FLOWERY BRANCH — Rashaan Evans is back with the coach who believed in him. That’s invaluable after falling out of favor with the only franchise he’d known.
The Falcons signed Evans, a 2018 first-round pick and an Alabama standout, to a one-year deal this offseason. He replaces Foyesade Oluokun, who led the NFL with 192 tackles but signed a hefty contract with the Jaguars, at inside linebacker. It’s a career reboot for Evans, who’s hoping to recapture his early career promise.
Evans, still only 26, spent the past four seasons with the Titans. Falcons coach Arthur Smith and, more important, defensive coordinator Dean Pees both overlapped with Evans’ time with Tennessee as coordinators. Pees was Tennessee’s DC during Evans’ first two seasons, including his second season that was the best of his career.
Under Pees in 2019, Evans set career bests in tackles (111), tackles for loss (9), sacks (2.5; he has 0.5 over his other three years) and quarterback hits (8; he has five across his other three seasons). He played 86% of the snaps opposed to 80% in 2020 and 60% last season.
“It was about positioning me to make those plays,” Evans said. He added of Pees: “I respect him. He’s more than just a coach to me. He’s a guy that I look to nowadays, not just from football, but life, life things. He’s an older guy, obviously. But you know, he knows a lot of things. And he’s helped me a lot. So that was one of the biggest things for me coming here.”
Evans couldn’t replicate his success without Pees, who temporarily retired (again) after the 2019 campaign. As the 2021 season progressed, the Titans phased Evans out of their plans. He missed five games because of an ankle injury and was passed on the depth chart by Zach Cunningham, a December addition and sound tackler who had a past with coach Mike Vrabel, and the emerging David Long.
It was clear that Evans was destined elsewhere by season’s end. He played only three snaps in the team’s regular-season finale. He was a healthy scratch in Tennessee’s playoff loss to the Bengals. With his fifth-year option already declined, Evans hit free agency searching for an environment that could reinvigorate him. Evans explored the market, visited with the Jaguars but opted to sign with the Falcons, reuniting with Smith and Pees.
In the infancy stages of a rebuild, the Falcons considered Evans a worthy flier with a pedigree as they continue to remake the defense. Evans identified the Falcons as a fresh start with appealing familiarity.
“It feels good, man,” Evans said of rejoining Smith and Pees. “That’s the thing about the NFL, things work out the way they do, and it’s for a reason. For me to have another opportunity to be amongst really great coaches, and also a great team and a great organization that is a match made in heaven to me, I’m excited for the season. I’m excited for this team.”
Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota was Evans’ teammate during his first two seasons. Mariota, having practiced regularly against Evans, praised the player for his attitude.
“(I think he brings) intensity, a level of confidence across the board,” Mariota said. “You get a guy like him, he flies around and makes plays. He creates just a mentality for that. Being around him for a little bit in Tennessee, I think he’s going to bring that type of culture here.”
There are concerns that led the Titans to alternatives. Evans was sometimes criticized for a lack of gap discipline. His fiery nature led to reckless aggressiveness at times. He’s smaller (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) and hasn’t proved to be consistent in coverage, a glaring weakness always exploited in today’s pass-happy NFL.
Perhaps Pees will again unlock Evans’ best, thus the good could outweigh most negatives that spoiled the end of his Titans run.
“He’s coming here to compete, and we know what he’s about,” Smith said Thursday. “I saw him (lead) a goal-line stand up in New England in the playoffs a couple years ago (January 2020). The game turned with the way he changed the game. We’re looking for guys like that.”
Evans occasionally was deployed as an edge rusher with Alabama and the Titans. Perhaps he could help the Falcons’ woeful pass rush in spurts. Evans clearly is at his best playing closer to the line of scrimmage, and his versatility gives Pees options.
“It’s really whatever the coaches ask for me to do,” Evans said. “So, for me, it’s just being available, staying healthy. And also just continue to up my game and learn every aspect of playing football. So whether it’s on the edge, whether it’s in the middle, anywhere. Dean Pees and Arthur have done a really, really good job of how they’ve used me overall right now, and you know, I’m just happy for those things.”
It’s universally expected to be a tough year for the Falcons. But a player and personality such as Evans, who’s done nothing but win in his football life, can be valuable as the team lays its foundation. Evans appeared in four playoff games with the Titans. He won two national titles at Alabama (2015, 2017). He played for a state title his senior year in high school.
Evans, citing that experience, relishes helping younger players and establishing a standard. The Falcons drafted three linebackers this spring, edge rushers Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone, and inside linebacker Troy Andersen.
“I see myself as a vet and teaching these younger guys as much as I can, from what I’ve known these past five years,” Evans said. “I would say just leading by example, first. You become vocal later on. Mostly just leading, showing these guys how to work and making sure that the little things, running to the ball, how to prepare for practice. Those little things, they see those things. So, by me doing those little things, them seeing that, it just helps them understand how to be a pro.”
About the Author
