Grady Jarrett has now played in Atlanta for eight seasons, and the Falcons have had a defense that ranks league average or better in yardage and points exactly twice. That has meant that Jarrett, the team’s most reliable run defender, a quality pass rusher, and one of the Falcons’ consistent leaders, has played on a lot of bad defenses.
That has been frustrating to watch for fans, but it has to be doubly frustrating for Jarrett, who is excellent every week on a defense that rarely can get the job done. It has led to a lot of double and even triple teams for him, and at the end of last year a player who always manages to find positives seemed genuinely beaten down.