Tag: Jeff Ulbrich

Falcons place rookie DL Marlon Davidson on reserve/COVID-19 list

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Falcons placed rookie Marlon Davidson on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the third member of the team’s 2020 draft class to land on the NFL’s virus designation.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Falcons placed rookie DL Marlon Davidson on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the third member of the team’s 2020 draft class to land on the NFL’s virus designation.

The Falcons also announced they had signed CB Tyler Hall to the 53-man roster and LB James Burgess to the practice squad.

Falcons first-round pick A.J. Terrell just returned to the team in Week 5, while fourth-round pick Jaylinn Hawkins spent a few weeks on the reserve/COVID-19 list back in training camp.

Davidson has been battling a knee injury that’s kept him out of two games this season.

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Watch: Jeff Ulbrich downplays defensive play-calling changes

Just before the kickoff of Sunday’s game against the Saints, it was reported that Falcons linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich would take over the team’s defensive play-calling duties.

Just before the kickoff of Sunday’s game against the Saints, it was reported that Falcons linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich would take over the team’s defensive play-calling duties.

After holding New Orleans to just nine points, Ulbrich was quickly credited for the team’s defensive turnaround. It was later explained that assistant coach Raheem Morris had called plays on third downs, while Ulbrich called them on first and second downs.

Speaking to the media on Wendesday, Ulbrich downplayed the coaching changes as a key factor in the Falcons’ performance.

Instead, he credited the players and head coach Dan Quinn, which you can watch below in a tweet from ESPN’s Vaughn McClure:

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Raheem Morris, Jeff Ulbrich shared defensive play-calling duties Sunday

It was reported prior to Sunday’s win over the Saints that linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich had taken over the Falcons defensive play-calling duties from head coach Dan Quinn.

It was reported prior to Sunday’s win over the Saints that linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich had taken over the Falcons defensive play-calling duties from head coach Dan Quinn.

Following Atlanta’s 26-9 upset over New Orleans, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported that the team used a unique arrangement on defense:

Ulbrich called plays on first and second downs, while Raheem Morris called them on third downs and in two-minute situations. This led to the Falcons defense playing with a confidence and speed that we haven’t quite seen this season.

New Orleans had dominated the time of possession battle in its first eight games, but went 3-for-12 on third downs in Week 10, which changed the flow of the game.

Brees was sacked six times, and Atlanta’s young secondary held strong — particularly rookie CB Kendall Sheffield. Dan Quinn’s reign as defensive coordinator was a failure, but these changes were extremely effective.

According to Wyche, the Falcons plan to keep this defensive play-calling arrangement for the rest of the year.

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