Falcons’ 2022 season review: defensive line

Taylor (6-foot-3, 311 pounds) went down early in training camp with a ruptured Achilles and was out for the season.

The Falcons were hoping that either Marlon Davidson or Ta’Quon Graham would step forward at end. Davidson’s chronic left knee buckled, and he was released Oct. 25.

Graham was off to a promising start over 11 games before he sustained a knee injury and went on injured reserve.

“TQ was playing very well,” defensive line coach Gary Emanuel said. “He was improving from Year 1 to Year 2. Some of the stuff he was able to do pass rush-wise and (playing) the run with technique, obviously you missed that.”

Anthony Rush started the first four games at nose tackle, but the 361-pounder couldn’t keep his weight down and was released.

Timothy Horne, an undrafted rookie from Kansas State and Charlotte, stepped up to help at nose tackle and made five starts down the stretch.

Horne, 6-4 and 323 pounds, played 385 defensive snaps (34%) and had 27 tackles.

“Timmy Horne is a guy that didn’t get a lot of credit,” coach Arthur Smith said. “You want your draft class to do well, but also, too, you’ve got (undrafted) college free agents; that’s a big part of it. If they are better than your fifth-rounder, we’re going to play the better player. Timmy Horne played well.”

Jarrett, a captain, started all 17 games and led the team in sacks, with six. He also had 61 tackles, including 12 for loss, and 17 quarterback hits.

“Numbers don’t point to the impact that he’s truly had,” former Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “Grady has done a great job of being a leader. He’s one of the hardest-working guys that I’ve ever been around. He’s a complete competitor.”

Jarrett’s frustrations boiled over after the team was eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. But that was received well inside the franchise.

“He likes to win, just like all of us do,” Pees said. “He puts the time in, puts the work in. He’s had a very good season. Obviously, he’d like to have the results being different, which we all would, but he’s done a tremendous job with everything that we’ve asked him to do.”

Jarrett knows the franchise will have a chance to improve the front of the defense via the draft and free agency this offseason.

“Super, super proud of the guys that I went to war with,” Jarrett said. “Week in and week out, each and every one of them deserves to be somewhere on the roster. We work so hard as a group. The future (will take) care of itself.”

Despite the lack of a pass rush and struggles against the run, Jarrett believed the unit improved during the season.

“We were definitely trending in the right way to close the season, and that’s encouraging,” Jarrett said. “This season was a little tough in the beginning. We had guys that didn’t have a lot of experience, but a lot of people got better.”

Pees was asked what level of the defense would he prefer to improve – front, linebacker or secondary – if he could just pick one.

“You always want a pass rusher,” said Pees, who was reluctant to pick one. “It’s a passing league. You’re always going to want a pass rusher, but you also have to be able to cover them back there.”

Falcons’ position-by-position analysis:

Part 1: Running backs

Part 2: Quarterbacks

Part 3: Wide receivers/tight ends

Part 4: Offensive line

Part 5: Defensive line

Part 6: Linebackers

Part 7: Defensive backs

Part 8: Special teams

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