Jeff Ulbrich isn’t interested in sugarcoating where the Falcons defense stands right now.
Atlanta has shown stretches of promise this season, but the defensive coordinator made it clear he thinks the unit is still nowhere near its ceiling as the team prepares for a tough test against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We have not played up to our potential, in my opinion. Not even close,” Ulbrich said. “I’m excited for these guys to start putting that on the table.”
Through eight games, the Falcons sit 18th in total defense at 341.6 yards allowed per game and 17th in scoring defense at 23.6 points per contest. The run defense has been a particular issue, with Atlanta giving up 118.3 rushing yards per game. That became a bigger concern after the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even with those numbers, Ulbrich isn’t backing off his belief in the group. He pointed to the way the room has handled itself and the selfless approach he sees from the players.
“There’s not one person that I could point to that operates in any way other than what’s best for the defense, what’s best for the team, what’s best for the group, as opposed to what’s best for the individual,” Ulbrich said.
He also said the defense has been working through the season to sharpen its identity, learn what it does well and tighten up the areas that still need work. But the next step has to come against the run, especially after Tampa Bay controlled the game on the ground.
“Whenever you give up that many rush yards, that is a failure by everyone in a lot of ways,” Ulbrich said.
Ulbrich added that he took responsibility for not making more adjustments, including more six-man fronts and different safety rotations.
Now the challenge gets even steeper. Burrow has thrown for 2,115 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions through seven games, and Cincinnati brings two major threats on the outside in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Higgins has 726 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Chase has 492 yards and six scores.
That combination gives the Bengals the kind of firepower that can punish a defense if it leans too hard toward one matchup or one side of the field. Ulbrich knows Atlanta can’t erase everything; the Falcons will have to win their share of one-on-one battles.
There is one area where Atlanta can feel good heading into the matchup. The Falcons have generated pressure on 40% of opposing dropbacks this season, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL, while blitzing on just 24.8% of dropbacks.
That kind of pressure without constantly sending extra bodies could matter against Burrow.
For Ulbrich, though, the bigger goal is simpler: get the defense to play closer to what he believes it can be. Sunday’s game in Madrid is another chance for Atlanta to show that its potential is real.
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