Raheem Morris warns Matt Judon against Falcons Edge

THE Atlanta Falcons sent a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for outside linebacker Matthew Judon in August in hopes of solving their pass rush issues. Instead, they made their problems worse.

Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, arrived in Atlanta with 32 sacks in his last 38 appearances, including four sacks in four games last season before suffering a season-ending torn bicep.

Yet, through the first 11 games of his tenure with the Falcons, Judon hasn’t produced at the same rate. He recorded 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. His sack during Atlanta’s 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos on November 17 was his first since September 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

To summarize? The Falcons, who rank last in the NFL in sacks with 10, want — and expect — better play from the 32-year-old Judon.

“I can’t sit here and tell you we got what we wanted from him,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday. “That would be an absolute lie and I won’t do that. But I can’t tell you that he has what he wants for himself. To be honest, we are looking for more and I know he is Also. “

Judon has played 438 defensive snaps this season, which equates to 60% of Atlanta’s total. That’s the lowest percentage he’s played since his freshman year in 2016. Still, opportunities haven’t been an issue. Production a.

So how do the Falcons change that after the bye week? For Morris, it’s about avoiding the definition of “insanity”: doing the same thing over and over again.

“You have to keep trying new tactics,” Morris said. “We’ve done some different things. When it comes to limiting the places you play, making it specialized when you play, when you go out there, trying to make the players as efficient as possible and we will continue to do these things.

“We’re going to push him as far as we can, and we’ll take him to that point to get the production that he wants and that we want.”

Judon mentioned several weeks ago that he didn’t receive the high number of snap passes he did with the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Instead, he tries to handle his responsibility as one piece in an 11-man defense.

As a result, Judon’s success in rushing the passer decreased. He has a success rate of 12.3%, his worst mark since 2017, according to ESPN. It scores low metrically, as Focus on professional football ranks him at 53 as a passer, 51.2 in run defense and 48 overall.

These notes Judon ranks 108th out of 114 eligible Edge Rushers. Lorenzo Carter brings up the rear at No. 114, and Arnold Ebiketie comes in at No. 53.

The Falcons, however, believe Judon is still capable of fulfilling his potential down the stretch.

“I think he still has it there,” Morris said. “I think it’s a process when you join a new team, sometimes it’s a process, you have to fight to overcome certain difficulties, you have to find a way. We have six guaranteed games in our schedule, and I look forward to him who has really helped us throughout this period and really contributed to this.”

Why, given his numbers and overall ineffectiveness, do the Falcons still believe in Judon? Because Morris knows how he’s wired.

“I think he’s a motivated, self-driven guy who wants to go out there and be productive and do the right things for his team,” Morris said. “I know he’ll try, I know he’ll give me the things I want. Very grateful for the things he’s given us.”

Still, the Falcons expected more statistical contributions. Judon, who is in the last year of his contract. has six games to deliver – starting at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.