve packed the paint this year against some guys who we didn’t think could throw outside,” Pees said, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “I don’t know what throw this guy can’t make. All he’s lacking is experience in the NFL.”
Lawrence’s numbers don’t exactly paint the picture of a standout rookie season. He’s completing just 58% of his passes, and he’s thrown more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight). But as mentioned above, he’s cut down on the turnovers quite a bit in recent weeks, and his completion numbers would be considerably better if it weren’t for dropped passes, which have been a problem this season.
He’s made some impressive throws this year, and it’s interesting that despite a lot of the negative noise around his season, he seems to be garnering some respect from NFL defensive coaches. Lawrence will look to find success against a Falcons passing defense that is allowing nearly 250 yards per game, and as fans witnessed earlier this season against Cincinnati, he could turn that momentum into a respectable stretch of games.
The Atlanta Falcons have had their share of struggles this season, but after a 1-3 start, the team has won three of four to grab the last NFC playoff seed.
The Atlanta Falcons have faced their share of struggles this season, but following a 1-3 start, the team has won three of four games to grab the last NFC playoff seed ahead of Week 10. After defeating the Saints on the road in Week 9, the Falcons will try to keep it going in Dallas when they take on the 6-2 Cowboys on Sunday.
On Thursday, Atlanta resumed practice with outside linebacker Dante Fowler returning from the injured reserve list. Fowler’s presence will be needed if the Falcons are going to get pressure on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Let’s take a look at the top stories coming out of Thursday’s practice.
With the Eagles and Falcons set for kickoff in the season opener, we sat down with @MattUrben of @TheFalconsWire to preview Sunday afternoon’s matchup
The 2021 NFL season is upon us and as Jalen Hurts prepares to make his first Week 1 start for Philadelphia, there are several questions that’ll finally be answered.
With the Eagles and Falcons set for kickoff in the season opener, we sat down with Managing Editor, Matt Urben of The Falcons Wire for seven questions that’ll help preview Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
Eagles vs. Falcons: 5 matchups to watch on offense
The Eagles and Falcons are just hours away from kicking off the season opener for both teams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
With both teams debuting first-year head coaches, it’ll offer an interesting dynamic of matchups on both sides of the ball.
Below we’re previewing five matchups to watch on Sunday afternoon.
And I wanted to work with someone I knew, totally trusted, believed in and, so I said yeah,” Pees explained about joining Arthur Smith’s staff.
It’s tough being a first-year head coach in the NFL, but it always helps to have an experienced coordinator on staff to ease the transition. Shortly after Arthur Smith was hired to lead the Atlanta Falcons, veteran defensive coordinator Dean Pees came out of retirement to join Smith’s staff.
Pees said he wasn’t actively seeking out coaching jobs again, but when Smith came to him, he was intrigued after their time together in Tennessee.
“I got a couple of calls from a couple of people that were going to interview for jobs, and I really kind of told them I wasn’t interested,” said Pees at Thursday’s press conference. “And then it was different — when talking to Art — because I knew Art. I knew what Art’s like, our relationship and I wanted to work with someone I knew, totally trusted, believed in, and so I said yeah.”
Pees was asked how the three different levels of the Falcons’ defense have performed throughout training camp.
“Well, I mean, they’re all tied in,” said Pees. “In all these things everybody’s got a job to do, and, there’s multiple stuff up front that those guys got to know and there’s multiple things in the back end. What makes it really multiple is the fact that sometimes you can do the same things in the front and change — do the same things with two or three different coverages. Then, there’s also some things where you can do a bunch of things up front different, and keep the same coverage.”
The ability to run different pressures up front without changing the look on the back end, and vice versa, will be a key factor for this defense.
“We can run two or three different pressures up front but play the same coverage,” said Pees. “Or we can run the same pressure up front and run two to three different coverages. So, that’s what really makes the thing multiple.”
Check out Pees’ full press conference, as shared by the team’s YouTube channel below.
[lawrence-related id=77672,77585,77615,77660]
[listicle id=77331]
For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between.
For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between. They have to make the most of their chances and even then, it doesn’t work out more often than not.
But what happens when you get a text from Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees inviting you to Atlanta’s three-day rookie minicamp, and arrive only to find out you were scammed by an impostor and there is no tryout spot for you?
That’s what happened over the weekend to defensive back Juantarius Bryant, an undrafted free agent out of Austin Peay that fell victim to a cruel prank. Bryant released the following message over Twitter explaining what happened.
It’s been a rough few days, but I felt the need to clear the air and get this off my chest. Honestly ready to move on from the situation. pic.twitter.com/yUJELOstZW
— Juantarius Bryant (@TheyLoveMyHair_) May 15, 2021
“I do not know or understand why this happened, but I do know that everything happens for a reason,” wrote Bryant. “Yes, this was heartbreaking or me, but just another stepping stone that I am not afraid to admit or overcome. At the end of the day, this will not make or break me.”
Hopefully someone gives the the aspiring NFL safety a real opportunity in the near future. Things are hard enough for undrafted free agents, being cat-fished by an impostor defensive coordinator is just throwing salt in the wound.
[lawrence-related id=73001,72973,72912,72989,72931]
[vertical-gallery id=72944]
Arthur Smith says he’s still waiting for a gift from Derrick Henry.
Former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator and new Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was a guest on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast recently and touched on a number of topics.
Smith described the process of getting the new job as a “whirlwind” and noted that his family remains in Nashville (H/T Ben Arthur of the Tennessean).
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Smith said. “It feels like I’ve been going full throttle since July, which I guess I have. But it’s awesome. The transition has been great. It’s easy because we’re in Nashville. My family is still here and the kids are, as they’re in school. If I have to pop back in at night, it’s easy to get in the car or there are a million flights from Atlanta to Nashville.”
Former Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who has taken the same position with the Falcons under Smith, actually reached out to his former coaching staff mate before he got the job in Atlanta, as Pees was looking to come out of retirement.
“He reached out to me,” Smith said. “He said, ‘Retirement is not for me.’ So before I went on the interviews, I called him up and said, ‘Hey, is that what you really want to do?’ He said, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ So it was nice because (being) a first-time head coach and calling plays, you need someone experienced on that sideline. So that was huge for us.
“He’s the best,” Smith continued. “I feel really fortunate because it alleviates a lot of headaches you’re going to have early on. There’s so much trust that he’s got things covered on that side of the ball. … You don’t feel like you have to micromanage anything that’s going on over there.”
Smith revealed that he knew the season-ending interception thrown by Ryan Tannehill was probably the last play of his Titans tenure, something that wasn’t easy to take.
“There was a sadness when you see the interception,” Smith admitted. “In my gut, I knew I was probably gone too. I was like, ‘Damn, that’s how it ended.'”
Titans running back Derrick Henry bought gifts for his offensive lineman after his 2,000-yard season, but Smith said he has yet to receive one for himself and joked that it might have gotten lost in the mail.
And speaking of offensive linemen, Smith also admitted that he didn’t believe Taylor Lewan when the left tackle first told him he had suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6 versus the Houston Texans.
“That was the funniest thing. [Taylor] comes out there, ice pack on the knee, and I didn’t want to believe him because he was like ‘I’m done,’ and I’m like ‘he’s told me he was done before, so…’ I was just trying to be really optimistic,” Smith said.
In the wake of Smith leaving for Atlanta, the Titans promoted tight ends coach Todd Downing to offensive coordinator. There’s no question he’ll have big shoes to fill after all of the success Smith had over the past two years.
