Tag: Foye Oluokun

Jeff Ulbrich hopes the NFL ‘starts to take notice’ of LB Foye Oluokun

The first half of the 2020 NFL season has been an undeniable disappointment for fans of the Atlanta Falcons. If attempting to find a bright spot, though, the breakout performance of third-year linebacker Foye Oluokun should be at the top of the list.

The first half of the 2020 NFL season has been an undeniable disappointment for fans of the Atlanta Falcons. If attempting to find a bright spot, though, the breakout performance of third-year linebacker Foye Oluokun should be at the top of your list.

Oluokun has done an outstanding job at replacing LB De’Vondre Campbell thus far. The third-year man out of Yale is leading the Falcons in tackles (54) and forced fumbles (3), despite missing a game a half.

Atlanta drafted Oluokun in the sixth round back in 2018, the 27th linebacker selected that year. While he continues to defy odds, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is trying to make sure those around the league are paying attention.

As shared by team reporter William McFadden below, Ulbrich talked on Thursday about how much Oluokun stood out when watching his college tape at Yale.

General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, the man the drafted Oluokun, is no longer employed by the Falcons. Still, it’s nice to see the team develop a late-round pick into a potentially great player.

If those around the league haven’t noticed him yet, they certainly will know Oluokun’s name soon.

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VIDEO: Dirk Koetter on Falcons’ 4th-quarter play-calling

The Atlanta Falcons lost another game they had no business losing on Sunday, falling, 30-26, to the Chicago Bears in Week 3. 

The Atlanta Falcons lost another game they had no business losing on Sunday, falling, 30-26, to the Chicago Bears in Week 3.

It’s easy to blame the defense for blowing another double-digit fourth-quarter deficit. And while the Falcons’ undermanned defensive unit was partially to blame, this game came down the team’s inability to sustain drives when it mattered most in the forth quarter.

Atlanta’s offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter explained to reporters on Monday that he wanted to run the clock down but the team just didn’t execute. Matt Ryan went ice cold, and the running game stalled out.

Here’s Koetter explaining his play-calling in he fourth quarter, as shared by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure below.

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Dan Quinn says Falcons missed LB Foye Oluokun Sunday

The play of Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun was one positive to come out of Sunday’s 40-39 loss to the Cowboys.

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The play of Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun was one positive to come out of Sunday’s 40-39 loss to the Cowboys. In the 17 snaps Oluokun recorded before a hamstring injury ended his outing, he forced three fumbles.

Atlanta got out to a big early lead after a dominant first-half performance by the defense. Head coach Dan Quinn is taking a lot of heat for the team’s onside-kick coverage blunder, but was extremely impressed with what he saw from the former sixth-round pick out of Yale.

Quinn said he felt Oluokun had the “best 17 plays of a linebacker” he can remember, and that the team missed him once he left the game, per beat reporter William McFadden:

When asked about the linebacker’s knack for forcing fumbles, Quinn said it was something Oluokun developed over the past two seasons by working hard at it.

Now in his third season with the Falcons, Oluokun became the team’s starting outside linebacker with De’Vondre Campbell signing with the Cardinals during free agency.

Assuming Oluokun comes back healthy sooner rather than later, his progress will be one thing to keep track of regardless of how the season unfolds.

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Foye Oluokun gives first-hand look at camp during COVID-19 outbreak

The Atlanta Falcons drafted little-known linebacker Foye Oluokun out of Yale in the sixth round back in 2018.

The Atlanta Falcons drafted little-known linebacker Foye Oluokun out of Yale in the sixth round back in 2018. Now entering his third season with the team, Oluokun is set to start at outside linebacker after veteran De’Vondre Campbell left via free agency.

Oluokun’s 2020 training camp got off to a rocky start, though, as he was one of the first Falcons players to land on the reserve/COVID-19 list. While he’s since been activated, the pandemic has drastically changed camp life for players all over the league.

Atlanta’s starting linebacker gave a first-hand look at what training camp is like in the age of COVID-19. Watch the eight-minute video below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

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Falcons activate DT Tyeler Davison from reserve/COVID-19 list

The Falcons received more good news on Wednesday afternoon as defensive tackle Tyeler Davison was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Falcons received more good news on Wednesday afternoon as defensive tackle Tyeler Davison was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Davison was one of four players to come off of the NFL’s virus designation today, joining DB Jaylinn Hawkins, LB Foye Oluokun and QB Danny Etling back on the roster.

The remaining two Falcons on the list are CB Jamal Carter and FB Keith Smith. Atlanta’s roster number now goes up at 80 — which is where the team needs to be at by August 16.

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3 Falcons players return from the reserve/COVID-19 list

The Falcons were given quite the scare last week as six players were placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list just a few days into 2020 training camp.

The Falcons were given quite the scare last week as six players were placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list just a few days into 2020 training camp.

Fortunately, the team announced on Wednesday morning that LB Foye Oluokun, DB Jaylinn Hawkins and QB Danny Etling had already been activated from the league’s new virus designation.

Etling isn’t likely to make the roster, but has shown some promise and can bring some competition to Atlanta’s No. 3 QB spot. Meanwhile, Oluokun is expected to play a big role this season starting next to MLB Deion Jones.

As for Hawkins, it’s unclear just how much of a role he’ll have as the Falcons have two quality starters at safety and one of the best backups in the league in Damontae Kazee.

Atlanta still has three players, DT Tyeler Davison, FB Keith Smith and CB Jamal Carter, remaining on the league’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

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Foye Oluokun is sixth Falcons player put on reserve/COVID-19 list

It’s another day and another Atlanta Falcons player joining on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

It’s another day and another Atlanta Falcons player joining on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Foye Oluokun, who is expected to play a big role this season, becomes the sixth Falcon to be placed on league’s new roster designation, according to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

Oluokun joins DT Tyeler Davison, S Jaylinn Hawkins, FB Keith Smith, CB Jamal Carter and QB Danny Etling on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Atlanta has also reportedly waived punter Ryan Allen, which could open things up for rookie Sterling Hofrichter to land the starting punting job in 2020.

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Quinn on if Foye Oluokun is ready to start: ‘I know that he is’

The Atlanta Falcons have been less sentimental when it comes to offseason decisions after finishing 7-9 two seasons in a row.

The Atlanta Falcons have been less sentimental when it comes to offseason decisions after finishing 7-9 two seasons in a row. We heard a lot less of the phrase “Falcon for life” from management as the team moved on from five of last year’s starters.

One of the biggest departures was that of linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, Atlanta’s leading tackler in 2019 who signed the with Cardinals in free agency.

Head coach Dan Quinn isn’t scared, however. Talking with local media on Wednesday, he was asked if he thought Foye Oluokun, a 2018 sixth-round pick out of Yale, would be able to step in for Campbell.

Quinn didn’t hesitate to say he was confident in the third-year linebacker, as tweeted by William McFadden below:

It remains to be seen if Oluokun can fill Campbell’s big shoes, and whether or not the team plans to add a linebacker in the draft.

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Falcons LB Foye Oluokun was PFF’s highest-graded defender vs. Saints

The team nearly doubled its sack total and contained Drew Brees for most of the day. Second-year linebacker Foye Oluokun had himself a day as well, leading Atlanta with eight tackles on Sunday.

The Falcons played their best defensive game of the season by a mile on Sunday, holding the Saints to just nine points in New Orleans.

Atlanta nearly doubled its 2019 sack total and contained quarterback Drew Brees for most of the game. Second-year linebacker Foye Oluokun had himself a day as well, leading the team with eight tackles in Week 10.

While his role hasn’t been as big as it was last season when the team lost Deion Jones for most of the year, Oluokun has shown in limited time that he can be a productive part of this Falcons defense.

According to Pro Football Focus, Oluokun was the team’s highest-graded defender — earning a PFF grade of 85.5:

In just 29 snaps, Oluokun was able to make his presence felt, even though that accounted for only 43 percent of Atlanta’s defensive plays. It was the most the former Yale standout has played all season.

Oluokun’s role should grow going forward with the team currently 2-7 and unlikely to make the playoffs.

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