Tag: Grady Jarrett

Who is the most underappreciated player on the Falcons?

When teams underachieve, it can often lead to great players being underappreciated nationally. In 2019, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was one of the most dominant interior linemen in the league.

The Atlanta Falcons have been stuck in the middle of the pack for the past few seasons, with two straight 7-9 finishes keeping them out of the playoffs since 2017.

When teams underachieve, it can often lead to great players being underappreciated nationally. In 2019, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was one of the most dominant interior linemen in the league, but despite earning his first career Pro Bowl selection, Jarrett doesn’t get the acclaim he deserves outside of Atlanta.

That’s what NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund examined in her recent article looking at each team’s most underappreciated player. Jarrett, who finished the year with 69 total tackles, 16 QB hits, 12 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, was named as the Falcons’ most underrated player by Frelund.

“Jarrett’s ability to stop the run made him an extremely efficient member of the Falcons’ defense, as he tied for the NFL lead with 20 run stuffs last season (per NGS). My spatial models show that his ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks ranked fifth (in pressure-rate percentage) among interior defenders.”

It may seem like a bit of a stretch for Atlanta’s best defensive player to also be its most underappreciated. However, defensive tackles not named Aaron Donald tend to get overlooked by edge rushers and linebackers that stuff the stat sheet.

A return to contention in 2020 would certainly help Jarrett become more of a household name.

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Watch: Falcons DT Grady Jarrett’s impressive workout routine

Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett has been dominating the trenches since being drafted back in 2015.

Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett has been dominating the trenches since being drafted back in 2015.

The former fifth-round pick out of Clemson took his game to another level in 2019, though, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Atlanta extended Jarrett’s contract prior to last season and he’s been stepping up as a leader on and off the field ever since.

If you don’t follow Jarrett on Instagram, he regularly posts videos of his impressive workout routine, which provide insight into what it takes to be one of the NFL’s great players. Watch his latest display of strength, as shared by the Falcons’ Twitter account below:

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Julio Jones ranked among top 10 players of last decade by PFF

Over the past decade, there have been some outstanding receivers, such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown, however, the consistency Jones has shown each year is unmatched.

No receiver has been better than Julio Jones of the Falcons since he was drafted back in 2011. In nine NFL seasons, Jones has 797 catches for 12,125 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Over the past decade, there have been some outstanding receivers, such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown, however, the consistency Jones has shown each year is unmatched.

That elite production is reflected in Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players since 2010. Jones is the only receiver to be ranked in the top ten, landing at No. 8 on PFF’s list:

Julio Jones is the most productive and efficient receiver that PFF has seen since we have been grading. Over the decade, he leads the league in yards per route run (2.69), a statistical category he led the league in for four straight seasons, and he has ranked inside the top five for six seasons running. Jones also has 47 more explosive receiving plays (plays of 15-plus yards) than any other receiver over the decade and has a mind-blowing 12,125 yards over that time. Jones is one of the most physically dominant receivers in NFL history, being too big, strong, fast and athletic for most defenders to live with.

Jones was one of three Falcons players to be ranked on PFF’s top 101. As we discussed yesterday, quarterback Matt Ryan (No. 32) and center Alex Mack (No. 44) were the others to make the list.

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Eagles CB Darius Slay calls Fletcher Cox the best “all-around” DT in the NFL

Darius Slay calls Fletcher Cox the best all-around DT in the NFL

Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox were recruited to Mississippi State together, but after the cornerback was forced to attend a junior college after high school, they only officially played one season together as teammates.

That SEC bond is still strong and Cox played a huge role in getting Slay from Detroit to the Philadelphia Eagles via trade.

Cox has already started to indoctrinate Slay on the Eagles culture and recently during an Instagram live session, Slay called Cox the best “all-around” defensive tackle in football.

Slay called Cox one of the best run-stopping and one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL.

A 2018 All-Pro, Cox is still a game wrecker and despite battling injuries last season, he still landed his fifth-straight Pro Bowl appearances.

Slay called Aaron Donald the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the NFL, while he labeled his former Lions teammate, Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison the best-run stopper in the NFL.

Falcons DT Grady Jarrett helping provide meals to first responders

The Atlanta Falcons re-signed Grady Jarrett last season and the Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been stepping up as a leader ever since.

The Atlanta Falcons re-signed Grady Jarrett last season and the Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been stepping up as a leader ever since.

In an effort to give back during the outbreak of coronavirus, Jarrett is providing meals to first responders from the fire and police departments in Atlanta and Rockdale County, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta.

Jarrett will give two meals per week for the entire month of April, saying he felt it was his duty:

“It’s technically not my job but I feel like it’s part of my duty being a big face in the city and being from Rockdale County,” said Jarrett. “I’m going to always try and serve where I can, especially in times of need.”

Back in October, Jarrett surprised a bullying victim and continues to do his part to better the community. Not to mention, the former fifth-round pick had the best season of his career in 2019.

Atlanta is lucky to have such a great player and person under contract for at least three more seasons.

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Falcons agree to terms with DL Tyeler Davison on three-year deal

The Falcons have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Tyeler Davison, 27, which is reportedly worth $12 million with $4 million guaranteed

One quietly effective move the Atlanta Falcons made last year was signing former Saints defensive lineman Tyeler Davison to play inside next to Grady Jarrett.

As the new league gets underway, the Falcons have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Davison, 27, which is reportedly worth $12 million with $4 million guaranteed:

Last season, Davison started 12 games for the Falcons and finished with 29 tackles (26 solo), four tackles for a loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Davison’s presence also helped defensive tackle Grady Jarrett have the best season of his career in 2019, getting voted into his first Pro Bowl.

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Grady Jarrett was PFF’s No. 3 rated interior DL in 2019

It’s rare that a defensive tackle puts up the most impressive numbers on a defense, but Grady Jarrett was easily the Atlanta Falcons’ most disruptive pass rusher statistically and on film in 2019.

It’s rare that a defensive tackle puts up the most impressive numbers on a defense, but Grady Jarrett was easily the Atlanta Falcons‘ most disruptive pass rusher statistically and on film in 2019.

Jarrett finished the year with 67 tackles (38 solo), 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss, earning himself a well-deserved trip to the Pro Bowl.

Pro Football Focus gave Jarrett a 90.1 grade for the season, which was good for third-best among interior defenders last year:

As Atlanta moves forward without 2019 sack-leader Vic Beasley, the team is happy to have Jarrett under contract for three more seasons.

Finding another edge rusher in the upcoming draft will be key in maximizing Jarrett’s abilities as a one of the NFL’s most dominant interior linemen.

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Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett named to PFF’s top 101 players of 2019

Wide receiver Julio Jones and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett were voted into the Pro Bowl and onto the NFL’s All-Pro second team by the Associated Press after outstanding seasons.

The Atlanta Falcons had a down year, but the team’s top players were at their best in 2019. Wide receiver Julio Jones and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett were voted into the Pro Bowl and onto the NFL’s All-Pro second team by the Associated Press after outstanding seasons.

Left tackle Jake Matthews was the first Falcons player to be named in Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players of 2019, coming in at No. 96. The rest of the list has been released and it rightfully includes Jones and Jarrett in the top 30.

Jones was ranked at No. 25 by PFF’s Sam Monson, who wrote the following:

Julio Jones had something of a down year in 2019, yet he still ended the season with 1,394 yards and 99 receptions from 149 targets. Jones had the third-best PFF receiving grade among wide receivers (90.3) and gained 2.44 yards per route run, the fifth-best mark in the league. This represents the first season in the last five in which Jones didn’t lead the NFL in that yards per route run category.

It wasn’t Jones’ best year, but considering the circumstances surrounding his contract, the struggles of the run game and Atlanta’s hazy first half of the season, his production during a “down year” was still among the best at his position.

As for Jarrett, he landed two spots behind Jones at No. 27 on the list. Here’s some of what Monson wrote about the Falcons’ star defensive tackle:

All was not well in Atlanta this season, but Grady Jarrett’s performance on the interior of the defensive line was as good as ever. He backed up last season’s career-best PFF grade of 90.4 with one of 90.1 this season. He tallied 46 total pressures and 40 defensive stops, and he once again earned impressive grades in both the pass-rush and against the run.

There’s really nothing negative you can say about Jarrett’s season, apart from Atlanta’s lack of team success. With both players locked up for the next few years, the Falcons could return to form with a few tweaks in the offseason.

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Vote for your favorite Falcons players to make the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl

The 2020 NFL Pro Bowl vote is now open, and while it hasn’t been a great year for the Falcons, there are still some players worthy of the honor.

The 2020 NFL Pro Bowl vote is now open, and while it hasn’t been a great year for the Falcons, there are still some players worthy of the honor.

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is among the most deserving. He leads the defense with 5.5 sacks, and has been the team’s most consistent player through the first nine games.

Wide receiver Julio Jones is in the middle of another great season, while tight end Austin Hooper, despite his recent injury, is certainly deserving of his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.

Make sure to vote for all of your favorite Falcons players.

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