FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss is turning in a fine season.
He’s a key member of the pass rush, helps to shut down the run and in the game Sunday night made his first career interception. He was named a third alternate on the NFC’s Pro Bowl team Thursday.
Elliss’ high-level play will be on display, perhaps for the last time this season, when the Falcons (8-8) face the Panthers (4-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons need a victory and for the Saints (5-11) to upset the Buccaneers (9-7) in Tampa to win the NFC South and advance to the playoffs.
If the Falcons and Bucs finished tied for first place, the Falcons own the tiebreaker by virtue of two regular-season wins over the Bucs.
“(You just hope that) those Saints can go out and get it done,” said Elliss, who broke into the NFL with the Saints. “So, just win and enjoy this life playing football. So, enjoy it, capitalize on it. Just live with the blessing.”
Elliss leads the team with 139 tackles. He has five sacks, an interception, three passes defensed, eight tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. On the interception against Washington, Elliss appeared to bait rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
He moved like he was rushing the passer, but reversed field and dropped into the passing lane.
“I mean, when it came up in conversation with my brother, he got his first one this year,” Elliss said. “Troy (Andersen, had one) this season. When it comes up in conversation, bragging rights is one of the things where you wanted to get one, but I knew it would come at the right time.”
Elliss’ brother Jonah Elliss is a linebacker with the Broncos, and his other brother Chaden Elliss is a linebacker with the Patriots. Chaden has an interception this season.
“Just thankful to be able to play this game,” Elliss said. “Thankful to have the people that have supported me in my life up to this point, this coaching staff and my teammates just trusted me to have a significant role on this team and on this defense.”
Elliss wears the green dot on his helmet, which denotes the signal-caller and communicator with the coaches.
“Going out there and making plays, it’s a blessing,” Elliss said. “It’s fun. That’s why you play the game. Just wish I could have made a couple more for us (against the Commanders).”
Elliss was pleased with the alternate Pro Bowl recognition.
“I think I’ve had a good year,” Elliss said. “I don’t really want to put that type of stuff out there. Just, I feel like when those things are earned, they’ll come. I just want to keep improving. That’s what I want to do. I know, really, what I care about is I (reach) my max potential. That’s what I want to do and then wherever that lands me.”
The was one NFL.com (owned by the teams) report that coach Raheem Morris was more involved with the defense. Elliss seemed to debunk that notion.
“Raheem since I first met him, he calls himself an offensive guy,” Elliss said. “I don’t know why he says that. He’s a liar, obviously, you know, as a defensive coordinator with the Rams he has done some really awesome things defensively in this league. I think he wants to be with the cool guys over on the offensive side of the ball.”
Elliss said that it was Morris who gave him the coaching point that led to his interception.
“But at the end of the day ... since he first got here with us, he’s, you know, he’s had his hands on things,” Elliss said. “He’s just such a great coach. Anytime you’re able to take some advice from him, honestly, the interception I got ... right after, walk-through on Saturday, he pulled me into his office and just gave me a coaching point. That coaching point directly led to how I got the interception.”
The defense has improved over the course of the season, most noticeably against the run and in the pass rush.
“So, he’s just great coach,” Elliss said. “He’s the head coach. He knows defense as good as anybody in the NFL. He’s done a great job for us, helping us out.”
Elliss is valued by the Falcons.
“He’s been a dominant force for us on defense,” Morris said. “He is one of the catalysts that has really driven the bus behind our defensive performance and our resurgence to post to some really good football.”
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