Player grades on Falcons defense

I previously gave out mid season grades of the Falcons offensive starters, and now I will give out grades to the Falcons defensive starters. The Falcons defense definitely got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season. They still have to get better with their pass defense, but they have shown signs in the past couple of games of getting better. Here are the grades for the Falcons defense so far this season.

John Abraham (B+) – Abraham had a good start to the season against the Bears as he had two sacks on Jay Cutler. Then he kind of disappeared as he didn’t have a sack in the next three games. Nonetheless Abraham has still been a force on the defensive line. He is getting good pressure on the quarterback and making plays for the defense.

Jonathan Babineaux (B) – Babineaux has missed some games with a left knee injury. He has proven however when he is in the lineup the Falcons defensive line plays much better. Babineaux knows how to get pressure up the middle and he is excellent in stopping the run. If there is one important person on the Falcons defensive line it would be Babineaux.

Peria Jerry (B-) – Jerry is starting to live up to his first round draft pick. Coming off of knee surgery in 2009 he finally seems healthy and it is showing in his play. His best game was against the Eagles as he terrorized Michael Vick and the Eagles offensive line by getting consistent pressure up the middle. Jerry still needs to learn to be more consistent with his play, because he has a tendency to not have an impact in a game which is unacceptable with his type of ability.

Corey Peters (A) – Shaping up to be the best draft pick after Matt Ryan is Corey Peters. Peters has really been effective since coming to the NFL. Last year he proved to be a great run defender and this year he has shown his pass rushing ability. The next thing Peters needs to work on to become an elite defensive lineman is putting all of his skills together at the same time.

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Ray Edwards (B-) – Ray Edwards got off to a slow start, but considering Edwards career so far in the NFL he is accustomed to slow starts. He did have minor knee surgery and maybe that kind of affected him in the beginning. He is now starting to seem comfortable in the Falcons defense and making plays. If he can continue to progress he will be that dominant force everybody expected him to be opposite John Abraham when Thomas Dimitroff signed him to a five-year deal.

Stephen Nicholas (B-) – Nicholas has not made a big impact yet, but he has done a terrific job in coverage which is why the Falcons resigned him. Nicholas is by far the Falcons best cover linebacker, and he has shown his ability to stop mobile quarterbacks such as Michael Vick and Cam Newton.

Curtis Lofton (A) – Curtis Lofton had knee surgery on both knees in the offseason and he said he felt like he had a different gear. He has definitely shown that gear this year as he has just become a tackling machine. Lofton has 64 tackles and one interception. He put’s the Falcons defense in the right position and has just become a vocal leader for the Falcons. Last year Mike Singletary called him “the perfect middle linebacker” and I find it hard to argue.

Sean Weatherspoon (A+) – So remember the supposedly sophomore slump thing. I guess Sean Weatherspoon didn’t get that message. Weatherspoon has come back from an injury plagued season and has just become a force the Falcons have not had at linebacker in a long time. He along with Lofton is forming quite a duo at linebacker. He has 60 tackles this season and playing at a really high level for the Falcons.

Dunta Robinson (C-) – Where do I begin with Dunta Robinson. The only good thing that he has done so far in his two seasons with the Falcons is he is a sure tackler, other than that it has been a struggle for Robinson. After signing that big six-year contract he has not lived up to even half of the contract. He has given up big plays and he is not able to shut down any elite receivers like the Falcons thought he would be when they acquired him.

Brent Grimes (A-) – If there is one person that is benefiting from Dunta Robinson arriving in Atlanta it was Brent Grimes. He made the pro bowl last year and opposing quarterbacks have continued to throw his way. Grimes is just a playmaker and an important part of the Falcons secondary.

Thomas Decoud (C+) – Decoud struggled at the beginning of the season and was benched for James Sanders, since then he has played better. I think he was benched by Mike Smith and Brian VanGorder as a wake up call. The thing that has held Decoud back is his ability in pass coverage. He has really struggled in pass coverage and quarterbacks have taken advantage of that. If Decoud can improve then he will be a starter for the Falcons for a long time.

William Moore (A) – William Moore after being injured when the Falcons first drafted him has definitely made up for it with his play. Moore is an aggressive player with great instincts; he does everything very well that you can ask from your safety. He will definitely be a main stay for the Atlanta Falcons secondary for years to come.

By: Steven Virden
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer